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10/10/2009 05:17:06 AM · #1 |
This Thread has some discussion on this issue.
I live in Japan and I speak Japanese. However, I don't speak Japanese well enough to make my case against WHY photographers don't give the RAW files to the couple of a wedding. I'm wondering if someone could explain it as though they explained it to a client of theirs as to WHY photographers don't do this. The weddings I've done thus far have been for friends and nobody has asked for rights. However, next year I have 8 weddings scheduled (Not my real job, as much as I'd like it to be) and wondered how I would approach this topic in a way that wouldn't upset the client. How do you approach this? |
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10/10/2009 08:28:27 AM · #2 |
I am NOT a wedding photog but .... would you not build that into your pricing? If the couple want the RAW files then why not? You charge them accordingly. As a non wedding photog I've seen a lot of discussion that photogs should never give the original (raw or jpg's) to the couple, if you build that into your pricing structure then why not?
I realise you would want to give them some prints so you are in control of how they should look when printed to avoid complaints when they have them printed on a cheap printer but if they want the originals (obviously after the not so good ones have been removed) then why not? You don't have give them all rights, but if they want all rights then again, would you not just charge them accordingly based on something like what you would make from selling prints yourself?
ps. I'm not trying to be awkward I am genuinely interested in other peoples views on this |
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10/10/2009 08:42:48 AM · #3 |
I can think of two good reasons not to give RAW files. First, as the last post mentioned, is to control the quality of the prints - you don't want someone to print your lovely wedding photos at a cheap pharmacy, and then show the around. Most non-photographers think if the print looks bad, then the photo was bad, and suddenly you have a negative reputation that you don't deserve.
Second, a client with Picassa and the JPEG files can do damage enough "editing" your edited files. Imagine the damage they can do with the RAW files - again, your reputation on the line. But this is where it gets me - most people wouldn't even know how to print a RAW file, or even have the software to work with them. So I find it odd that they'd want them.
If you are going to sell files, I'd only sell JPEGs. And you have to realize that all the income you'd get from prints - from the bride and both families - is gone the moment you hand them the disk. So whatever you charge her for the files needs to cover the income you're losing on print sales - which is typically several hundred dollars.
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10/10/2009 08:57:09 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by heavyj:
WHY photographers don't give the RAW files |
Just thin it down to this.
You don't give/sell your RAW files.
Period. NOT negotiable.
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