Post then edit -or- Edit then post?

[wsu_danielle]

Do you...

post images, let the client select favorites, then edit the favorites

OR

edit images you select and then post the album for your client

???

I am asking because I've seen a little of both. Which do you do/prefer? It seems more professional to edit and then post to a client proofing album. Agree or disagree?

[candleman]

i bet this will stir some heated debate.

Personally, I edit as many as i possibly can thus showing the best. Then, post them for ordering.

1. they get to see the best.. final works which helps stimulate the "WOW, those are stunning" factor
2. The ordering is then simple.. what you see is what you get. proofing and ordering is one simple step.
3. i dont want them medelling with the editing process.. i see an open door by doing it in the reverse order, that they will try to take some control over the creative process. Then, they can come back with "i dont like that edit, cant you make it more blue.. i saw this picture once........".
I believe the creative editing is the responsibility of the photographer.. we know better how to make the most out of an image.

as i say, i include as many images as i can. and THUS FAR, the ratio is that 50% of the print orders are of the images i dont think are the best. BUT, they have been edited to look their best.

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by candleman

i bet this will stir some heated debate.

Personally, I edit as many as i possibly can thus showing the best. Then, post them for ordering.

1. they get to see the best.. final works which helps stimulate the "WOW, those are stunning" factor
2. The ordering is then simple.. what you see is what you get. proofing and ordering is one simple step.
3. i dont want them medelling with the editing process.. i see an open door by doing it in the reverse order, that they will try to take some control over the creative process. Then, they can come back with "i dont like that edit, cant you make it more blue.. i saw this picture once........".
I believe the creative editing is the responsibility of the photographer.. we know better how to make the most out of an image.

as i say, i include as many images as i can. and THUS FAR, the ratio is that 50% of the print orders are of the images i dont think are the best. BUT, they have been edited to look their best.

This seems to be the best way. If someone hires you because they like your style, the edits will be a big part of it.

[mokka]

I don't have a place online I can post samples for the client to view so I email them the samples instead, but the process is about the same.

I do as much editing and post-processing as I can before sending the client the best samples, so that I'm sending them samples that, if I was in their position, I would be happy with, usually we've already spoken about styles the client wants such as my last client who wanted makeup models in black and white with colour-popped red lips.

But also I think most photographers will agree, in any photoshoot there will be at least 75% photos you wouldn't want your client to see, so keep these to yourself. I think someone said to me recently,the difference between a professional and an amateur photographer is an amateur will show you all their photographs, a professional will only show you their best photographs.

The client will pick which ones they want to buy, and will usually suggest minor changes they want. I don't always agree with this, for example in my last shoot, of makeup models I edited the photos to be very high-key to hide blemishes and the fact that the models (in my opinion) were slightly orange (this was Liverpool after all). She wanted some of them darkened to bring the 'tan' out, even though this also made their skin look a little leathery.

At the end of the day she was paying for the pictures, so I gave her what she was asking for. It really didn't bother me that some of the photos weren't how I would have chosen to do them. I put the ones I liked in my portfolio and took pride in the knowledge that I have the ability to be flexible to meet client requirements.

[Jim Bryant]

Rule number one: Edit before posting.
Rule number two: Only show your best work.

Otherwise, you'll always be remembered by your worse photograph taken.

[CheaperKings]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

Rule number one: Edit before posting.
Rule number two: Only show your best work.

Otherwise, you'll always be remembered by your worse photograph taken.

You can't beat that logic with a stick!

I agree 100%

[funcrunch]

I never, ever post unedited photos on my professional web site, whether in a public or client-access-only gallery. And I really mean never. The client never sees the majority of my photos, and I am getting more and more selective with what I post as I gain more experience.

[Jim Poor]

A. (I'm being technical here) "Editing" has nothing to do with adjusting a photo. "Editing" is the process of weeding out the bad shots and keeping the "selects." It's a culling process.

B. The correct answer to nearly any question is "It depends."

- For dog sports, where I take thousands of photos in a day, I'm less inclined to do any sort of adjusting in terms of pixel manipulation, cropping, etc. I do a bulk WB correction and maybe a bulk exposure correction if I note that a particular dog's run could use it.

For portraits, I tend to fine tune things more before posting. The volume is lower and the expectations are different. If I have a really huge group event, I may do just a couple of "finished" proofs and show before/after, where with a private sitting I may do quite a bit more than that before posting.

[candleman]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

A. (I'm being technical here) "Editing" has nothing to do with adjusting a photo. "Editing" is the process of weeding out the bad shots and keeping the "selects." It's a culling process.

B. The correct answer to nearly any question is "It depends."

- For dog sports, where I take thousands of photos in a day, I'm less inclined to do any sort of adjusting in terms of pixel manipulation, cropping, etc. I do a bulk WB correction and maybe a bulk exposure correction if I note that a particular dog's run could use it.

For portraits, I tend to fine tune things more before posting. The volume is lower and the expectations are different. If I have a really huge group event, I may do just a couple of "finished" proofs and show before/after, where with a private sitting I may do quite a bit more than that before posting.

too true.. i didnt think about the events aspect. i seldom do them!

when i have done events.. i've done as Jim suggested.. only very minor (automated via imagemagic) adjustments, and only "photoshop" the ones that are ordered.

[wsu_danielle]

Excellent. Best. Advice. EVER.

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

Rule number one: Edit before posting.
Rule number two: Only show your best work.

Otherwise, you'll always be remembered by your worse photograph taken.

You guys all have good points!