How long before you have a wedding posted?

[Vich]

Having just completed my 3rd "real wedding" (non-family), and probably 3 or 4 E-Sessions, I'm still struggling with this question. I'm wondering how you post?

I made a few polling options but I'm sure I didn't post all the options and explanations or stories would be wonderful.

My 1st is a trickle (and I still have a few more to post, but they have about 600 shots and the main ones are there).

My 2nd still only has about 3 shots posted (3 weeks ago). I have 5 weeks contractually. I'm planning to just zap them all up at once, and maybe an album to follow.

My 3rd (Saturday) I posted 6 fairly good shots just to get the gallery up there. I'm planning to put a "Status" JPG that will set expectations for the guests who visit. I'm going to post 1 big batch in 2 weeks (most of the "wedding story") then a 2nd one 2 or 3 weeks later with guest portraits, duplicates, some artistic alternatives, etc. Then in 6 weeks the album pages.

The "Status" JPG will set expectations.

Each subsequent posting (except this first one of 6 images that will be added to) will put the galleries up in their final format, so they don't have to go look for changes.

[jamison55]

I don't get the point of the "trickle in" methods...I post them all at once

Or nearly...

I post my 20 favorites on my PBase site the week after the wedding, and post the rest all at once in my Photoreflect gallery when they are all done. I explain this process to the bride and groom at the initial consult, the final consult, and as I'm saying goodby at the end of the night.

[Vich]

I don't get the point of the "trickle in" methods....
Thanks for your Jamie thoughts Jamie. I was hoping you would chime in.

My reasoning was that my workflow is still very slow and it's taking me a full month even for MOST of it (yesterday's new computer and color balancing should help that a lot).

Meanwhile; I get the nagging feeling that the other guests who have my website (I have placed a discrete pile of "for images of this event visit ..." cards at each event) are loosing interest with each passing day. So if it takes 6 weeks, people will just forget. Those are my references for future business and prompt action will make a big impression.

If I posted everything, say 2 days later (even if I could), it would have a huge impact but also convey that it's too easy.

I also imagine a bride over there wanting desperately to EMAIL all her friends with a few wonderful shots the very next day even. She also wants to hear "everything looks wonderful" to ease the apprehension. My first bride wanted to put my card into the thank-you notes so we printed one up with their sunset portrait from their wedding night. She got them as we met for newlywed shots a week later (there had been no E-Session).



I'm tending towards your approach. 20 of the best within one week. Everything else in one lump post - no trickling additions. Maybe one cheviot of getting the B&G approval before removing (or changing) the password (to brides' maiden name lowercase) just so they can be held responsible for releasing any Uncle Joe Kissing Maid-Of-Honor Overlong Wearing Lampshade shots.

[noyjimi]

none of the above - i e-mail 1 image within a day or two to (1) thank them again (2) "in case you wanted one for a thank you note or share with friends who were not able to attend") and (3) reiterate that it "will be delivered by X date, but sometimes sooner."

whenever the question of delivery arises at any point in time, i always firmly reiterate that "we have many clients and work on a first-in first-out basis" with which i have never gotten any further pressure. in my contract, i have a hard delivery date which is overstated and i have always delivered "early" to their "surprise" :D :p

hope that gives ya some ideas vich

[RichNY]

Vich- Are you going with lightroom or phase 1 for your workflow?