this post was submitted on 14 Nov 2023

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What do you do with all the great photos the client doesn't want ? (alien.top)

submitted 10 months ago by mouettefluo@alien.top to c/photography@viewfinder.pro

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I'm shooting portraits and wedding. Two different market models.

For wedding, it's more of a bulk edit approach. I tell a story and send between X and Y photos. If I want a picture to be part of the final selection, I just add it to the bunch, no questions asked. The client paid me a fair amount for the wedding and it's not like I worked 3 hours on one single pictures.

For portraits, it's usually package of 4-10 photos, chosen by the client. Retouching is more extensive and that is reflected in the pricing. More often than not, clients chose really weird pictures...to my taste, but I know I'm not the only one thinking this :P. I've been bugged by clients not choosing the ''right'' pictures before, usually I shrug it off and move on, sometimes I throw a bonus photo here and there.

I sent a gallery yesterday and honestly, I overdid myself. A lot of pictures from that session would be portfolio staples for years to come. The thing is, we did 5 looks. Client will chose an average of two per set, maybe will buy more. I don't know. Let's say the client has 0 overlap with my preferred pictures from that set, and I want to edit my own 10...do I just keep them hidden ?

Because I would basically do a 500$+ job and if I want to edit them on top of the client selection... That client will likely see images he did not buy on my website or elsewhere and that would be really weird to give basically double of the amount of pictures for the price. It would be a questionable business decision. On the other end, I don't want those pictures to sleep on an external hard drive forever.

Have you dealt with this before ? How did you handle it ? How many extras ? Have you sent them all to the client or used them privately with other clients ?

Or are you ruthless and you just mourn some photoshoots ?

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[–] kk0444@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

I edit the ones I want to use for website or social, and if they screenshot them or download them that way, so be it. It’s my work, i use it as needed. Except ads, where I get a model release.

[–] SLPERAS@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Just send them the photos to choose. Maybe include an “artist’s choice” folder with the images you think that are great. Client will choose whatever photos they like, you keep the ones for your portfolio and delete the rest.

[–] smokeydanmusicman@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

It’s not incredibly practical but I offer a small discount during consultation if the client is okay with me using photos that they didn’t select for my portfolio and social media. Feels like I’m paying them to be a model and I get to keep the work that I want to. After they’ve made their selections I add in the photos that I also selected and get their approval. Keeps everyone happy.

[–] Skvora@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Les you have some magazine cover level clients and all sign model releases, not much you could nor should do with leftovers.

[–] tampawn@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

I'm always amazed the pictures that people like versus the ones I like. They are rarely the same. You can never judge a book or a picture by its cover. I only hold back the images that I know they won't like and let them pick...

[–] ejp1082@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

If you really really care about these particular photos, reach out to them with the ones you have in mind and ask if it's okay to use them for your portfolio. No harm no foul.

To obviate the need for that next time, offer a small discount if they're okay with using some of the images from the shoot in your portfolio and for advertising and put it in your contract. Fair is fair since you're essentially using them as a model in that situation.

[–] lycosa13@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

I edit the ones I like and send them those ones. So all the ones I liked, I can post. I don't let the client choose 🤷🏻‍♀️ they choose terrible pictures lol

[–] dropthemagic@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I sell them to hotels and franchise owners. You would be surprised. You can get quite a bit of money if you sell it right. My contract with my clients has a clause that says that x amount of pics to be delivered etc. however any pictures that I shoot and are not paid for in the contract I can use for my business. Or they can pay extra for total privacy.

At the end of the day most clients don’t mind, they know you will use good pics to advertise your business. But those who do can pay for exclusive rights to all photos taken for that contracted time and date.

[–] Drive_Shaft_sucks@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

You sell pictures of people for commercial use?

[–] axelomg@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Wedding might be different, but I am surprised that so much of y’all let the client choose.

A good photographer is not good because they can press that button very well. They need to compose themselves, light the scene, pose the model, etc… a strong sense for selecting the right images is also part of that skillset that makes someone a pro. So I present this as part of my service and a neccesity if someone wants the quality they have seen from me.

If someone insists, there is place for negotiation, but thats a different story.

[–] Bodhrans-Not-Bombs@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

For portraits, I just send them the bulk. I have "preferred" photos, sure, but I don't tell them that.

[–] turbons@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Don’t forget that at least in the EU there is a thing called GDPR which basically protects personal information including the image of a person, unless it’s a public setting. You should always have a formal confirmation to use their image outside the agreed “frame”.

[–] LeicaM6guy@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

Everything is backed up. Everything. You never know when a photo will be useful or profitable.

For me, it goes like this: RAID drive --> Backup Drive --> Online cloud

[–] tienphotographer@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

i feel because the client paid you for the shoot although you do own the copyright it should be up to the client if an image of them is out there. after you do the work for the client and send them all the finals that they have selected and paid for. i would wait a bit maybe 4-6 weeks then reach out to the client and say.. "hey these images i really do love that you did not purchase but i would like to use for my book and social. i'll send them to you at no additional cost.

that way you give them the option and they get additional images for free but don't feel bad about just dishing out money for images just the other day and now you are giving them free ones.

[–] DLS3141@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Your contract should include a release that allows for self promotional use.

[–] tienphotographer@alien.top 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

of the selected photos yes but not for ANY photo. you'll lose tons of clients if you start posting photos of them they don't want out there.

[–] DLS3141@alien.top 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The time to have the discussion about promotional use is before they sign the contract. If they don’t want the pics used that way, it’s fine, but the topic should be included in the contract up front. You definitely shouldn’t put them up until well after the clients have their order in hand. It’s not like you’re going to do anything to make them look bad.

[–] tienphotographer@alien.top 1 points 10 months ago

i agree with you and you talking about a contract lets me know you've been in this for a long time i'm just stating it for the newbies, i have talked to many clients who have said "this photographer posted these photos i never approved or that they don't even have"

i mean its good for me because i'll get a stream of new clients from photographers breaking their clients trust.

and to be clear this is paid work not collabs which i feel you have a bit more freedom because its a mutual agreement to work together vs a client hiring you.