Have you ever wondered why your photographer won’t give you all the unedited photos? Every photographer has a different pricing system. Some include all edited photos, some offer different packages. Right now I offer 3 different packages for my clients to choose from. You always have the option to buy additional images if you change your mind after the session or after receiving your gallery. However, I’ve had previous clients ask me why I can’t just give them ALL the unedited, raw images. In this blog post I will explain to you why a professional photographer will never give out their raw files.
1. Raw images are unfinished work of art
Raw files are an unfinished, incomplete image. Photographers invest a lot of time fine tuning their images in post processing. You might not be able to see the amount of time and money that your photographer invested into editing, but if you compare a RAW image with an edited JPG file, you will definitely be able to see the difference!
2. Raw images can’t be used unedited
Without getting too technical, a raw image is basically like a form of negatives. You can’t print a raw image. Unlike a JPG file, a RAW file needs to be edited before it can be printed.
3. Raw images don’t represent your photographer’s brand
They’re straight out of camera, unedited, so they don’t represent the photographer’s style. After all, isn’t that why you chose your photographer in the first place? Because you were drawn to their unique aesthetic?
Occasionally a client may be tempted to take a screenshot of an image in their gallery. If you’re working with a professional photographer, you most likely signed a contract. You have an agreement for a certain number of images and anything over this set number of images must be purchased. Taking screenshots of the images or editing done by you or anyone else is a copyright violation; you are stealing the photographer’s work without paying for it.
Photographers cannot release any images unedited, as it is not a true reflection of their brand and style. Have you ever asked a bakery if you can just get a box full of ingredients, or do you hire a baker for the cake (the finished product)?
