Yes, Ladies and Gentleman, I include a DVD of digital negatives in every single Wedding Collection that I offer.
Many photographers these days refuse to sell their digital files because they fear the loss of post-wedding reprint orders. Then there are photographers who do not include this DVD in their packages, but instead offer it ‘A La Carte’ at outstanding rates, some as high as $900. I think this is just silly.
Today’s brides want their digital files, and I completely support that. When I was planning my wedding in 2007, I searched high and low to find the perfect photographer, and I disregarded anyone who would not include the digital negatives in their packages. The world is changing because of digital, and it’s time for professionals around the country to embrace this. I believe that every bride has the right to have this digital copy, so I include it in all of my Collections at no extra cost.
Here are the answers to some common questions sent to me by clients:
What are digital negatives?
Just as a film photographers used to sell their negatives to clients, digital photographers do so by putting all of your images on a dvd. These files include very basic editing for color, exposure and quality. A select few images will be edited in premium fashion, just as you see on our blog. All prints ordered through the online store are edited to the best quality before being sent to print.
Is a DVD the same as a CD?
No. While CD’s and DVD’s are both designed to store data, a DVD has much more space available. For example, a typical wedding consisting of 600 images would require 5 or 6 CD’s vs. 1 DVD. Most computers nowadays are equipped with a DVD drive, so you should have no problem loading the images. Just remember that the files are full-resolution, so saving them all may take up quite a bit of space on your hard drive.
When I purchase the digital negatives, do that mean I own the copyright?
No. Crystal Lee retains the copyright to all images. However, you will receive a print release with your DVD so that you can make prints.
What size are the photos on the disk?
All of the digital files on your DVD are full-resolution, so you can print them as large as you would like. (Just remember to resize them if you are going to email them or upload them to MySpace, Facebook, etc, as the full files can take a while to load depending on your computers speed.)
If you have any other questions or comments, please feel free to drop me a message by visiting the Contact section.