As a client, you might want the raw files for several reasons. Maybe the photographer’s editing prices are too high for you or you just want every shot that was taken just because. It might seem a bit harsh and probably a bit uncomfortable to be rejected like this, but it’s important for you, as a client, to understand why.

When you’re entering a client-photographer professional relationship, keep in mind the most important thing throughout the whole process: trust.

Why You Can’t Get The Rest of The Photos

1. Photographers handpick the best shots that accurately represent you or your company.

Professional photographers have a keen eye for detail. They know what looks good and what doesn’t, what works in a certain environment and what doesn’t. They hand-pick the best photos from the shoot — whichever ones accurately represent you, your brand, your company. There wouldn’t be any reason for them to edit bad photos of you. They know what photos look the best. You have the vision, but they make it happen.

2. What you pay is what you get.

There’s a reason why you have a signed and agreed contract between you and your photographer. You paid for x amount of photos and edits and anything more or less should be discussed and adjusted within the contract. If you ask for more photos, expect that you’re going to have to pay more for them – a photographer won’t just give them to you for free!

Related: Hiring A Photographer Is The Best Investment You’ll Ever Make

3. You’ll ruin the magic of our art!

It sounds cheesy, but it’s true. Along with taking the photos, they edit them meticulously. Their editing process is an artistic one. They know how to use Photoshop and retouching and how to edit two photos to make one, beautiful image. Here’s a fun example of what photographers can do:

Seriously, don’t ask for unedited photos if you’re just going to throw an iPhone filter on it – it makes them look bad as if they didn’t do their job. Don’t ask for the RAW files unless you really want to ruin the magic of their craft.

|￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣|
clients who ask for
RAW files should shoot
the images themselves
|＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿|
\ (•◡•) /
\ /
—
| |

— The H Hub (@theH_collective) September 18, 2019

–

The photographer you’re working with is a creative professional who knows how to make something extraordinary. Asking for the rest of the photos is like revealing what’s behind the curtain and that’s no fun. You have to trust the photographer you hired. That’s partially what you’re agreeing to in a photographer-client relationship, don’t you think?