Pro photographers: CDs or prints for your clients?

[neilcreek]

I just posted the following messages on twitter, but that's not an ideal place for in-depth discussion. Lets do that here.

Selling prints or CDs? What's your opinion? Any good resources online to advise? I need to decide b4 I print flyer.

Thoughts on CD: No hassle, quick, makes client happy. Too easily duplicated, can't upsell for more prints, other photogs hate u

Thoughts on print: Big margin, no upper limit to sales, standard practice. Clients may not buy many, pain to do, org. nightmare

So what's your opinion on the question? Are you a pro photog? How do you sell your work? Why have you chosen that method? Why do you dislike the other?

[SteavieLea]

Ok, My standard of practice is this. Prints for portraits, prints and CD for Weddings(I don't do weddings anymore) CD for event, and CD covers etc

Portraits, I can make more money using unit pricing, and after the initial proof viewing, I can keep my prices afordable, offer packages and hope that they will want to buy. The costs of printing at a good lab is reasonable if you ask for a discount for loyalty. A lot of places will offer you a loyalty card and believe me the price difference is big. You will factor your pricing into these costs anyway. I am reluctant to allow general clients to print their own photos for a number of reasons. Sales loss and if they get them printed at the local kmart or instant lab place, the quality will vary. You will not have control at what they are looking at. Not good for further business if people are seeing badly adjusted images on generic paper. I stipulate to my lab DO NOT adjust these images. My screen is professionally calabrated and I want my prints as is. The client could end up unhappy.

CD negatives are good back up, and excellent when you have to hand over large batches like bands and events. Photographing bands it is easier for them to print up the ones they want. Just make sure when you do give CD negatives, your contract stipulates no manipulations, filters, or alterations are allowed. Otherwise a lousy job could reflect on you as a photographer. It's great seeing your images on the front of a CD, it's embarrassing when the art work weakens your work and is almost unrecognisable.

CD jackets, photo books need high res files so it is easier to hand over as is on CD. Make sure you price your work per image, time and out of pocket expenses. Don't give away your hard work.

Lastly:If a client wanting portraits asks me for the negatives,I will give only the photos they have paid for (the ones I get printed) I determine how much I will lose out on in extra sales and factor a percentage. It just depends on what you think you are worth. If you under sell yourself, you will always atract this client base.
Please remember not to undercut the market. Photography these days isn't an exclusive career like it once was, but it's also not a free one. 
I hope this makes sense.