Dilema - to tell or not to tell

[NicolaB]

I guess you may all have different perspectives on this one but.....

I did my first session the other day for someone other than friends and family. The indoor shots were fine, but the outdoor ones are well - technically pants! The family know I am learning as I feel it very important that clients are aware, to manage their expectations.

My problem is that the family love them and are talking about putting them on a large canvass. Great news for the indoor images of the kids but I am nervous about having less than technically perfect work so prominently displayed. What would you do? What advice would you give me? Here is an example.....

[IMG][/IMG]

[Sa900]

hi NicolaB, this is very subjective, you feel that the image is not technically perfect and the family really like the shot so much so they want to frame it and hang it up on a wall for everyone to see, i've not been doing this for too long and would say there would not ever be a perfect picture but for the family you have captured a moment in time they will cherish for ever, if their happy with the shot then be happy with them
hope this helps only my 2p worth

daren

[samhail]

I have to agree wit SA900 Photography, like all art, is very subjective. I'm not a professional but I would say that if the family is happy with them then I would be happy with them. I know that I always find things wrong with my pictures, even with the few that I have sold. But the customers were happy and I guess that's what counts. A happy customer is a referring customer.

[Swisstony10]

I've seen people happily displaying pictures which they love and are very happy with, which are technically (in my opinion) terrible. One in particular is a photo of a small class of mature students at their graduation - there are only eight people in the picture, and the professional photographer (who was working for a fairly well-known UK-wide photography company who spe******e in school/college/club shots) has managed to arrange them in height order, from one side to the other, one of them has a tree growing from their head, the two people on the right are in bright sunlight with horribly blown highlights, and the two on the left are in so much shadow you can barely see their eyes.

The trick is - only show clients (regardless of their relationship to you) the good pictures - the ones which are technically ok (or, if there's an apparent technical flaw, it's one which works), and the ones which you'd be happy for them to display and show to other people.

[Biomech]

We are always most critical of our own work. Out of interest, what do YOU feel is wrong with the picture?

[candleman]

if they love it, and the resolution is there.. let them blow it up.
*shrug*

i've seen much, much worse worse


BTW:
I HATE that phrase "managing their expectations"
someone i used to work under used to say that alot
He was a twisted, lying, BS artist who whould say or do anything to get a handshake..... even if he knew what he was promising was BS and he had no intention and no ability to following through.
/end rant

[BK553]

Looks fine to me.

BTW, There is no such thing as "technically perfect". It's a myth. The people that strive for technical perfection end up sucking at photography. Good photographers follow the rules. Great photographers invent new ways to break them.

[sk66]

It could be edited better...I used a second layer adjusted it's brightness/contrast and erased for a good transition. (also converted to B/W)

Only show images you are willing to have displayed.....If you are going to be unhappy with it as an example of your work, don't share it. Now, you have to let them do what they want with it.

[NicolaB]

Originally Posted by sk66

It could be edited better...I used a second layer adjusted it's brightness/contrast and erased for a good transition. (also converted to B/W)

Only show images you are willing to have displayed.....If you are going to be unhappy with it as an example of your work, don't share it. Now, you have to let them do what they want with it.

I agree re showing only what I am happy with HOWEVER - it was my first shoot and I knew they wanted a family photo. There was not the light and space to get them all in at home - and all the images at the lake were like this one - I managed to underexpose them or stick them with the sun right in their eyes - arghhhh. Lessons learnt! I only expected them to order a couple of 5x7's! If you don't mind I will pm you to find out how to improve the pp

Originally Posted by Biomech

We are always most critical of our own work. Out of interest, what do YOU feel is wrong with the picture?

I have had to do two exposures - cut the family out to brighten them. As SK66 says it is not done too smoothly. It particularly shows on the little boys jacket.

I thought about my reflector, but my head was spinning with all the things I had to remember (but as it turns out forgot!)

Originally Posted by samhail

I have to agree wit SA900 Photography, like all art, is very subjective. I'm not a professional but I would say that if the family is happy with them then I would be happy with them.

This seems to be the consensus from my friends too.

Originally Posted by candleman

BTW:
I HATE that phrase "managing their expectations"

lol - apologies!

Thank you all for your input.

Nic

[sk66]

Originally Posted by NicolaB

If you don't mind I will pm you to find out how to improve the pp
Nic

Not a problem.