A picture is forever

And probably ever, on a CD if you go to a 24.95 CD photographer.  How can she guarantee that CD will open 6 mos from now let alone 18 years when your daughter is graduating from high school.  She can't, no one can.  I know it sounds good, it sounds great!  75-100 professional digital images of your 1 year old daughter and you get to keep every single image!  The first problem with this is the fact that NO professional photographer in her right mind would charge $25 for a CD full of retouched images, or even un-retouched images.  So, that right there should be a red flag.  And NO professional Photographer is going to let go of every single images on a CD unless they are desperate and have little respect for their work.

So, there's 3 strikes.

1. Can't guranatee it will open at any time in the future, forever (unlike a print that will last forever if printed through a pro lab on archival paper)
2. No respect for her work
3. No respect for you.

Remember, there are 3 choices, Fast, Cheap and Good.  The catch is, you can only pick two.  I.E. You want good pictures done in 3 days.  It's going to be Expensive.  Want a cheap CD to take to Walmart?  Want them to look like you spent 1000's?  Well, good luck with that, but I can guarantee, it's going to take forever to get that CD back from the photographer.  

Fast, Cheap, Good.  Your choice, but only 2.   And if you are a CD photographer and not charging correctly, at least have the decency to state this is a hobby and if a contact wants a professional portrait session,  recommend contacting a professional photographer.  I know professional photogrpahers who will sell you a CD of images to keep and print where you want, but they are going to charge accordingly and treat you like you just walked out with a 30x40 marquis framed print in that little tiny CD case.