What is a Digital Negative?

With the increase in popularity of Social Media, we are used to dealing with digital images that are temporary. I am a firm believer in creating tangible, printed pieces from your images that we create during your senior session. Part of the fun of my job is designing Wall galleries and other products- fun, unique items that are sure to be treasured for years to come.

But I also understand and appreciate the desire to own the digital negatives from your session. Does that sound strange to you, Digital Negatives? It’s how I and many other professional photographers think of your images when they are in digital format. Let me explain. Do you remember way back when your parents use to take pictures on rolls of film? Then they would take the images down to Costco or some other place to have them processed and printed. In many ways, the process is still the same, we’ve just changed the format. I take the pictures, pull them on to my computer, select the best of the best and process them to my liking. Instead of pulling out the film negatives and putting them on a light table for you to view, you now get to see all your beautiful images in a slideshow. Then together we sort through a pile of printed proofs to make your final selection for me to use in those keepsake albums and wall prints. I need those digital negatives to create the prints, just the same way we need film negatives for prints. Those digital negatives are not just temporary files, they are valuable and irreplaceable if lost!

I love creating prints for my clients, but I have no problem in offering digital files. The majority of my clients order Wall Prints, albums and gift prints and want the Digitals for safe keeping. In that case I actually WANT you to have the digital negatives. I want you to print your pictures and share them with family and friends! I welcome the idea that you want to show off all your images from your session! Because of that, I offer Custom USB Drives with all of your images stored for Safe keeping.

I have high standards that I look for in every product I give to my clients. I use a professional Photographic Lab for all of my printed products. I am equally selective when it comes to what I will give my clients when storing their valuable Digital Negatives. I have Custom USB drives that I trust will not corrupt or break. Total bonus, I get to customize them with my branding so you’ll never have to wonder which USB Drive they are stored on! (FOR all of my photographer friends who are going to email and ask me, they are from USB Memory Direct and I highly recommend them!!)

It’s a total win win! You get your files and I have the satisfaction of knowing I’ve used the best products to get them in your hands! As you plan out the list of items you want to create from your session, Digital Negatives are a great addition to your must haves!