What's wrong with CD's?

[sabrina860]

There is a person on another forum who is a photographer and is extremely against giving out CDs of the sessions to her customers. She explained why but I vaguely remember why she said she was against it. But I remember me thinking "what's the big deal?"
Do any on you give out CDs of your session? If not... Why?

[BuddhaPi]

I think the general thought behind this is if you give them the CD they are able to get unlimited prints, whenever, whereever they want, thus cutting you out of the equation which boils down to lost revenue for you...

[Izzy]

You can do this one of two ways

1. Provide a CD with open printing permissions
2. Archive all photos taken of the client to reprint later while they decide to make other sized prints and retain your full copyright.

I for one was definitely not for option 2 as I am already a digital packrat. When I did portraits and weddings I did give them a disc and did well by doing so. The hardest part was getting the local labs to bother to read the copyright release. I also got a release from the client to use their image in my advertising in anyway I saw fit.

I provided a disc with all the images and a set of proofs of all the pictures. I had them printed on matte paper to kill off the cheapness of 1 hour photo.

You simply do what is necessary....

[tuxcomputers]

Originally Posted by sabrina860

There is a person on another forum who is a photographer and is extremely against giving out CDs of the sessions to her customers. She explained why but I vaguely remember why she said she was against it. But I remember me thinking "what's the big deal?"
Do any on you give out CDs of your session? If not... Why?

1. Client takes CD to Wal-Mart and gets them printed for 1.2c each.
2. Hangs them on the wall.
3. Friend comes over and goes "ewwww how yucky who took your photos?"
4. Friend makes sure EVERYONE knows that you take shit photos

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by tuxcomputers

1. Client takes CD to Wal-Mart and gets them printed for 1.2c each.
2. Hangs them on the wall.
3. Friend comes over and goes "ewwww how yucky who took your photos?"
4. Friend makes sure EVERYONE knows that you take shit photos

LOL!.........Simple and well put!

[candleman]

depends on if you value your reputation more than earning $$$
people pay for CD's because they actually want them, and they will hire you because you sell the CD.

SO, you can be precious about your immaculate works of art.. sel only prints and be stuck in the dark ages
or you can change with the times resulting in happy clients and make money.


many disagree and argue.. fine, i prefer the money in the bank.

[private]

" Client takes CD to Wal-Mart and gets them printed for 1.2c each.
Hangs them on the wall.
Friend comes over and goes "ewwww how yucky who took your photos?"
Friend makes sure EVERYONE knows that you take shit photos
"

Kind of sort of true. If someone pays over $500 for a CD (like my clients - yeah yeah, I know the price should be higher) they will not go to WalMart to get them printed. I list a few vendors for them to go to. Now, if they pd, say $100 for the CD, they prolly will go to Wal*Mart b/c they do not see it as valuable.

And most people will not print 20 8x10's...they just won't. We are in the digital age...sorry.

Most of my clients print through me after they buy the CD - its about educating the client. And if you fear you will lose money - raise your prices..