joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Tell you client up front approximately how many images you will deliver and exceed that number...eliminating any argument. You never know how he will bastardize them or where they will be posted. Give them only your best...your reputation may be on the line.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

If they saw you capturing images during the event that they obviously didn't receive, then they know that there were more. Of course you could claim that you already deleted them and they can no longer be retrieved.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

I always re-number my files.
No way to see missing file numbers that way.

BebuLamar

We have a lot of questions here where someone took pictures only to find out the pictures are not on the memory card. I am sure the OP didn't have the contract that stated for every time he clicked the shutter button he has to produce an image.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Right on! He's got it!

I am not telling anyone what their policies should be- YOU the OP, has to decide what you want to stipulate on a wide range of issues as to the basics like price, schedule of payments, your rates and packages and the copyright aspects. You should also specify the disposition of so-called proofs, thumbnails, or whatever you want to call the complete choice of images you have submitted for selection.

I can tell you what I do. I simply NEVER submit defective, sub-standard, unflattering, or technically deficient images to a client. I don't usually get too many bloopers on a wedding coverage but Murphy's Law of wedding photography states that the client will select an out-of-focus, underexposed, and poorly composed image for a 30x40 portrait! Something that happened when the shutter release was accidently activated! Then they will ask you to frame and sign it! Bad as to "artistic integrity" and it's lousy PR!

The best way to preclude dissatisfied, argumentative, and disappointed clients is to spell out all your policies and explain your logical reason and benefits to the client for invoking your policies. If the client does not agree with your policies or methods, don't take on the job or you are asking for aggravation.

If I am in the midst of wedding reception and running and gunning a wild rock 'n' roll dance sequence and shooting 15 frames to grab a particular shot- who's counting? I'll pick the best to the sequence and cull the rest.
I'll shoot back up shots on formals and groups to avoid closed eyes and distracted expressions and edit out the misses. The client will still have a generous choice- closeups. 3/4 shots, full-face, profiles, 2/3 fill lengths and tons of action shots but the will be choosing out the best poses and candid sequences, not deciding whether to take a great shot or a failed image.

Again, in my own policies, I never have the client post-process, edit or print my work. It's artistic and business suicide! That's what thye pay me for! We explain in advance that the goal is to tell a comprehensive story of the day with all the romance, moods, celebration and fun and DESIGN an album that will be a joy to review over and over again. This puts everyone on a good cooperative trajectory. If you plan concisely, you will never have disagreements or misunderstandings with clients. If you do not plan and get everyone on the same page, you are walking into a minefield.

Of course, you can't simply adopt mine or anyone else's policies. You need to devise your own based on your experience and your clients' requirements. I am still kind of old school in that I produce WEDDING ALBUMS- in leather bindings with a minimum of 60 images. We have a separate video crew for folks who want that service and slideshows of stills are only sold accompanying album orders.

fotoman150

I did that but they can see that there are gaps in the numbering of the files.

fotoman150

There are gaps in the file numbers

fotoman150

I did this once but there were thousands of images. I couldn’t retouch each one perfectly. And because they had some flaws the bride got mad. I told her to pick which ones she wanted to see work on and I would retouch only those.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Re-name them so there aren't any gaps after you cull them!
I re-name ALL my files.

fotoman150

Good call

fotoman150

But then they are disappointed.

fotoman150

I may have to do that.

fotoman150

Makes sense

One problem in this wedding I was subcontracted by a DJ company. So I had no way to sign a contract with the couple. From now on I will tell the DJ company to include my policies and I will add a new clause to my contract. Also will also renumber my images sequentially. Thanks

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

I use a scheme that's used by a PhotoMechanic program and used by a lot of organizations.
Great program for culling and organizing BTW.
Almost instant viewing of raw file images.

My images all have unique names, not simply what the camera gives it.
DSCN_0267? Tells me nothing.
And a camera will give the same number later on after a while.
And if you're shooting with 2 cameras?

Today, my images would be named: 210213_001, 210213_002, etc.
I know that image was shot in 2021, Feb and on the 13th, or the 13th job that day. (I wish) and the frame number. All the 210213 images go in a folder with the same name, plus a short description of the job.
With Photomechanic, I populate the metadata to tell me what the job is, where it was, keywording....you name it, and it will add it. All that’s searchable. Takes only a few minutes and can be done at download (“Ingesting” as they call it)
Can be done in LightRoom too, if I'm not mistaken.
I've been using a form of that even in film days, so it was not hard to get used to it

fotoman150

Sounds good but I have this weird resistance to changing the file name. I’m going to have to get over it.