Contact sheets - DPChallenge Forums

06/20/2005 06:22:21 PM · #1

There's a issue in my routine at wedding shoots. I was woundering:

How do you do your contact sheets / proofs to present to the gests in the weddings that you shoot?

My actual solution is to print them in 6x4 prints and post then. I tryed the contact sheet automate task in photoshop but it is too slow (and I have a 2.4Ghtz with 516 mb ram).

So what do you do for it?

pixieland

Fujifilm FinePix S602Z

06/21/2005 03:21:01 AM · #2

Windows XP has a pretty good program called "windows picture and fax viewer " for doing contact sheets and standard prints. If you have this operating system, go to windows explorer and right click on a photo. Then pick "preview". This should bring the photo up in the viewer large and give you options beneath it. Click the icon that looks like a printer and it will take you into a wizard program that will allow you to select multiple photos and print them out in multiple ways, including 35 thumbnails with names on one sheet, 8x10's, 5x7's, wallets and 4x6"s (Maybe more, I don't recall. ) Good luck!

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

06/21/2005 07:04:51 AM · #3

Any other thoughts?

LindaLee

Canon EOS-40D

06/21/2005 11:13:49 AM · #4

At the moment, I put mine in an online gallery for proofing/viewing/purchasing. I don't usually print a "proof book" unless asked.

AV4TAr

Nikon D50

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

06/21/2005 11:21:16 AM · #5

Try PICASA it has an export tool to create Contacts.

GoldBerry

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

06/21/2005 12:03:23 PM · #6

Originally posted by Nuno:

How do you do your contact sheets / proofs to present to the gests in the weddings that you shoot?

So what do you do for it?

Have you considered not proofing at all? I don't! The prints my clients get are chosen by me.. 100% of them buy their negs and they get ALL their photos that way. If they bought a package with 200 pictures but there are 400 good ones, they get them all with their negatives. It's win-win.

drz01

Pentax K50

Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR

06/21/2005 12:10:34 PM · #7

If you are looking for the best program for this (my opinion) look at this program.. I have been using it for years it does contatact sheets on paper or the web it's a database and many more features...

dacrazyrn

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

06/21/2005 12:20:41 PM · #8

Originally posted by GoldBerry:

You sell your negatives?! Must be charging and arm and a leg to do that. I made an agreement with an "informal" wedding I am doing this Sat., that I would give them 2 CD/DVD's with the proofed pics on them until the first of Feb next year, to do as they please with (printing that is). I am charging them $200 for that. They looked at WalMart and saw that it was cheaper to print there. I informed them that when I do MY prints that I get them cropped and bordered to fit the needed size they want. WalMart will just make it fit. They were fine with that. So I will edit and crop to what is compostionally pleasing (my camera is 1.5:1) and they can have at it.
They did come back yesterday and said that they did want me to do some of them for them, after they decide on the web based proof system, which photos and aspect ratio. They must have talked with WalMart a little more. (C:

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

06/21/2005 12:21:02 PM · #9

Originally posted by GoldBerry:

It's not very common around here that kind of job: just photographing and then give the grooms the cd/dvd has the final job. But I see your point. Actually yesterday I got a call from someone who just wanted that. I think mentalaties might be changing here. I'll do fine with that kind of jobs.

But people still see the packages of "n" photos has a better deal. I don't know why. And has so I'm used to present proofs. The proofs have two porposes: permit the gests to choose the photos and for the photographer to earn some extra cash. Because people buy more easy if they choose on sight and in the day. After the feeling cools down and they don't care to buy anymore. At least that's my experinece.

So I make proofs to present to the gests, centered more on them, and later I give them to the grooms and a cd containing the proofs in vcd so they can choose. But proofs can have 2 sides. It's more money that you pay, and has so less you gain.

How do you charge your work withought any prints? By the hour? I'm a bit confused to find the prices this way. My ususal price packages (witch includes the prints, proofs and album) are very low priced for what I offer, because I know I will make some money from gests and this way I can offer more for less money for the grooms.

Those kind of jobs where I'm only photographing and I know that I will never sell any prints make me a bit confuse about pricing. How do you do it? And what do you include?

GoldBerry

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

06/21/2005 12:31:59 PM · #10

Originally posted by Nuno:

How do you charge your work withought any prints? By the hour? I'm a bit confused to find the prices this way.
Those kind of jobs where I'm only photographing and I know that I will never sell any prints make me a bit confuse about pricing. How do you do it? And what do you include?

There are still prints with each package (4x6's) but they're not "proofs". They're prints in an album for them to keep. The only difference between my method and your method is that I'm the one choosing the shots - not them. Clients trust your judgment as the photographer :-) and they appreciate not having to sit and go through hundreds and hundreds of pictures of themselves. I guess one other difference is that I've never sold an enlargement - I make my money off of selling the negatives..after that they don't need me anymore.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

06/21/2005 12:39:20 PM · #11

If you all are going to start giving them a CD/DVD (i.e. the negatives) so they can make their own prints, maybe you can charge for setting up a slide show/album on disk.