I agree with BladeScout's, and other's, main points.
Quick cell pics (email, instagram, etc..) with just a couple of photos goes along way for come customers and cost little effort wise. Here are 3 knife transactions that I've had over the years.
When I purchased my first custom knife made by EFBurke because I fell in love with it when it was posted here, he had a photo or two online showing the original sketch and a photo of the knife sitting on the bench during construction. Those photos went along way in seeing the knife not as a mass produced piece but as a one of a kind. While he's not a full time maker, he did take the time to make them available and his emails responses were fast and friendly. I still feel connected to the piece and display it.
After a lot of research, I've had a custom knife make by Chuck Gedraitis, a full time maker. The knife is a gorgeous fine precision folder and while it arrived really fast, in just a couple weeks, there were no photos of it being made so the connection to the knife itself wasn't as "special". I would happily buy more of Chucks work but it was a different interaction.
Another set of transactions were with Mr. Wheeler. I purchased a couple forged blanks and one of his larger more finished blade blanks as well as a knife vise. He sent the drawings of the blade designs with a personal message on the paper with the blades. This was followed up with a couple super friendly emails. As we all know he has numerous WIP threads showing the shear amount of work that goes into each piece and he continues to help other knife makers in an incredibly generous fashion. When and if I'm in a position to drop a grand or two for a specialty custom art piece knife, I will happily send the money his way. And would happily wait whatever time it took. The value of the his work goes beyond the product itself and leaves a positive bond with the customer.
There's a difference between buying from a store or mid-tech knife or factory. As custom knife buyer, two cell pics go along way to adding value over the factory made knives. If the knife is just going to show up with little distinction from a factory knife, why bother unless your getting investment pieces to resell. I buy from the heart and want to see the difference buying from an artisan.
For the main question about paying for more comprehensive WIP photos. As everyone has mentioned already, it takes significantly more effort if post processing is needed for the photos and time is needed for the descriptions and webpostings. I would expect to require a second person to manage the WIP while the knife is being made. I would expect an additional charge to the client if the WIP is not posted online. If it's posted online, in my opinion this is benefiting the craftsman as well and increasing his/her value, so maybe the cost to the client should be reduced (maybe 50%?).
If and when I drop some serious coin on a specialty piece, I would inquire about the ability to make it a lite-WIP at additional cost to me for the following reasons:
- Posted online, it could help the broader community and the craftsman
- The knife would more likely have a "strong" connection for me, the client, so there is value added
- While I don't plan to ever seller a custom piece, it should increase the resale value of the knife for those that are interested in investment knives
- I can show family and friends what went into that knife displayed on my mantle and explain why I ate rice for two months to pay for it.
At a minimum for custom products, the craftsman should be able to provide the original sketch or photo/scan and a couple photos of the knife along it's construction either free of charge or at very small cost. It's like getting an ultrasound of your kid. You're paying for something to be created on your behalf and you want to experience part of the process and feel connected.
