Outsource Post Processing?

[faizola]

Hi fellow photographers,

Wanna enquire about outsourcing of post processing works. Have any of you done it before with good results?

Currently I am feeling that post-processing images are taking away a lot of time and causing me to limit my shoot time as well as take up personal time.

I shoot weddings and family portraits and operate a one-man-biz with the exception of a 2nd shooter for weddings.

I am thinking of outsourcing my post processing away; mainly colour correction/ grading, enhancing colours and pre-sharpening and other RAW enhancements. This usually takes up to about 3 days of extra work daily for about 800 - 1000 files. This is the time consuming one ensuring every photo is graded to effect the same colour and feel throughout the folder.

Once this is done, the final processing is a simple action thats is automated and this I just leave it overnight to run.

The question is...any of you face similar issues?

Where can I outsource? Any reliable source around without having to take in salaried staff? How much do you usually pay for this service if you've ever outsourced it before?


Yours Sincerely,
Faizola Nordin

 

[catchlights]

That is nothing new, many photographers already done that, especially oversee photographers.
But....
Just do your maths, even if those retouching house are charging only US$0.30 per photo for post processing the files, that will cost you about US$300 just for one wedding, are you charging enough to cover this expenses?

 

[catchlights]

So many people don't know how much time and efforts photographers need to put in for each wedding they shot.

photographers are only charge those hours they are on site shooting a wedding, can anyone imagine, if photographers are charging sub 1K for a 10 hours shoot, it work out the photographers are only charging $25 per hour (total time spent on meetings, conversation on phone, emails, travel, meeting, shooting post processing, delivery and etc)


So eventually you need to make a decision, charge enough to cover your time to do the post processing yourself, or charge enough to outsource the post production, or just cut a CD right after wedding and ask customer to take care this themselves,

 

[faizola]

Thanks Catchlights,

Yeah, I feel what you're saying bro. I guess it's more prevalent overseas this concept of outsourcing. In Singapore, it tends to be work ourselves 15hrs a day to death mentality! Perhaps we are too used to the way our society trained us to behave, work hard-work more-do well.

I have been actively looking out to outsource recently after feeling the heat of overwork especially now that my family has grown but never have managed to find a reliable place to send the files to.

Tried the cheap developing country route and language problems and unsatisfactory results made me turn off.

Nearly went the expensive overseas route but the price made me reconsider. Plus, sending files over cloud servers took a lot of space as well time to upload.

Tried friends who were keen to make extra bucks but then realised that as their screens were not calibrated, colours were always off and it was laborous ding dong process.

Anywhere in Singapore where ppl do this service professionally?

 

[ellery]

Not yet but then if it was done professional in Singapore could you bear the cost ? Imagine at $0.5 per file which is already freaking low a 3000 frame wedding is $1.5K in post. This is the catch 22 which the industry finds itself. One alternative is to shoot intelligently. If you can do a wedding in 1000 frames rather than 3000 you have reduced yr post process by 66%.

Thanks Catchlights,

Yeah, I feel what you're saying bro. I guess it's more prevalent overseas this concept of outsourcing. In Singapore, it tends to be work ourselves 15hrs a day to death mentality! Perhaps we are too used to the way our society trained us to behave, work hard-work more-do well.

I have been actively looking out to outsource recently after feeling the heat of overwork especially now that my family has grown but never have managed to find a reliable place to send the files to.

Tried the cheap developing country route and language problems and unsatisfactory results made me turn off.

Nearly went the expensive overseas route but the price made me reconsider. Plus, sending files over cloud servers took a lot of space as well time to upload.

Tried friends who were keen to make extra bucks but then realised that as their screens were not calibrated, colours were always off and it was laborous ding dong process.

Anywhere in Singapore where ppl do this service professionally?

 

[faizola]

50 cents an image?

So for my packages, which I give out 500 - 800 selects depending on whether it is a 1 or 2 day shoot, that'll work to about $250 - $400. Hmmmm....

But that will free up more time? And perhaps more network/ shoot time?

Hahaha... But free dates may not necessarily to more shoots!

Weighing options....

How much of a percentage of my revenue will I be willing to trade for more time??

How much of a percentage will you all trade?

 

[kandinsky]

Recall reading about one on SLR Lounge not that long ago: http://www.slrlounge.com/wealthy-photographers-best-kept-secret
(Approx S$0.33/image for image correction, $0.09 for culling)

Remember thinking it sounded interesting, as I hadn't really heard of such services offered by companies specialising in it, usually more by individuals/freelancers.

As with any other kind of outsourcing, you definitely have to be charging enough in the first place to be able to afford it.

If your margins can afford it, definitely sounds like a good way to improve your work-life balance.
If not, perhaps see if you can streamline/improve your processes further. 3 days spent on 800-1000 images feels long (to me) if you're talking three full (8-10hr) work days.

 

[faizola]

Thanks for pointing the link out Kandinsky!

I guess it's really a viable way to survive this business by outsourcing the things that take up a big chunk of your time.

I read this book once by Dane Sanders too, 'Fast Track...' something... Hahaha... It asks photographers to make a list of EVERYTHING that you have to do and highlight those you love to do and those you can outsource.

 

[Kit]

If I were you, I'll stop thinking if post processing is taking too much of my time for a while. An important question to ask is if you like to do post processing or if your contribution to this process is critical to the final images. How confident are you in finding someone who can meet your expectations? When you have the answers, you can decide if you want to outsource or charge more for your time.

 

[JacePhoto]

Many outsourced post-processoring people help make the photographers famous. Look at Chase Jarvis for instance.

 

[otc]

any names or contact for those doing processing?. Whether part time or full time or company, locally.

I would like to find out too.


marcus

 

[knoxknocks]

I've tried mylavalu.com. Their results are quite good. Bear in mind that overseas PP companies tend to excel in natural lighting images since most of their weddings/ceremonies are in natural light, so YMMV. As what some has mentioned, make sure that you charge enough to cover these expenses

 

[faizola]

There is this group that I pass my post processing to now that helps post process. You may want to contact them? Local, and since they have a office in Singapore, you can see them face to face. Charge wise, depends on how many and how fast. PM me for more details.