Wedding proofs - how much work do you do on them?

[gwc1023]

I'm getting proofs from a wedding (my 2nd) ready for the bride and I'm just struggling with how much PPing to be doing on the shots before giving her proofs. For the majority of shots, I'm just working in ACR, quick WB adjustment if necessary, a little contrast, etc. Quick and easy.

But there are a few shots that I took with the final PP'd version in mind, and that don't really look 'right' to me without the PP'ing - for example we went to some train tracks near here with big trees on either side and did a few shots there. My intention was for them to be in B&W, with something like a misty glow action applied. The plain shot doesn't nearly do justice (IMO) to what the finished product could look like.

So do I PP those shots for the 4x6 proofs? Do up a few 5x7 examples of what could be done with pp'ing? What do others usually do? I've seen some beautiful shots on here and various photog's sites, that obviously have some pp'ing work, and I just wonder how you get the couple to want to purchase those types of prints if all they have to look at is the virtually unretouched proof.

[cdifoto]

basic exposure, levels (curves), and white balance here. My galleries are what show the potential.

[Zansho]

White balance, exposure, and curves adjustments for me. I'll also do about 5 portraits touched up so they can see what I can do to their images, and if they want me to retouch others, I charge accordingly.

[tim]

White bal, exposure, brightness, contrast. 1% may go into photoshop. My proofs are all digital, DVD and online. For prints i'd probably spend a little more time, but not much.

[jwilson]

My workflow is overkill...after I weed out the "trash," I tweak (levels, wb, contrast) all of the remaining files (anywhere from 400-700. After that, I go through a couple of processes to narrow down the photos I want to present as proofs (approx 200 proofs). Then I go through each proof and pp to a finished product. I know it's add'l work but I don't want the customer to see "potential," I want them to see finished product. If they like an "untouched" photo and buy it as such, then they start showing these photos around with my name on it and it's not to my standards. Again, I know I'm doing alot of extra work but sometimes customers aren't skilled at seeing the "potential" of a photograph; they need to be shown the finished product. Just my $.02...

[cdifoto]

Then I go through each proof and pp to a finished product. I know it's add'l work but I don't want the customer to see "potential," I want them to see finished product. If they like an "untouched" photo and buy it as such, then they start showing these photos around with my name on it and it's not to my standards. Again, I know I'm doing alot of extra work but sometimes customers aren't skilled at seeing the "potential" of a photograph; they need to be shown the finished product. Just my $.02...
"Potential" means finished product. "Potential" = all that it can be. My web galleries, blog images, and the albums/print samples are finished. My proofs are not. It's a huge waste of time to put heavy processing work into hundreds of images that the client never purchases or chooses for the album. No one receives an untouched photo from me. Heck no one even sees an untouched photo from me, let alone passes it around.

[MikeMcL]

let your work represent itself. if the picture of the tracks sucks without PP, then DO IT if you want to sell it.

I agree with the others - you cant go overboard on all the shots, but if you took a creative shot or twenty - finish them.

You mentioned that you are also new at this. You are going to have to put out "top quality" work to develop experience and a customer base. don't be afraid to do a little more work than the comfortable, established pros.

For instance, i have been following Tim's threads for almost 2 years, and he has steadily talked about cutting down his time, and workflow and become more effecient. it takes time to figure out what works for you... and then tweak it, think it out and cut it down until it is efficient.

[larann78]

oh my gosh...people think I am nuts, but nothing leaves me studio without it being all that it can be. I do all artistic work, retouching, ect...to every single proof that they see. You have to remember that people don't have the same vision for an image that we do. We can talk until we are blue in the face about putting a glow on it, or a soft touch, or blah blah this and that...they are going to be like, oh...what? And then they won't buy it because they cannot visualize it. I getted chewed out by photographers all the time because they say I am wasting my time, but you know what, when brides get their proofs from me, they are blown away and I usually get an email the next day saying how they can't believe how beautiful everything looks. Now, I am a pretty low volume studio. I will only do two weddings per month. I think it's a personal decision. What do you want the clients first reaction to be?

