Who includes "Digital Negatives"?

I don't "give" digital negs away in a package. I don't sell digital negs either. I do sell "high resolution files" to my couples. With limited rights.

You have to keep in mind that yes a lot of photographers use the term "digital negatives" and just hand over the jpgs. To the all the "unknowing' folks out there those are the negatives. It is YOUR job as a photographer to educate your client. If you want them to know that the jpg's are NOT the "digital negatives" then you do realize they will start wanting the actuall dng's, raws, cr2's or what ever files. right?

so really, what does it matter? someone mentioned as long as they can print they dont' care... If you want more control over your work, don't give away your high rez files, or your digi negs.. to anyone for any price

Regarding the term "Digital Negatives"

Effectively, negatives are what the client can print their images from. To me, the jpg is the digital "negative." It's not the "original file" or the most manipulable or archival form of the image, but it's the one that allows them to obtain the product they want - whether that's an image to display on facebook or a print.

I wouldn't want an un-processed roll of exposed film from a wedding photog still shooting film. Why the heck would a non-photog wedding client want a bunch of RAW files?

But yes, I call them high resolution or low resolution digital files.

It would matter a lot if say you're the groom and also a budding photoshop artist. Imagine his surprise when he opens up the DVD you gave him only to find it's full of pretty yet compressed JPEGS instead of DNG files - especially after your website specifically stated that, "Digital Negatives" are included. And we aren't talking semantics here because there really is a "digital negative" format and it's not JPEG.

A rarity to be sure but hey, it could happen. I'm just saying why chance it? And like stated up the line... for those of us old enough to remember, the mere mention of the word, "negative" implies ownership, copyrights and all the wrong ideas.

I'm saying do away with the term completely so you aren't put in that position to begin with. (Like you do).

Joelene wrote in post #9344165
I don't "give" digital negs away in a package. I don't sell digital negs either. I do sell "high resolution files" to my couples. With limited rights.

You have to keep in mind that yes a lot of photographers use the term "digital negatives" and just hand over the jpgs. To the all the "unknowing' folks out there those are the negatives. It is YOUR job as a photographer to educate your client. If you want them to know that the jpg's are NOT the "digital negatives" then you do realize they will start wanting the actuall dng's, raws, cr2's or what ever files. right?

so really, what does it matter? someone mentioned as long as they can print they dont' care... If you want more control over your work, don't give away your high rez files, or your digi negs.. to anyone for any price

To anyone for any price?! Really? That sounds like a terrible business model...

And the term "digital negative" has been around LONGER than DNGs I don't use the term, but it's at least as correct -- if not more correct -- in regard to JPGs on a disc than to DNGs.

RT McAllister wrote in post #9344772
It would matter a lot if say you're the groom and also a budding photoshop artist. Imagine his surprise when he opens up the DVD you gave him only to find it's full of pretty yet compressed JPEGS instead of DNG files - especially after your website specifically stated that, "Digital Negatives" are included. And we aren't talking semantics here because there really is a "digital negative" format and it's not JPEG.

A rarity to be sure but hey, it could happen. I'm just saying why chance it? And like stated up the line... for those of us old enough to remember, the mere mention of the word, "negative" implies ownership, copyrights and all the wrong ideas.

I'm saying do away with the term completely so you aren't put in that position to begin with. (Like you do).

Any PS guru is going to know that if he wants a specific format (RAW, DNG, TIFF, etc), he's going to have to specify it.

In fact, you'd most likely be fine, even if it went to court. The generally accepted term for digital negative is a JPEG. DNG is known amongst professionals (and serious hobbyists) as a type of format. In both circles -- the general public AND the pros -- the difference is known. If you're referring to the format, you say DNG. If you're referring to something that you can print with, you say digital negative (amongst other things, like high res file, or something).

It really just doesn't matter and it definitely isn't a problem that photographers need to be made aware of or else...

bnlearle wrote in post #9344817
Any PS guru is going to know that if he wants a specific format (RAW, DNG, TIFF, etc), he's going to have to specify it.

But if you say it on your website then why ask? Question already answered. "Look honey! we get DNG files with this guy!"

Not true. Adobe owns the license to the digital negative format and therefore a judge "might" have to go by that specification.

It really just doesn't matter and it definitely isn't a problem that photographers need to be made aware of or else...

Hey, I agree! But I either nitpick about this or start working on stuff for my day job which really sucks.

OMG..LOL

"Not true. Adobe owns the license to the digital negative format and therefore a judge "might" have to go by that specification."

Maybe so to "Digital Negative Format" -- but "digital negatives" is still a generally used term that 99% (quite literally) of the time refers to JPEGs on a disk

He hee touchy subject. Who would take it to court anyway. Most clients spend so much having the photos made they would much rather leave it to the pros to print. And the ones who do like to print only want to print for family & friend extras (usually 3x5 or 4X6) or to show off on Facebook or Myspace). Just remember to have your logo's on them so you get credit when they are posted. ;0)

I give my clients the high resolution files, I figure if they spend thousands on having me at their wedding they should get the files.

With the terminology, you have to understand that brides are generally not very technical - there are exceptions but most do not know what a raw file is, or what it means to have a jpeg etc.

I say that I give them the digital negatives which are actually quality 12 jpegs exported from the raws - the clients who actually are technical will generally ask questions about this when they first meet me so it's all clearly understood.

Sometimes a real techie will ask for the raws and I decline - if jpeg compression is a concern to them I can export them as tiffs to an external hard drive for them. But I don't give the .cr2's