What do I tell him? (they want all pictures)

So I recently did some pictures for an old friend of mine. We were really good friends back in high school, but don't talk a whole lot anymore. The photos were of him, his wife, and their 1 year old son.

I normally supply 10 edited images, but since I know them I edited every usable image there was and I delivered ~35 images to them. The rest of the images that were not delivered were because of bad lighting, posing that was unflattering, or blurry out of focus pictures.

He messaged me today and said they loved the pictures but wants the rest of the unedited ones. I would never do this for anyone else but I don't know what to do since he and I were good friends. I don't feel comfortable giving him pictures that I feel look really bad and are not representative of what I can do.

Should I just give them to him? Or should I tell him I delete the unusable ones during the culling process?

Thank you in advance!

Be and honest and tell him what you just said.
Sadly people these days are used to quantity over quality.

I'd go with the 2nd option or maybe send a handful more that aren't too bad - or a handful that illustrate why you don't think they're good.

Did they pay you? If they didn't, then it's really up to you and your relationship with him.

If they did, they have expectations. They stated that they were satisfied with the images, but are still asking either because they don't trust you completely, or there was miscommunication or missed shots.

To me, un-edited photos are incomplete work. In any service or goods industry, no unfinished product is ever sold, it tarnishes the result of the end product and what could they possibly want with it?

This is a common request for photographers. Its because human perception is "we all see things differently therefore what you think looks good I might not and visa versa". However, this is rarely true consumer to photographer. Bottom line is: if you don't want the pictures associated with you as a photographer then don't give them the pictures. If you do they will end up on Facebook or spread around some other way.

Delete them and then tell them you deleted them. In the future, delete before someone can ask. If they are truly bad pics, why hang on to them anyway?

^^^ this ^^^^^

I've gone this route before and at least they respect you a bit. I also tell anybody I shoot I delete any I don't think will work for whatever reason.

NewCreation wrote in post #16353925
Delete them and then tell them you deleted them. In the future, delete before someone can ask. If they are truly bad pics, why hang on to them anyway?

Absolutely what Brenda says here.

Before I have any sort of discussion with the client I always cull the clinkers. Why have less than optimum work associated with your name? Once it's out - tilted shot, oof, bad framing, closed eyes, poor exposure - it's all over FB, email, phones, etc.

Tell him you deleted them regardless of whether you actually did or not. I mean, what's he going to do, hold you at gunpoint and demand to see your memory card?

Only give out the crappy unedited ones if you want to see them sprawled across the internet via their friends and family. Don't ask me how I know

When I've had the same question, I tell them that I provide all usable photos. I explain that while I may have taken more, some were set-up shots for lighting, or test shots for composition, or that others were culled due to blinks, incomplete smiles, background distractions, etc. Shots that were not provided were deleted (whether I did or not).

Now, make sure you don't tell them that they were deleted, then give in to pressure and give some more, as then they'll figure out you lied.

Another way is to turn this around: ask them why. Sometimes you have to ask why several times (six times is the Quality standard), but you'll find out what their reasoning is.

John

NewCreation wrote in post #16353925
Delete them and then tell them you deleted them. In the future, delete before someone can ask. If they are truly bad pics, why hang on to them anyway?

Exactly! Don't make this any harder than it has to be. Just say you deleted them. Period.

Treat friends as you would any normal client or don't work with them at all. Why should they be allowed to have different expectations to a normal client?

Yet another voice in the "deleted them" camp. I don't even let my girlfriend see bad photos.

Currently they are seeing your best shots and as a result think your work is great. Start releasing lower quality images and it will alter their perception of your overall ability.

Do chefs supply the food they accidentally burnt if the client requests it?
Do artists supply their sketches in coming up with the finished commissioned works?
Do musicians supply the out takes from their recording sessions on their albums?
Do manufacturers supply faulty products deliberately?