Why I Don't Sell Digital Files

Below is a copy of a post on why I don't sell digital files.

A lot of people want digital files. I don't sell digital files. I will include at least one digital file that you can use in social networking such as Facebook.

There are several reasons, I don't sell digital files. The first reason is that photography is a creative business. As the artist, I want some control over how the finished product will look. If I gave you a cd of edit files, I turn over part of that creativity to you. Here is why:

This photo is from a recent session. This is the way it came out of the camera as to the size/crop. It is a nice image.I do not like the bright light on her hair. It is very distracting to me.

 The photo below is my choice of crop - I cropped it the same perspectives as the above. Notice the bright light is gone. Her eyes are in a good location to draw you in to the photo.

 Many people would have cropped it like the one below. I do not think it is nearly as strong or interesting as the one above. The distracting light is still there.

 8x10 photos are a completely different perspective than the original photo and the two crops above. Below is the way I would crop it for an 8x10.

 If you sent in the original file to a lab and ordered an 8x10, they would choose the crop for you. Because of the difference in perspectives, they chop off an even amount on the top and bottom. Below is what you would get. Not necessarily bad, but it just doesn't have the look that I would want for it to have.  If I had her head closer to the top, the lab would still chop off an even amount top and bottom. She could have lost her eyebrows!

 A 5x7 is even another perspective for a crop.Below is the one that would be the way a lab would naturally crop it. Both of these still have the distracting light.

None of these look horrible. For me, it is very important that I crop the photo where it looks the best. If you order a 5x7 and an 8x10 of the same file, I am going to crop each one of them separately, so that I can make sure your file looks the best it possibly can.

Another reason is so much depends on where you have a photo printed. I have no control of you taking it to a local drug or discount store to have it processed. My monitor is very close to the profile that my lab uses. This week, I did have an issue with a few prints from my lab. I think it was the fact that the gold walls in the house really caused a different cast to my monitor, so the photos didn't look right. I will know that I need to wait until after dark to check the colors. I will have those photos reprinted. I would not have that control if you get them done at a retail outlet. A good example of this is my cards. I have used the same design for a while on my cards. I have been having them printed at a chain drug store. I have the file on their online system. When I order from the one closest to my house, they look okay. When I order from the same file to be printed at the one closer to town, they are awful. The pinks are not even close. It is very important to me that you have a quality finished product. Be assured that when I have your photos printed, I do not have them done at a local drugstore or discount store. I will always have your photos shipped to me and I do the quality control before they ever delivered to you.

Maybe I am selfish, but it is my name on the finished product - even if I don't have the opportunity to actually finish it. If someone sees a photo that has an awkward crop or the color is off and asks you who the photographer was - I don't want you to tell them it was me! So much for word of mouth advertising - they will never ask me to photograph them. I wouldn't blame them!

Walking the Line Revisited

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post called Walk the Line. If you missed it, you can read it here.
  Walk The Line

This week with the high profile affairs in the media it really made me think along these same lines again. Oops, I really wasn't trying to make a reference with the line/lines comment. Anyway, after reading several news articles and seeing it on the television, it really made me think about the three things that I talked about in that last post.

The first thing was Guard Your Heart. It is very doubtful that this woman set out to have an affair or he planned an affair when they first discussed her writing his biography. From all the reports, she seemed to have a very happy marriage and family life. He has been quoted over and over saying how much he loved his wife. When they spent so much time together discussing his life, it opened the door to allowing her into his life in a way I doubt they ever intended. Too much time with a member of the opposite sex that is not your spouse is not safe! Don't do it!

The second was Be an Open Book. It is coming out now that there were secret email accounts set up. They were avoiding an email trail by using the same account and just saving them in drafts. Never set up an account your spouse doesn't know about or know the password. It is too easy for things to cross the line. Be very careful on your messages on facebook as well. Make them available to your spouse. I might message a couple of male photographers, but everything is above board. I would be happy for anyone to see any message in my account. They are saved and if Dean ever wants to read them, he can. Holding yourself accountable by making your messages available is a good thing.

