Proofs or slideshow?

Janice

Janice

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Janice
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Do you guys who do weddings, events etc, find it more lucrative to show the shots as small proofs first on proof sheets, or as a dvd slide show with smallish shots on?

I just wondered if one seems to provoke more purchases of prints than the other?

I seem to feel that once people see a slideshow they tend to think "ooh that was nice" and thats the end of that!

Whereas with proof sheets they can have them in their hands and pass them around more.

What do you think? First event Saturday, talking with the clients tonight, so answers needed pronto! :D
 
I don't 'do' weddings J ... but as a fairly recent subject for this material I think you would do better with both imgo ... :shrug: ... we only had a slideshow and felt hassled into making decisions under pressure so to speak ... :suspect: ... would much prefer to browse at own pace and if necessary re-browse later ... :D

Choice is everything ... :suspect:

HTH ... ;)



editsmily.gif
... PS - Good luck Saturday ... :thumbs:


:p
 
Not sure about the business side of it but personally I think I would like to see them 'big' on dvd but it's also nice to study them in print form on a contact sheet. So I think I'm with Ven on this one as well. But if I had to choose one or the other it would be the contact sheet. ;)
 
Janice, sorry late in responding. I factor in the price proofs of 7x5 size. I present them in either slip in album (holds 200 7x5) from WH Smith (£10.99) or Spicer Hallfield reuseable preview album depending on how many proofs I am doing. Once delivered the proofs to B&G and gone through them all, I leave them with the couple along with a tidy amount of order forms/price lists for as long as it takes. The longest I have waited is 6 months for the order. You are not out of pocket as the couple have paid the full amount prior to the wedding. The proofs from that particular wedding went around the family around the country and when I got the call to pick them up and take the order for the 30 album shots, I was handed a large Brown envelope stuffed with notes and cheques and completed order forms. Re-prints totalled £1,154 from memory. So no, I do not produce a slideshow of proofs. Part of my package includes a DVD slideshow of almost all of the images of the day, with text and an image printed on the DVD and given in a presentation box. I have also had repeat orders for those too.

HTH Gillian
 
Here's a copyright question. I'm going to do a DVD slideshow but strictly speaking I can't put copyright music on the slideshow because I don't have a license to use it. Does anyone do this and hope it slips their mind? I'd be tempted to give it away for free to get around it as its not like I do a lot of weddings and a slideshow without music is dull. Feel free to delete if this is walking too fine a line :)
 
I can understand what you're saying, but think if the boot was on the other foot, and someone wanted to give out a DVD showing off something, and they used your photos.

Would you say its OK as they were giving it out for free? ;)
 
For weddings I include a presentation set of prints that are theirs to keep. For portraits I always print of a set of proofs, like Gilly I factor this into the costs. I think printed photographs are more of a tease to see them enlarged and it shows the clients what an actaul printed copy looks like.
 
Marcel said:
I can understand what you're saying, but think if the boot was on the other foot, and someone wanted to give out a DVD showing off something, and they used your photos.

Would you say its OK as they were giving it out for free? ;)
Click to expand...

Yup exactly what I was thinking really. I'd be a bit annoyed at people profiting from my work. Just a shame really because music would really really go and add to the emotion. I may offer it as a favour to the family seeing as its my cousin ;)
 
petemc said:
Here's a copyright question. I'm going to do a DVD slideshow but strictly speaking I can't put copyright music on the slideshow because I don't have a license to use it. Does anyone do this and hope it slips their mind? I'd be tempted to give it away for free to get around it as its not like I do a lot of weddings and a slideshow without music is dull. Feel free to delete if this is walking too fine a line :)
Click to expand...

You could always choose classical music couldn't you? That's not got copyright (has it?) :shrug:

oh just found this http://www.callcentrehelper.com/classical_music_on_hold_copyright.htm
 
Its just not the same as watching your wedding with "your" song playing. I recently made a dvd slideshow of my work just to show off to friends and family when they visit. I put a current favourite tune of mine on and it fits so well. It really completes the show.
 
