jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It's the raw files that take up all the space. When I finish processing a raw file, I save it as a JPEG and dump the raw. If it's something special, I'll keep both files. A 2 TB hard drive can hold more pictures that I'd ever want, so storage isn't really a concern for me.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I shoot raw only and postprocess in LR and sometimes PS. My files are stored in a folder structure that is basically /Photos/YYYY/Shoot Subject/RAW. The raw files stay there forever. When I do my postprocessing, the keepers get exported as jpgs to /Photos/YYYY/Shoot Subject/. From there they are sent to wherever they need to go. They stay in that folder forever, or until they are overwritten by a subsequent edit of the original raw file.

If it were only me involved, I would probably delete the jpgs since I can easily reproduce them in LR (although subsequent reproductions may be slightly different depending on the LR version used later). But some of my photos are family shots and when I'm no longer around my family might want some of those shots. My family does not use LR, so they would not know how to export a photo of interest even if they could find it in LR. However, the file and folder names have the shoot subject as part of the naming convention so they can use normal computer search techniques to look for subjects of interest to them. Some computer searches can include metadata so it's possible to look for specific names (which are included in the keywords in LR and exported into the metadata in the jpg).

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

In LR export them to a special file then delete when finished sending to wherever. Original file stays original place with all the adjustments as well as the original raw.

bweber Loc: Newton, MA

I delete the JPEGs or import them into Apple Photos to save in my Photos web based albums. I never delete RAW files of any photo I convert to JPEGs or want to keep. I have many images I have returned to and worked on, cropped differently or converted to black and white. Storage is cheap, I use external hard drives, that are automatically backed up to additional drives and the cloud.

Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

I think of the exported files, usually jpg, as simply an envelope for conveying the image to its ultimate use, printing or whatever. So after they are on their way I toss them. Once upon a time I “filed” them but that just made a mess like my physical desk top. Luckily, I have always kept my serious images that are now managed by LR on disk(s) separate from Pictures so I deleted the whole mess.

BebuLamar

I keep all the RAW files. I keep the JPEG of images that I like and sometimes different version of them. For images that I don't like I don't keep the JPEG but only the RAW just in case I have idea how to make them better in the future.

Bogin Bob Loc: Tampa Bay, Florida

Use Google Photos Auto-Backup. Sign up and figure auto backup.
1. Create an Export Folder on Desktop.
2. Configure Google Photos Backup to look in that Folder for new images
3. Export Jpegs to that folder and confirm settings (pixels, watermarks, size, naming ... I set Custom name with no name created and edit names after export)
4. Create an Export Preset or Presets ... so if you want Facebook images, choose a preferred size, etc.)
5. Monthly: delete images in the Export Folder
Note: saves hard drive space, you have a 'shared photo' backup, you can create folders/albums in Google, and if you're creative and disciplined by using custom name on export, you have a searchable keyword for photos in the Google space ... almost like Lr Keyword

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

If you process your photos in Lightroom, I think you are making a mistake deleting the RAW file. I like to keep all the Develop history in Lightroom in case I need to go back to old photos and further edit them. Sometimes the edits I made 3 years ago can be improved!

If you don’t use Lightroom, what you’re dong is probably fine.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

After editing in Lightroom, I export the best and upload to Shutterfly. I see no reason to keep the JPEGs, so I delete them. I can make JPEGs on the fly anytime I need them. If the worst were to happen and I somehow lost all my photos, I could get the ones I care about from Shutterfly.

Now, I am questioning that habit after reading the backup suggestions in FAQ by Victoria Bampton, where she includes JPEGs as something to backup. I’m not sure why!? Thanks for this post. It’s exactly what I was just wondering about.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

JPEG is my final product, just as slides were my final product in the age of film

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

I delete as re-esporting from LR is so easy. Why let jags pile up?

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I keep them. Quick access to use
No other reason just easy and quick.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Jpg is the final product but it's not quite analogous to slides. There's no intermediate product in slides. Prints, yes.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

I delete them.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I keep them. Sometimes, I'll make full resolution JPEGs to size for large prints. Other times, I'll make smaller files for fast display on the web at
"unprintable" resolutions. But storage is very inexpensive now, so I save them all.