So here we are… we’ve already had our photoshoot and a private, password-protected online gallery awaits you! The next step is for you to select your favorite images.
Remember, the images in your private gallery are only proofs and your final images will be tweaked and retouched.
In order to uphold standards of quality and reputation, respectable photographers do not deliver every single image from the photoshoot. Instead, we work with you to select the best images then make them even better with adjustments and retouching.
Check out these posts for more info on our photo retouching process (link) And some info on the reasoning behind not delivering every single photo.
Staying on the Same Page
When we export your images as proofs, we label them and include the original file number. For example, it might be labeled “YourCompany-BPMphoto-Proof-1234.jpg” That four digit number is important as we discuss the proofs and you select your favorite images from the photoshoot.
You can mark it as a favorite at the bottom as you narrow down your selections.
Your proofs are smaller, lower quality copies with a watermark. Once your photos are retouched we deliver print-ready, high resolution images. If you need square versions, or smaller versions for your website – just let us know. Adjusting sizing at the source is often far better than uploading a large image to LinkedIn or Facebook and letting them automatically scale it down.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
While you select your favorites, remember to focus only on the big picture items. For headshots and portraits, focus on the eyes first, facial expression second and then body position – in that order of importance. All of the other details can be tweaked. Lighting and colors can be improved. That zit can disappear easily. Your teeth can be whitened. Your bloodshot eyes from working so hard can get a drop of virtual Visine. And much much more.
Headshots used in real life, like on your website or social media profiles, will often appear pretty small on the screen. People won’t be zooming in to the details and getting all judgy. Instead they’ll see a zoomed-out version that gives them a first impression based on the overall emotion and presentation.
Pro Tip: We encourage you to first look at all of your photos from the gallery view, then when you narrow that down, click on each of those photos to check out the details and narrow it down further. You could jot down the file numbers or use the Star-rating feature in our galleries to denote your favorites.
Then view only your favorites by clicking “Favorites” in the top menu, above my logo. That helps narrow things down.
Decisions, Decisions…
If selecting your favorite images from our photoshoot is a tough decision, you could include comments like, “I love 1234 but can you fix that wrinkle on my shirt” or “4321 would be amazing if you could remove my THUG LIFE neck tattoo.” Or even, “I like these three images, 1234, 1324, 1432; could you pick the best for me?”
How many favorites can you select?
Well, as many as you’d like! If you picked one of our shoot packages or we discussed a custom pricing package as we planned the photoshoot, you will have a certain number included. Usually for headshots it’s two fully retouched images per person. If we had a photoshoot with wardrobe or location changes, it might be more. And if for any reason you can’t narrow it down, we can add extra images a la carte for a small fee.
Let’s talk about what we’ll create together.
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