Excuse me if this has already been asked, I couldn't seem to find anything when I searched....but....

After a wedding, how many images do you edit heavily? You know, your "fine art" edits. I am referring to people who give the images on disc.

What do you call them? Fine Art Images? Like, how do you label them on the disc?

I can't see myself doing heavy editing on every shot, or should I?

Blog

Album

Art Prints


ETA: After re-reading. No heavy edits go on disc for the same reason noted below. *points*

Heavy edits are presented in albums, on paper or on canvas.

I don't put my Fine Art images on the disc. Too much time goes in to them to just give them away. They can go in the album or be printed on Canvas or Fine Art paper.

+1

That is your ARTWORK. Our packages don't automatically include a disc but in those cases where the couple receive a disc it states in the contract that the images they get are the color corrected and level adjusted images only, and that the images where graphic design and artistry have been applied by us are not included.

The only way they can get those images is in their album or in print.

yeah i used to put everything on the disk i gave to clients, but changed that because alot of hard work goes itno those photos! they now just get the lightroom edited pics, not the ones i spend hours on in photoshop....not counting album or print work of course...

This is why I adore all of you! I post a topic, go to sleep, and when I wake up, my answers have been fulfilled!

Oh I love you all!

Anyways, it looks like I will be doing that same as a lot of you are, and just giving them the regular adjusted images, and leave the artistry images to be purchased.

Thanks again!

This thread is a real eye-opener to me. I am finishing up a disc right now and I was going to put some edited photos on it - but I am going to re-think my methodology now.

Ditto!

Chris

Thanks for asking this. I've been wondering this myself as of late. I started my business polishing each photo because it was a good opportunity for me to hone my skills, practice different techniques, develop a collection of work for public consumption on my website, and build word of mouth. Starting out, I could also afford to spend the extra time on lots of images because I wasn't relying on photography as a primary income.

Now that I'm a bit further along and booking more sessions, I can see the need to back off on that level of post processing and finish for each image, to keep things manageable.

I guess I'm just a bit confused on the presentation. I understand the suggestion that all images should undergo a basic edit for color balance, color, contrast -- like a Lightroom edit. But then, do you post these proofs online and then the client picks the ones they want for prints and albums, and then you further retouch those and/or do your artistic edits on only those picks? What about sepia and black & white -- are those considered "artistic edits" and do you not do any of those treatments either on the first proof pass?

I guess I'm just a little confused -- is the client picking what you will artistically edit? Does that take away from your decision making as to which images would best benefit from a b.w/speia/artistic treatment... rather than the client picking.

It totally makes sense that artistic edits and retouching would be primarily reserved for blog/website, print purchases, and album selected for albums. I'm just looking for a bit more insight on the process, as I trust many of you have more of a handle on it than me

Also, how to you address the disconnect of what the client sees on your website (polished, artsy images) verses their proof gallery, consisting of images with basic edits? Beyond an explanation of the process to your client, it sounds like a few of you address this in your contract.

Thanks!
Steve

well i am a little confused. i only heavily edit (artistically) a few from each wedding that i think warrant it. but if they buy a cd of images, i include those as well.

i would never think to not include them????

I have three stages:
1. SOOC
2. Proof
3. Album

Album files are not released to the client. Proof files are on the hi-res DVD.
Click to view attachment

I also have three stages:

1. SOOC
2. Oh crap!
3. Call Michelle.

Michelle

Thanks for sharing your process.

Would a sepia or black & white find their way into Stage 2, or do you reserve that for Stage 3 -- after the client makes their selects for print and/or album?

Generally, are the images you would share on your website, a combination of your Stage 2 and 3 images?
Thanks!

^^ What Steve said applies to most of us.
I'm still doing heavy editing on most of the files but as I'm getting more work I can't do it.

Like Steve, I'm worried about the clients perception, what to say to them when they get their gallery and the images are just basic adjustments?

I don't want to disappoint the client, but at the same time, I don't want to spend weeks on their whole gallery, especially if they don't buy any large prints from me.

This is a pain in the posterior and it's causing me a lot of stress

If some one with more experience in these matters could reply I and may others would be really grateful

Yes I am going slightly off topic. Michelle I have been planning on doing a similar type of image to show clients the evolution of photos as well. But I am concerned that the SOOC image always looks so freaking bad as compared to the other ones, does it make someone think that I suck as a photographer and I am great as a photoshop person? I am thinking that I would want to take a better picture that comes SOOC and use that and have a less dramatic jump from SOOC to proof. Do you have any thoughts on that?

