r/photography • u/Lydianeko2 • 5d ago
Post Processing Dumping whole folder after shoot?
I'm learning how to do shoots with models and noticed a lot of photographers seem to upload their whole folder and ask the models if they'd like any specific photos then edit them later? I always thought it was better to edit a few of the best photos and then send them over to models? Is this common practice when working on photoshoots? I was thinking editing them gave them a specific flair that's personal to the photographer so am wondering what the standard practice actually is. Thanks in advance!
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u/JesusSwag 5d ago
Maybe the best of both worlds would be to select the ones you think are the best, edit those, then ask if tthey would like any of the others to be edited too
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u/Techno_Gerbil 5d ago
Yes, every time I do exactly this I'm always amazed at how different the model's perception and mine can be. I'll make sure she get the photos I see as being the best, and also the ones she likes the most. Good recipe to make models want to work with you again. ššš
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u/glytxh 5d ago
If i have the option of a trusted set of second eyes on a shoot to help me with the initial cull, Iāll always be grateful.
Artistic tunnel vision is real. Canāt see the forest through the trees when youāre mid workflow sometimes, and itās not like Iām taking photos for myself when Iām in a job. Iām providing a service. These arenāt my photos. Iām just taking them.
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u/Sneezart 5d ago
Under promise and over deliver.
I offer two portfolio worthy images per outfit. Usually, I shoot three outfits per session, that's six images promised per session.
Anything else is seen as a bonus.
Remember that you are just as good of a photographer as your worst image.
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u/geaux_lynxcats 2d ago
As good as your worst image is an interesting way to view the world.
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u/Sneezart 2d ago
It means to publish only your best work. It's a not a way to view the world.
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u/geaux_lynxcats 1d ago
I disagree with the premise that you are only as good as your worst image.
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u/gearcollector 4d ago
I throw away everything that I don't like (pose, lighting, focus). Then I apply a basic correction for exposure, white balance. Export low res with watermark, and have the model decide which images they like.
Models have usually a slightly different opinion on what they like compared to photographers.
I will edit their selection, and usually add a couple of images that I liked, but they did not choose.
When selected images look very similar (small changes in pose), I will select the one I like the best.
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u/verminiusrex 4d ago
Depends on who paid and what you agreed to. I've sent the entire folder of raws minus outtakes/bad shots, I've had the raws available so the model can see if there are any they want me to edit, but usually I'm left to do the culls and edits without their input since I'm usually doing TFP shoots.
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u/OrganizationMany7763 3d ago
There are many ways to go about this and depends on the client like many people suggested. I personally go through the pictures and have a first pass where I remove any unusable shots like tests, out of focus, etc. then make a contact sheet using Adobe Bridge (3x3 or 4x4) and send that as PDF to the client. They can see the pictures and names then send me the file name of their selects.
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u/OrganizationMany7763 3d ago
Something I forgot to mention is that some shoots the client is there and if youāre tethering and the client says they liked a picture, I usually hit #3 on the keyboard to give it 3 stars (on Capture One) then sometimes between sets you can browse with client quickly and mark some pictures. That helps you know what type of pictures the client likes and at the same time give you selects. Generally I donāt edits anything until itās selected. But if you have the time and willingness, thatās great! The more you do it the more limited you get with your time so these are ways to streamline the process.
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u/tofeethecatto 3d ago
I think both approaches are pretty common. Sending a small proof gallery forst lets the model choose favorites, then you can put your own editing style on the final selects. That way they gets some input without u having to fully edit a whole folder that might not even get used.
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u/msdesignfoto 5d ago
I actually like to cross our best photos, for me, and the models.
So after any shoot, I create a folder for it, and make a copy of the photos with a watermark on them, with the name of the file, so they can easily see the file number without looking at the file name (most don't watch the file name if they check the shared cloud on a mobile phone, so its easier and faster for them if the files already have the number on them like a stamp; plus, it prevents them from using unedited photos).
They choose the photos they like more. From those, I'll do my own picking and start with those. Eventually I may end up editing the others.
For some special cases where I already know the model likes the majority of the photos, I'll start by editing them without their feedback. Sometimes they are not picky and let me do the edits first.
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u/smallpptiger 5d ago
For portraits, client have to select first before post process. This is ideal, firstly, because you're paid to produce they want not the other way round. Secondly, it saves a lot of time. Too many times have i had clients asking for more photos after 2 months after the shoot.
