jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

We get quite a few questions about customers wanting raw files and photographers not wanting to give them up. Here's a good article about that.

http://www.diyphotography.net/tell-clients-cant-raw-files/

twillsol Loc: St. Louis, MO

Interesting article, thanks Jerry

jimoth001 Loc: Illinois

I hired a photographer for a couple hours to take some photographs of my wife and I on our upcoming trip. I'll be bringing all my equipment and taking LOTS of photos, but we want some pictures of us together on what may be our last vacation (she is terminally ill).

When I was down to the last two photographers I wanted to hire, I chose the one that said yes to my RAW files request (the other would only supply "high-res" jpgs).

I want every opportunity to make sure these pictures are exactly how I want them, not how someone else has determined they should be, and can and do use LR, PS, Nik, etc on my work.

I understand the author's point for "commercial" work, but I do feel in my case that I'm making a legitimate request.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

:thumbup:

As long as you get someone to agree to your terms.

Racin17 Loc: Western Pa

I am not a pro photographer, why is it a big deal to give them the processed shots and the un processed or negatives. To me its like in the film days of them giving you the processed shots and not the negatives. What am I missing?

henk33 Loc: Netherlands

Your request is legitimate, but I would never do it: to give away my negative or RAW file.

Henk

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

Good one Jerry, thanks. Presented very well.

Picdude Loc: Ohio

I'm not a professional either, but I see their point. As far as having pictures taken professionally in the "Film Days", I remember having pictures taken of my family and children taken professionally several times throughout the years, but never, ever ONCE was I offered the negatives of the professional shots, nor did it ever become an issue. I always received the negatives of the film pictures that I shot with MY camera, but not the negatives shot by someone else's camera.

diensthunds

Each photographer has their own unique style when it comes to processing a RAW file into a final print. Some photographers like to make their pictures a bit warmer or up the exposure just a bit. Others like to have a cooler look or add extra clarity for more "punch". So to ask one photographer to give you his RAW's so you can edit them to your liking is like asking a painter to do a painting for you but only use the color of paint you want to supply.
I agree with the photographers that say NO to giving away RAWs. I don't. I do lots of shoots for friends and family and while most of them don't want, nor would really know much about how to edit a RAW file. I never offer the RAW up. I will tell them to pick which ones they want me to touch up, based on what they do or don't like out of a group of say 100 pictures, then I'll do my post production work on them and give them say 10 or 20 of the final pictures. But for somebody to say they will only hire me if I give them the RAW to do what ever they want with. Sorry won't do it guess you'll have to find somebody else. Yes that might cost me a job but it also keeps people from butchering my work doing who knows what sort of crappy overlays and other hideous work and saying "oh yes so and so did this for me".

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

I agree. I'm no pro, I don't do this for a living but if I did...the LAST thing I'd want is some yahoo "finishing" my images and then people thinking that it was my work.

The print is the finished product...period. OR...since this is modern times...a web-sized jpg for FB...but that's it.

Nope.

Racin17 Loc: Western Pa

Thank you for answering my question. It did help me understand the " pro" side better.