This is an email that I received from a Mackinac Island Wedding Photography Business

Paul Retherford Wedding Photography Response to Email received

The email that was received:

I am writing all the photographers working on Mackinac about a growing concern I am seeing in the photography business; giving clients copies of the digital files of their wedding images.

I see this frequently being done in order to make a package more attractive and/or to undercut the competition. I would like to suggest that all of us change our policy and NOT offer a cd with the jpegs to clients. Back in the day, when shooting film negs, a true professional would never release their negs and anyone that did was considered an amateur. I don’t see how this is any different. Online viewing is an excellent way for clients to show their images to others, which is the excuse clients give us for wanting the files. By giving them the digital files, there is no need for them to ever need you again.

We derive a great deal of business from reprints and it comprises over 30% of our volume. When we started online viewing our reprint orders grew even more. We monitor the quality of our enlargements and offer reasonably priced parent and larger wedding albums. The last few years I have reluctantly offered a cd to brides for $100 add’l only because they threatened to find another company who would offer the jpegs. Of those who bought a cd, I have never received a single photo reorder from. They probably go to Walgreens and perhaps order low quality die sub reprints for their parents and friends, just to save a few dollars.

We will try to remain steadfast with our policy and would like the other Mackinac photographers to collectively decide to discontinue including the files. Times are not what they once were, and rather than lower our standards and give away the files just to get work, I would rather make up the difference in revenue and work with clients offering additional reprints and albums ordered through us.

If you have comments regarding this, please reply. I can’t see any good reason why this practice is becoming so popular, but if you feel as I do or have a good argument for doing it, let me know and maybe we can all agree to change our policies and stop releasing clients digital files.

Paul Retherford Wedding Photography response to email:

Thank you for your letter and I respect your opinion and your policy.

I have shot Weddings for over 15 years now and I have always made the point to get paid for my work. With that in mind, I charge for my images and they are included in every one of my packages, and always have been, even with film. Reason, I believe that I am working for the Client and the Client IS NOT working for me. If it weren’t for my clients then I would not be at the event. What gives me the right to keep these images forever? I am not “giving” away my images, I am charging a substantial amount. I am also not trying to undercut competition. I couldn’t even tell you what any of the people’s prices on this list are because they are not Paul Retherford. This is a service industry and when you stray from that idea then it is time to leave the industry. I make the money on the front end, and charge for the digital rights, my time, the quality of my products, my reputation, and let the back end go as it may. I make a lot of sales after the event because people, meaning family and friends, can not work the images like I do. My printed images are 100% better in terms of correcting, paper quality, and lacquer coating. Do you lacquer coat your prints? If not, how are your prints better than any other lab? Really, they are probably printed on the same machine.

I would never want a photographer to keep images of me and my family and I would never do this to ANY of my clients. My clients are willing to pay for my images, visual eye, product line, professionalism, experience, and if they are not, then they can find another photographer. I always say that I am not in “competition” with any other photographer because Paul Retherford Wedding Photography is unique and I have my own style, personality, and Wedding packages. No one will ever shoot the same images as me. If a client does not appreciate my work, then they are free to go elsewhere, thank god for the U.S.A.!

In response to your lower standards and giving away the images comments…I will NEVER lower my standards and/or give away my images and that is why my pricing is increasing during this depression. Sure my work is down but my overall earnings is not.

That is fabulous that you make money on your prints and sales after the events. I invite you to think forward, and realize the advantages of charging for your images. I wish you the best of luck in continued success. I offer something different and will continue to offer my clients lots of options and what I would want if I hired myself.

I am more than happy to talk about this, or any issue anytime. Feel free to email or call.

See ya on the island!

Sincerely,
Paul Retherford

p.s. $100 additional for a CD with all your images is ridiculous, in my mind.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Paul Retherford Wedding Photography on Mackinac Island, Michigan >> Michigan Destination Wedding Location

Email that I received from a Mackinac Island Wedding Photographer | Mackinac Island Wedding | Mackinac Island Wedding Guide

This is an email that I received from a Mackinac Island Wedding Photography Business

Paul Retherford Wedding Photography Response to Email received