Proof Copies of Photos

Objectives

• Know what a ‘proof copy’ of a photograph is

• Describe a range of methods of giving proof copies to customers

• Explain benefits & drawbacks of methods of sharing proof photographs

Contact Sheet• Photographers working with

film would get tiny prints done to pick out which were the ‘keepers’ from a session

• Now when using digital we can create ‘proof sheets’ for customers to choose which photos they want to buy so they perhaps pay for 20 photos out of 100 in a session

• The images are ‘proof’ that what the customer pays for will be as good as they hope

A contact sheet from a portrait session with Margaret Thatcher by Peter Marlow- showing which photo he chose to use from a whole film of pictures

Paper Proof Photos

• Proofs can be posted to the customer on paper to choose from small ‘thumbnails’

• This is also called a ‘hard copy’ – the proofs would be output with a high-quality photo printer

• E.g. the school photographer does it this way – proofs are given out by your form tutor so your family can order copies if they want

Digital Proof Photos

• Proof photos could be emailed to customers

• However, most photographers now have websites to show customers digital proofs

• Often each session has its own password to keep proof copies private

• These are often small versions of the full-size image – also called thumbnails, but may have a larger version if you click

Protecting Digital Proofs

• Some customers might not want to pay for full copies of photos if all they want to do is post on Facebook

• So how could a photographer stop them from doing that?

Protecting Digital Proofs

• Disable right-click & copy

• Watermarks

• Legal text

• Password so others can’t see the photo

All of these can be ignored or got around if people want to!

Choosing Paper or DigitalPaper• Small/medium cost each

time – postage, paper & printing

• Seems more ‘old fashioned’

• Customers can view any time with no computer

• Photos are ‘smaller’

• Slightly lower chance of copying photos

Digital• Website costs quite a lot to

set up but no extra cost per customer

• Seems more ‘up to date’

• Customers can view on any computer, any time

• Photos can be zoomed

• Slightly easier for customer to copy photos without paying

Task

• Download the ‘student task’ from the VLE

• You’ll need to answer the questions & put some example images in to show

Exam Question – Read Carefully

1. Proof copies of photographs are sent to customers a few days after the photographic session.

a) Proof copies of photographs need to be manipulated before being sent to customers. One of these techniques is called a “Watermark”. Explain why a watermark may be used. [2]

b) Proof copies may be sent electronically or as a hard copy. Identify one hardware device that could be used to create a hard copy of the photographs. [1]

c) Describe how proof copies of photographs may be sent electronically to the customers. [2]

Example Answer

• Look at the answers and decide (in pairs) how many marks they should geta) To stop people from copying the photob) A printerc) On a website

a) A watermark shows that the photo has not been paid for, so customers can’t use it without looking cheap

b) A laser printerc) A website could be set up where customers log in

with a session password and then can choose the photos they want to buy

Exam Question – Your Go!1. Proof copies of photographs are sent to customers

a few days after the photographic session.a) Proof copies of photographs need to be manipulated

before being sent to customers. One of these techniques is called a “Watermark”. Explain why a watermark may be used. [2]

b) Proof copies may be sent electronically or as a hard copy. Identify one hardware device that could be used to create a hard copy of the photographs. [1]

c) Describe how proof copies of photographs may be sent electronically to the customers. [2]