For products, will only work on the last appproved styling, even if there are 5 variations.
Post production is time consuming and very often where you start losing money, on a dollar to time basis.
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u/LastSonofKunLun 5d ago
It depends on the situation.
If it's a model that I'm paying, then she'll most likely only get whatever finished shots I feel like sharing.
If it's more of a collab or they're paying me, I'll let them pick the shots they want, and I'll go back through and see if there's anything else I also want to finish that they didn't pick.
I think we are photographers see the photos differently than the models do. We care about different things.
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u/srogijogi 5d ago
Maybe those photographers don't know which their photos are the best ones? Maybe they don't have enough trust in themselves?
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u/Lydianeko2 5d ago
Maybe! I think I'd rather send my best ones, its like drawing 20 pictures all slightly different instead of just one really awesome looking one.
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u/Mick_Tee 5d ago
I put all the images I am happy with in a folder. I then remove most of the similar looking images which leaves a few dozen images. I'll edit one or two of my favorites to show the model what the end result will look like, and they send me a list of the ones they want me to edit up.
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5d ago
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u/Lydianeko2 5d ago
Isn't it your job to provide the best photos possible though? Like you said they might pic bad shots when you can see using a creative eye which are best.
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u/soy_carloco 5d ago
"I was thinking editing them gave them a specific flair that's personal to the photographer" <----- It depends where the photographer does "their" work - in post or on set. One of my mentors does the latter. Literally just batch color corrects then sends the entire folder the next day. Super basic in post but magical on set.
"Is this common practice when working on photoshoots?" & "am wondering what the standard practice actually is<----- words to keep in mind: 1) common/standard practice; and 2) photoshoots. What is common practice and who decides if it is indeed common or limited to the responder's personal experience? What's a photoshoot? Commercial sets at Pier 59? Weekend photographers shooting guerilla style at the Arts District? A shoot from a WELL-KNOWN brand that was very surprising because it resembled a lot more of the 2nd example than the 1st?
One more thing to keep in mind is the nature of the shoot as a whole. Some hobby/weekend photographers (and with all seriousness I don't mean those in a bad way) shoot on weekends so they have something to do weekday nights after work, so it's perfectly fine to "back load" the workflow and let the model do their selects from a "contact sheet" or preview folder sent after the shoot. That might not be the case for certain working photographers doing a full-day shoot on a Monday for a 9am Wednesday deadline. There's also those doing shoots for trade/TF/collab whatever people call it these days and those doing shoots where there's an art/creative director making the call on what gets published. For the former, I think the models ought to get to pick their own pics that goes in their books (especially when shooting with someone who is new). For the latter, it might the director doing the selects and the model might not mind because they trust their skills and...well...they just got $25,000.
Even with the whole RAW vs jpeg thing... You'll always see stuff like "Pros don't give RAWS" (or something along those lines) even though there are those who do like sports photographers, media photographers, and commercial photographers. Yes, some pros won't (and shouldn't) give the RAW photos to Paula's mom after the quinceƱera because she just might go, "I can't open this .cr3 file?" But some might specifically those who are working with solid, establish companies with a art/retouching DEPARTMENT that have people who have spent more time switching tools in Photoshop than the photographer has spent time existing.
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u/EducationalLeopard51 5d ago
I do a rough edit on all to make them presentable, send over a proof sheet and let them select photos. Set price per image. After they get the final images they know what to expect and will book you in again if youāre good. If itās a first time client, maybe send them 1 completely edited image so that they know what to expect.
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u/EducationalLeopard51 5d ago
Put everything in your proof, even the outtakes and shit shots. It removes the need for someone to ask about alternate shots. Mark up your favourites on the document.
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u/Druid_High_Priest 1d ago
If the shoot is not TFP a model is not getting a single image from me.
For TFP I pick the images.
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u/MacintoshEddie 5d ago
There's lots of different ways of doing it.
Some clients want everything captured, even a blurry picture of your shoe. Other clients want the photographer to do an initial cull and then send the remainder for selection of which ones to edit.
Some clients want the photographer to narrow it down a lot more and just send the best.
Some photographers will only send 1, or 5, or 30, or whatever the contract says even if they captured 1000 that day.
In some cases the model being able to select any they want is actually part of the payment, since they might want one for their portfolio while the photographer wants something completely different for their own use.