If you ask me, a photographer’s job is so much more than just shooting. A considerable part of the job involves troubleshooting and learning on the job, designing new photography set-ups, answering customers’ enquiries and even reading up on news/trends and trivia so that we can chitchat with clients.
Recently, I received an enquiry from a customer wondering why RAW files are not returned as part of my photography packages:
“As a fellow – although quite amateur – photographer myself, I cannot imagine having a photoshoot without getting the RAW files at the end of the session. It is very important for me to have the flexibility to do my own Lightroom editing, choose my printing company and decide on my preferred profile – it takes a lot of time, but those are moments I cherish.”
For the uninitiated, RAW files refer to uncompressed and unprocessed images captured by digital cameras. These unprocessed files are usually larger in size because they contain a high level of image detail that’s directly captured by the camera sensors. RAW files can be likened to negatives in film photography, if you will. Common RAW file formats include DNG and ARW.
Now, to address the elephant in the room: Why do professional photographers not return RAW image files?
1. RAW files are half-finished paintings
A photographer’s job is more than just taking photos – it involves an entire course of actions required in the production of a set of beautiful, heartwarming photographs, including retouching and post-processing. I like to consider RAW images as half-finished paintings – this is our art, and we want it to be perfect before sending it across to our clients. From straightening the crop to adjusting the brightness, contrast and tone to suit the particular image, there’s much to be done when it comes to producing beautiful images that both the client and I will be satisfied with.
To get a better perspective of the differences between a RAW and processed image, take a look at the pictures below:
As you can see, Lightroom post-processing makes a world of difference to the photo’s aesthetics. And no, we don’t mean changing how your face or body looks, but rather enhancing the image to become more visually appealing!
As one could imagine, disclosing unprocessed images could also potentially be damaging to the photographer’s reputation as we have no control over who has access to these files once they’re sent out. Retaining RAW files is our way of protecting our work and passion.
2. Copyright issues
According to the Copyright Act 2021, photographers own the Intellectual Property rights to the photographs they take by default, so we actually have the right to retain the RAW files. We also have the right to showcase our works, such as via our website or social media channels. That said, at Oh Dear Studio, we value client privacy and will never post anything online before seeking the client’s permission.
But… what if I need high-resolution images for large-format printing?
I fully understand that concern, and for that reason, I’ve come up with a range of photography packages that cater to different needs. For basic 5R soft copies, you may opt for our Lite and Premium packages. If you need higher resolution 8R soft copies or full-resolution soft copies, you may either purchase them separately or upgrade the entire package.
Related read: Printing your own canvas VS Printing with studio
Hope this clears the air regarding why photographers usually don’t provide RAW files. If you have further questions or would like to book a photoshoot session with me in Singapore, please do not hesitate to contact me!
