lulliloophotography.com/blog

This last week on my facebook page I posed a question regarding what people generally do with their products after their photo shoot. The majority of my clients opt to purchase a CD of digital negatives rather than buying individual prints. I don’t blame them, as its much more economic in the end and offers a lot more variety than just having to choose the favorites from the session(plus it affords you the opportunity to update your facebook profile pics!) That being said, I often think that the CD is overvalued and often hear that it ends up in a box or drawer where it collects dust without use.

Personally I feel that it’s extremely important to professional print your images–why invest up front with a professional photographer just to have a large glossy print from Walgreens on your wall? Because I believe it’s important I recently started including a professional 11X14 and 8X10 with every session.

Here are a few additional tips when it comes to products:

1. If you purchase the CD, PRINT some of your images for your home, put them in an album and/or get a canvas. Don’t let your CD collect dust or simply get burried in a drawer prior to putting some of your lovely images up in your home.
2. If your photographer doesn’t include prints, invest in a professional enlargement or canvas so that every time you walk by your hallway or living room you can linger and enjoy the memory of your family in that season in your life. It matters where you have it printed, go matte or luster with your finishes!
3. BACK it up!!! Another thing I frequently hear from people is that they want the CD so that they can have the photos archived however CDs are easily damaged and/or lost. Technology is CONSTANTLY changing (umm…we used floppy disks when I was in college ten years ago) and so having a CD is not a sure fire way of saving photos for your kids. CDs might not even be compatible with technology in the next decade or may break. As such, please do yourself a favor and back your images up on another hard drive, cloud, etc. to ensure safe keeping.

I hope these tips are helpful!! Because I love giveaways so much, I’ve decided to give a credit of $175 to a randomly selected commenter from this week’s facebook discussion! This credit covers the purchase of a CD of negatives or can be applied towards a session commission.

Congratulations to Jenna Goetzenberger for being the random.org lucky draw!! Jenna you may redeem this credit or give it away, must be redeemed by December 2013.