keep to delete ratio - what's yours like??

[olgabe]

Just curious what everybody else sees in their delete/keep ratios

When I shoot for fun - travel, vacation, sightseeing, personal activities - I tend to spend more time composing and thinking about the frame because I am not rushed. As a result, I end up deleting about about half of composed shots of still objects, and doing additional processing on about 20%. For stuff that moves the ratio is about 70% delete, 10% process, 20% archive/keep.

Now, when I do portrait sessions for a fee, I tend to shoot about 300-400 images in 1.5 hrs. With people actually posing, I should not feel rushed, but somehow I do - maybe because I'm afraid of missing that fleeting candid moment. I aim to provide 25-40 images for each portrait session, so shooting some 200 images should be plenty - but it's just not happening so far. So, what to you think - is it normal to have 10% keep ratio for portrait shots? Am I too high or too low? or maybe normal?

Thanks

[RexK_Cozumel]

Depends on what I am shooting of course but generally I only use 1% of the photos I shoot. Although I keep closer to 90% of them. So for example shooting a model for an ad I would only use 1 photo for print however I take about 80-100 shots (depends on the shoot, sometimes we all get lucky and the client gets what they want after the first 10 shots.) Anyways assuming that I shoot 100 frames, depending on the model, I will be left with about 90 or so after deleting the ones where the model blinks or motion blur or whatever else causes me to not like the image.

Varies a lot in the shoot.

There is no magic number. I'll do some of my stop-motion photography, and might not end up with any good pics. Other times I'll end up with 100% good photos, and have to try and pick the best. Technically (focus, lighting, exposure) most of my shots are good...it's the subject matter that makes the difference. Some shots are better than others, and I usually take multiple shots of the same thing and choose the best later.

General numbers:
Weddings, it's typically 20%.
Baby shoots, around 10-15% (they move too much).
Single person portraits, 25%
Group portraits, 10% (I hate group shots).
Freelance - 5% (only need one photo and I usually take 10-20).

[olgabe]

Originally Posted by RexK_Cozumel

Depends on what I am shooting of course but generally I only use 1% of the photos I shoot. Although I keep closer to 90% of them.

So why do you keep 90% if you only use 1%?

My husband does the same by the way, he can not explain it properly. My theory is that it helps him justify buying more and more storage space for the home server..

[StillFocus]

Originally Posted by olgabe

So why do you keep 90% if you only use 1%?

My husband does the same by the way, he can not explain it properly. My theory is that it helps him justify buying more and more storage space for the home server..

I'm the same way. I just have a compulsion to not delete things if there's nothing wrong with it...

[OsmosisStudios]

I dont delete anything unless its actually terrible (out of focus, very over/under exposed, etc).

My "keepers" depends on what you consider "keepers". My portfolio is only about 40-50, from a possible 40 000. Does that make my keeper rate 0.1%?

If we're talking the number of images I end up liking vs the number i end up essentially disregarding, then it's probably about 10%

[olgabe]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

My "keepers" depends on what you consider "keepers". My portfolio is only about 40-50, from a possible 40 000. Does that make my keeper rate 0.1%?

I'd say keepers is anything that you 'keep' - keep in a designated folder on your hard drive or backup drive, etc. If I do a portrait shoot for a client, I shoot 300+ images, I give them 30-50 images on a CD, burn a CD copy for myself (this one is not really a keeper - i only do it in case they lose theirs and I can charge for a copy), and take 3-4 very best shots to keep in active storage (i.e. i can pull them up easily, include them into a promotional slideshow or photobook, etc.)

Not just stuff in the portfolio - but stuff that you can imagine using again - printing, re-processing, using elements, showing off to clients etc.

[FrankLamont]

As mentioned earlier, it can depend on the situation, especially with lighting, etc.

Normally it's about 90-95% keep rate.

[doctorjames]

Originally Posted by olgabe

Just curious what everybody else sees in their delete/keep ratios

I guess this may not be useful to you, as I only shoot for fun.

I have two ratios, for out and about shots I probably keep about 50%, as I will often take two or three shots of the same thing, be it landscape or otherwise.

For specific projects, still life or portraits, im easily cutting 90% or more. Thats the problem with digital, it doesnt cost anything to click. (well nearly nothing)