I have some honest questions for past clients, present clients and future clients.
A photography seminar brought up a couple of issues I thought I’d ask here.
If you feel to qualify your response with your photography experience (specially how much you hire photographers and buy images) that’d be great.
QUESTION 1
Do you want less pictures to choose from? (no… seriously)
Am I giving too many… is it making your job too hard to pick.
Let’s say for Engagement or Bridals:
Would you print more images if I gave you JUST the top 20-40 creations instead of a choice of 200+ images (Even though I put my favorites at the beginning?)
More to think about:
Think about it.
I know this might be a scary standard for someone just getting into photography that might not do a good job at that selection process. But as for me, I’ve been doing this for a while. Do I stick with the overwhelming you with tons of choices or limit it down prior to you ever seeing them.
They say it’s been proven that you will order more and larger prints and actually do things with them (put them on walls etc) if they are selected down more.
I want people to USE the images more and to VALUE them more.
Should I share fewer?
Yes weddings will keep having a bunch because I’m documenting tons of aspects. But do you want fewer choices from each of those aspects.
Maybe it’s not just what you think you want… but what is better for YOU? I suspect you know what would be better for you.
Question 2
Would you rather me take an extended period of time setting up one dynamic image or use that same period of time to take many very good but not quite as dynamic images? (Dynamic as in more “powerful” lighting and more epic staging, perhaps even more themed)
I try to document the personality of the whole event. That won’t change… but I can stop (maybe break the flow of the shoot) from time to time and spend the extra time (by both you and me) to make those really impressive images.
This will lead to less images in the long run but perhaps a few more (than usual) dynamic works of art to go on the wall.
Don’t get me wrong I get some pretty dynamic images at each wedding but… hopefully you know what I mean.
Part 2:
Should I make you take time out of a wedding day to make sure we schedule a couple of these more staged pictures.
To what extent? Is it one of those… you’ll thank me later things? I mean, one of my things is to let a wedding flow and make the least impact I can while still taking charge and getting solid images.
Question 3
Where are you using these pictures? What’s your goal for their usage?
Where are they going to be put?
This will probably effect where I put my attention on that day.
I mean if you’re doing a big epic 30×40 enlargement an epic image for that print is probably even more apropos right?
Thoughts:
I’ve said in the past beware the photographer that shows only around 5-20 images in their portfolio because it isn’t hard to show a few really good pictures.
What makes a good photographer is being able to take great pictures at EVERY photoshoot and can show you tons of great images. CONSISTENCY
I feel strongly about that and strongly about my consistency… but if all my clients don’t care and would appreciate fewer images I can make that happen. I can see the benefits.
I think people look at a lot of pictures when deciding on a photographer to hire and therefore express confidence in the photog in providing them the best of the best. If the situation is less formal and not a for hire, then I think providing someone with more to make thier own selections would be more appropriate. One look at your work and I would have all the confidence in providing me with fewer selections!
I can’t answer all your question but I can add my anecdotal evidence that people are more likely to order/use more pictures when presented with less. For my portrait sessions I only guarantee 15 images. Typically they end up with 25ish. I’ve actually made better sales on my galleries with image #’s in the teens than those with 40.
this is something that I’m afraid of when taking pictures…..consistency. I’m not to a point yet where I KNOW i can take good pictures every time. So I must not be understanding some of the basics or understanding my shooting environments and adapting to them well. Consistency is key and the more you shoot the great the opportunity to get better images.
I know that people will most likely order more pictures if they have less to narrow down, but when just wanting to “look” at the pictures and not get prints, I prefer to have more obviously. Haha. It’s a tricky thing to decide. BUT in the long run, what ends up on the walls is going to be great no matter what. Do you think your clients would be disappointed to hear that they will only get the best 20-40 images – even though it may actually be better in the long run for them? As far as your second question, I think I would probably prefer to have a couple dynamic shots, but would actually rather have more pictures that a still great and only a few that are dynamic rather than several dynamic ones. But that’s just me.