Are you sure you want the RAW file? What is a RAW file, really?

Charles King, photographer and cinematographer from Fairfax, VA brought up a great point today. What if the client asks for the RAW files? Should they be included?

I've found that most clients don't really understand what a RAW file is. They use the term "RAW" but what they're really asking for is the full resolution image, which can be delivered in JPEG form. The RAW file is typically a proprietary file format from the camera manufactuerer. It takes special software to open and view the file and even more specialized software, training and experience to edit and manipulate the RAW file into the finished work.

Here's the truth about a RAW file. It is nothing more than the unedited, unprocessed data directly from the camera's sensor. Sounds fancy, but it's only half of what you're paying us for. In a typical photography workflow, the photographer will capture the image in RAW file format. They will then process that data and apply color, detail, and other enhancements to create the photograph you're paying for.

Think of it like the old film days. If you hire a photograpaher to take your portrait, you wouldn't ask them to give you the undeveloped film, would you? You'd expect the processed photo. That's what you're really paying for.

Now, are there times when I turn over RAW files? Yes, absolutely. A good example is when I shoot commercial photos for an ad agency. The ad agency wants to process the photos in a certain and consistent manner and it's best for them to work with the RAW images. They have skilled editors to work through that process and they have all of the software necessary to do so. We've contracted that RAW file format will be delivered. Totally reasonable to turn over the RAW images in this case.

An actor who wants the RAW image of their headshot? That's not anything that will help you. Copyright laws protect the image, so even if you had the right software, it would be illegal to edit the RAW file anyhow.

Here's my advice to photograhers. If a client asks you for the RAW files, before immediately denying them, ask them a few questions to determine what they're really asking for. It may be something you can provide, like a full or higher resolution JPEG.