Should photographers give away discs of high-res unbranded images to their clients?

I'm always torn between giving away a disc of images and charging for it. I believe people book photographers because they want nice photos. I prefer charging a little more and including a disc with the session...maybe it'll hurt my business in the end but for now it seems to make sense.

Tags: Free, High, Photography, Resolution, images

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Kavanagh on January 20, 2011 at 8:02pm

As a consumer I would have no problem paying a little extra for a disc of high-res unbranded images. For my wedding 5 years ago that was my biggest regret with my photographer. After paying what I felt was a crap load of money, it really galled me that I still had to pay for prints. Yes, I know wedding photography can largely be a racket to begin with but still, it's the principle that rankles. It's like, great, my wedding was wonderful and full of lovely moments but someone else (to whom the images mean little to nothing) gets to keep and hold them hostage unless I cough up $20 per print. Even though I already paid them through the nose. It made me never want to deal with photographers again. If I'd had the option to pay, say, $100 for a disc of select images, I would have been very happy and given lots of recommendations/referrals instead of warnings about what a rip-off I felt her services were.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Huckabee on January 21, 2011 at 2:40am

COMPLETELY agree with you! Now that digital is so pervasive it makes no sense for a photographer to hold the images hostage. It really pisses off most clients.

As to the original question - yes, this applies to more than just wedding photography. Charge a little more. Make them know they are paying for your time and talents but that when the session is over its over. They've paid and they get the results. Even recommend good places to get them printed and framed. Work WITH the client. They'll be much happier and come back again and again.