Post processsing for advertising or editorial

[Jeffrey_Nye]

We do mostly event photography and get a lot requests from publications for using our images.

My question isn't about charging for the images, we have an agent for that now, thank goodness.

It is about whether to provide the out of camera file as is or if I should be doing some processing before delivery?

So far we have just been providing the out of camera image file, in the belief that their graphic artist and layout personnel will adjust it according to their output and anything I do, color corrections or such, will limit what they can do to the image to adjust for their equipment or process.

No one has ever complained and I have only seen one bad looking use, thankfully they forgot the credits and we did not complain on that point.

But I was just wondering what others are doing.

Thanks.

[Dennis_Vied]

I wouldn't be comfortable providing out-of-camera images. It's like giving them your negatives. I'd make sure that the final image I provided would be what I would like to see published, while providing for maximum usefulness of the image. Just my personal preference.

[Ken Krehbiel]

Jeffery, you overestimate the skill and knowledge of the the average "graphic artist" who will "process" your image for their publication; especially for PR use. They are usually INTERNS or newbies who know very little about photography, unless you are shooting for a National mag. They will just send it on to the printer, as is, 9 out of 10 times. If you are lucky, they will know what color space and file format they need for final output.
I ALWAYS make basic adjustments to ANY photos for Any publications; your reputation and exposure for future clients and future WORK are at stake. Plus, the client will get an impression that your photos need a lot of work. Always make it easy for the client; that is what they want. That, and good photos that will make their publication look good to advertisers.

I always shoot RAW, so I always have to convert anyway, so why not make your photos look like they were taken by a pro? That's why they are paying you a pro's fee, right?

Ken

[Mike Keller]

Just to reiterate:

A graphic artist is not a photographer. They may be able to do great cropping, add elements, various kinds of Photoshop work, but they don't know how to do things like burning and dodging, sharpening and so forth. They don't know how to make a photograph look its best, only how to make the photograph work in the layout.

Most of the professional retouchers are closer to photographers than graphic artists, and there's a reason for that.

Most of the graphic artists I know don't know how to do a decent CMYK conversion.

[Jerry Skrocki]

I have to jump in this discussion to straighten out a few misconceptions being expressed in this thread.

Graphic Designers have a great deal of experience with photography as well as design. Both film and digital photography are required courses for a major in Graphic Design. Image editing is a requirement for the field and a Graphic Designer is arguable more proficient in color management than most photographers.

I do know this from personal experience. I have been a photographer for over 30 years and a recent recipient of a degree in Graphic Design.

Please don't confuse Graphic Designers with Print Technicians.

Jerry

[Ken Krehbiel]

"Graphic Designers have a great deal of experience with photography as well as design"

I have to agree, and disagree with Jerry. What it comes down to, is know your client.

My experience with mostly PR oriented publication Graphic Artists has been often frustrating. Most don't understand when I ask them what color space and format they need the photo to be for output. It is often obvious that they contact the printer; if they don't just quote the something the read in some graphic design magazine (so obvious by their "specs"). Actually, the printer is a smart resource for them.

Higher "level" Graphic Artists tend to be much more knowledgable about what they want; but I don't often enough get to deal with them in the work I do.

I wish every "Graphic Artist" I dealt with was as well educated and had 30 years of photography experience, that would be awesome; but I just don't rate that level of photography I guess!

Ken

[Jerry Skrocki]

Originally Posted by Ken Krehbiel

"It is often obvious that they contact the printer; if they don't just quote the something the read in some graphic design magazine (so obvious by their "specs"). Actually, the printer is a smart resource for them."
Ken

Having a working relationship and direct communication with the printer is essential for any Graphic Designer who often work with several different printing companies depending on quality or quantity output. A typical web press will have different requirements for color management than a Xerox Digital Press (iGen). The later can accommodate a wider gamut of Adobe RGB, but only if the Print Technician is told to adjust the machine output for AdobeRGB.

I do agree with your statement to the OP that he should submit an optimally processed image for publication.

Jerry