Should a potential Client have all Photo images presented on a DVD for self printing?
My view in short is "No"
And I will tell you why in a balanced view on this contentious topic plaguing many professional Wedding Photographers in todays more technically advanced days to what they ones where.
Not so long ago a Client would assign a Photographer to cover a Wedding shoot.
When the task was completed the Photo images where presented in elegant and stylish Photo Albums. Things have changed dramatically since those days. Photo images can readily be presented on a DVD in a full size high quality format for anyone to print from.
This is where the sticky point comes in to play.
From a Customers point of view one might say "What is wrong with that"?
I have paid for the Photo images and there for I am entitled to do what I want with them.
One would understand and be forgiven to have this view but there is a lot more to it and I will explain in some basic detail.
When one assigns a professional Photographer to cover a Wedding shoot you are in effect also giving permission for Him/Her to take Photos of your event. It may be any event and not just Weddings. From this point on the Photographer owns all copyright on the Photos taken.
As part of the product the Photographer would have in most cases already agreed on conditions in providing the images to his or her clients . You may receive the Photo images on a DVD - in Photo Albums - printed Photoalbum - or prints or perhaps some other type of presentation.
Regardless of the presentation the copyright remains with the Photographer. This is because the Photographer has the right to protect his work from unauthorised use. Exception are when a copyright is also released to the Client or permission was granted in reproducing / altering Photo images.
For a short period I also struggled with the question if I should provide full size images on a DVD for my Clients or not? I must admit that I was not comfortable with the idea.
I was concerned about protecting my hard long hours of passionate and dedicated work that I put in to each and every Photo. Then there was the competition that popped up every where to be considered. Many who claimed themselves to be of professional standard but from what I have seen are mere Wanna Bees. Then there are the ones trying to establish themselves in the market place. I do not begrudge anyone trying to establish themselves. I had to as well. But most of them where ready to give their work away very cheaply and sell their copyright on DVD for their Client's to print.
"A problem greatly undermining a profession at it's very core"
Competing against this added pressure in a City of Adelaide that only has a turn over of about 300 to 400 weddings a year plus hard financial times for many Purse strings seemed to present itself to be more difficult to combat. Reluctantly I opted to try and trust my Clients to do the right thing by me.
I took the plunge and started to supply DVD presentations to 3 Clients with full size format Photo images.
It was not until the forth Client where I became concerned hence having me re-evaluate my strategy.
One Client spoke of photo shopping their face a little, a mention was made on sharing some images on another third party Business Web Site. Then came this nagging thought of Clients perhaps sending my good work through fort prints to be done by the cheaper printing options such as Kmart, Office Works, print vending Machines, e.t.c risking inferior and imperfect prints and colour/balance tones.
In turn these would be shown to their Friends and Family and down with it potentially goes my good name and reputation I had struggled to build up over time.
Considering these important issues from my (Photographers) view point in retaining my standards and reputation I there for ceased this practice.
Instead I offer Photo images on a stylish DVD Presentation that are not large or suitable in size for printing but are great for viewing on a PC and a Slide Show for TV and PC viewing.
For the sake in protecting my quality work, all print requirements there for will need to be ordered through my service. After all; It is my job to make sure I present a quality Product right to the end for my Client. That is what I am being paid to do. I am very comfortable to loose some clients who prefer to have someone give them the full Monty and risk their good work unless their work is not worth risking in the first place. Then there is the saying. "You only get what you pay for"
Rainer L. is a professional Wedding Photographer since 2006 having also appeared in various publications. For his Portfolio samples and details visit Capture Photography SA
