Weekly Poll: What percentage of your shots do you consider "keepers"?

[dezertprincess]

I picked 1-10% because I was thinking solely of the shots I take for the purpose of "artful photography" (also known as my desire to improve my photographic skills). Technically I keep a very high percentage, if you are talking about the everyday shots like Christmas photos, trip to my sister's, birthday parties, etc.

[Peach]

Over the past couple of months, the amount of photos I'm keeping and showing off has climbed steadily as my experience and knowledge of my camera grows. Aside from setting up the shots and experimenting a bit with getting the right focus etc. I keep and show off many of my pictures so long as they aren't from a new technique I'm learning (low light situations etc.). The techniques I'm learning tend to earn a lot of 'garbage' shots but that's all part of the learning process.

Looking at pictures I took in August, when I got my camera, and pictures I've taken recently, I can definitely see an improvement and I'm happy to finally be getting the hang of this photography thing.

[windrider86]

this was hard one to answer. When I photograph something or someone, I tend to take many shots with different variables. Different angles and different settings etc. Then I go thru them and narrow them down to a couple and then choose which one I like the best.
But if its a picture for my own private memory albums I tend to keep most of them.

[RonS]

I picked 11 - 25%. To further define that...

Most of that "up to 25%" are pictures that I like the content like family and fun situations. If the question was pictures that are technically excellent - then it would be drastically lower, probably 1% to 2%. I'm still wrestling with this photography stuff after a "LOT" of years! IStock still hasn't accepted one of my submissions

[Taallyn]

I'd say that about 25% of the shots I take are "keepers" for at least personal pleasure or memories. Much fewer than that are what I'd consider really good photographs in an artistic sense.

[geotography]

I empty my recycle bin almost daily as I discard alot of images (bless the inventor of digital). Attaching a number to the question, I would say that I keep 7 -12 percent. As many have pointed out, the term "keep" is tough to define. I may keep an image around for awhile because I think I can still learn something from it. So it's a process for me and then one day I know it's time to weed out something that I don't need or want any longer. I know that in time, the archive is going to become more of a challenge to manage.

I have much curiosity about backing up what you do want to keep onto CD's. Perhaps I should do a bit of research and start a thread. I would really like to get some ideas on this topic.

I apologize I don't, off hand know who started this thread (don't want to lose my place), but thank you for doing so!

[Nicole]

Glad the weekly poll was useful to you Geotagography I always have a hard time coming up with topics for them

[peeperita]

i chose the 11 percent group....that is probaly my overall happiness level.....but, that figure can wax and wane according to what type of image i am shooting.....if i'm on a trip, it soars....as documentation takes precedence.....if it's a staged shot, i tend to bracket for dof, exposure, etc.....sometimes i'll have fifteen or so shots of the same set up.....choosing only one or two in the end......

peeper

[bindibadgi]

11-25% group here. I am either pretty crappy or I am over critical, but that's the way it is.

That said, I actually keep all my shots. One day the world might explode from the size of my hard drives, but for now I don't actually delete any. Not sure why. Maybe I think they'll improve with age?

[Jay]

I'd say that only a small percentage are definite keepers. A lot of it depends on the shoot itself ("shoot" generally meaning a simple photowalk around town somewhere). If I'm taking snaps at a party or something of the sort, a lot of the shots are just blah and I only show a small handful... I need to work on the candids.