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09/02/2008 10:32:21 PM · #1 |
Hi,
Just shot my first wedding, and am delivering all the photos on CD/DVD. For those of you who do the same, what size photos do you use? I'm picky about cropping, and don't want to send 8x10 photos if they're going to get cropped to 4x6... |
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09/02/2008 10:44:35 PM · #2 |
| Are the photos for print or just some proofs? |
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09/02/2008 10:49:55 PM · #3 |
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09/02/2008 11:00:51 PM · #4 |
I'd send them as 8x12 at 300dpi. This is the native ratio for the camera so you don't have to crop. Most people won't print larger than that, so you don't have to worry about the client upsizing (even if they went to 11x14 it would be a minor reduction in resolution). And when they downsize the resolution will stay good and there'll be plenty of room to crop.
They'll have to crop the images themselves wherever they get them printed - much easier than trying to anticipate every crop they could want and making a lot of work for naught.
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09/02/2008 11:02:46 PM · #5 |
Curious... what did you tell them you'd be giving them, before you shot the wedding?
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09/02/2008 11:10:08 PM · #6 |
Thanks OdysseyF22, that makes sense. 8x12 sounds good.
Dwterry -- I actually didn't tell them a specific size, just that they'd be hi-res photos. |
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09/03/2008 02:28:05 AM · #7 |
| Wow, pretty generous giving up Hi res files. |
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09/03/2008 08:34:03 AM · #8 |
What was in your contract? What are they expecting? If you got paid you should have had a contract, in writing, spelling this all out.
Can anyone define hi-res? I know pros that still shoot with 1D (4mp) bodies and the new 50D is 15mp. 'High Res' is VERY different for those two bodies.
What do you want them to be able to print? And how good a print do you want them to make? 8x10 at 300dpi means files on the long side of 3000 pixels.
Reality is 200dpi is all you need, so 2000 pixels should be fine.
As to cropping - what is YOUR vision for the photos? You took the image based on what you saw so that is what you should give them. 4x6, 5x7 and 8x10 are all different crops and 8x12 is not a normal print size (well, 4x6 is).
Here's an idea - why don't you ask them what they want!
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09/03/2008 12:28:54 PM · #9 |
Ya, I knew I might get some flack for giving the hi-res files :) But this was my first wedding, so it was for portfolio purposes not so much profit. I just want my first couple to be very very happy with what they get. For future weddings, I'll still have the option of a hi-res CD, but charge extra for it.
I'm thinking I'll crop the vast majority of the photos to 4x6 ratio, and the best photos to both 4x6 and 8x10. Of course I'll ask them what they want, but I didn't think to ask before and now they're on their honeymoon.
I have a contract, but obviously it doesn't say the photo sizes. Can anyone point me to an example contract that has this in it?
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09/03/2008 03:51:58 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by DianeS:
Ya, I knew I might get some flack for giving the hi-res files :) But this was my first wedding, so it was for portfolio purposes not so much profit. I just want my first couple to be very very happy with what they get. For future weddings, I'll still have the option of a hi-res CD, but charge extra for it.
I'm thinking I'll crop the vast majority of the photos to 4x6 ratio, and the best photos to both 4x6 and 8x10. Of course I'll ask them what they want, but I didn't think to ask before and now they're on their honeymoon.
I have a contract, but obviously it doesn't say the photo sizes. Can anyone point me to an example contract that has this in it? |
Your average bride will probably only want 4x6s of the majority of shots anyway. Perhaps a few 5x7s or 8x10s. I don't think most people ever really think about making large prints unless someone puts the idea in their head.
Either way, when I give out CDs of images I just leave them at their native ratio at 300 dpi and let the client deal with cropping them. That's the trade off, as I see it - if they just have to own the files, then they get to deal with figuring out how they want them cropped and printed. I don't think I've ever seen a contract that specified file sizes or anything like that - just printable files.
For what it's worth, I charge an additional $500 for a CD of print-quality images.
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09/03/2008 04:30:16 PM · #11 |
My contract states that the CD will have print resolution 4x6 files, and the print license agreement is also on the disk as both a jpg and pdf stating that they may only be printed as 4x6 prints. The goal is for them to order the larger prints through me. I tell them that the 4x6 files will not make good quality larger prints. I also point out to them that the license agreement is on there - but I am pointing it out only because many photo labs may ask about it prior to printing since they are professional files.
If they want larger files for specific photos on the CD (for instance full bridal party at 8x10) I charge an extra $50 per file added to the CD. Of course, printing permission is also including with that. This is all spelled out in my pricing policy which is a form they sign and date along with the contract. Because my pricing is evolving at this point, I keep that dated form with their file so that I am sure of which "stage" of pricing they understood to be in place. Prices are good for 3 months following the event.
Judy
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09/03/2008 08:36:18 PM · #12 |
I recently shot a wedding for a close friend. Mind you, I was a guest and not a contracted shooter.
I gave them a CD with 5x7 images at 300dpi. I wanted to control the print quality for larger prints and I told them that from the start. Also, I knew that I couldn't fit all the photos full size on one CD.
Hopefully, the print shops respect the copyright printed on the CD label which instructs them to reference the release letter I sent with it stating that they were allowed to print for specified parties (the bride, groom and family) up to 7 inches on the longest size.
I also put them up on my SmugMug site. Ironically, the wedding was three months ago and the "Pro" photographer still hasn't gotten their proofs to them so it looks like I might make a little money off prints. Who knows.
Regardless, that's the only experience I have with this! Good luck!
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