Photos on USB - Now What?
I recently received a call from a friend's mom. At some point she had some photos taken by a professional photographer for a special occasion. The images were delivered to her on a USB drive.
She called me because she was needing some advice and didn't know what to do. First thing she said was, the pictures didn't look the way she wanted them to look and they (meaning her family in the photos) were really small. When I asked her what she was wanting to do with her pictures, she said she would like to get a large canvas portrait over her fireplace as well as some prints.
She was not sure if she had printing rights to the images nor did she know the size of the files or resolution which would determine how large a print or canvas she would be able to print. We also talked about some options and additional things that would be important for her to know. Bottom line, she said the photographer gave her what she felt was a reasonable price, took the pictures and gave her the USB drive. They did not have any discussion about what her vision was for the portraits she wanted or where or how she would display them in her home. She also was not given any options about getting them printed through the photographer. I encouraged her to contact the photographer and get additional information from him and see how he could assist her.
Hearing all this was very sad to me because I believe that as a professional photographers, we have an obligation to provide better service to our clients than this person received. An in person consultation with clients allows the photographer the opportunity to learn what the client is wanting and to then guide them on clothing and other details, and together they plan out the session based on the location and other items discussed. Also, when we know where and how the client wants to display their portraits in their home, we can make recommendations based on our knowledge of products and plan for the final portrait or portraits to fit the planned space.
It is not my practice to provide only digital files to my clients for multiple reasons, but one very important reason as I explained to her is that when she takes her digital file to a local big box store for prints or a canvas, the ink will not be archival ink and the paper will not be archival. This means that the colors will not be corrected and there will not be the depth of color. Without a professionally printed image to compare it to, you might not know the difference, for awhile, but there is a high likelihood of it fading sooner than later. Also, this assumes that the files provided are of sufficient size and resolution to print the size you desire. It also assumes that you don't just end up putting the USB drive in a drawer with plans to print the files at some point and then you forget and then you can't even find the USB drive. Further, given the constant changes in technology, there will come a day when USB drives are extinct - remember floppy drives?
This is all more information than you need to have to think about. While professional photography is an investment, it is a worthwhile investment. When you have a knowledgeable professional guiding and helping you through the process, managing all the technical details, and ensuring that you have finished portraits of your family to enjoy without the hassle, you will be able to just sit back and enjoy them, everyday! That my friend is priceless!
Are you ready to finally get those beautiful professional portraits you've been thinking about? I would love to meet with you and talk about your vision and make it happen. Click the link below to schedule a complimentary phone consultation so we can get started! Or, if you are excited and don't want to bother scheduling an appointment just give me a call - 214.697.5898.