"Why don't you sell high-res files?"

[mokka]

just say that the cost of the originals reflects their value. I know it's difficult though to get people to understand that the price they pay isn't a reflection of the materials.

[nickbedford]

I think we're also talking about a subset of professional photography. That is to say that many areas need a digital copy, whether it's web or a copy to use in promotional art or whatever.

[Jim Bryant]

Why.........because if you do, it's like giving away the copyright. They can do with whatever they want with the photos. Big prints and many prints can be made. Think of the money you'll be loosing in the long run.

[John101477]

There is no reason to give out a hi res digital copy. If you do a low res copy for use on the internet that should be enough. The absolute only reason for a hi res copy is for them to go elsewhere to reprint or because they want to have the image manipulated some how. both of which are out of the question.
I do not mark up to much for the print itself but I do reflect my sitting fee to compensated for my time and effort.

[nickbedford]

So you should be taking over their artwork too because you don't want to give them a high resolution copy for use in things like advertising and other stuff?

I'm talking about things like fashion or product stuff where they need a digital file to place into their magazine layout and other stuff.

But that's an entirely different ball game. Not "mums and dads" or "brides and grooms".

[JFSanders]

Originally Posted by filemanager

Ever since I stopped giving out high-res CDs (and wow the transition was tough!), I've been getting inquiries such as "How come I can't get my session on a CD so I can print my pictures myself?" or "How come I can't have the high-res files?" or my personal favourite "How can you charge so much for the digital files! It's ridiculous!"

I'm wondering how you all (those of you who don't give out the CDs) respond to these inquiries? I'm hoping someone will be able to word it nicely for me

Unless you are Bill Gates or Sheik Abdulla it is highly unlikely you could afford my originals. But if you would like a quote, it will most likely be in the five figure range. . . per image. Thank you and have a nice day. Was that nice enough?

[nickbedford]

P.S. I totally understand the point of not giving away JPEGs where the point of the shoot is to print the photos and give the prints to the client.

The main thing I'm trying to say is that not all photography is done for this purpose. Commercial and editorial and whatnot involves the use of the photo in other works, such as posters, advertisements and such. And I suppose you should price the sale of your images accordingly. That being said, there's a difference between giving away a RAW file and giving away a processed JPEG with usage restrictions.

[JFSanders]

Oh, don't misunderstand Nick. I do believe in giving my commercial customers the best image possible and because there is a license agreement and a contract to go with it there is little chance that it will be abused or misused. Although it has happened, not to me personally. The stories are not well documented unless there is a legal proceeding and thankfully that doesn't happen very much either.

But the bride and Mom will have to be happy with the print (the best that can be made to the price point willing to be paid). But without a serious amount of money I am not letting the originals out of hand. And IF I were to sell the original image I would have a contract signed that explicitly stated that my name is not to be associated in any way shape or form with an altered print or image with damages specified if such an event were to occur. I would seek relief mainly on principle not to enrich myself although if the damage done were great enough to affect my business then I may just go all in.

Jim

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by filemanager

Ever since I stopped giving out high-res CDs (and wow the transition was tough!), I've been getting inquiries such as

"How come I can't get my session on a CD so I can print my pictures myself?"

You can, the disc costs (my price, yours may vary) $1250.00

or "How come I can't have the high-res files?"

You can, they are $200 each when purchased individually.

or my personal favourite "How can you charge so much for the digital files! It's ridiculous!"

Take a moment to consider that you get (my license terms, yours may vary) unlimited personal use and printing. The cost of a single digital file is equal to four gift prints, but you can print as many as you like in any size you like.

I'm wondering how you all (those of you who don't give out the CDs) respond to these inquiries? I'm hoping someone will be able to word it nicely for me

One person got all huffy and said "you just lost a sale." My reply was "that's okay, I don't want that kind of sale."

[Biomech]

If you go into a recording studio, record a song with a sound engineer and have it mastered. Do you expect to take all of the raw, unedited sound files too? Or the unedited video from a wedding videographer? So why a photographer? Perhaps you could say, hey sure, you can have the RAW files. And give them that, the RAW files (maybe in JPG), because if you're anything like me, the RAW's look nothing like the PP'd final images.

Personally, I give digital copies in high res..... well, I do and i don't.

When shooting for corporate clients, they pay a rate and that includes high res files with a licence. Because lets face it, they want them for advertising, promotional material in which case their art depart will want to crop and tweak them to fit their agenda. And in my experience, every PR company I've talked with doesn't consider a photographer who starts going on about X cost for this, X cost for that, then you have to buy a licence. They are in business and what a price of the cost *bang* " I can do that, it'll cost £1,800" Job done.

The other time I give away a disc is with my photo booth, it's included in the package. And lets face it, what am I going to do with 500 photos of people making faces?

I also give away 20 images on a disc in my £300 wedding package. Again, there's a reason and a need.

I don't, however, give out discs when I shoot graduation balls, etc. It's £10 on the night 9x6 or £15 online 9x6. Neither when I shoot portraits.

I think you have to look at the requirements for the photos from the client and the potential lost revenue. With a grad ball I might take a photo of 7 girls. That's £70. If I give away the digital high res, I then make £10. Multiply that by the amount of photos and jobs done per month and I wouldn't make enough to live.

On the last grad ball shoot one girl asked about my kit, she just seemed interested not rude. She was quite shocked when I said "well the printer cost me £1,200, the camera there was £1,500, that frame was £100 and see that, that piece of cloth was £100" etc.

One person got all huffy and said "you just lost a sale." My reply was "that's okay, I don't want that kind of sale."

When I was selling TV's a customer wanted a TV stand thrown in for free and was shocked when I wouldn't. They said "you;re willing to lose a sale?", I said yes, I could give you that stand at a loss or I could sell it to the next person who walks through the door. They got in a huff, stormed out of the shop calling me a "rude little twat".

You don't want some people as clients, and they are often very surprised when you refuse their custom.

Probably the longest post I've written, but I moved and have been without the net for 4 weeks :P

From working in customer service I've always said; "the customer is not always right. 90% of the time they are wrong, the other 10% they are lying". Absolutely true about front line CS