What are RAW "images"? Why I do not release my RAWs to clients, even upon request - The creative process....

What is RAW?

RAW is a specific format that photographers set their camera to for a session. RAW is a type of file and not an image. In simpler terms RAW is the unfinished file of images of a photo session. They are the images that a photographer uploads onto their computer or and editing software once the session is over. However RAW is not just an image format, it is also information sent from our camera sensors to our memory card.  With this information included RAW is the highest digital image quality that a digital camera can capture. Here at Precious Moments Photography we always shoot our sessions in RAW. You may ask yourself why we do, and the answer is simple. We believe that it helps us deliver the best finished images that we can. 

What is the creative process for my images?

Think of our creative process as baking holiday cookies for your work’s holiday gathering,. You wouldn’t arrive to work with unbaked cookies on a cookie sheet and start handing them out to everyone without completely baking and the rest of the process. The first step of bringing cookies to the holiday party after peeping the dough, is baking the cookies, which is in comparison to our first step of the creative process; uploading of the RAW files and converting them to JPG format before any alterations are made to the images. When booking a session with us, you are hiring us for our complete creative process that goes into our sessions. Included in that process are the many hours of editing that goes into your final gallery. 

Why would a client want their RAW files?

There are many reasons that a client would request their RAW files. Usually when I am asked for RAW images, it is for one of these three reasons...

1. They are afraid that they will not like the editing style and the final product so they want to have the option for someone else to edit.

2. They are in some way experienced in, or happen to enjoy editing photos, so they want to edit the photos their own way.

3. They have heard that RAW images are the highest possible quality of digital images and they want to keep them, so they have the highest quality for their money.

Why wont I give you (the client) their RAW files?

It's quite simple honestly. A photographers style is not only determined by how they actually take the photo (the composition, lighting, timing, shutter speed etc.,) but also how they edit that image after it has been captured. With that being noted, I know that personally I spent at least 3 years determining my style of photographs and editing, and I am proud of the creative style that I portray in my photographs.

Below are two examples to show why I will not release my RAW files to a client one is before when I first upload to a my editing software and the second one is the final product after the editing process that I would send to the customer.

EX. 1 - RAW FORMAT FILE EX.2 EDITED JPG

(straight out of camera .CRN file) (ready for gallery)

I hope this helps you understand why when asked I deny all requests to send RAW files. Remember you are paying me for a creative process when you book with me and I intend to deliver the completed created process.