Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, French Riviera
A very popular question I get from couples is “how many photos will we get”.
The hard part is the answer is not specific. So I am going to try to explain a bit more in depth my process and feelings on the subject. Grab a coffee and be prepared to change your way of thinking.
‘
First lets skip ahead. How many photographs do couples frame or have made in to wall art? 100? 1000? 5000? Usually no more than 10. I know, it sounds so low compared to to those other numbers, but usually this is the case. I have never ever heard of someone having 100 framed images for their home.
How many images would your parents or new spouse’s parents have in a frame in their home? No matter how much they love you they are not going to print every wedding image and have it on their walls. (maybe there is a market for wedding wallpaper?)
Now this is a big reason why albums are so popular! Because we all know that no one is going to have 100 framed images in their home. Before digital THIS was the way couples and families treasured and stored their wedding images. Some couples would have in addition or instead a small print of all of the images in a keepsake box, otherwise it was the album that had their wedding photographs.
So, now let us look at wedding albums, how many images go into a wedding album? Well most couples do not go for 5 volume series of albums and tend to stick to the normal albums of under 50 pages but usually 20-40 pages. Each side can fit 4 to 6 images at a push, because unless you choose a large album the images will be very small. Many couples will go down to 1 or 2 photographs per side to really see the images. So as you can imagine, only the best of the best images, so typically we’re not talking over 100 images unless it’s a huge event and more than 1 album is going to be part of the collection.
With the invention of digital cameras it has become easier to increase the amount of images taken on a wedding day. Before digital couples would go with packages based on time and rolls of film. Now basically the “film” is endless to some degree, so photographs have gotten a little heavy on the shutter button and sometimes deliver in the region of 5000 images from a normal 8 hour wedding. I totally disagree with this approach and can’t even imagine the stress of sorting through 5000 images to find the best images! This process is often even be left for the couples to do themselves, even more sad and frustrating! (I have been frustrated to narrow down 200 images, imagine 2000?!)
When I photograph couples on their wedding day, engagements and pre-weddings I am making intentional images. When I am shooting digital vs film I do have the advantage of checking to be sure an image is how I envisioned and re-take if needed. I can check the couple didn’t blink at the 1/400th of a second the shutter took and be sure the connection I love in images is present. I may choose to take a photo of a dress or shoes from a few different angles to see what I prefer. For groups I will take 3-5 images just to be 100% I have an image with either everyone happy and eyes open, or enough options to create this afterwards by combining images.
The final image number reflects your day. How many hours coverage you select, how many locations are involved,If you have a big family there will be more images than a very small wedding. If you have more decorations, again more images. See why it’s impossible to give an exact number?
I would be very wary of any photographers promising exact numbers. I have seen people promising 100 images an hour and so forth. Remember they can not promise this, so what is happening is they are basically just taking enough images to deliver this. They may have many that are very similar and so forth just because they have to keep to a promised number.
In the end my couples love to re-live their day via their images. You can be assured, you will be delivered a curated collection of images. Without extra fluff and fuss. Remember it is not your job to pick the best images.
After the best images are selected from the day I go one by one and hand edit with love each and every image. I may only need to make simple corrections, and other images may need much more care. This is a very important part of the fine art process.
I hear some photographers still base their pricing on image numbers. I can’t even imagine how one does this. Your day is your day! For myself, excluding very large or multiple day weddings, most weddings have had a final image number between the 200-500 final image count. I can’t even fathom telling a couple where there are 500 amazing images that they must pay extra as they only paid for 200!
Again, I truly believe Quality over Quantity.
If you are looking for a dedicated and artistic fine art wedding photographer to cover your destination wedding, pre-wedding or other event I would love to discuss all the details with you and be the special someone to capture your day.
I travel across France, Monaco and Switzerland and many destinations across Europe to create fine art photography for people in love
I love how you explained the “how many images will I receive” question. It’s important for your couples to understand the quality of your photos reflects their event and day and not the quantity. Beautiful image of the French Riviera, by the way:)
Thanks Dawn! Trying to put useful information on the net for brides looking to find their wedding photographer.
Great article on quality over quantity. Of course quality images are paramount! Beautiful wedding photography as well!
Thanks Jamie!
