Size-Resolution-Crop - Delivery of images question on CD

As part of our packages we deliver only high resolution JPEGs that have been edited and processed - i.e. only the good pics. Each JPEG is saved at the highest quality in Photoshop and ranges in size from 5MB to 10MB depending upon the detail in the image. Usually that is around 300 images or so - about 2GB.

We crop the "wall pics" to an 8" x 10" crop. All the rest of the images are left in the original size that comes out of the camera (8" x 12") which is the same ratio as 4" x 6".

We do include a reduced email size set saved at a very low resolution for ease of use in email programs.

Good question Marc. I always feel like I am giving away my work and wondered the same thing about size and resolution.

I am looking forward to more ideas and answers for your questions!!

Carol

"... I always feel like I am giving away my work..."

You need to look at it differently. You are not "giving away" your work. You are "selling" a disc with a license to print.

Adjust your overall prices upwards or offer the disc for a price - say $500 or so to reflect what your lost sales in prints would have been.

Here's my mostly automated workflow:

1. Back up ALL the files in RAW format as they came out of the camera to a RAID drive.

2. Make another copy of the RAW files to work on. I use MirrorFolder to implement a software RAID, so it's automatic.

3. Use Bridge to throw out the bad ones, crop to 4x6 ratio, and do basic adjustment of white balance, exposure, and contrast.

4. Rip everything that's left to JPEG with the Automate - Batch function in Photoshop with a Photoshop action.

5. Fix any really bad blemishes in the JPEGS with Photoshop.

6. Post the images for sale on the net using Breezebrowser and EOS templates to automate the web generation process.

7. The customer gets a print allowance. Everybody else pays via PayPal.

8. If a customer wants a print with a 4x6 aspect ratio, I use the JPEG I ripped in step 4. Otherwise, I go back to the raw file to recrop.

9. I apply more extensive retouching only to the images that people order. It's a democratic selection process, so I don't have to retouch everything.

10. Two years after the wedding date, I turn over all the JPEGS, plus anything I redid in Steps 8 and 9, to the customer, on a double resolution DVD. Just about everybody has a DVD reader in their computer. (If my dad has one, believe me, everybody has one).

This approach allows me to make money off prints, but still gives the customer their images (eventually). Here's an example of a website generated with this workflow:

http://www.lesboisphotography.com/AdamAndAngie

Later,

Paulsky

Paul, Thanks for your detailed workflow. I have a question, though. You say you just edit the 4x6 JPEGs for the bad blemishes. But, if someone orders other than a 4x6 (most of my orders are 5x7 or 8x10), you go back to the original RAW (unedited) file. So, you are editing twice, right? How often does this happen, and have you found a way of dealing with the "double editing"?

Thanks.

Walt

Russ and Paul,

Thanks for the information. Nice workflow. Here's what I do...and feel free to critique.

1. Import the images straight from the cards to my disc, burn copies to an external drive,

2. Import images into Aperture, kick out the bad ones, and make all adjustments (WB, etc,)

3. Crop all images to 5x7 except for the formals. They are 8x10

4. Fix any blemished pictures in PS.

5. Batch Sharpen all photos.

6. Burn them onto DVDs for client at 300 dpi and full resolution.

That's it in a nutshell. I may have left out some steps. I guess I'm looking for a way to deliver them on a more accessible format. DVD's are prevalent. However, I was wondering if cropping them as 4x6 at a lower resolution would provide the same level of quality.

Thanks for all the input.

Marc S

To answer Walt's question: I only go back to RAW if I have to. If the JPEG is good enough to work from, I start from there with any extra retouching that may need to be done.

Most of the time, the JPEG is fine as is. But if a customer wants an 8x10, and the 4x6 is a close crop, then I go back to RAW to see if I can get a better 8x10 crop. If I can't, I send them an 8x12. My websites all have disclaimers that if I can't ship 8x10, I will ship 8x12.

5x7 is close enough to 4x6 that I don't bother with it. I have yet to have a problem cropping to 5x7 from a 4x6.

I also forgot the final step in my workflow: I do most of my printing and order fulfillment through mpix.com, which is absolutely the cat's pajama's (once you learn a few tricks to use their web storefront more efficiently).

My only quibble (and it's a small one) with Marc's workflow is that if a couple wants anything other than an 8x10 for the formals, they're pretty much out of luck. (At least that's the way I read it). Lot's of times they just want to make 4x6 or 5x7's.

Later,

Paulsky

Thanks Paul,

I provide a 16x20 picture of the bridals and engagements. However, the others are smaller. On my website, I do give clients to opportunity to order prints up to 16x24 if they so wish.

(I left the step out of uploading all my images to Smug Mug)

Enjoy your week and thanks for the posts...and advice

Marc S

I develop a batch action for the particular wedding (based on location, lighting, etc).

I then use Bridge or similar to select the images I want to print. I run them through the actions which include saving a full-res layered PSD and a 4x6 crop at 300dpi.

My packages offer 3 different CD image resolution options; typical screen size (e.g 1024x768)@72dpi, 4x6in@300dpi and full-size@captured res. In this part of the world, 300 4x6 prints is more or less the standard deliverable, then enlargements etc at additional cost.

I only burn the best images onto CD...

I love Mpix, but I've had excellent results and better pricing from Meridian Pro for my studio fulfillment work. All of my events go online to Pictage, but their pricing (to my studio) isn't as good as Meridian's. So, my bride's package prints are all done thru Meridian's ROES system, where I can do all cropping myself. I leave all JPEG images at native aspect ratio and resolution, and retain any images I shoot in RAW myelf (brides can't typically do anything with RAW anyway). Brides get full-res JPEGs and downsized JPEGs in a separate folder, all on DVD-R.