The last was to Make Your Marriage A Priority. I realize both men in the news were at war, and it was impossible to have their spouse with them. However, there are ways to make your spouse a priority even when deployed. Too many military couple do it for it to be impossible. Work at it together. Make it Work. Don't let the line get thin enough to make it easy to cross.

Long before the affair became a sexual affair, they had crossed the line. Their emotions had been engaged, and the line was crossed. Don't cross the line!

I am praying for those involved. Having to go through what they are going through would be hard enough without the whole world knowing your business.

Turkey Bowl!

Sunday after church, we went to the Turkey Bowl. This was a flag football game between the church's youth and the workers and parents.  The game was fun and there was plenty of junk food and turkey legs for the spectators. I took photos. It has been years (like since high school) since I took photos at a football game. I don't have a great lens for distance, so I did the best I could. It really was fun!

 On one end of the field, the kiddos were planning their own little pick up game - they played tackle instead of flag. It was great! I was closer to them, so these are better.

 I just liked the photo above. :)

 Team Pics!

 I really like this photo above. Not everyone playing was a church member, so Matt shared Jesus with them! The pics below are of children and people they love :) These were so much fun!

 

While we were praying, I looked up. This little guy below was a long way away from me.  I took the photo from the distance, because it was just too cute to pass up. When I cropped it up close, I realized I wasn't the only one with my eyes open.

La Tech Football in San Marcus

Saturday was a good day. Dean had my car cleaned up for me. About one, Elizabeth and Steve came over and we headed to San Marcus for the ball game. La Tech was playing Texas State in San Marcus. Since E & S graduated from Texas State, we thought it would be fun to all go together.

By the time we got there, we were hungry, so we headed to an old college hangout for them. If you are ever looking for something to eat in San Marcus, let me suggest Grins. Yummy burgers and onion rings! I would go back again.

I must say that I saw the most unusual clothing choices for a day in November. Swim trunks, bikinis, tutus worn with cowboy boots, dresses that would be suitable to a club, high heels. I think there were a few other things that caused a second look. It was an interesting day for fashion.

 And we happened upon tightrope walking lessons

 This guy was much more experienced than the first one

 and he tries again

This was one of my favorites from tightrope walking.

Then it was time to head over to the game

I liked this pic a lot. Pretty cool with the clouds. Tech ending up winning, even though it was not easy. The game was certainly hard fought on both sides.

November has rushed in

We have already made a dent in November, and I haven't even thought about posting here. A lot has been going on. We'll go back to Halloween.

I remembered on Wednesday morning that there was an event at the park near the house. I had no idea it would have a million people attend- well, ok, maybe not a million, but a lot! I am guessing there were a thousand and I don't really think that is an exaggeration.

I visited with a lot of people and passed our cards to those I photographed. I think some of them turned out really cute!

On Thursday we finished up our Bible Study. If you haven't done Beth Moore's Study on James - Mercy Triumphs - you should! It was a great study. The next day, I stopped by and visited with the sweetest kiddos.

 Above and below are two of the sweetie (remember these are snap shots, but you gotta love the ravioli face :))

On Saturday evening, Dean and I went to the carnival - he is so sweet to me! We just walked around and I took a few photos. He wasn't crazy about me taking in the tripod, so I shot holding - not the easiest.

 Loving the clouds - was hoping for sun set, but the clouds were AMAZING!

 Fun rides - for other people :)

 I really liked the reflections in the cars!

 On Sunday we did church of course. It was good. I am so glad we are there. That afternoon, I worked on some photo business coming up with some specials for the business - that kind of thing. That evening, I went to the carnival again - this time with our neighbors who are also photographers. This time, we took tripods.

 This is with the shutter open for a while and zooming in with the lens. The other one is also zooming in or maybe out :)

 The one below is my favorite for the night. The guy holding the sign saw me, and raised it up to make their faces not visible. I thought it was great with the machine gun neon sign and the handwritten sign below. I like it. It also made me think of working the tent at the Sheridan fair.

Monday, I worked on the house some. I needed to go to bed early since I had to work the election on Tuesday. I really haven't done a lot this week. I have been working on the business and that is about it. We are going to go to San Marcus tomorrow and watch La Tech play. I hope I have a lot of good stuff to post after that!