Mail Clients a DVD or Digital Download?

SashaPrincePhotography wrote in post #17233095
I like the idea of a USB thumbdrive- but they seem far too expensive. For DVDs, I print directly onto the disc for nice presentation. I guess the question is.. is a DVD the best thing for my client?

Depends on who your client is.

For a wedding photographer, an $8 USB device is more expensive than a $.25 DVD-R, but really isn't cutting into your profit margin much. Plus, depending on the type file and delivery method, you may need multiple DVD's (where you could fit many more images on a single USB device depending on what size you get). Also, the length of time to download 4gb worth of images (the size of a DVD) on the 'average' home speed connection could be several hours. While the USB storage device takes a few days to ship, the time from arrival of the device to seeing the images on the screen is much faster - a few minutes if you include the boot-time of the computer. I find that to be much more important to the clients.

Additionally, if a client's computer ever 'crashes', they would need to re-download the photos (let's be honest, your average 'client' doesn't have a good backup plan), while either a DVD or USB storage device would keep their images accessible for future devices.

I'm a big fan of USB devices for the clients it makes sense for (IE: any client paying at least $500 for your services). USB isn't going away anytime soon, and has much more storage capacity than DVD's.

There are some really great points here. I appreciate the feedback. I think for now I will continue to use DVD media by default. However, a "one size fits all" approach is probably not realistic.

~Thanks a bunch.

i had really hoped to push clients to direct download. It seems futile though. I'm amazed at how difficult people make it for themselves by not understanding how the internet works. If they understand Dropbox, they won't want any other online option, if they don't understand Dropbox, it often takes longer to explain it than to burn a DVD and drop it in the mail. I have tried other methods too with varying degrees of success.

Burning a CD seems to be the way to go. It also means that they cannot delete or overwrite any of the images . . . and as long as they don't lose the cd they will have the originals. If they lose it, they have to pay for another, depending on how good of a client they are.

I don't trust Dropbox: I think it 'remembers' your files even after you've deleted them.

For direct downloads I give clients a link to a zip file hosted in my own domain.

Do you use custom usb drives ? If so, which company do you use ?

JacobPhoto wrote in post #17234088
Depends on who your client is.

For a wedding photographer, an $8 USB device is more expensive than a $.25 DVD-R, but really isn't cutting into your profit margin much. Plus, depending on the type file and delivery method, you may need multiple DVD's (where you could fit many more images on a single USB device depending on what size you get). Also, the length of time to download 4gb worth of images (the size of a DVD) on the 'average' home speed connection could be several hours. While the USB storage device takes a few days to ship, the time from arrival of the device to seeing the images on the screen is much faster - a few minutes if you include the boot-time of the computer. I find that to be much more important to the clients.

Additionally, if a client's computer ever 'crashes', they would need to re-download the photos (let's be honest, your average 'client' doesn't have a good backup plan), while either a DVD or USB storage device would keep their images accessible for future devices.

I'm a big fan of USB devices for the clients it makes sense for (IE: any client paying at least $500 for your services). USB isn't going away anytime soon, and has much more storage capacity than DVD's.

Christopher Steven b wrote in post #17235990
Do you use custom usb drives ? If so, which company do you use ?

Nope. I only have a handful of clients who actually need more than 20 images per job. When those come up, I usually just buy the most 'elegant' looking USB devices at my local office supply store.

I think this is what I used last time, with a quick custom-printed label:
http://www.officedepot​.com …wistTurn-USB-Flash-Drive/

Amazon has HUNDREDS of options, many in the $5 to $10 range for a 16gb drive. Again, the types of clients I work with who need more than 20 to 30 images at a time are worthy of me spending the extra money on for something like that.

Thanks. I'm strongly considering going with custom (logo engraved) wooden usb keys in boxes for my wedding clients for 2015. You're right about it not really cutting into the bottom line that much--for me the cost of a season's supply would be 1/5th my fee for a single wedding. And there's also something to be said for creating the feel of offering something tangible. I think it can definitely help with marketing one's product.

JacobPhoto wrote in post #17236147
Nope. I only have a handful of clients who actually need more than 20 images per job. When those come up, I usually just buy the most 'elegant' looking USB devices at my local office supply store.

I think this is what I used last time, with a quick custom-printed label:
http://www.officedepot​.com …wistTurn-USB-Flash-Drive/

Amazon has HUNDREDS of options, many in the $5 to $10 range for a 16gb drive. Again, the types of clients I work with who need more than 20 to 30 images at a time are worthy of me spending the extra money on for something like that.

I deliver downloads as standard and charge an additional fee for USB.

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #17233575
I don't sell prints, never have, never will... I sell data.

I thought I was the only one who thought of photos as data (from a business perspective). Nice to know I'm not alone.

i haven't burned a disc since 2009... i use Dropbox for 100% of my clients...

Making people download multiple GB (or even half a GB) imposes a cost and effort on them. Not everyone will be able to do it. Sending physical media should be your default - you can get decent USB sticks relatively cheaply now.

Charging postage is nickle & diming customers.

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #17233575
It isn't a one size fits all if you don't sell prints. I don't sell prints, never have, never will... I sell data.

Have to ask. Why are you so pissed off all of the time?

SuffolkGal wrote in post #17254660
Have to ask. Why are you so pissed off all of the time?

How you infer that from a comment that I don't sell prints, I sell data is beyond me.

Some photographers don't sell prints nor see it as an integral part of being a photography business. Why is that being "pissed off" exactly? It is called having a different business model... and to a degree a different end product.

tim wrote in post #17253997
Making people download multiple GB (or even half a GB) imposes a cost and effort on them. Not everyone will be able to do it. Sending physical media should be your default - you can get decent USB sticks relatively cheaply now.

Over here there are plenty of areas where digital transfer still isn't a viable option for the end user. Personally I feel hybrid approaches are best. Any combo of DVD, USB and via the cloud according to what suits your clients best.

All three options are relatively cheap and so long as you set your pricing with the most expensive being your baseline you can't go wrong. If someone opts for a cheaper method you've made a little extra. Either way the COGS for data delivery no matter what the medium is so relatively cheap it shouldn't matter.

...I'm almost exclusively digital download. My corporate event clients are sometimes several steps removed from the actual person who booked me: for example I might get booked by a PCO (Professional Conference Organiser) based in Auckland who is organising a medical conference for a client based in Sydney Australia who is having their conference in Wellington New Zealand. The client flies in then flies out that night: digital download means they don't have to wait for their images, it also means that all different members of the team can get access to the images by simply logging into their gallery and entering the password. In three years I've sent out about 5 DVD's and 10 USB sticks.