Processing Wedding Pictures, how free are you?

Wedding photographers...
I'm wondering when you sit down to process a set of images, do you ever consult the client to ask what they want specifically?
Or do you just do your thing and process the way you want...

I imagine they booked you by seeing your style, but then processing can make or break an image, and can sometimes be quite subjective... does the client generally put their trust in you and let you do what you think is best?

Thanks for responses!

No. My processing is simple, I tweak things to look like it would've looked if I had shot it perfectly with perfect equipment. Color temp, exposure, brightness, blacks, contrast. I rarely do more, other than eye swaps.

Never ask a client to "help" you otherwise you'll be photoshopping 50 lbs off Aunt Edna's arse and polishing cousin Cletus' tobacco stained molars.

i do my thing. The client has seen my work before, and they know what to expect.

If you ask your client how to do your job, you're telling them you aren't competent at your job

do your style, from what I've been told, my clients hired me because of my style of shooting and editing so I'll just do my style which they hired me for.

I never consult with the clients to ask what they want specifically. I do my own thing as I want my work to reflect ME, not opinions of others.

I think that once you ask about specifics; you'll be editing for MONTHS... cause chances are if you're a people pleaser enough to ask specifically what they want... you're a people pleaser enough to allow the couple to approve every edit you do.

Sometimes at one of our meetings they'll mention that they're partial to (let's say) B & W images, or Selective Colour or something... I'll keep that in mind when I'm editing... but I'd never ask specifics on what they want when I'm ready to edit!

My clients always trust me to do what I think is best.

So to answer your question... no, I'm not every free.

Even when it comes to B&W conversions or other "effects", I make it very clear (I think I even say it somewhere on my site) that I'll do this extra level processing at my own discretion.

It's all part of the artistic process and YOU are the artist.

Thanks for responses.

I agree with the comments, I'd want someone to book me because of my style, and a large part of that can be the processing.

Just wondering if anybody thought otherwise

The only thing I ask my clients is if they want blemish repair. Some do, some don't. I ask them beforehand though. I don't show them the photos and ask what they want done.

Benesotor - I make two processing passes on my images prior to client delivery.

RAW PROCESSING - The first past is when I process the RAW files at the end of the wedding day. These are the global adjustments for exposure, WB, contrast, highlight, brightness, shadow.... all of the GENERAL traits. Every competent photographer does this to whatever image format they use.....and I don't ask the client what sort of lighting style they prefer.

PHOTOSHOP POST PROCESSING - This is what folks generally refer to as PP, or retouching. This will include blemish removal, glare reduction/removal, red-eye removal if any (VERY rare), hair removal, skin smooting, cloning in/out items, artistic vignetting (or not) and sharpenning. I don't do this type of work until the client selects the image for his/her final album, or as an enlargement in a print order.

My clients don't provide stylistic or artistic input to my work.

They've already hired me on the strength of my portfolio and/or referral. The work stands on it's own. They may point out a particular blemish or intrusive object in the picture, but that's about it. As RT mentioned, I don't ask for their "processing" help. Do that and you'll be giving your labor away for free, and they'll never be satisfied.

The fact that they booked me for the wedding, demonstrates the trust they've placed in my talent and reliability.


- Stu