My wife recently got into photography and has completed more than a few sessions.
However recently she has a client complete a session, love the pictures, then request the unedited photos. The client claims that there are shadows and dark spaces in the photos. Basically they’re not happy it seems. Should she give them the unedited photos? Everything I can find shows that she shouldn’t. So should she redo them even though they were happy initially?
Coming from a client perspective, sounds like our photographer was in a very similar boat with relation to experience. I was somewhat happy with a handful of his edited photos, but I could tell the majority were over edited and to the point they no longer reflected the colors in real life. I believe our photographer used one filter through Lightroom to edit all photos regardless of what they looked like, since he was inexperienced many of them had issues. I feel fortunate that he shared some of the unedited, albeit lower resolution photos with us, since I actually have a degree relating to design. I would have been just as happy if he would have been willing to work with us on changing the editing, but he had deleted the original photos and was unable to fix the edits he made.
If your wife still has the originals, perhaps the client could clarify which photos they would like to see changed. Otherwise I’d recommend she take some classes or watch some tutorials online for good ways to edit photos. I believe a good photographer will want to build good relationships with their clients, since it seems like a lot of the business is word of mouth.
If your wife did decide to give the client unedited photos and edit them themselves, at least they’d be happy. Happy clients with photos they like would be better than unhappy clients with photos they don’t like.
Never give unedited photos
That’s like giving a child Leonardo Divinci’s art set
How many revisions did you have in the contract? If you’re gonna give raws definitely charge for them
Never give out RAW files imo. They could horribly edit them and make you look bad. Well, they can do that with jpegs too, but to a lesser degree before it all breaks down.
I always say: “Asking for RAW files is going to your favorite restaurant, asking the chef to just prep the ingredients but not cook them but put them in a doggy bag so you can cook them at home while paying double for the privilege.For one thing, an edited jpg is going to look far worse and effectively do the same thing to your reputation. I’ve heard a lot of defenses for this argument but this may be the most irrational.
Secondly, a lot of issues with that analogy, mostly around the implication that the bulk work and skill is found in the edit. But do you genuinely think a chef would scoff at this request? If a customer wants to pay 10x price to do the work for themselves why would they give a shit?
Clients pay for the skill and knowledge, they pay for the pictures. RAWs are a direct product of that payment and should be the property of the client if they desire.
Are there shadows and dark spaces?
Everyone’s answer is always don’t give out those files, the biggest rationale for that is a fear that they are going to edit those pics poorly and that will ruin your reputation. How often that really happens is questionable, but it is an understandable reason.
But… if your wife “recently got into photography” she’s probably still learning. She may have a great eye but not be good at lighting or editing. So her first step should be listen to the complaint and try to rectify it. Give them a new edit. Talk to a more experienced photography whose skills she trusts and ask for help.
Are they bad shadows or just darker areas? Either way, don’t give out unedited photos. Offer to re-edit BUT only if it’s a reasonable request. Of course there’s going to be shadows, otherwise everything would be really flat. Btw since she just started, be aware that there are people that will complain and complain about pictures in the hope of getting a refund and basically a free shoot.
For “personal use” clients, I feel the “don’t give our RAWs” mantra is a holdover from not giving people original negatives. That was your only copy - so there is a good reason not to.
In the age of digital just make a copy and move along.
Ruining reputations is a bit of a red herring too - no one of any significant following is going to edit your RAWs badly AND credit you as the photographer AND lose you any business that you’d value.
Another commenter likens it to a chef just prepping the food - but that service exists. It’s called a supermarket. You can buy all the same ingredients and do whatever you like at home. There are no chefs complaining about you making your own beef stew at home ruining their reputation.
For business customers where there are different rates for different uses and licensing agreements etc - absolutely don’t part with your RAWs. But for a quick Karen + Kids photoshoot, or a wedding, save yourself the hassle and just give them what they ask for.
(You could price is differently - all photos + RAWS is $500, 5 of my “best edits” is $400)
She should try editing the images to meet the clients feedback, but should also just deliver the raw files for free. Often clients will try and fail to do a better job editing, and will appreciate the photographer’s work more.
Everything is for sale…for a price