Shoot + Burn Wedding Photography?

Dear Jasmine,
I'm new to the industry, but can't find it in my heart to EVER offer my clients a “shoot and burn” option no matter how popular it may be. I promise all of my clients upfront that they will receive digital copies of anything they purchase, but I have never have offered a package with digital only.

I'm not just trying to horde digital files as a way to be sneaky and up-sell unsuspecting clients. I just can't find an economical way to fully edit 300-500 images. You see, from my perspective I want my art and my brand to extend beyond the moment my shutter fires. I'm a perfectionist, so I don't want a single image to leave my studio if it hasn't received the full treatment. I don't even list prices for disks, because I don't want a client to wonder if I'm trying to gouge them.

While the idea of providing blinged out, gold encrusted DVDs and flash drives does seem tempting, I have to ask myself if brides even appreciates a disk with their entire shoot or if it's used as a “security blanket” of sorts. Wouldn't it be more meaningful to have 100 of your best images, laid out thoughtfully in an album and fully edited over 500 images, with mediocre post-production work, gathering dust in a drawer? If a bride purchases the album, I've already taken the time to edit each of those images. Not only would she get a tangible product in the end, but later she could go bananas with reprints and I wouldn't worry at all – they would reflect my brand.

Unfortunately, I feel like I'm the odd man out in an industry full of USBs and online galleries.
Sincerely,
Anti Security Blankets

Dear Anti Security Blankets,
First things first, don't ever feel like the odd man out. In creative professions (like photography), there isn't a definitive right or wrong way of running a business…you have the choice to run your studio the way you want and if clients are hiring you and you've created a career, then continue doing what you do. Clearly, it's working.

Now I'm going to weigh in on your questions. You addressed four main things…
1. I don't want a single image to leave my studio if it hasn't received the full treatment. I just can't find an economical way to fully edit 300-500 images.
Based on your email, it sounds like the “full treatment” is extensive retouching and editing. My clients understand that the wedding images they receive have been fully edited in Lightroom (adjusting color, contrast, brightness, etc), so if they'd like to get prints done, I feel confident in my work. Would I love to ensure all 800 wedding photos are the epitome of perfection? Sure, but that would require hundreds of hours of work…per wedding. I heavily suggest editing a wedding gallery to stand as a division of your brand on its own and images that go into an album can be retouched with a fine-tooth comb (as I do). If you're having a hard time editing all of the images, I heavily suggest checking out Photographer's Edit to outsource your work. You'll save time and your clients will have pretty, edited images. Be sure to use the jstar promo code at check out for 25% discount off your first order.

2. I have to ask myself if brides even appreciates a disk with their entire shoot or if it's used as a “security blanket” of sorts.
I run my business under the time-tested truth of The Client is Always Right. To be honest, if my client wants a security blanket, I don't mind. Heck, I'll crochet it for her. The photos we make aren't merely photos, they're unrepeatable moments on the most special day of their lives…if they want to protect them by having them in a tangible form, I'm all for it.

3. Wouldn't it be more meaningful to have 100 of your best images, laid out thoughtfully in an album and fully edited over 500 images, with mediocre post-production work, gathering dust in a drawer?
Who are we, as photographers, to determine what's more meaningful to a person? Sure, some brides might value an album more, but some brides might not. Be sure to leave room in your business model to listen to what they want and service them in a way that suits their desires.

4. I have never have offered a package with digital only.
Again, if this works for your business and you're staying busy with weddings, then by all means, rock it out. The best part of being an entrepreneur is making your rules, so enjoy the fruit of your labor. I, however, subscribe to the notion that I'm here to serve my clients exactly how they want. If they just want the digital images, I don't turn away their business on account of their album-less desires. I'm hired to document their wedding day, so how they'd like to commemorate it is entire up to them. I'll be there to assist them in whatever they choose, but the decision is theirs alone.

Anti Security Blankets, I hope this outlines how I run my business and if you disagree with me on every count, no worries. We're still homies. So feel free to send the digital-only clients my way if you're not working with them! 😉
Cheers!
j*