When photographing the same group, each printed photo should look meaningfully different. Changing only a small hand gesture does not create a new shot. For example, if the same people remain in the same positions with the same expressions and composition, photos with peace signs, heart hands, or thumbs-up will still look almost identical to the customer.

Why Similar Photos Should Not Be Printed

• Customers rarely buy several photos that look almost the same. When five similar photos are presented, guests usually compare them and choose only their favorite one.

• This creates unnecessary competition between your own photos.

• Instead of increasing the sale, similar prints often reduce the number of photos purchased because the customer feels they only need one version.

• Your goal is not to give the customer five similar options and let them choose one. Your goal is to create a diverse set of photos that the customer will want to purchase together.

How Diversity Improves Sales

Each printed photo should offer something different and valuable. A diverse set may include:

• A full-group photo

• A couple’s photo

• Parents with children

• Children together

• Individual portraits

• Different group combinations

• A fun pose and a more traditional pose

• Different seating or standing arrangements

When every photo shows a different combination, composition, or feeling, customers have more reasons to buy all of them. Each image becomes a separate memory instead of another version of the same photo.

Similar Shot vs. Diverse Shot

Similar shots:

• Same people

• Same positions

• Same framing

• Only a small change in hand gestures

Diverse shots:

• Different people or group combinations

• Different positions

• Different framing or camera distance

• Different poses

• Different expressions or energy

• A clearly different overall image

Before Printing, Ask Yourself

Would a customer have a strong reason to buy this photo in addition to the other printed photos?

If the new photo looks almost identical to another one, do not print both. Choose the stronger image and use the remaining prints for truly different shots.

Every printed photo should add value to the customer’s set.

Main Goal

The photographer’s goal is to sell all printed photos, not to print several similar images and ask the customer to choose one.

Create variety, give every photo a purpose, and build a complete set that customers will want to keep.

Example: same shots / no diversity: people more likely pick only 1 photo out of these! So only 1 photo should be printed!

Examples: diverse separate shots. Group more likely to buy a few photos or all of them 

Example: same shots / no diversity: people more likely pick only 1 photo out of these! So only 1 photo should be printed!

Examples: diverse separate shots. Group more likely to buy a few photos or all of them