First, What Even Is a RAW File?
A RAW file is the uncompressed, unedited version of a photo straight out of the camera. Think of it as the digital negative. It hasn’t been sharpened, coloured, balanced, or corrected—it’s simply data. On its own, it’s flat, grey, and lifeless. You can’t print it, post it, or even open it on your phone and they are way too large to store.
It’s simply not meant to be seen.
RAW files require specialist editing software that only wedding photographer professionals use. And even with access to the software, it’s the editing skill and visual direction that turns a RAW file into a finished photograph. Ontop of that additional software is required to deliver them, store, etc etc.
Why Don’t Photographers Deliver RAW Files?
Because they’re not the final product you hired us for.
RAW files are not reflective of the edit style, quality, or brand experience you see when you book a luxury wedding photographer.
It’s like sitting down at a restaurant asking a chef for just the ingredients or going into a designer dress store and asking a couture dress designer for the fabric and thread—without trusting them to create the final masterpiece. Without the professional behind it, it’s just stuff, not art. So its no different. A professional wedding photographer doesn’t send RAWs. Period.
Here’s why:
1. RAW Files Are Incomplete
They’re the start of the process, our shooting style—not the result. The rich tones, glowing skin, and intentional edit style you see in your favourite photographers portfolios? That happens in the editing room. Photographers are one of few who spend more time in post production than pre wedding. I myself spend at-least 25+ hours per wedding editing it and most photographers I know have a very similar time frame. A RAW image is an image un-complete.
2. They Require Special Software
You can’t open or use them without professional tools. RAW files won’t open and aren’t usable. They’re designed for internal use to progress to the next stages post wedding —by the artist, not the client.
3. They Cannot Be Printed or Shared
Because they’re uncompressed, RAW files are too large for printing. Trying to post one online or use it in an album isn’t possible. When photographers edit your wedding photos – in the edit style you booked us for. This also means we compress them into the correct file type for printing, and social media. Back them up, they will be able to be stored, and uploaded into our photo delivery software so when you receive your final gallery all you need to do is open them, enjoy, and download them to keep forever.
4. Editing Finished Photos Damages the Work
Applying filters or editing your final images on top of professional edits doesn’t just diminish the look—it actively degrades the file. The result is often pixelated, unnatural, or low-quality. It’s the same as screenshotting your gallery instead of downloading: it strips away the sharpness and magic you paid for and is another couple of ways that shows you have disrespected your photographer and probably not hired the right one for you.
5. It Signals a Lack of Trust
Let’s be honest—asking for the RAWs is simply telling your photographer you don’t trust their edit style. Are they cheap? Do they seem good to be true? Is there editing style inconsistent? And if that’s the case, they are not the right for you. When you have the right photographer you won’t be asking for these things.
When photographers do provide RAWs, it’s almost always under a meeting and lawyer drafted contract and at a significantly higher cost—often far more than the original wedding photography package. Why? Because RAWs are not a deliverable. They’re the intellectual property and creative groundwork of the photographer and with that a representation of their brand, etc.
So, What Should You Expect?
You’ll receive a beautifully curated, high-resolution, low- resolution, fully edited collection—ready for printing, social media sharing, and celebrating. My job is to do my job and give you the final images that look exactly how your wedding felt: timeless, elegant, and deeply you two and your story together.
You don’t need the raw files with the right photographer for you. You need the final result—artfully created and stress-free without spending thousands and thousands in education and software to access them. Your photographer – the right one has got that all handled for you.
Final Thought
You’ve chosen your photographer with care, trust them. Trust their editing. Trust their process. And trust that the images you receive are finished works of art.
Enquire
Looking for a photographer whose style you’ll love? Let’s talk about turning your wedding into art—from beginning to beautiful end. Enquire here or browse my portfolio on my website to see what storytelling with intention really looks like in its final result.
