Client Proofiing

I just shot my first E-session this past weekend. Took about 400 shots, about 200 of which I want to show the clients. I have a website that I can do client proofing on, but I'm just not exactly sure what to ask of the couple.

Should I have them pick just their very favorites?

Should I tell them to just pick out the ones that they DON'T want?

If they pick their favorites, I would assume that they would still want some of the other images just to have, even if they aren't going to print them large or send them on invitations or anything?

Please help!
Thanks!
David

200 to show the client from an E-session seems a bit much to me. Can you pare it down even more without losing some good stuff? You dont want to overwhelm them.

gonzogolf wrote in post #15041532
200 to show the client from an E-session seems a bit much to me. Can you pare it down even more without losing some good stuff? You dont want to overwhelm them.

Yes, I'm sure I could get it down more than that, and will do so..thanks for the suggestion.

Once I do have it whittled down some more...?

davidmtml wrote in post #15041547
Yes, I'm sure I could get it down more than that, and will do so..thanks for the suggestion.

Once I do have it whittled down some more...?

My process is to not show the client anything that hasnt been processed, so I tend to show fewer images. I might offer an additional degree of attention to the final selections (skin smoothing etc.) but for the most part what they see are pretty much done. I guess I'm curious about your workflow, are the clients going to screen them first, or what you envision?

i usually for engagement session try and present 50-100 ill cull them down then cull them down and have my wife look and help decide which ones to do more

gonzogolf wrote in post #15041567
My process is to not show the client anything that hasnt been processed, so I tend to show fewer images. I might offer an additional degree of attention to the final selections (skin smoothing etc.) but for the most part what they see are pretty much done. I guess I'm curious about your workflow, are the clients going to screen them first, or what you envision?

I am doing basic editing in lightroom. Fixing white balance, adjusting exposure, contrast, etc. I was thinking then they could go through and choose the ones that they liked, and I would then edit those more thoroughly.

Personally I give my clients between 150-300 shots from an e-session. But that's just me.

What does your contract say? Just "Edited images on a disc" or something else?

I'd get it down to 30 really good ones. What to do next depends on their contract. Easiest but least profitable is to put them on DVD for them. Next could be online proofing for them to buy, but people don't buy much from that. Next is an in person viewing/sales session, which is most profitable if done properly.

The pictures were done for some friends of mine, so I didn't do an official contract (because I haven't made one yet!) I ended up getting it down to 110 images. I then posted them online for them, and told them to choose about 20 of their favorites plus to let me know the ones that they definitely did NOT want. For their final selections, I used their favorites plus some of my favorites. I will post some pictures soon!

No contract and a favor so it sounds like you weren't paid... this seems like a lot of effort for not getting paid! Personally I would have just done the basics and slapped them on a disc and called it a day. If your friend wanted more later then work it out at that time. But it sounds like you're a better friend than I!

Oh, and even with friends you should get a contract. I make my own sister sign a contract when I do photography related things for her.

PeaceFire wrote in post #15045640
No contract and a favor so it sounds like you weren't paid... this seems like a lot of effort for not getting paid! Personally I would have just done the basics and slapped them on a disc and called it a day. If your friend wanted more later then work it out at that time. But it sounds like you're a better friend than I!

Oh, and even with friends you should get a contract. I make my own sister sign a contract when I do photography related things for her.

I didn't do it for free, but i did do it for cheap haha. He has been a good friend of mine for a long time, and again, it was my very first engagement shoot. I had to travel about 3 hours each way, so I am charging him enough to cover my travel expenses and make a little bit of money.

I understand that for not much pay, you would "do the basics" and "slap it onto a disc", but that is not what I want to be known for, regardless of price. Word-of-Mouth is the best marketing tool, and the better recommendations I can get from my clients, the better off I am in the long run....even if i ended up making just a couple bucks an hour after all my work!!

I posted some photos from the shoot here.
https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1232133

davidmtml wrote in post #15045773
I didn't do it for free, but i did do it for cheap haha. He has been a good friend of mine for a long time, and again, it was my very first engagement shoot. I had to travel about 3 hours each way, so I am charging him enough to cover my travel expenses and make a little bit of money.

I understand that for not much pay, you would "do the basics" and "slap it onto a disc", but that is not what I want to be known for, regardless of price. Word-of-Mouth is the best marketing tool, and the better recommendations I can get from my clients, the better off I am in the long run....even if i ended up making just a couple bucks an hour after all my work!!

Word of mouth goes both ways. If you give too much for too little your future clients will come to expect the same. Nobody is suggesting you give less effort, but to deliver good work for the value. How many shots would a couple expect to use for an E session? Certainly far less than the 100 you were considering to present them.

gonzogolf wrote in post #15045915
Word of mouth goes both ways. If you give too much for too little your future clients will come to expect the same. Nobody is suggesting you give less effort, but to deliver good work for the value. How many shots would a couple expect to use for an E session? Certainly far less than the 100 you were considering to present them.

Good point.

110 images for an E-session is way too much. Next time, try to cull it down as others have suggested. Then present them. Not sure what your final delivery is, but I can't imagine making too much on an E-session as far as prints/albums is concerned.