What do you do?

[Kai]

So... I have notice a lot of photographers taking over 2000 shots. When I have looked at a couple on line gallery's recently they provided the customer with about 1200 shots or more to look through and decide which 300 they want printed to complete their package. Usually there is about 20 cake shots, 20 first dance shots and so forth. I get tired of looking at them. So I thought I would ask what people on here do. I am wondering if it would be best to pick out the best ones (2 cake shots, 2 first dance shots and so forth) to show in the gallery and provide those in the package (around 300 shots) and focus on making those the best. Not even show them the others.

Any thoughts or advice?

[liza]

I wouldn't show them more than 400.

[tim]

I don't show more than 300 images unless they say "we want to see everything", then I might show 400 max. If they prefer i'll only show them 200, or 100, but no-one's ever asked that. I take 800-1200, aiming to take less rather than more.

[bnlearle]

I sort of split it up. I show them my 100 or so favorites on DVD to slide. Then they can look at the 300 or 400 other photos as extras. This way, they've always looked at it as what they see in the slide is the real, complete story of their wedding. The rest feel as though they're just getting to look at a few more additionals. It's never bit me in the butt yet.

I also aim to shoot less but never do. I shoot WAY too much, I'm sure (I've shot into the 2 and 3k before). It just doesn't take me that long to go through and pick out my favorite 300 or 400 photos. I know I don't have to take that many but it works dandy for me.

[bcap]

Yeah I would say don't show them more than 200. Who's site were you looking @ that they showed them 1200?

[louiep83]

Depends on how long the assignment.
We probably (2 of us) took over 2000 shots, but probably will only show 600-800 of them unless they are all that good (never). :-)
We take a lot of pictures, memory is cheap, better take it and junk it later then missed it.
Having said that, some of our clients seems to like quantity rather than quality lately.

[Kai]

Liza, Tim and Bryan :When you say 300-400 are you including family shots.

Bnlearle - I like your idea

[liza]

Yes. Why overwhelm the couple with so many shots? It just puts them in overload and could lessen the print sales. Show them the best of the lot.

[tim]

Liza, Tim and Bryan :When you say 300-400 are you including family shots.

Yes 300 total photos. Sometimes 250, sometimes 325, but 300 is my target.

[Wedding Shooter]

I will give them 500-800 in a slideshow - it works like a movie and goes for around 40 minutes. All of the couples rave about it. I also offer a Momento proof book with 6 pictures to a page as an upgrade option.

Most couples spend about $2000 on their main album with me - so I don't mind about print sales so much. Guess it just depends on your business model.

[bnlearle]

Liza, Tim and Bryan :When you say 300-400 are you including family shots.

Bnlearle - I like your idea

Awww thanks ;)

[dsze]

I shoot 900-1200 on a typical full-day's coverage and then I show anywhere from 300-600 proofs usually.

[SuzyView]

Some clients do want to see them all, but most understand that I don't want to PP my whole life. I usually give 100-300 depending on how many are keepers. But I have a hard time getting my brides to pick the ones to blow up to larger prints. They never decide quickly.

[dsze]

Some clients do want to see them all, but most understand that I don't want to PP my whole life. I usually give 100-300 depending on how many are keepers. But I have a hard time getting my brides to pick the ones to blow up to larger prints. They never decide quickly.

Forgot to mention: I do basic processing on all the proofs, but only 20-30 get special processing in Photoshop. I never spend more than 8 hours on processing an entire wedding, including the album.

[k_blais]

Sebastien and I usually take a lot of pictures (total of 1 500 - 2000), but we are two photographers, so it averages out to more or less 1000 pics each. We sort them quickly with Adobe Bridge and end up only picking about 300-500 for the clients to see depending on the coverage (a full day wedding will have more pics than a 4-hour coverage). The total amount of pictures the clients get to see includes guests at reception as well. If we pick only 2 pictures of the first dance for example, and the clients want to see more, we will provide a few more. But this rarely happens. So far, the bride and groom have always been happy with the first selection we made for them.

[Grace]

I typically give 250 ish...sometimes more...the only time I've ever given more than 300 was the one wedding I had a second shooter-and it was still basically the same shots..just a different angle.. I agree that it gets very overwhelming.

[MrsOpie]

I give them 200-400 pictures out of the 1200 I shoot. My husband thinks I shouldn't post process any of the pictures and just give the client the ones straight out of the camera. I don't like to do things that way. My point of view is that I want the client to see the best possible photo. They are sharing the gallery with friends and family. If I release a CD then they will show the pictures to other people and might make prints.

[JimAskew]

I shoot 800+ photos on the average. This for the full day and includes all settings, formals, candids, reception, etc.

I usually get 400+ "keepers" that are not redundant and good enough to PP.

I then take the "keepers" and PP 150+ of my favorites for the B&G to review.

I give them the 400+ "keepers" in one folder and the 150+ edited ones in a seperate folder on the same DVD.

I also give them print samples at 4x6 (10 to 12), 5x7 (6 to 8 ), and 8x10 (2 to 4) prints so they can see how the final prints will look...I do this with a mix of glossy and matte papers using my Epson R800 photo printer.