Lady Pitstop said:
You could always choose classical music couldn't you? That's not got copyright (has it?) :shrug:

oh just found this http://www.callcentrehelper.com/classical_music_on_hold_copyright.htm
Click to expand...

The actual music piece no. But the recording company / performer will hold copyright to their performace.
So either find a really old recording of it where the copyright has expired, or you're free to perform it yourself :)


Have you actually looked into the cost of using music?
Check the Performance Rights Society
 
petemc said:
Here's a copyright question. I'm going to do a DVD slideshow but strictly speaking I can't put copyright music on the slideshow because I don't have a license to use it. Does anyone do this and hope it slips their mind?
Click to expand...

Actually lots of people do this and it slips their mind - but that doesn't make it right. I have used a lot of production music for DVDs and videos (I work as a technical producer in the Conference industry). There are plenty of links for royalty free stuff to buy.

http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/

A better option is to see if anyone in your area would like to do you some custom music free. With the technology available today you can make high quality tracks in your back room! I have a small studio - but have little time available so don't do music for work anymore.

Try your local technical colleges or the LIPA I bet they would do it for free (or beer money) just for the experience.
 
petemc said:
Here's a copyright question. I'm going to do a DVD slideshow but strictly speaking I can't put copyright music on the slideshow because I don't have a license to use it. Does anyone do this and hope it slips their mind? I'd be tempted to give it away for free to get around it as its not like I do a lot of weddings and a slideshow without music is dull. Feel free to delete if this is walking too fine a line :)
Click to expand...

The way round it is to use a track the recipient already has in their collection...
 
In reply to the original question about proofs unless the client has a preference I provide a DVD slideshow & contacts for the client and a private web gallery for friends & family to view and order from.
 
pxl8 said:
The way round it is to use a track the recipient already has in their collection...
Click to expand...

Still illegal I'm afraid. If its not for profit, and for personal use then you're hardly likely to find a search team raiding your house at 5am.
 
Janice, I knwo nothing about wedding photography but after seeing peoples attempts at proofs I would recommend providing them in a format that enables the potential buyer as much time as possible to view them. If they are too small they won't be able to see them very clearly. If you did a slideshow on a DVD then you would ahev to watermark each one to stop the person copying the DVD and then buying the bare minimum.

Not sure of that helps, but just my two pence worth
 
Thanks chaps. the dvd wasnt going to be one with music, but just a slideshow of the images for them to choose from with a number in the corner. they cant download the images they are embedded in the slideshow.

I think i will do both. i was told today that lots of the family of the bah mitzvah boy on saturday will be all back in singapore by the time they are done... so i will do a link and put a show on my website and they can say what they want in an email and send my money by paypal if they like or cheque. then the family can take them over when they go back to singapore at the end of the summer! :thumbs:

sure it will all sort itself out! By the way.. the group during the afternoon in the marquee is called Funky Lipstick!! :D:D
 
The proof vs slideshow question really comes down to whether you want what's best for sales or best for the punter.

I always offer to do a slideshow whenever I do portraits as well as printing a set of contact sheets (12 frames to an a4)

If you look at the big fish that do this sort of thing, the ventures of this world, they don't allow people to take anything away and pressure for a large print order while they wow you with a big presentation.

I usually try not to let people order after a slideshow. I'd much rather they lived with the shots for a day or two and make the right choice for them.

I wonder why Venture have more money than me. :thinking::lol:
 
Slideshow, sells more.

:)

EDIT: I use Aperture if it is of any help.

King.
 
Ah! .......you see I treat portrait shoots different to Weddings. Portraits shoots always has a slideshow straight afterwards and like you Dazzajl, the client gets to take away contact sheets. I wouldn't do that for weddings anyway. I think Janice uses the same program as me for slideshows - ProShow Gold 3.0 which is great.
 
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