 Jason R. Fortenbacher |
How many stay? Just curious, about how many pictures do you keep from a given photo session? So far I've been as low as 15% when I was more interested in trying different settings than capturing the moment. Other times when I "play it safe" I keep around 50%. Roughly I'd say I keep about 30%. And when I say keep, I mean good enough to actually print and show a potential client. I just wanted to know if this is normal.
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Glenn E. Urquhart |
Hi Jason - I think you are doing very well with that percentage. Depending on the day I will shoot 75 to 150 shots. If I can get 1 "outstanding" photo, the day was worth it. Usually I will get around 5 "very good" images. With that said I am very critical of my work and beat myself up on how it could have been done better! Anyway... keep on 'shoting'! Cheers, Glenn.
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Mark Feldstein |
When I'm working on an assignment, usually shooting 35mm, I may go through 10-12 rolls of 36 exposures per day. Out of those, if I'm get what I feel are one or two "me pleasing" images per roll, I think that's hot and I had a good day. Still, all my film goes back to my editor(s) with my notes and preferences for which shots on which rolls I feel illustrate something better than others. Ultimately the decisions are up to them. Later, however, when I get to re-cull them, depending on how I'm feeling that day, I may chose more or less than I did originally. "Normal" is kind of a relative term. In my view, it's a real difficult subjective process being your own best and worst critic. Take it light.
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Pete H |
Hello Jason, Id have to say it all depends (what) I'm shooting. Vacation pics: I usually shoot a ton and "keep" 20 percent. I (save) everything except the obvious blown shot. Portrait sessions: I try to make sure every shot is a keeper; in the studio this is much easier, unless my subject closes their eyes at the moment of the shot. About 90 percent keepers. All the best, Pete
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Jason R. Fortenbacher |
Wow everyone, thanks for your input! I'm glad to know that my percentages are within your averages. Pete: With regard to your comments on portrait sessions, I am that way with my static aircraft shots now. After taking countless BAD pictures I am finally able to know what angles only look cool in person, and those that actually look good in print. :)
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Bob Cammarata |
The important thing to consider when culling your potential keepers is to imagine your client (or anyone else not familiar with what you've experienced first-hand) seeing that image for the first time. Sure, technical perfection is a key component but also try to visualize what you've captured through the eyes of someone else. My personal record per 36 exposure roll is about a half-dozen keepers but I'm constantly working toward improving that ratio.
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Jerry Frazier |
I shoot weddings (90%) and portraits (9%) and other (1%). Weddings, I shoot about 3,000 and out of that, I can usually pick about 40 to 100 that I think are nice. And, out of those, I can pick about 3 that are worthy of display. And, like Mark said, on any given day, I may pick different ones out of those down selects. Portraits, on an average shoot, I shoot around 300. I deliver 30. Usually one one or two are outstanding. For other stuff, it depends. I don't care about percentages, that's not important. What is important is that you get ONE that is useable. If you get one that you are proud of from a shoot, you are a rockstar, and should be proud.
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dave |
500-800 full day 30-200 half day 50 for 2hrs
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