The Art Of Culling

I need serious help here...I take a lot of shots and need to learn to cull a lot out.
For instance, last night I shot a family and got about 300 pictures, I've so far culled down to about 139, but thats still way too many to give to them to proof which ones the want right?

The main goal for them is ONE canvas portrait of the family for a big spot in their new house, and maybe some other smaller sizes too, but that ONE they are looking for, I can't give them 139 to sift through? I need to chop it down, and well, I guess I just need some tips on how you all think through the photos as you are culling...

Thanks!

Think of it as delivering a roll of film. Examine your photos carefully; delete duplicates, blurred, missed focus, etc....then select the best 36.

Is 36 your number or just a good all around number to aim for?
I just now figured out how to use "Stacks" in Aperture 3 to my advantage.
Now if I could just learn to cull better, decide which photos have the little things that get them thrown out...etc...

No...36 is not an absolute number. It just helps me when culling to think in terms of a roll of film. Knowing that I have to cull to a certain number helps me to be much more disciplined in both shooting and sorting afterwards.

So if I shot in burst mode and had 10 - 20 shots all the same, when I stack them and try to narrow down the similar shots, what number should I give of each similar shot for them to choose from? Like 3 to 5 of each similar shot?

1 of each pose is plenty

EmmaRose wrote in post #10453678
1 of each pose is plenty

+1!!!

300 shots for a family shoot for ONE canvas? Why so many pics? I don't take 300 shots shooting 10 teams! My last family shoot had about 100 pics, but that was 3 generations and 5 couples.

EmmaRose wrote in post #10453678
1 of each pose is plenty

But how do I know which of those she (the mom) likes best? There are some that are too close to call so I can see picking the best of those, but some have different types of smiles or a hand moved to a different position, this should just be all up to me? Is that how the photographer works for the client, helps make the decision that easy so its just one of each style?

In2Photos wrote in post #10453735
+1!!!

300 shots for a family shoot for ONE canvas? Why so many pics? I don't take 300 shots shooting 10 teams! My last family shoot had about 100 pics, but that was 3 generations and 5 couples.

I'm fairly new to this, and because I just take shots, they are free to shoot, so why not? Just in case I miss focus or there is a blink or whatever, I shoot about 3 - 5 at a time.

ChrisMc73 wrote in post #10453750
But how do I know which of those she (the mom) likes best? There are some that are too close to call so I can see picking the best of those, but some have different types of smiles or a hand moved to a different position, this should just be all up to me? Is that how the photographer works for the client, helps make the decision that easy so its just one of each style?

If you only show here a couple she doesn't have to worry about the other 50 very similar ones you took!

I see your point. Ok, thats part of the "Art"...I guess...lol..

ChrisMc73 wrote in post #10453754
I'm fairly new to this, and because I just take shots, they are free to shoot, so why not? Just in case I miss focus or there is a blink or whatever, I shoot about 3 - 5 at a time.

This is precisely why not! Because now you have to cull through them. More images means more time. Take fewer pictures, but make sure they are good ones. Much easier on you and the client!!!

You need to shoot less.

Culling.

First pass.... technically subpar get removed.... obvious dupes, poor composition and not worth salvaging (cropping)

Second pass.... dupes and unflattering pictures (I shoot mostly people)

Third pass.... segregate them into different groups of poses.... from the ledt, from the right, straight, tight frame, loose frame on...etc. then pick the worst ones and delete. I find working backwards at this step is easier if it gets hard to select the best ones.

It does all start with SHOOT LESS, have a shooting plan and stop shooting when you have the shots you need.

In2Photos wrote in post #10454056
This is precisely why not! Because now you have to cull through them. More images means more time. Take fewer pictures, but make sure they are good ones. Much easier on you and the client!!!

Ha, I have lots of time, I'm not doing this back to back to back, don't have clients beating down my doors yet...its friends and families I know.

bohdank wrote in post #10454131
You need to shoot less.

Culling.

First pass.... technically subpar get removed.... obvious dupes, poor composition and not worth salvaging (cropping)

Second pass.... dupes and unflattering pictures (I shoot mostly people)

Third pass.... segregate them into different groups of poses.... from the ledt, from the right, straight, tight frame, loose frame on...etc. then pick the worst ones and delete. I find working backwards at this step is easier if it gets hard to select the best ones.

It does all start with SHOOT LESS, have a shooting plan and stop shooting when you have the shots you need.

Well, once I get better at shooting less, I will be able to narrow these down more, I think my goal right now is to give them maybe 10 - 12 each of the bigger numbered poses, maybe 5 - 6 if I can...as my short term goal.