Why Photographers Don’t Release Unedited Images

Once of the most common questions I receive from clients is ‘can I also have the RAW images?’ RAW images, otherwise known as ‘unedited images’ or ‘proofs’ are files that contain minimally processed data from the camera’s image sensor. This is great for photographers in that it offers creative processing flexibility. RAW files enable professional photographers to keep as much information and quality within the file for editing. RAW files are meant to be edited. Without getting too technical (as google will be able to explain the exact differences between RAW and jpeg files better than I could), RAW images are flat/lackluster, and need to be edited, in order to produce a final, polished look. The final edited images are typically saved in a format such as jpeg that can be printed or displayed on a screen.

The best analogy I have come up with to explain the difference between ‘RAW’ and ‘jpeg’ images is the difference between having a plate full of ingredients versus having a plate with a finished meal. When you go to a restaurant, you choose to go to that specific restaurant because of the way the food at that restaurant tastes. You go there because you enjoy the spices, ingredients, and garnishes in that dish, and the way in which the chef prepared the dish. You would never go into that same restaurant and ask for the vegetables, spices, oil and meat used in the dish. Releasing ‘unedited’ images is akin to asking for a plate of ingredients. When you hire a photographer, you are not hiring them for ‘pictures.’ You are hiring them for their experience, knowledge, skill, and eye. Every artist is unique and different.

Despite RAW images being ‘unedited,’ the skill of photography involves taking many steps to ensure that an image is correctly exposed. Photographers need to calculate many factors when photographing a subject, in order to ensure that the RAW format can be properly converted into a polished photo. When I first started photography, I automatically assumed that any image could be ‘fixed’ in photoshop. As I began practicing and learning the art of photography, I quickly realized no magic wand existed, and that the hard work in photography was making sure everything looked perfect ‘in camera.’ Otherwise known as ‘SOOC’ or ‘straight out of camera’, this term means exactly what it sounds like. An image should appear a certain way PRIOR to any of the editing even occurring. A photographer decides how much to control each of these factors based on their aesthetic and goals for that particular image. The essential elements of an image need to happen way before the shutter button is even clicked.

Don’t get me wrong, photoshop is an amazing editing tool with extensive capabilities. I am still learning tips and tricks on a daily basis. BUT, it should be reserved for the final touches…smoothing out a backdrop, removing blemishes, flyaways, redness, etc. You are hiring an artist for their specific aesthetic. I want clients to hire ME for MY eye. Each artist has their own look, creating a brand they are recognized for. Monet, VanGogh and daVinci were all Renaissance painters, each distinguishable by their own unique style.

Releasing unedited images, in any form, even if they are never to be shown to anyone, is akin to exposing my naked self as an artist. Even if these images are just stored, they are still ‘out there’ and not representative of my brand or final product, which is why I never feel comfortable giving out or selling proofs.

Below I will demonstrate two examples, taking my images from SOOC to a final edited jpeg product.

The image below is ‘SOOC,’ opened directly onto my computer from the camera. These are the proofs (RAW/unedited files) that I send to clients. You can see the image is very dark and bland. This is the first step when I open an image that I am ready to edit.

The next step involves making several adjustments to the image, using this first panel called Adobe Camera RAW.

You can see not much has changed here except for some basic processing- the image appears warmer in coloration, and slightly brighter, and the vignette around the image has been removed.

Final product. Several adjustments have been made here. The skin has been smoothed and evened out. The skin appears less blotchy, less orange/red. His eyes have been brightened slightly and small blemishes have been removed on his skin up close (this is hard to see here). Shadows have been slightly removed. I made several other artistic adjustments as well to make the image look like my own.

You can see the final image looks a lot different than the RAW image.

Here is another example:

This image is SOOC. Notice several things: the image is dark, the backdrop in the left upper hand corner doesn’t go to the edge of the frame, there are little blanket snags in the right lower hand corner, skin flakes on the baby’s arm, skin is blotchy and slightly red.

Final edited image with all of the above mentioned edited. This takes TIME to do, and is the work I, and other artists want to present to the WORLD.