To put this response in context...I am not a professional photographer but rather a serious amatuer. I do not charge for my time as I am still learning :)

[philpereira]

I give them 200-400 pictures out of the 1200 I shoot. My husband thinks I shouldn't post process any of the pictures and just give the client the ones straight out of the camera. I don't like to do things that way. My point of view is that I want the client to see the best possible photo. They are sharing the gallery with friends and family. If I release a CD then they will show the pictures to other people and might make prints.

it's interesting that you mention that, because I recently read an old post by [b]ecker (click here (http://homepage.mac.com/thebecker/iblog/B533212817/C2084452993/E20061023111726/index.html)) and he provides the high res DVD of photos straight out of the camera and only works is post processing magic on prints people purchase from him. To me, that makes sense because that gives a client and guests the incentive from getting a better image from the photographer and keeps a larger portion of creative control with the photographer. I think I'll do this with future weddings and give extra care to developing shots people will want to purchase. However, I definitely see your side of things because I felt the same way.

[Kai]

so Karine, you only show two of the first dance? How many ceremony shots do you show?

[liza]

it's interesting that you mention that, because I recently read an old post by [b]ecker (click here (http://homepage.mac.com/thebecker/iblog/B533212817/C2084452993/E20061023111726/index.html)) and he provides the high res DVD of photos straight out of the camera and only works is post processing magic on prints people purchase from him. To me, that makes sense because that gives a client and guests the incentive from getting a better image from the photographer and keeps a larger portion of creative control with the photographer. I think I'll do this with future weddings and give extra care to developing shots people will want to purchase. However, I definitely see your side of things because I felt the same way.

That's exactlly what I'm doing with my new pricing. They can buy a CD of high rez images, but those images will be virtually untouched other than very basic batch processed edits. I'll put the ones I edit extensively in a Candid 2000 online gallery and let them purchase prints from there. They'll also have the option of a proof book and ordering from me, if they prefer. And the extensively edited ones will also appear in the album, should they place an order.

[Padawan Dad]

Whatever happened to the old days of 50 shots... maybe 75 (album shooting)... I know... the digital era.

I'm really starting to think that the age of shooting 700 to even 2000 shoots (YES! I've seen 2000 posted before,) is affecting artistic growth of Wedding Photographers. I'm finding it with myself as well. If I only needed to shoot 50 to 100 shots per wedding, they would be VERY well thought out shots. But with clients expecting you to dish out as much as the next guy (in my area, usually about 400-500 shots,) I guess you really have to spend more time shooting off the rounds, rather than focus on quality shots everytime you press the shutter.

I'm not saying that I don't get quality shots, I just think that I would get MORE quality shots if I was not slave to a photo count. And even though I don't initially give clients a count, they always get me to give some average of shots to give them an idea of what to expect... I usually tell them between 25-40 shots an hour.

Recently I have actually brought my final count down to about 250-300 shots, from my past 400-500 shots. Ideally, I would love to present 200 proofs to clients, and focus MUCH more on building albums in my head as I shoot, rather than lock'n and loading every 30 minutes and filling 70 portable hard drives by seasons end (Yes, I know, a SLIGHT exaggeration.)

I'm also thinking of actually stopping the digital negative sales, and making albums a mandatory sale in all of my packages.

I can't wait for the "Less is more" trend to come back. But until then I fire about 500 shots for an 8 hour affair, and about 700-800 for a 10 hour job. I usually present anywhere from 250-350 proofs to my clients.

[Scott_Quier]

My longest day (yesterday in fact), I shot only 1079 (actual count). Of that, I usually try to limit the delivered count to 250 and never go over 300.

I have found that doing anything else is a huge over-load on the B&G - they will put it off and put it off and it will never get done.

[bnlearle]

Whatever happened to the old days of 50 shots... maybe 75 (album shooting)... I know... the digital era.

I'm really starting to think that the age of shooting 700 to even 2000 shoots (YES! I've seen 2000 posted before,) is affecting artistic growth of Wedding Photographers. I'm finding it with myself as well. If I only needed to shoot 50 to 100 shots per wedding, they would be VERY well thought out shots. But with clients expecting you to dish out as much as the next guy (in my area, usually about 400-500 shots,) I guess you really have to spend more time shooting off the rounds, rather than focus on quality shots everytime you press the shutter.

I'm not saying that I don't get quality shots, I just think that I would get MORE quality shots if I was not slave to a photo count. And even though I don't initially give clients a count, they always get me to give some average of shots to give them an idea of what to expect... I usually tell them between 25-40 shots an hour.

Recently I have actually brought my final count down to about 250-300 shots, from my past 400-500 shots. Ideally, I would love to present 200 proofs to clients, and focus MUCH more on building albums in my head as I shoot, rather than lock'n and loading every 30 minutes and filling 70 portable hard drives by seasons end (Yes, I know, a SLIGHT exaggeration.)

I'm also thinking of actually stopping the digital negative sales, and making albums a mandatory sale in all of my packages.

I can't wait for the "Less is more" trend to come back. But until then I fire about 500 shots for an 8 hour affair, and about 700-800 for a 10 hour job. I usually present anywhere from 250-350 proofs to my clients.

I totally agree with you. I think the way I remedy this problem is by not having a set amount in my head. There is only one thing I have on my mind. At the end of the day, I want 100 great images that they can view in sequence. 100 images are pleanty to tell a good photo story of the day. The rest I shoot are just extras. As I said earlier, I give my clients arounf 400 or so images AFTER I have given them their full, complete photos which are my favorite 100 or so. This way, they know what their wedding photos are and then what the extras from the day are. I've noticed the clients really love it that way.

Before I switched to digital, I used to take far fewer photos (obviously). I feel I still take the same quaility images I used to when I shot more conservatively now that I shoot more liberally. I think that comes from remembering that the top 100 or so are the most important and that the rest are just little extra goodies.