Among some of the frequently asked questions I get from clients booking a session is, "How many shots do I get and will I get a CD?". There is often this expectation that they will receive hundreds of images on a CD and this somehow makes it a worth while photo shoot. At TSC we allow clients to view the photo session and select 5 images to be retouched, which is a lot for one outfit but "models" have told me, "Well, I shot with (photographer) and he gave me all my pictures!". I've even heard, "I got 100 pictures and 2 retouches and it only cost me $75 dollars." Hey, I'm happy for you. You got a good deal on your photo shoot. You paid for a lot of pictures but did you get quality photography? Unfortunately, even some good photographers have resorted to giving away all the pictures from a shoot whether they are good or bad just to satisfy the demands of the market. However, giving away a lot of pictures for a little bit of money is the typical behavior of an amateur. Aspiring models should keep in mind that a photographer who is truly good at their craft and is business minded would not give you any bad pictures whether you like them or not. They are supposed to be the professional and they should care about the way the pictures they release represent them and the client they capture. Good pictures attract business, bad pictures don't. Hopefully, you chose the photographer based on the quality of the work you've seen. If so then you would trust that he/she knows how to capture you and knows what a good image is. If that is the case then why again do you really need so many pictures? The purpose of a photo shoot is to get "that shot". Many aspiring models watch America's Next Top Model and hear Tyra say every week, "Here was your best shot". photo shoots for ads and print publications may take hours to complete but they end up using...one shot. One shot people! How many shots of an outfit do you need in your portfolio? (Say it with me) One. Now, there are cases where the photographer may be shooting a composite (multiple exposure) or a theme that calls for several images from the same look, creatively in succession. Other than that you only need ONE. I've seen aspiring models actually post an entire photo shoot on Myspace, Facebook or even Twitter. The photographer clearly didn't care what you did with his pictures and that model was obviously more impressed with how many times she saw her face in a picture than the quality of the shoot itself. I've had clients ask, "So there weren't any other good shots?" Let's face it, if it was your first photo shoot, you had no idea what to do and you were nervous why would you expect there to be a lot of good shots? It's a better thing that you got a few very good ones versus a lot of mediocre to bad ones. I mean, don't you want to be seen in your best light?
I know some photographers have just given up the argument for the sake of booking shoots, but how will your work ever be valued if you (the photographer) don't respect it enough to edit out your mediocre shots? Clients are going to show everyone what you did for them. You will be judged not only by the work you post to your web site but also by the work you do for your clients. Aspiring models need to stop accepting less quality for affordable quantity. I suspect that many of you feel that the more images you have, the better chance that someone may come along and take the time to look through all of them and be impressed. Well...no, they won't. A serious onlooker is going to wonder why you needed so many frames. It also says that you weren't confident about any one shot to stand behind so you just posted them all and hoped for the best. Not a good look. Aspiring models and photographers - aspire to reach the standard of professionals and stop mastering the standard of amateurs. You're only holding yourself back.
I found this article by James Falkofske which gives some very good insight on the subject of "Quality versus Quality" http://www.4arts.net/node/15.
G14
© JustB.BBreezy.Com 2010
...remember, less is more.
Mar 18, 2010
I'm a photgrapher and graphic designer for The Studio Concept in Atlanta, GA. Photography is my first love amongst the many forms of artistic expression I have practiced. I have over 15 years of experience as a photographer and over 20 years as an artist. Creativity is the foundation of my work, even in the most simplistic of images.
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