Weddings and RAW files

[peeker]

I have an opportunity where the bride wants to have the RAW files as the final output on a DVD. Most times when I am asked about giving RAW files, the b/g don't understand that RAW is an un-processed image. In this case, she does and wants to process her own.

So have you & would you sell RAW images from a wedding?

[janetg]

no

[r_kasmir]

no

[Noe]

If she understands what they are, you retain copyright and the price is right I would. I would also have some kind of agreement that states that she cannot ask for any kind of refund or claim she is not happy based on the raw and un-processed images. If you can sell them for about the average money you sell in prints from a customer, then why not?

[janetg]

noe, the why nots are endless.

the most important being...i take that raw photo - and process it with my vision in mind. if she wants to have photos with HER vision in mind, she can pick up a camera and take them herself.

[groovyone]

I agree with the others. No way.

If it was for a friend who wanted some editing practice or something I'd consider it, but otherwise no way.

[mmuhlenkamp]

For the right price I don't think it's unreasonable. It's a little hard to shoot pictures at your own wedding, I could see myself wanting to do something similar. You can still do edits and export the RAW with some processing that will be seen by an editing program and then she could tweak it from there. I'm a graphic designer and could see myself wanting to set up my own wedding album and whatnot and processing images might come with that, though I would probably be fine with just adjusting JPG files provided rather than RAW.

I can also completely understand not selling the RAW images because you are selling YOUR vision and she should be hiring you because she likes your work.

Maybe you can ask to see what she does and you can come to an agreement so that you don't have to be worried about seeing your photos of her wedding with selective color and photoshop lens flare

[Tom]

Not a chance. You book me for my finished product. You don't hire a baker to get his flour and water.

[WarrenG]

Well said by Thomas and Janet. I will not go so far as to say NEVER! If they want to give me say $25k for raw images, they can turn them into Mickey Mouse if they want. But in all seriousness, I have turned down weddings just because of this... client is a graphic designer and has photoshop and could process themselves etc, etc, etc. I always explain that wehn I take a picture I take it knowing what the final image will look like in my mind, based on the way that I process images. Therefore you may not understand why I took some pictures the way I did.

[lscottpht]

No, wouldn't do it. I did it once, but they were professional photogs and editors, and I wanted to keep them happy. It was the right thing to do in that case, but I won't be doing it ever again.

wehn I take a picture I take it knowing what the final image will look like in my mind, based on the way that I process images. Therefore you may not understand why I took some pictures the way I did.

I am the same way!

[BenE]

I do not. However, I do not give or sell a DVD with all the images either. I don't see much difference in selling raw images and high resolution jpgs or tiffs.

[Jake]

Yep, for the right price.

[brad]

Originally Posted by WarrenG

Well said by Thomas and Janet. I will not go so far as to say NEVER! If they want to give me say $25k for raw images, they can turn them into Mickey Mouse if they want. But in all seriousness, I have turned down weddings just because of this... client is a graphic designer and has photoshop and could process themselves etc, etc, etc. I always explain that wehn I take a picture I take it knowing what the final image will look like in my mind, based on the way that I process images. Therefore you may not understand why I took some pictures the way I did.

Originally Posted by thejakestir

Yep, for the right price.

Agreed. Anything's for sale for the right price. Even if they want the full copyright to them.. and understand that's what it means. For the right price.

I have sold RAW files once.. but it was another photographer who I knew well and knew he wanted them because he was a control freak that wanted to put together his own album. (Love ya, Wil. )

[texkam]

What would it cost for you to give up your creative freedom and artistic vision and essentially become just an employee? When my sister shoots the KY Derby she will choose to hand over her SOOC images to her boss (the AP). Many may feel something like a wedding is different. Choose what makes you comfortable.

[bthompson]

No, I wouldn't. If my name is attached to something, I want it to really represent me. I had a 'photographer' inquire with me once, saying she wanted all the RAWs, Even if we had come to an agreement about price (which there was no way), I sure don't want my images to have selective color and white vignettes. :|