Online proofing question

I'm slowly making my way into paid portrait photography sessions (photography has just been a hobby up until this point), and I was planning on using my new Zenfolio premium account as a proofing gallery for an upcoming session.

My question: when sending the client unedited proofs (or very limited editing), after they've selected their favorites, do you typically delete or replace the originals from your proofing gallery? And how about the rest. So for example, I send the client 50 images, and they pick 10, will I take down the 40 they didn't pick?

I'm sure practices vary but I just wanted to put some feelers out there for what you find works best. I'm leaning towards delivering only the images they select in the final gallery for various reasons, but then I wonder what if they change their mind later and want to purchase additional images. Could miss a sales opportunity and kind of a pain to put them back up I would think. Appreciate any tips/feedback!

I'm not doing this now, but my approach would be that I would tell the client that I will host all of the images for 2 weeks for them to decide and after that time the images will be removed. I'd probably actually host the images for 3 weeks, in case issues came up with the client or family, and if they asked for something beyond the 2 week time, I'd be able to explain that they're still up for a 3rd week (extra service) without having to rehost them.

What are the chances that a client is going to go back and choose an image or image(s) that they didn't choose the first time? If they didn't like it at first, there is probably a much greater chance that they still won't like it later.

^ good points, and I think you're right, probably little chance of them buying prints after initial review. I like the idea of keeping them up for 2 weeks or some timeframe that encourages them to act quickly.

My main question is whether to keep the original unedited photos in the final gallery. I guess experience will tell if clients actually want to use the unedited images. If not I'd rather not clutter the gallery with those from a quality standpoint, but who knows, perhaps clients will still want to purchase a few as prints. I'll try it both ways and see what works best. If no print sales, then probably not worth hosting them in the final gallery.

Paid or not, I only show clients (including family) pictures that I want them to see and it's always after some level of editing - even if it's just minor adjustments. The only shots that I've shown that are SOOC are when I literally show them the back of the camera of a shot I just got... or if I'm shooting tethered and showing them at the same time.

Well, I shouldn't have said "unedited". I would definitely edit any photo I show to a client with basic WB, exposure and contrast adjustments. Is that the level of editing others typically show at the proofing stage? Then later would do retouching and any creative editing (toning, b&w, vignettes etc), right?

Up until now I have been fully editing my photos and no proofing, just delivery - all of the above plus retouching and creative editing. This is not working for me as my editing style is more involved especially on the retouching where I refuse to use any simple blurring techniques. I would easily spend 6-10 hours editing 20 images, some of which I'm sure the client never intends to use. This is all fun and games when you're a hobbyist, but for paying clients and at higher client volume... well, ain't nobody got time for that!

BTW, I'm speaking only for portraiture, not events or things like that where there's much less retouching involved.

To each, their own. Personally, there is no way that I'm spending 30 minutes per photo that the client may never buy. Photography is not my source of income at this time... but I am at a transition where I have people asking me to do paid work. That said, my time is still too valuable for what you mention. Realize what size they are looking at these images when proofing. Personally, I do the basic adjustments that you described (WB, exposure, contrast, sharpening, etc.) via Lightroom before proofing. If there are major blemishes (or maybe a stain on a piece of clothing) I may remove those as well, but nothing more. Once a client chooses to purchase an image, that's when I spend more time editing. But again, realize what size print they are buying. Unless it's a billboard, it probably doesn't need to be retouched at 400%.

Heh, spend some time watching Sue Bryce teach retouching... she is all about the 2 minute edit, and can include some body reshaping. I don't agree with all of her Ps techniques (e.g. flattened everything), but she's great at what she does and she's making plenty of money doing it - certainly more than I am

I make one gallery on Smugmug per shoot. Proofs with the watermark 'proof" across them get uploaded first to the gallery for the client to make their selections for final edits. The final edited photos without watermarks are uploaded to the front of the same gallery for client download, print orders, and archive storage. I leave all photos up for archive indefinitely.

^ thanks guys, good to know! I think I'll go with a similar process to what you outlined, Scott, and see how that goes.

I personally leave all of the photos up the entire time the gallery is active.......you may find that you'll have multiple customers that choose to pick something entirely different than the immediate family a bit later (such as grandparents). It's also not un-common to receive an additional order after the first of some of the other photos. IMO, it's best to keep them posted the entire time.