What are RAW photos, & do you need them?
"Can I get the RAW files?" Many photographers will say “no”, but before the WHY can make sense, we need to understand more about “RAW”.
Ok. The simple version first:
It’s like pancakes. RAW is like making them from scratch. The camera gives you ALL the ingredients (sensor data for the image). YOU decide how to mix (edit) them- what portions, whether to add or subtract, how thick to mix it, how long to cook it. JPEG is like using ready-mix. You can still adjust (edit) some things like the thickness of the batter, how long to cook it, etc. but the camera doesn’t give you EVERYTHING- you’re trusting the camera or editor to have gotten the basic ingredients & proportions (edits) right, and letting it discard the rest of the sensor data.
A little more info:
RAW is a special type of file that contains ALL of the data the camera’s sensor recorded when taking an image. You often need a special Codec for your computer to be able to view them, and many online platforms do not support them. Different camera brands and models use different file extensions (.CR3, .NEF, .ARW, etc.).
JPEG (.jpg) is a compressed file. Some of the information the camera’s sensor recorded has been discarded either by the camera (if the photographer shot in JPEG), or during post-production. Most photographers deliver JPEG files to clients, as they are widely usable across platforms, devices, & printers.
So when do I need RAW?
As a client, you usually only need RAW if you require the ability to fully manipulate the photo. This usually comes up in commercial work. It can sometimes be part of the sale of image copyright as well. For pretty much everything else (especially social media sharing), JPEG is perfect.
So why don’t photographers want to give out their RAW photos?
To put it simply, they’re not representative of the photographer’s work. Imagine you sent your friend your favorite pancake ingredients (the same ones you use to make your world-famous pancakes), and then they cook them badly and tell everyone they’re from you. Your reputation would tank. That’s the risk photographers take when giving out RAWs.
RAW photos, even if they’re perfectly exposed when the image is taken, require at least a little tweaking to make them “pop”, and every photographer’s editing style is like their own “secret ingredient”. Some photographers do sell their RAWs- usually in commercial work, and this also often includes an expanded use license or negotiation of copyright ownership. However, they also usually charge much more for this because of their loss of brand control when they let someone else alter their work.
Note: Sometimes clients ask for RAWs, not realizing that they need special software to view them, and can’t share them on social media. What they actually want is “unedited JPEGs”. They don’t care about perfect shots, they just want the memories. But remember ANY unedited photos (even JPEGs) are not representative of the photographer’s work and can damage their reputation and cost them income. Some photographers do allow this, but also may request that you not tag them in those images.
The more you know!
PS. Some photographers always shoot in RAW, but some don't always, and some never do. If you do need RAWs, be sure to make that clear to your photographer ahead of time, and make sure you both understand that you don’t mean unedited JPEGs. If that's not something they're prepared to offer, you'll need to find a better fit.
