thegman
Veteran
On holiday it's probably around 100% because I'm happy with snapshots which remind me of the trip. Otherwise, I'm happy if I get a 2-3 per roll, or just 1 if I really like it.
How many keepers per roll of film
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Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
Depends. If I am doing my documentary work, usually 4-6 keepers, because I shoot each picture a few times in case I shake the camera. I always feel unsteady handholding, though my actual results show few blurred pics, I do it for insurance. Easier than reshooting later.
If I am doing street type work, usually more since each pic can be shot only once, there are a lot more potential images to choose from on a roll. Maybe 10-15 I'll choose if I had a good day.
I read that back in the days of film, Sports Illustrated shot over 100,000 frames and chose about 20 for the swimsuit issue they do every year. That's common in editorial work, I've been told. National Geographic had similarly extreme amounts of film shot for each story and only needed a 10-20 for a story! My low keep rate is quite high by those standards!
If I am doing street type work, usually more since each pic can be shot only once, there are a lot more potential images to choose from on a roll. Maybe 10-15 I'll choose if I had a good day.
I read that back in the days of film, Sports Illustrated shot over 100,000 frames and chose about 20 for the swimsuit issue they do every year. That's common in editorial work, I've been told. National Geographic had similarly extreme amounts of film shot for each story and only needed a 10-20 for a story! My low keep rate is quite high by those standards!
raytoei@gmail.com
Veteran
i would be happy with 1 or more keepers per roll.
nonot
Well-known
I keep all the negatives so I guess they're all keepers? maybe one or two per 2-3 rolls are ones I actually really like on average.
braver
Well-known
I usually get 2 or 3 that are pretty good and I print those. Sometimes only 1, sometimes less. Real keepers that I keep coming back to are 1 per several rolls.
SciAggie
Well-known
Everyone's standards and goals are different. My keeper rate is 10 - 20% for images I will store on my hard drive and look at to enjoy. For images I am pleased with it may be more like 5-10%. For images I will enlarge and frame it is less than 1%.
mike-s
Established
In my case it's more a question of how many rolls per keeper.
I have a tape of a documentary made about David Bailey (' David Bailey's Seventies' BBC ) during which he comments on selecting prints for his exibitions saying " if you get six good shots in a year it's a lot"
I have a tape of a documentary made about David Bailey (' David Bailey's Seventies' BBC ) during which he comments on selecting prints for his exibitions saying " if you get six good shots in a year it's a lot"
yerba
Member
no more than four
no more than four
I voted 1 to 8 per 36 exp roll, but on average usually I get no more than 4. I'm just such a lousy photog.
no more than four
I voted 1 to 8 per 36 exp roll, but on average usually I get no more than 4. I'm just such a lousy photog.
paulfish4570
Veteran
when i say 50 per cent keepers, i mean negatives worth editing. out of those negs, i may post 10 total to my gallery and assorted n/nw threads in a week, and two or three may draw comments.
nanntonaku
Established
properly exposed and composed,.... about 3-5 that i'm content with.
interesting enough to make me want to keep looking at it, and be properly exposed and composed for the purposes of the shot,.... 1 every 2-3 rolls if i'm being honest with myself.
interesting enough to make me want to keep looking at it, and be properly exposed and composed for the purposes of the shot,.... 1 every 2-3 rolls if i'm being honest with myself.
DougK
This space left blank
I used to think I shot quite a few keepers per roll of film or digital session, but over the last couple of years I became a much tougher critic of my photography than I used to be (which led to me deleting my Flickr account and basically starting over with photography, but that's a whole 'nother story). I pretty much use the definition provided in the OP these days, so I'm thrilled if I get one keeper per film roll. When I use digital, I'm happy if I get one or two keepers per session/outing.
EDIT: In complete honesty, I'd probably have to admit that the reality is I probably only get one true keeper every few rolls or sessions, but I usually get at least one that I can look at and say "Hmm, that's not too bad."
EDIT: In complete honesty, I'd probably have to admit that the reality is I probably only get one true keeper every few rolls or sessions, but I usually get at least one that I can look at and say "Hmm, that's not too bad."
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robbert
photography student
approx. 1 out of 5 with 4x5 LF
hlockwood
Well-known
An important and integral part of my photography is making archival (carbon on cotton) prints. So, a keeper for me is one that I feel is worth scanning and enlarging to at least 10x15 in. I may also matt it and frame it, but not necessarily. I may just leave it out on a workbench where I can look at it now and then.
Most of my images are from the "street." I'm likely to get several printable shots per 36 exp. roll.
Harry
Snacks
Established
I chose 9-16. Because money is tight sometimes, I've really learned to let shots go if they aren't going to work or expose properly. The problem is that I want to shoot 24-exposure films now, because I actually want to see some of the photos in the same month that I started taking them.
TXForester
Well-known
Unless you are including a 3x5 or 4x6 inch print, then sometimes none. I'm getting more hard on myself and saving a little $$$ by not printing much and scanning at home.
If I got a few a year that were worthy of an 8x10 inch print and a couple per roll worthy of 3x5 inch, then I'd be happy.
If I got a few a year that were worthy of an 8x10 inch print and a couple per roll worthy of 3x5 inch, then I'd be happy.
efirmage
Established
I consider keepers photos that I'll put up on my flickr, and I'm getting much pickier about what goes up there. I'd say 2-5 is a good roll, but if the lighting is good I'll usually get more. Vice versa if the lighting isn't special.
If I get one I'm happy though.
If I get one I'm happy though.
rogerzilla
Well-known
About 1/3, occasionally 1/2. With digital, virtually none, ever.
I shall exclude my last roll of Rollei infrared from this because something went horribly wrong with the exposures (I was using ISO 4; 12 might have been better) and the film scanner couldn't really cope - horrid banding.
I shall exclude my last roll of Rollei infrared from this because something went horribly wrong with the exposures (I was using ISO 4; 12 might have been better) and the film scanner couldn't really cope - horrid banding.
hatidua
Established
I remember back around about 1989 or so, I had a meeting with Tony Stone, who could extract more money out of a single image than anyone I've ever encountered. He'd just bought AfterImage (stock agency in LA) and he told me "I don't want lots of images from you, just your ten best each year". I'd happily divulge how much he made me annually with under 200 images total on file, but likely nobody would believe it except others that were represented by TSW.
When I hire a model and go on location for a week long shoot, I aim for having 15-20 good shots upon returning, hopefully five that are stand-alone great. In the course of seven days, I'll go through hundreds of rolls of film. My average, per roll, falls short of many here as I have no qualms about shooting five or more rolls of the exact same image with only minute changes. I am not a journalist.
When I hire a model and go on location for a week long shoot, I aim for having 15-20 good shots upon returning, hopefully five that are stand-alone great. In the course of seven days, I'll go through hundreds of rolls of film. My average, per roll, falls short of many here as I have no qualms about shooting five or more rolls of the exact same image with only minute changes. I am not a journalist.
randolph45
Well-known
one good one please
one good one please
One keeper out of 36 would be wonderful.Lots of bracketing.lots of different angles just hoping to get that one good one.
PS digital previews help for set up
one good one please
One keeper out of 36 would be wonderful.Lots of bracketing.lots of different angles just hoping to get that one good one.
PS digital previews help for set up
paulfish4570
Veteran
i picked up negs and cds for two 24-exp rolls of walgreens 400 color today. eight have made the cut so far on one roll, and nine on the other. i'm trying to be more selective here lately. by cut, i mean being posted here or elsewhere.
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