dont wanna spray and pray

[lorigon27]

so lately ive been trying to plot my shots better to save time and actuations on my camera.
about what % of my shots do you think should be keepers- id like to get to where i can post or print 50%.
what are your typical number of yurn outs say out of 100 shots?

 

[SCraig]

Typically 10% to 20%. I have no problem taking a LOT of shots to get one good one.

 

[Joshonator]

I'm probably up to about 25% now. I used to take thousands and have under 5% that I liked, so I started to slow down.

 

[tirediron]

It really depends on what I'm doing. If I'm shooting for me, then maybe 1%... maybe. Shooting for clients? The last head-shot session I did ran to about 75 exposures, of which the client got six. The portfolio shoot I'm doing this weekend (weather permitting)... I'm anticipating 2-300 exposures with the goal of ten keepers.

 

[Overread17 5]

It can really vary a lot on what you're shooting not just how. For example if you're doing a photo booth sit down portrait style event I'd expect to come back with most of the shots being "keeper" quality. Shift to something like wildlife or sports and I'd expect the keeper rate to suddenly drop. That isn't saying that they are less skilled, but that the capacity for errors is greatly increased.

However keeper rate is something that can often not increase much. This isn't because a photographer fails to improve, but actually because they do improve, and that pushes their standard up. Higher standards means that shots which once would have been good or passable are now considered failures.

Heck this can mean that, sometimes, your keeper rate goes backwards.



In the end my view is that keeper rate is something nice to know, but not something I'd really let yourself worry about. So long you are able to shoot an event and feel that you've walked away with enough good shots (or if working manage to meet and exceed your criteria for the shoot) then that is ok in my book. You can push yourself to do better always, but I wouldn't get stuck in the mind-set that one must get a certain "keeper rate".

 

[Joshonator]

Yeah I wouldn't worry too much about it. It could be a good idea to think about it once in a while though to make sure you're not getting lazy. The worst recently was when I was chasing a deer in the forest on a dark day with the 75-300 f4-5.6, out of about 400ish shots there were maybe 15 keepers, most from when I used a tree branch as a tripod .

 

[Overread17 5]

WOA that looks crazy close!

 

[Joshonator]

Ninja skillz of a stealth approach lol. Had to get close enough to use the f4 part of the zoom range .

Was worth it for this shot though

 

[Sw1tchFX]

If you strive for 50%, than you're not critical enough of yourself.

 

[WesternGuy]

I am a serious amateur and I shoot mainly for my own enjoyment. I am my worst critic as well. I would say typically 10-20% of my shots are ones that I would even think to post or share with friends. I would agree with Sw1tchFX that if you are aiming for 50% then you are not critical enough and/or you are not experimenting enough. I went out the other day to shoot a water falls and a large well known landslide - both tourist attractions - I did a fair bit of experimentation with the water falls imagery and simply shot the landslide as a "landscape - altogether about 60 images in a couple of hours. I think that about 6 or so were ones that I was personally happy with and would be willing to share, but I did learn some stuff with the experiments I tried at the water falls. HTH.
__________________
WesternGuy

 

[The_Traveler]

As others have said, it all depends on what you are shooting.

I did a red carpet event two weeks ago, shot 400 impromptu shots and had about 5 that weren't well enough framed, focused or exposed.

When I shoot street shots, if I get one or two decent shots, no matter how many I shoot, I'm happy.

 

[Overread17 5]

Oh just to add another - its not just what you shoot, but what you're used to shooting. Whilst its all the same idea - painting with light; new areas can be a big challenge.

A really good sports photographer, used to shooting trackside can be hopeless in a studio; just as a studio photographer can be hopeless doing journalist stuff. Different areas have different demands and not all the skills they call for are purely photographic (in fact some the photographic skill is the lesser required skill). So there is a big scope for someone great on one area to suddenly have a massive slump if you will in other areas that they are less experienced in.

 

[TCampbell]

This COMPLETELY depends on what and how you're shooting.

When I worked for a studio and did weddings and portraits, the expectation was that EVERY SHOT would have correct exposure and focus. If someone in the photo blinked, that wasn't my fault (though we were expected to notice -- and this is shooting with film.) The "basics" of exposure should always be good.

But then I got to know an art photographer who travels the world and his photos are displayed on exhibit and in galleries... and that's a bit different. While every shot will have good focus and exposure, he hopes to get MERELY one "keeper" on an entire trip (he travels to exotic locations). If he gets two such keepers then that's considered a bonus (note that his standards are a bit higher.)

That should hopefully change how you think of the question.

If it's not a keeper for artistic reasons... that's one thing. But if it's not a keeper because you missed the basics of exposures and focus... that's not good.

 

[unpopular]

100% should be the goal, editing should be done in camera. In practice, with a stationary subject I am fairly comfortable with, 50-75% excluding bracket/exposure tests. Prob closer to 75%.

I've never filled 4gb. I learned with film, always enjoyed color, and I never had much money. I'd go out with one or two rolls of 36 exp Sensia or Provia 220, and make the most out of it.

 

[Solarflare]

Hmm.

I take pictures whenever I see the chance for a good one.

Failure rate ? Uh-hu. I delete some pictures instantly, more when I got it on the harddisk, more when I review my pictures later. No idea what the actual rate is and why does it matter ?