What are digital negatives?
Think about what film negatives are; small, unedited, easy to store, with lots of potential. Digital negatives are the same way. These files are virtually straight out of the camera, very minor tweaking if any, no retouching, no resizing. They are a blank canvas, with lots of potential, if you know how to use them. However, digital negatives are NOT the images you see on someone's website galleries or in their portfolio, albums, and or blog. Those photos generally have had editing and retouching to make them the best they can be.
What is a “High Resolution CD”?
Well, its a few leaps beyond what the digital negatives are. When you receive a High Resolution CD from me, you are getting the final, edited and ready to print at any size, images. A lot of time has gone into those images as each one has been touched.
It’s very important to note the difference as there is a considerable about of time and effort put into one and absolutely none put in the other.
I don’t sell the digital negatives as I sell images in their final state only. When I take a picture, I have a vision of what it will look like on screen, in an album or on a wall/table. That’s what I want to sell because that image represents my business and my vision. As your photographer, that is what you have hired me for… nothing less.
All my packages come with a “Low Resolution CD”. The same time and effort has gone into each image, but they have been resized so that the images can only be printed at 4x6 or smaller. Any thing larger, the image comes out as a bunch of pixels. I offer the low resolution CD as most brides and grooms just want the ability to post their images on-line and share via email. This CD is perfect for that and printing those additional 4x6s.
Many people want these files because they feel better about having a full digital copy of all of their wedding images, or because they want to print the photos off themselves. I am happy to sell the High Resolution CD to anyone who wants to purchase them.
When I purchase the digital negatives, does that mean I own the copyright?
Yes… and No. I retain the copyright to all the images I take. When you purchase the CD, you receive the images, and a copyright release that gives you permission to use the images for certain purposes, such as making prints or other photo products, posting on a website, or for personal use. The release is specific to the person or persons purchasing the CD only, and cannot be duplicated for others' use. So you may ask, what rights does East Orlando Photography retain? Well basically I continue to own the image and can use it to advertise, sell, enter contests, etc.
What exactly does "editing" a photo entail?
This is truly a huge question, and hard to answer with words. It can mean increasing contrast, adjusting the white balance, changing color hues, removing pimples, erasing debris or distracting backgrounds, adding special effects like vignettes or sepia, etc. The possibilities are truly endless, and every single image requires something different.
Chris Honour
http://EastOrlandoPhotography.com
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