150 Portraits, 3x4 prints, how would you setup an efficient workflow? Smugmug users.

[SteveNC]

I'm going to be doing several portrait shoots at a local school over different days. There will be about 150 total students with 20-30 students per day. Each student will take 30-40 images, and then I post them online for them to choose the image they want. (This is an extremely important application that they need this photo for).Each student will then require that image as a 3x4 print. This is a very strange size, and I'm not quite sure how to handle this work flow in an efficient manner.

Previously, each student emails me the image number, then I manually crop each student's image to 3x4, expand the canvas size with white pixels to fit a 4x6 print, and then upload the 4x6 version. For example, see below. This is VERY time intensive considering the number of students and the fact that they don't all select their images and email you at the same time, so it becomes very fragmented.

http://andrawesphoto.smugmug.com/photos/492013233_9eV8w-M.jpg http://andrawesphoto.smugmug.com/photos/492013240_ocgEd-M.jpg

The other option is to allow all to download the images; I would love to do this, but they will surely run into trouble trying to get their image printed as a 3x4 without the above cropping and expanding process. It doesn't seem feasible since they don't know how to do this, and I can't manually do this for every single image I take (40images x 150 students = too many).

I wish Bay Photo offered a 3x4 option, so that users could crop to 3x4 as they please and complete the entire process online. Thoughts?

[BobbyM]

what software do you use on your end for photos (lightroom, photoshop, etc)?

[SteveNC]

I use lightroom and try to stay away from photoshop if at all possible (CS3)

[tim]

I have a lab that will print and cut any custom size I want, I just have to set it up properly. If I want a 2x16" photo I just crop it to that ratio, then resize it to 250ppi (their native resolution). The machine prints and cuts it for me.

This is a four step process using Bridge:
1) Set up the ppi in Bridge/Lightroom to the same as your printer needs - usually 300ppi. Set sRgb while you're there.
2) Crop to the correct ratio.
3) Batch out all the images that have been cropped.
4) In photoshop run the image processor script, if you want a 4in print at 300ppi just enter 1200 in the maximum dimensions field.

Send all those files to the lab and they'll come back ready.

This sounds really labour intensive, just keeping track of the kids selections, and moving so many prints around. Personally i'd just make the choices myself.

[dreamcatcher23]

why 30-40 images of each student? That's gotta be overkill.

[SteveNC]

Yeah I'm thinking it is, now that I think about it. I want to be sure they have what they need, though. I typically shoot and preview on a screen for them, and we go until they are satisfied...

[dreamcatcher23]

On another note, why not use a camera that shoots a 4x3 ratio to save time on cropping? Many do, just hidden in the menus somewhere.

If you don't do that and decide to crop, you should be able to edit up the 4500 images in lightroom in about 2-3 hours (assuming consistent lighting - which you should have in a controlled environment)

[dreamcatcher23]

I bet you/they spend more time choosing the shot than actually shooting it. I'd suggest sticking to 5 or fewer - many more and you simply get confused trying to decide. If you can't get the shot in 5 or fewer then you've either got an unusually picky customer or you perhaps need to revisit other parts of your process.

The only reason to do as many as you're doing is if they're different shots and you're trying to make additional sales from all the different poses.

[tim]

You let them preview until they're happy, and you give them options? Are you trying to run a business or a popularity contest?! :p

I think your entire workflow needs to change, from the shooting, to selection, and possibly distribution too.