Hi Jim,

I know what you mean. A while back, I did a similar "before & after" presentation on my website -- comparing SOOC images with AFTERS. And some of the SOOC were pretty far removed from the final result. But I received positive client feedback from the presentation. I'd probably shy away from sharing a really poor exposure, but usually, we are all working fast, it's sometimes tricky to capture a perfect in-camera image, or an element might intrude into the frame that we don't want -- and I think it's great to be able to show the client how we complete an image, not so much rescue a "bad" capture. It's a way to educate clients on their investment -- they are paying us not just our picture taking skills, but our picture making skills. The way I approach it is that the capture really isn't a photo until it's been processed... the initial digital file is sort of the equivalent of a film negative....a step away from final, and not necessarily something a client should be using to judge our skills. For me at least, even well exposed digital images can always use a touch of pop -- Michelle's example from 1 to 2 was perfect in that regard. Anyhow, that's just my little take on it

And "MJ" -- glad to see I'm not alone, as it does sound like this is a common point of transition for many photographers.

Not to be contentious, but aren't your photos artwork? Do they need Photoshop to become art?

Yeah, I thought of that too. I'd choose an image that is properly exposed and the white balance is right on (instead of a poorly exposed on like mine). I don't think I really have a definitive opinion on that subject. At worst your SOOC image would just look like someone's point and shoot image.

I picked this one because I was more blown away by the finished product than I was the SOOC. Most of my images aren't right on with the exposure, so it's really true to MY SOOC's!

__________________________________________________
Steve,
After I export the images, I run through them in Bridge and 'Red' the ones I need to Gem AIrbrush. Then I select the Reds and run the image processor with an my 'Big Zit' action I've made( which Automates the Airbrush).

So yep, stage two. I have a few main presets that I use-
normal color, a BW, a Blue-Sepia duo, a '300' action, and one that darkens a blue sky for scenics.

Makes it really fast!

~Michelle
________________________________________________

In short, I care more about my family than my clients (as I am sure you all do) and try to spend as little time as possible editing my work for my clients, and more time EDITING with my Husband.

*wink wink nudge nudge*

Wow! This is a great thread! I have been pondering this topic for months. I have done a couple weddings, a few engagement sessions, and a birthday party but it feels like I've been taking years just to get all the proofs done! I have been confused because I feel like when I do special edits they don't match the other images and it looks like I don't have any uniform way of post processing. I never really thought of the fact that it is ok for the client to know that not all images get the "special treatment". (or is that o.k.?)

I suppose if I put it in my contract and let the client know verbally how post production works, then it won't come as a surprise or disapointment to them when they recieve their files.

I edit everything...BECAUSE they get the disc.

If they are going to be able to print them themselves, I want them to look as great as possible, since they reflect on my work.

This is also my thinking. People are obviously going to see these photographs so how does it look if the majority of my images just look nice. I am not suggesting however, that I would not edit all photos. Of course they would all get the regular tonal adustments, sharpening, contrast, etc. but what I'm referring to are the images that go through the gamut of actions and edge burning and black & white conversions and all that fun stuff. As crazy as it sounds, I have been attempting to do this to ALL my images. I think my husband hates me now and my two year old is tired of watching the Wiggles!

I'm running into this one too- last year I hand did all the images, no way I could do that this year! Luckily the webhosting at Miller's offers color correction and you can request that in prints made from them too. At least you can get them their pictures back soon and cut the fat. I have the same issue with sometimes images look better in B/W or Sepia... But it makes more sense to present them the color ones until they tell you which one they like of themselves. Lately it seems the clients have been choosing images I never would pick out as my favorites.

Although I'm still on the fence about giving them their editing pictures... I always do... once I'm done with it I give it to them. Essentially some OSP'ers are saying that they only edit purchased or album pictures... so in most cases the client has already paid for it. I would include it... It just becomes a pain when you have to send your client multiple CD's.

+1

We color correct (and pretty much everything-correct) about 500 from a normal 8 hour day and then we do extra editing to around 100 of them and call them our "favorites" those photos get made into a slideshow for the family and also get blogged. All the images go on the disc.

Hi Michelle,
I just wanted to say how cool I think it is that you educate your client in that way. Having something where they can visibly see the value of what you do and the value of buying prints through you is fantastic.
And then there are no surprises in store regarding what is included on the disc.
Awesome!


~
Angela