Shoot & Burn : Wedding Clients wants to keep SD cards after the event

I never give my clients the cards, mainly because I am completely insecure and copy the original images to a hard drive, maybe 2 hard drives before I even edit a single picture. I've lost data on corrupt cards before and not doing that again. If they want all the pictures, which I have done before, I just make them a DVD. It's their right if they pay for it. But to give them the original on the CF/SD card, is asking for trouble, especially if they don't know what they are doing. You can easily take your computer with you and burn them a DVD.

SuzyView wrote in post #16997303
I never give my clients the cards, mainly because I am completely insecure and copy the original images to a hard drive, maybe 2 hard drives before I even edit a single picture. I've lost data on corrupt cards before and not doing that again. If they want all the pictures, which I have done before, I just make them a DVD. It's their right if they pay for it. But to give them the original on the CF/SD card, is asking for trouble, especially if they don't know what they are doing. You can easily take your computer with you and burn them a DVD.

I think the idea here is to note in the contract that once you have given them the SD cards, you aren't responsible for the images anymore. That makes it their responsibility to make sure that they don't loose the images, not yours.

nathancarter wrote in post #16993495
Charge the same amount (or more, to transfer copyright), and don't have to do hours upon hours of culling and post-processing? Seems like a pretty good deal to me.

That's what I see here. Less work for the same or possibly more money. Where's the beef?

Hogloff wrote in post #16997444
That's what I see here. Less work for the same or possibly more money. Where's the beef?

The beef is my raws make me look incompetent.

Are they asking for the RAW files because they saw a "List of things to ask your wedding photographer" on knot.com. Or are they asking because they are an Amateur photographer and want to edit their own images.

When my friend got married, his cousin, who is a wedding photographer, shot some shots, but they hired another pro (husband and wife team) to shoot the ceremony and reception and just got the RAW files after the wedding. (They got the RAW files on a harddrive, not the SD/CF cards)

RAW files do look terrible without editing. I have a friend who paid a newbie pro to shoot her daughter's wedding, and she asked for all the images up front. The pro said she would, but then refused. It was a long fight. I can see why someone would want all the images that day. I would probably not mind this if the client promised the images would not be published without my consent, but that seems tricky.

As confident as I am in my ability to shoot without needing to post process the hell out of each image for 2 hours a piece.. I think this still sounds incredibly risky.

Mostly because..
What if they lose the card after they take it from you? There'd be no backups, likely, if they just took it at the end of the event.

Then what?

I have no problems giving over the RAWs if asked..because I just care about making sure the client is happy. I really don't care about anything else, or what my "peers" think of it.. and yet..I'd probably back them up first, just in case.

I wouldn't accept that client for $5000.

Walk away from this, OP. You're setting yourself up for disaster.

mclaren777 wrote in post #16998728
I wouldn't accept that client for $5000.

Walk away from this, OP. You're setting yourself up for disaster.

^ +1 ^

mclaren777 wrote in post #16998728
I wouldn't accept that client for $5000.

Walk away from this, OP. You're setting yourself up for disaster.

I'm still yet to see what this massive disaster is exactly. $5000 for a day's work... if that is a disaster I hope I have one... in fact I hope I have several.

Karl Johnston wrote in post #16998619
As confident as I am in my ability to shoot without needing to post process the hell out of each image for 2 hours a piece.. I think this still sounds incredibly risky.

Mostly because..
What if they lose the card after they take it from you? There'd be no backups, likely, if they just took it at the end of the event.

Then what?

I have no problems giving over the RAWs if asked..because I just care about making sure the client is happy. I really don't care about anything else, or what my "peers" think of it.. and yet..I'd probably back them up first, just in case.

I'm sure they would be ok if you brought them a disk with the raws the next day rather than handing over the cards the day of the wedding.

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #16999013
I'm still yet to see what this massive disaster is exactly. $5000 for a day's work... if that is a disaster I hope I have one... in fact I hope I have several.

Yes exactly. I don't see a disaster at all. I see saving a bunch of post work.

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #16999013
I'm still yet to see what this massive disaster is exactly.

If a client doesn't respect the tail end of your creative process (editing), I think it's reasonable to assume that they won't respect the first half either (shooting).

I'm sure there will be people here on POTN who are comfortable with this situation, but the OP doesn't strike me as one of those members.

mclaren777 wrote in post #16999432
If a client doesn't respect the tail end of your creative process (editing), I think it's reasonable to assume that they won't respect the first half either (shooting).

"Respect" or perhaps simply just not requiring it. They could very easily just be wanting someone with a good eye and someone who gets compositions / moments the way they like them. If the pay is good FTW.

That's possible. And again, you might jump at this opportunity, but I think it sounds like a recipe for disaster.

If you don't mind me asking, strykher1025, how much will they be paying you for this wedding?