MMM: Prints VS Digital Files....And Why They Both Matter

This is a rather long post, but I assure you it will be worth your while if you are seeking to understand why photographers offer what they do, and whether you should go with digital files, prints, or both. Throughout I also loosely explain my reasoning behind what I offer.

Why this now?

The wedding/portrait photography industry has recently been "at war" over the ideal business model. Traditionalists selling quality prints (and depending on them for profit and to keep their businesses running) VS "shoot and share" photographers who sell their digital files and share them online. As somebody who takes her work seriously and prizes her clients' needs, I decided to reevaluate myself and my industry's direction, and explain to brides and clients the value of what they can get.

The Value of Prints (and Why I Wish I Had Paid for Them As a Bride)

As once a bride (and therefore client), when searching for the photographer with the best fit, I chose a collection that only included the digital files. At the time, I cared about sharing them online and choosing a couple to print from Costco (I knew I could make a professional album later as a photographer). Knowing better now, I wonder if I should have chosen a collection with prints included. The Costco print I have on my wall was made in a hurry. No personable service, no careful optimization of colors. Because I signed a contract, I respected my photographer's right to edit her images. That's her job and her work, not mine. I have yet to order a professional print for my wall to substitute the crappy, funky-color version I have. I love my wedding photos but I would love them more if I had gotten professional prints as well.

As little as a year after my wedding, as an apprentice of my craft at university, I have learned the importance, cost, and value of quality, archival prints. Countless where the hours (and money) I have spent in print labs carefully choosing the right paper, printer and re-editing my images to make sure the colors, tonal range, and size were just right. The day I personally produced my printed portfolio and held those images in my hands marked the completion of the longest stride I've made towards becoming the photographer I want to be.

Why I didn't choose a collection that included prints? Because at the time I thought I could do it cheaper and in my own time. Also, I knew I had the tools to making my own professional-made, quality album. Well, I still haven't made my album, and still have to print my images, when I could have paid for timely quality prints and products and enjoyed my wedding photos at a more personal level in the privacy of the walls in my home.

This is a video I encountered with recently at Musea. It's good stuff and in a simple and honest way emphasizes my point.


"Prints Matter" by Musea from MUSEA on Vimeo.

This is the reason traditional photographers STILL offer prints and products: because it offers a more complete, personable experience to their clients. Prints matter. However more and more clients nowadays are only looking for digital files for myriads of reasons. That's okay.

If my clients decide to print at Costco, I'm okay with that. But I always make sure to tell them that whenever they decide which one to print to let me know so that I can optimize it to the print size they want (sharpen, fine tune and convert it appropriately). Moreover, if they want professional prints made, they can order so directly from their online galleries. At my present situation (as a student, wife, mother, and business owner), this is how I am capable of providing quality products to my clients who want it. Whatever the format, prints and albums are the optimal way of enjoying photographs. These are valuable keepsakes and so worth it! 

Prints still matter. Albums still matter. Digital files also matter.

The Value of Digital Files

Practical brides today share their wedding photos via social media. Guests tag each other and everyone talks about the photos. Who doesn't love this kind of popularity? This is the fast and easiest way to share this moment with everyone.  Digital files make it easier for brides to share them and consequently spread the word about our work. Plus, in one click my clients can safely download all of their images onto their hardware of choice, without waiting for a disc in the mail. Win! Win! 

Change Happens

Change happens in every industry, and with mine is no different. Change is good, as long as it adds value to our craft and services. I will always make sure my business model fits my personality and my clients' needs as well. As long as my photographer peers do the same and take pride in quality images, then the competition is healthy and only forces us to better ourselves, while satisfying our clients.

My Advice

If I could give a word of advice to brides, as once-a-bride and a photographer: invest in prints! At least in one for the wall and an album so it becomes your keepsake and everybody's favorite on the coffee table. You won't regret it!

Friday Frenzy: 6 Creative Tips to Making Home Videos Using Your DSLR

Well, hello Mrs. Frenzy. Long time no see, huh?

