Bride wants all photos

Are you planning on shooting weddings in the future?

If so only give them what you would be happy with others seeing. Giving them 200 decent ones may get you recommendations, give them 600 with 2/3 being crap will not look good!

If you are not planning for the future then do what you want as you have nothing to loose!

What Jon said, the important fact here is your future plans.

You're right to only give work you're happy with - but if it'll do no harm to your reputation - give them some more. If you need an argument, my favourite is 'Did you get all the food that the caterer bought, including potato peelings and the stuff that was dropped on the floor?' (borrowed from a fellow POTNer)

Lesson learned - People who don't want to pay for photography generally have no concept of the 'value' of photographic skills - so they believe we're just lucky enough to have good equipment - out of which comes good pictures -right. They'll never grasp the subtle differences between what we'd consider a good shot and a great shot, and often couldn't even spot a completely dreadful shot.

if that's the case, then does it mean that ALL photgraphers do too much processing for ALL weddings?
in which case, just point, shoot, stand and deliver.

I wouldn't give them your bad pics. Even for my family photo album I delete my worst. I understand her excitement, but let her get the snapshots from someone else. I think it does you a disfavor as well as her. You didn't take 600 pics for nothing. It's not a perfect system. Some aren't going to work. Delete them and move on.

Just delete the crap and give them what's left. And when they ask if there's anything more, you can honestly tell them there isn't.

fact is Friends tend to be the one's who demand more and pay less, they are quite barely never satisfied. So, in your case I would have never even bothered with the $30 or your expenses so they don't feel you owe it to them. This is what I would do. Give them the 200 images ONLY! If you give them the rest they probably would think you SUCK because they will see 400 images that have not been retouched. just imo...

photosbyjuan wrote in post #3754796
fact is Friends tend to be the one's who demand more and pay less.

I sometimes wonder why it is that the friend who gets the money is expected to do the favor and not the other way around. If it is a friendship we are talking about, it is a mutual relationship, right? Why can't we photographers tell our friends, 'Looky pal, I normally charge a hundred bucks for this. But since you are my friend, I will charge you two hundred. You would want to make me a favor, right?"

MALI

You shouldn't give out crap images. I have plenty of test images, too. I'm not about to give them out. I've only got about 100 to show my couple from yesterday. That's all they're seeing/getting. If I'm not pleased with an image, no one sees it. Every image you give out should bolster your reputation....test images don't do it.

liza wrote in post #3754304
Just delete the crap and give them what's left. And when they ask if there's anything more, you can honestly tell them there isn't.

+1 here.

Just tell them that 600 was an exaggeration, and that you automatically delete all blinkers, bad expressions, etc.

And never again tell anyone how many shots you took.

As wedding photographers, we DO NOT let the work we do be an embarrassment to our clients by letting them have images that may be non-flattering of bride and groom. We more so DO NOT let our mediocre work be seen by others. Remember, everyone is a potential customer or their children or even grandchildren.........​....

Word of mouth is always the BEST advertising we can get! And it's free!! Let them have the mis-shots and believe me they will remember how bad those were (not how good the rest of them are.

DON'T DO IT! BURN THOSE BAD IMAGES; DELETE THEM, ANYTHING BUT SPREAD BAD WORD OF MOUTH ABOUT YOUR WORK!!!

Out of sight, out of mind. If they only see the good/great/amazing images, they'll equate you with good/great/amazing photographer and they'll show your work to their friends and family. From that, you'll get business.

WeCamps Photography wrote in post #3755021
As wedding photographers, we DO NOT let the work we do be an embarrassment to our clients by letting them have images that may be non-flattering of bride and groom. We more so DO NOT let our mediocre work be seen by others. Remember, everyone is a potential customer or their children or even grandchildren.........​....

Word of mouth is always the BEST advertising we can get! And it's free!! Let them have the mis-shots and believe me they will remember how bad those were (not how good the rest of them are.

DON'T DO IT! BURN THOSE BAD IMAGES; DELETE THEM, ANYTHING BUT SPREAD BAD WORD OF MOUTH ABOUT YOUR WORK!!!

i fully agree, especially when you are just starting Wedding photography. 1 lousy word and it will be hard to get another job, this is especially so when brides and grooms nowadays do have their own forum and networks.

WeCamps Photography wrote in post #3755021
As wedding photographers, we DO NOT let the work we do be an embarrassment to our clients by letting them have images that may be non-flattering of bride and groom. We more so DO NOT let our mediocre work be seen by others. Remember, everyone is a potential customer or their children or even grandchildren.........​....

Word of mouth is always the BEST advertising we can get! And it's free!! Let them have the mis-shots and believe me they will remember how bad those were (not how good the rest of them are.

DON'T DO IT! BURN THOSE BAD IMAGES; DELETE THEM, ANYTHING BUT SPREAD BAD WORD OF MOUTH ABOUT YOUR WORK!!!

%99.9 pure Troy gold. Take this advice to the bank.

Thanks for the replies. I haven't recieved a message back from him yet, but I am burning the cd right now with the 255. I agree with others that say they will remember the bad pictures instead of the good.

BTW, I do want to get into wedding photography, and will be shooting as a second with a cousin of mine who is a wedding photographer. Last thing I want is for my career to be tainted early on.

photo_hobby wrote in post #3755111
Last thing I want is for my career to be tainted early on.

exactly. I wouldn't give ANY more out at all. You chose your set for a reason. Just tell them you delete the files as you shoot so you don't have any other than the ones you gave 'em.

Your name is gonna be attached to the mediocre shots you give them. No way would I want that.