Expert: Mark Gluckman - 8/1/2009

Question
Hi, I was just wondering what is considered a good yield from a professional shoot? Meaning what percentage of photos are good enough to publish after all is said and done. I can get 10 out of 100-ish that I want to see the light of day and I'm just wondering if that's because I suck.
Thanks.

Answer
If you get 10% that you think are good enough to publish, you should be working for Time Mag. or National Geographic.  10 shooting average is about right for good photos, but no publishable.  I would say 1-2% may be worthy of publishing.  

During film days, National Geo photographers would shoot over 400 rolls of 36 exp. to get a 25 photo article.  That's over 14000 shots for 25 published.  You do the math.  On assignment (and I know what my client wants!), 20% get deleted on the first edit (that doesn't count those I've deleted while shooting), then maybe another 15% on the second edit.  If I'm shooting on vacation, at least 40% go on the first edit.

Would you rather see 50 great shots of a vacation or 300 mediocre ones?  Aren't there times you dread looking at friends travel photos.  Need I say more.

Mark