[cdifoto]

You have to remember that people don't have the same vision for an image that we do.
That's why I have before/after samples of the advanced stuff. They can mouseover to see what they'd be getting. A proof doesn't mean bad photo. It just means nothing fancy applied.

[sapearl]

I suppose larann of this would depend upon how many weddings you are shooting, how many shots for each, and how busy you are. I appreciate that clients often cannot see "potential" in a shot and that we should feature our best work.

So I guess I'd have to ask: how many proofs are you providing for each wedding. It is say, 50-100 of your best that will go into an album then I can understand you're investment of extensive PP time. But if you provide 400 - 800 proofs/wedding, that simply does not seem practical.

I will provide 400-500 proofs per wedding, both online gallery and traditional lab 4x6 prints. All are shot RAW, but everyone of them is cycled through ACR and adjusted for WB, exposure, brightnetss, black point, contrast, etc. They do NOT get extensive PP work. The client could not afford me if I did that ;).

Now, I see you are quite low volume and it appears this is the only work you do...... so likely the flow makes sense in your circumstances. I only do about 15 jobs/year, plus misc. other volunteer shoots, but I also have a FT job. I just would not have time to PP every single frame. - Stu

oh my gosh...people think I am nuts, but nothing leaves me studio without it being all that it can be. I do all artistic work, retouching, ect...to every single proof that they see. You have to remember that people don't have the same vision for an image that we do. We can talk until we are blue in the face about putting a glow on it, or a soft touch, or blah blah this and that...they are going to be like, oh...what? And then they won't buy it because they cannot visualize it. I getted chewed out by photographers all the time because they say I am wasting my time, but you know what, when brides get their proofs from me, they are blown away and I usually get an email the next day saying how they can't believe how beautiful everything looks. Now, I am a pretty low volume studio. I will only do two weddings per month. I think it's a personal decision. What do you want the clients first reaction to be?

[larann78]

sapearl~

Between me and my assistant we are shooting around 400-500 images, but the clients only see's 200-250 at the most.

[sapearl]

aHA! You're cheating - you have an assistant :lol:. With help then 200-250 is a pretty manageable amount. That puts things in a much better perspective ;).

BTW, nice work on your website.... cute opening shot of the stubborn dog on the leash. You may want to consider though a more obvious on/off switch for the music. Personally I like the tune myself, but repeat visits could be another story. I had a hard time seeing the dark red "sound bars" on the black background. - Stu

sapearl~

Between me and my assistant we are shooting around 400-500 images, but the clients only see's 200-250 at the most.

[jwilson]

Fortunately, I'm pretty quick with Photoshop so pp'ing 400-500 images doesn't take me all that long. I am also low volume (2 weddings/month plus families and seniors) business so I can afford a little more time for each photo. And what I didn't say in my previous post is that it depends on the pkg the client orders. If they order a pkg with proofs only then that'll cut down on my pp. If they order the pkg that contains digital files, they all get pp'd.

Jeff

[poloman]

There is an additional factor no one has addressed.
People want to see good looking images of themselves. Particularly the women. If their skin needs a bit of help, I think it should be done ahead of time with no mention to the client. They will notice that your images are "better". :)

[tim]

You do skin smoothing for all the photos of the women? How do you find the time?

[elysium]

With any proof, I would not complete them for final presentation but just make sure the white balance is correct and adjust the exposure. Maybe skin smoothen if required.

The main thing I look for in proofs of any sort is what the customer/client is going to expect. This way it gives them an idea of a halfway jobbie.

[cdifoto]

A proof to me isn't intended to show my style or skill. A proof is a small image intended to allow them to choose the poses and/or moments they like for either print or the album.

They're already aware of the quality of my work because they saw samples before signing the contract.