Why photographers don't give you ALL the photos

Friend: "So how many photos do you take during a shoot?"

Me: "It depends on a lot of things, but if I'm shooting for an hour, maybe 200-300 photos."

Friend: "Woah! Your clients must love getting so many photos."

Me: "They get about 20-30 in this scenario."

Friend: "Wait why wouldn't you give them ALL the photos? Aren't they paying for them?"

Hover over each photo to see if it's a photo I would deliver to a client - or not!

An explanation in three parts:

1. I am HONORED when people assume 100% of the photos I take are amazing. Truth: they're not. (#3 tells you why.) Since not every photo I take is gold...
2. My contract includes this: "All images are edited at the Photographer’s discretion, and delivered images may not include all images captured. The Photographer will edit and deliver only those photographs deemed creditable as professional in quality and meeting the Photographer’s artistic standards." So technically, the client is paying for professional quality photography, not for ALL photos taken.
3. So what kinds of things don't meet my artistic standards? Blur (usually caused by me moving or my client moving), blinking, photos taken simply for testing the lighting, when the flash doesn't go off when it's supposed to, when someone walks into the shot accidentally, etc. etc. etc. (This list could go on forever!)

I love when people ask me questions like these. It gives me the opportunity to educate them on the nuances of my industry. Similarly, I love learning about the nuances of others' industries as well.

If you have other questions about photography, please feel free to click "recommend a topic" near the top of the right side of this page.

Happy Friday!
​Autumn