All of our wedding packages come with the digital negatives of the images shot on the wedding day. Please note that except for our Passion Package, digital negatives are not provided with portrait sessions. They can be purchased for additional cost. Here are a few frequently asked questions about digital negatives, and what exactly you can do with them.
What are digital negatives?
Digital Negatives are the files on CD or DVD. They have been edited for color, contrast, and basic fixes. Digital negatives have not been extensively retouched like photos you see on this blog or in your album. You will still see blemishes if present, stray hairs, etc. Most brides want their Digital Negatives more for safe keeping than anything else. They like to know they are available to look at and reminisce. They are suitable to be printed up to an 8×10 at your favorite local printer. We also whole heartedly recommend printing through www.mpix.com. Your Digital Negatives allow you to do just about whatever you’d like for personal use. That means you can post to social networking sites such as Facebook, you can make prints, email them to friends, etc. However, the only person allowed to make prints is you, the client. So, if you email it to Great Aunt Becky, she is more than welcome to view the email, but won’t have the prints rights release to be able to print at her local print shop. (The shop will ask for a release)
What is the difference in Digital Negatives and owning the Copyright?
Digital Negatives gives you personally permission to do what is listed above. Copyright is retained on each and every image that A Moment in Time Photography produces, and we never sell copyright for any price. Copyright is retained for the ability for A Moment in Time Photography to use the image in any way we deem acceptable. That means it could show up on our website, or another wedding website, in promotional materials, sample albums, etc. These could be promotional materials for A Moment in Time Photography, or any other of your wedding vendors from the day. (Florist, Bakery, Wedding Coordinator, etc.)
Can I edit my Digital Negatives?
We ask that you let A Moment in Time Photography do all the editing!! That is one of the reasons that you hire us, is for our eye to both capture the photo, and edit the image in the most flattering way. Please refrain from any major edits other than cropping and resizing.
What exactly does “editing” and “retouching” a photo entail?
Well, this question is pretty hard to answer with words alone! Basic edits, as mentioned above, can include changing the contrast, changing color images to black and white, color correcting, etc. Each and every image we take goes under basic editing. Retouching can include removing blemishes, fixing fly away hairs or other distracting elements to the image, adding special textures, vignettes, etc., and even slimming or smoothing certain areas of the body to make them more attractive. As stated before, every single image is ‘edited,’ and images on the blog, in promotional materials, and most importantly in your album, are ‘retouched.’
Here is a better explanation through a visual. In the following sequence of photos, the “SOOC” photo is the image straight out of the camera. Nothing at all has been done to it, other than downloading it to our computer. The “proof” photo is the photo after it has been “edited.” This image will be on your DVD of digital negatives, the image you see in your proofing gallery, etc. The last photo labeled “retouched” is the fully retouched one that will appear on this blog, in promotional materials, and in your album.
The “SOOC” image is fine, but it is lacking a bit of contrast, and is a bit too bright. The proof adds contrast, and color balancing, as well as tweaking how bright the SOOC image was. The fully retouched image took it a step further, and added a little twinkle to this bride’s eyes, a little more contrast, blemish removal, and skin softening.
You, the client, will never see an image “SOOC.” All images you will see at our preview and order session, or in any online gallery will be proofs. Any prints ordered, or any photos that will be going in your album will be fully retouched like the one above.
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