Why you don't need 50 + images....
Nov 3, 2025 | By: Pink Chair Photography LLC
Why You Don’t Need 50+ Images — And Why Fewer Photos Actually Give You a Better Experience
You’ve probably seen photographers advertise sessions that include 50, 75, or even 100 images for a low price.
It sounds like a bargain… but in reality, more doesn’t always mean better.
If you’ve ever received a huge gallery and felt overwhelmed instead of excited, there’s a reason.
Here’s the truth behind why a smaller, curated collection is almost always the better choice—both artistically and emotionally.
✅ 1. Quality and artistry take time
Professional portraiture is not just clicking a button.
A finished image requires:
Careful posing and expression
Intentional composition
Culling and selection
Retouching
Color work
Background cleanup
Fine art finishing (when applicable)
When a photographer delivers 50+ images, it is simply not realistic to give each one the same level of artistic attention.
Most of those images will be lightly edited, batch-processed, or barely touched at all.
A smaller gallery means:
✅ Every image is intentionally chosen
✅ Every image is fully edited
✅ You receive art—not a pile of files
✅ 2. You’ll actually USE a smaller gallery
Be honest — what do most people do with 75 digital images?
✅ Pick a few favorites
✅ Post a couple to social media
❌ The rest sit in a folder forever
Most families print 1–5 images, not dozens.
So delivering 50+ files doesn’t add value… it adds digital clutter.
A curated gallery gives you:
✅ Only the best expressions
✅ Only the strongest poses
✅ Images worthy of printing, framing, and gifting
Nothing extra. Nothing filler. Nothing forgotten.
✅ 3. The psychology of too many choices
There’s actual science that explains why large galleries feel overwhelming.
Choice Overload
A famous study by psychologists Sheena Iyengar & Mark Lepper found:
When shoppers had 24 options, only 3% made a purchase
When they had 6 options, 30% made a purchase
Fewer choices = 10x more satisfaction and confidence.
Decision Fatigue
Studies from Columbia University and Stanford show:
When the brain has to make too many decisions, it becomes mentally tired and less satisfied with the results.
So when clients receive huge galleries:
They second-guess themselves
They get overwhelmed
They postpone printing or ordering products
The Paradox of Choice (Barry Schwartz)
More options actually make us feel like we’re missing out on what we didn’t pick—even if we loved what we chose.
So a curated gallery of 8–12 images feels:
✅ More special
✅ Easier to enjoy
✅ Emotionally stronger
✅ 4. Curated galleries protect the meaning of the moment
There’s a difference between documentation and art.
Documentation: hundreds of quick shots
Art: intentional, emotional, timeless portraits
Curated galleries ensure:
No duplicates
No “almost” images
No guessing about what to print
Every image earns its place.
✅ 5. Better for printing, albums, and wall art
Professional labs will tell you: people only print the images they truly connect with.
A smaller, intentional gallery gives you:
✅ Easy decision-making
✅ Confidence in every image
✅ Artwork that looks beautiful in print
You don’t need 100 images when all you really want are the ones that make your heart stop in the best way.
✅ So what does this look like when you book with me?
My work is built on the belief that your portraits deserve to be art—not background files on a hard drive.
I offer three editing and artistic styles so you can choose what feels right for your family or project:
✔ Simplicity
Clean, classic studio portraits with subtle retouching.
Perfect if you want timeless images without heavy artistic effects.
✔ Painterly
A combination of photography and digital painting techniques.
More artistic detail, richer tones, and a fine-art finish.
✔ Fantasy
My most elaborate artwork—multiple digital elements, composite backgrounds, and days of creative editing.
A true storytelling piece.
No matter which style you choose:
✅ Every image is fully finished
✅ Every portrait is intentionally selected
✅ You receive a gallery of meaningful, print-worthy artwork
✅ Ready to experience a curated portrait session?
If this philosophy resonates with you—if you want quality over quantity, and images you’ll actually print, display, and treasure—then I’d love to create something beautiful for you.
You can explore examples of each style, pricing, and artwork options here:
Take a look.
Get inspired.
And if you feel connected to this approach, I’d be honored to create portraits that feel truly special.
