The Truth About Digital Files

The topic of Digital Files in the photography industry is HOT HOT HOT!

To give the files, or to not give the files.... that is the question!

Lets take a few things into consideration.

1. As a photographer, it is my job to provide clients with products and services that meet and exceed their expectations.  I need to provide clients with images on a medium that respects the art, and shows off each image's best features, as that is how they should expect their images to be displayed in their homes.
2. Printed media (when done properly) will last a lifetime.  Real, light sensitive photographic paper, such as Silver Halide, has an image stability rating of 100+ years.
3. Printed media lives in the real world.  You walk by it as it hangs on your walls with no need to push the "on" button and wait for a hard drive and screen to fire up!
4. Digital Files must be updated every few years in order to keep up with advancing technology.  Do you really think that in 2050 your disc of images will be readable... or that cd/dvd players will even exist?  Unless you stay up to date on your digital file technology, your images will most likely fall behind the times.  Photographers, like myself, have invested thousands and thousands of dollars into data security and longevity, as it is certainly possible to keep up with advancing technologies, and to store images safely in the digital medium.  Unfortunately, a CD, or DVD just isn't the way. So, if the client really wants to drop the cash for a multi-tiered RAID5 hard drive enclosure filled with solid state drives, a dedicated clone drive, a 2nd backup system for all that, off-site data storage, and cloud storage, all at the same time for each single file... then it is just way safer to print their images.
5. Printed media just looks better.  Images that are viewed on a screen are inherently backlit from the monitor, so they will never look like they do when printed.  When an image is printed on real honest to goodness photographic paper, like Silver Halide, the image quality, detail, and vibrancy is unarguably better than any current technology's ability to present it on a digital screen.  4K has nothing on 100 year old photographic paper technology!  
6. Clients often aren't really sure why they want digital files.  It somehow became the "standard", so that's what they want.  Wedding planning magazines often give brides a list of questions to ask their photographer with a set of expected answers.  Every smart phone has a camera, which enables everyone to be hands-on with digital files on a daily basis.  Here is the truth:  
   
7. What they WANT is the security of all their images, the ability to view them when they want, and the option to share digital files on social media.  It is my job as a photographer to educate clients regarding the fact that printed images are more valuable, have a longer life, and are what they really "want".  Sharing images on social media is great!  But, how long are you going to keep up with curating your digital gallery? 10 years?  25 years? 50 years?  
8. The safest bet is for a client to have their favorite images printed, even if digital files come with their package.  I'm not saying that as photographers, we should not give out digital files.  What I am saying is that we should be doing our best to give clients the longest lasting, most beautifully represented versions of their precious memories.
9. Printed images literally gain value over time.  How much would you value your printed wedding album in 10, 25, 50, or even 70 years?  As time marches on, you will love your printed images more and more, and the book soon becomes a priceless piece of family history.  for future generations to enjoy.  Do you really think you will pass down a dvd of your wedding photos to your grandchildren?
10. Digital files should only be used as backups of the printed originals, just like in the days of film (gasp)!  A digital file is really just a piece of the puzzle which is used to create the real artwork.  They should not be considered the meat and potatoes of imagery products.  Sure, digital files are here to stay and are necessary to create prints.  But do clients really know where to go to get quality prints?  Not to mention, as professional photographers, we have access to labs that cater only to professional photographers - which makes digital files nearly useless to a client.

So there we have it!  Lots and lots to digest.  I could be right, I could be wrong – all I know is that my goal is to give my clients the very best products to display their images on and a computer screen has nothing on real photographic paper, canvas, or metal prints.