Client process on portrait photography?

[weighter]

Just curious what the standard process is for client work in portrait photography?

For example if I shoot a sitting and snap around 120 shots...

A) do photographers usually show all shots prior to retouching so they spend time on the ones they like?

B) do we retouch a certain number before showing the client? How many?

C) do we agree to let clients see all 120+ shots at all?

Any advice as to traditional and acceptable processs would be appreciated... thanks!

[Benji]

I have discovered that after about three hours most subjects will lose their "photographic countenence" and start looking anxious and tired. I usually use about six to eight backgrounds (and/or sets) and generally do about three or four poses in each background (and/or set.) This usually takes me about 2 1/2 hours. I'm a fanatic about proper posing and lighting so in that 2 1/2 hours I can only shoot about 40 images. I feel 40 well lit well posed images is better than 100 so so lit and so so posed images. I generally show about 30 to 35 of that 40 to the client. The "bad"ones were usually the shots that were experiments that went wrong, or the lighting wasn't good and I wasn't paying attention. If she requires lots of retouching I only retouch the ones that I really like, and will just "hit the high spots" on the rest. If she doesn't require lots of retouching I hit' em all a good lick.

After I get paper proofs back from the lab I put the absolute best 12 retouched images in a folio. I use the folio that has 10 verticals and two horizontals. The rest of the images I put in a white envelope and I show them to her AFTER she has seen the best 12. Hopefully those 12 will show a wide variety of poses all the way from extreme closeup shots of just her face to full length images in a prom dress (or other dressy clothing.) Some will be classical some whimsical. Some blue jeans and sweats and some "Sunday going to meetin" clothes. Indoor, outdoor, looking at the camera looking away, smiling, serious and in between. The name of the game is variety.

She will be looking to her right in all of the images in the left side of the folio and she will be looking to the left in the right side images of the folio. The two horizontals in the center will also face the center. The other two vertical images will be whatever.

Benji

If you're bent on shooting 120 DON'T tell her you are doing that many. Lots of people when they go to a pro expect 110 to 120 good images out of 120 if they know you shot 120.

[joshranwest]

What Benji said, *laugh*. Great advice, and right along with what I do as well. The only difference is I dont do the folder proof idea (great idea), we just show them in a proof book, spiral bound. Excellent advice as always Benji.

[jfrancho]

A) Never.
B) Yes, Probably around 12-40 shots.
C) Never.

[bobbyz]

Benji - Nice advise. Got one question for you. When you say "After I get paper proofs back from the lab I put the absolute best 12 retouched images in a folio. I use the folio that has 10 verticals and two horizontals." what is the size of these proofs? Are these small 4x5 or big size prints. Sorry if this is something obvious.

[joshranwest]

I order all proofs (loose) in 5x7, or a sprial bound book in 5x7, depends on my mood that day.

[PureFineArt]

Depends on the client,

For models the I only show about 10 post production shots,

Families I show the all the images, plus about 10 post production images,
I have found that families connect with certain images that might not appeal to a photographers eye. Perhaps because they know the subject much better than the photographer.

I think that the photographer should not pre judge what families would like, as they are the customer and they know what they want (usually). On average the families pick all the proofs and 2 or 3 of the raws, I then proof these for print.

all client see proofs online for me, which they appreciate, instant and no pressure sales plus they can discuss with other people not at the shoot.

[Mark McCall]

Spending time on anything before it's sold is a poor business, especially retouching.
Your time is the most valueable commodity you have...it costs more than your camera, insurance, backgrounds or other equipment.


A) We don't retouch any shots prior to client proofing, but we do cull out blinks & poor expressions.

B) No

C) See answer A

Time is money.
Why spend time editing an image the customer may or may not buy? It's a crap shoot.

The electric company still charges you for the electricity to light up a room, regardless if anyone is in the room to use it.

A better way to show artwork is to keep a before and after stock portrait photo in the sales room to show what artwork is available, and for how much. This saves tons of time, and allows you to concentrate on what the client orders....not what they might order.

Put artwork fees on your order form.
This way, the client will see the fees in print...and order accordingly.

BTW...120 shots is waaaaay too many for a portrait session.
This makes it far more difficult for the client to choose their favorites.
Clients who can't decide, don't order, or order less than they would have if they were looking at 50 images.
IMHO, 30-50 is plenty.

1 1/2 hours during the session is the max we'll go.
People are busy these days. They just don't have several hours to spend at a studio.