Great explanation for future brides! I love that you appreciate each wedding as its own unique day and deliver as many images as the day itself provides!
Thank Corey! Hopefully it helps brides who are confused with various photographers offering varying numbers! We just don’t know what will happen anyway!
You are exactly right with this post! While it is awesome to have 1,000 images from a wedding to remember the day, the reality is that only a handful will ever be displayed. With changes to technology happening so fast, those means of storing digital images are outdated before the files are even loaded onto them. Albums are the best choice around! How many people can say they look at the old Super 8 movies of their grandparents’ wedding? Now how many can say they have held their grandparents’ album and looked through it? Albums will be treasures that will never be obsolete! And I can only imagine your albums are stunning with all the locations in Europe that you photograph for weddings.
Super 8 came back in fashion Christine, can you imagine! And yes France wedding photography does make for beautiful images! But still 5000? Maybe not that many 🙂
I love that you took the time to write this post! I have seen some photographer who deliver thousands of photos to their clients THOUSANDS! Who has time to carefully and thoughtfully edit that many images. And as a client, I would never want to look through that many! At the end of the day, quality is waaaay more important than quantity. I would much rather have 100 gorgeous images than 1,000 so-so ones because my photographer *had* to shoot a certain number of images. Great post!
Thanks Kathy, glad it is not just me to feel this way!
This is such a great message for engaged couples looking for a wedding photographer. I’ve actually seen it a lot where photographers promise thousand and thousands of images, and you know what happens. The photographer gives them 50 photos of basically the same photo to fill a gallery. It does no one any service to that. Its wonderful o have a wedding photographer who wants to give their client quality over quantity.
I have seen this first hand Brenden, it’s so sad as the couple do not value this and just are left annoyed and confused! Thank you for your kind words
Wedding photography is nothing to leave in the hands of someone just worried about an image count. So many working parts go into creating beautiful and timeless images such as what you are an expert at providing. I have watched your work for several months and every single image you produce is truly a work of art. Snapshots are nothing in comparison and if I were looking for a fine art wedding photographer in France, you would be my pick hands down!
Thank you so much for your kind words Jennifer! You can always come visit France for any reason and be photographed!
This is such a great explanation from a wedding photographer’s perspective. I am so glad you posted this so clients will know where you are coming from.
I love this blog, I recently was married myself and had the same questions. I so wish I would of see something like this when I had the same questions. I love you made one see that you would not hang 5000 photos on your walls. And you are correct I do have under 10 on my walls, and I have a large home! Great memories certainly, but the must have’s are there to be seen. I am obsessed with your photo of the french riviera as well, your work is amazing!
Thanks Jennifer. I know photographers generally just blog their images but I think that a portfolio is for show and the blog is for information!
What a great post Beloved Love Photography! You addressed a topic many newly engaged couples are curious about. That French Riviera photo is stunning. I can’t wait to see some of your work as you travel with couples in love around the world in the days to come!
Your French Riviera Wedding photography is beautiful, and definitely fine art worthy of being printed and cherished for years to come. I am glad you went into detail as to your methods for deciding how many images you present to a wedding couple. Capturing the story of the wedding day is more important than dwelling on a number.
thanks so much Deanna!
I love this article and it explains it so well on how to answer this question! Being a wedding photographer is an amazing position to be in! You witness the love firsthand and create the long lasting memories for the couples! I know many do not understand why we do not just hand it ALL over. Who really cares about the blinks or incorrect exposure, etc. Having an album, I feel is crucial! You can have your day explained in a perfect story!
Thanks Maria! So right!
[…] This number varies on many aspects of your day. I am someone who has trained with film therefore every time I press the shutter button it is to capture a unique moment. Your photographs will tell the story of your day and will include a selection of fine art processed photographs. I am a professional retoucher and I hand edit every photograph with a style unique to myself. You can read more about my retouching here and image numbers here […]
This is great information for any couple looking for a wedding photographer. It is really hard to know what to expect when you dont have experience with using a wedding photographer. And having a clear vision of the end result and what to expect is so helpful!
thanks Alyssa, glad it was helpful
What a brilliant article that explains, in detail, about why photographers don’t just hand all the images over! Albums are surely the better way to go, as they provide a special keepsake of the special event, to cherish forever.
thanks Rebecca!