With that said video class I took at university last semester, it sparked in me a desire to produce more. Not an easy task being a mother to a 6-month old, student, homemaker AND running a business. There's always a pile of my husband's shirts waiting to be pressed that somehow end up at the bottom of my priority list...Being creative is just so much more interesting than ironing! That's why I want to make more of these family videos: so precious, I highly recommend you trying to make one, too!

This week, against all odds, I somehow managed to press a handful of Mr. Myrrha's shirts, edit more photos AND make this little baby here of my little Sarah trying to crawl (excuse the Portuguese if you don't get any...I bet Sarah doesn't get it either yet =P):

Sarah querendo engatinhar from Camilla Myrrha on Vimeo.

How I did it? Simple! Here are my 6 tips to making easy family videos with your DSLR:

1 - Capture a Story:

The entire footage I had was about 10 minutes long. Plus, I was telling a story, which made it 87849337 times easier than if I didn't have a chronology of facts to show. I wanted baby to crawl. She tried grabbing a toy unsuccessfully, got distracted with the TV cords and finally did her "almost crawling show". If you were, for instance, simply filming a family event with no real beginning or end to the timeline, it will potentially bore the viewer after the first 30 seconds, and make for harder selection of which footage is best.

2- Use MANUAL focus:

When using your DSLR with a detachable lens, make sure you are on MANUAL focus. This way you have complete control over where you want your viewers to look. It also prevents that annoying and undesirable "wait-a-sec-i'm-trying-to-focus-here" noise your camera makes every time it gets lost with all the information. It's okay if you miss the focus. Videographers nowadays use this for their advantage and for an artistic look. Just make it look like it's on purpose. ;)

3- Control movement:

One thing photographers specifically have a hard time with is with the transition from stills to moving imagery. We are used to composing a still shot, snapping it, and moving on to the next shot, without ever having to consider a smooth transition from one great composition to the next. When making a video, add purpose to the movement of your camera. Tell the story with the different directions and angles your camera moves to and fro. ROCK YOUR LEGS when handholding the camera so that it moves smoothly as opposed to looking like you're trying to keep it still when it won't ever be.

4- Selecting interesting footage:

When editing your movie, whether you use iMovie, MovieMaker, Final Cut or Premiere (I used Adobe Premiere Pro for this one, but used to make tons of videos with Movie Maker and loved it), you have the power to cut unnecessary parts of each footage. Choose the part with action. When in doubt, TAKE IT OUT. If the movie is longer than 5min and it's all looking the same, cut the actions. No need to see the child raising her arm to reach the toy. Just show the part where the child is ALREADY reaching for the toy. Make things interesting by having shorter cuts as opposed to longer ones. And feel free to mix the order up and go back to the same footage you were showing. I did this in my video several times--it helped add interest to the story (the viewer keeps watching in order to subconsciously find out what happens next).

5- Add music!

Audio in any DSLR is pretty crappy. So if you are just making a video for personal use or don't really have the means to invest in a rode mide, zoom recorder, etc, then at least add some music! DON'T FORGET to add credit to the artist. Either in the video or in the descriptions for when you share it. It's always thoughtful and correct to do it. Real movies do it (and it's usually a longer list), so why not add an extra 2 seconds and add it, too?


6- Export and share

Make sure to export your video as either a Quicktime movie, or h.264. The latter is the standard for video delivery nowadays. It's what I exported my movie as. Unless you have a better setting that works for your needs, h.264 should be your setting. Finally, don't forget to upload it and share it! :)

Hopefully these tips were useful. I tried to stay away from technicalities and instead add more practical tips. If you want more technical tips for either photo or video, please send me a comment below and I'll do my best to answer your questions!

(Considering I study photography at university and that is my craft, I DO know something about photo AND video. Did I ever mention I have worked both behind the scenes and as a reporter in front of the camera for an entertainment television show on BYUtv?) Yes, I'm famous but nobody knows it. ;)