Weddings. Do you give customers the RAWs ??

chris_holtmeier - I stand corrected

I think my main objection to releasing RAWs comes me getting my start in the film days. Before digital no photographer would part with negatives. It just wasn't done and for my mentors it wasn't even open to discussion. They were the only way to make more prints and prints were what you sold. Selling the negatives meant you could never sell more prints from those negatives again because they were gone. If you wanted negatives you would be paying a lot.

Times have changed but I see RAWs as my negatives. True, I can make as many copies as I want and that wasn't true in the film days. RAWs are no longer the only source of prints and prints are not even valued like they once were. Maybe I am stuck in the past but I feel like I am providing a service of delivering a final product. I like to think I have the tools and experience to bring an image out of a raw file much better than the customer could and it is what I am getting paid to do. If I was a sculptor I would not deliver a statue with an extra block of stone for the customer to make their own edits. Maybe that's my problem; I see myself as an artist.

Blaster6 wrote in post #16682392
I see myself as an artist.

That is where we differ I see myself as a businessman.

Blaster6 wrote in post #16682392
Times have changed but I see RAWs as my negatives.

I feel exactly the same as you. While I would part with negatives, and did, it was only after the five-year mark that I would give them up.

In parting with RAW images, I'm losing something. I'm losing potential revenue (hence the higher cost) and I'm losing some semblance of control over the images.

memoriesoftomorrow wrote in post #16682528
That is where we differ I see myself as a businessman.

It is unfortunate you can't be both. Are you sure you don't have a talent for anything other than collecting money?

I think my talent as an artist allows me to be in business and my business skill allows me to continue practicing my art. Customers who demand RAWs are typically bottom feeders and by turning them away you tend to increase the value of your work.

I interviewed a potential client last month who told me another photographer offered all RAW files on a DVD and the total package price was less than mine. She was convinced she needed them until after I explained I only offer finished products and I have too much pride in my work to provide the customer with unfinished product.

Maybe me holding firm as an artist was a bad business move but I had a deposit check in my hand when they left. My competition guaranteed to undercut any other offer and provide all files. I offered prints & canvas ready to hang. I also offered a CD with JPGs for online use and retouched hi-res versions of of every purchased print.

Blaster6 wrote in post #16683436
It is unfortunate you can't be both. Are you sure you don't have a talent for anything other than collecting money?

I may produce "art" however my primary motivation for having a business is that the business makes money.

Blaster6 wrote in post #16683436
I think my talent as an artist allows me to be in business and my business skill allows me to continue practicing my art.

I get just as much satisfaction by improving my efficiency or customer service. I've never really practised my photography a great deal at all. I pretty much only pick up a camera if working most of the time.

Blaster6 wrote in post #16683436
Customers who demand RAWs are typically bottom feeders and by turning them away you tend to increase the value of your work.

They don't "demand" it is an option they can buy. I "demand" (require) money if they want the raw files. I determine what I sell and what price I sell it at. Personally I've never had a client "demand" anything be included. Consumers can only buy what I choose to sell. FWIW my average client spend is a quite a reasonable figure which has increased at an average rate of 9% every single year I've been in business.

Blaster6 wrote in post #16683436
I interviewed a potential client last month who told me another photographer offered all RAW files on a DVD and the total package price was less than mine. She was convinced she needed them until after I explained I only offer finished products and I have too much pride in my work to provide the customer with unfinished product.

^^^ This is a price shopper. Coming to you with questions of price rather than focusing on your art.

Blaster6 wrote in post #16683436
My competition guaranteed to undercut any other offer and provide all files. I offered prints & canvas ready to hang. I also offered a CD with JPGs for online use and retouched hi-res versions of of every purchased print.

You see this is also where we'd differ... I don't sell to people as such. I have a package available. If they want it they can buy it and any available options. I don't add things in at a meeting to get business.

From what you've said it leads me to believe the type of enquirer you are attracting... If you take a step back and think about it they are not first and foremost buying your art... they are trying to get the best deal they can.

For the right price I will sell the raws and anything else. Never say no to a client. Give them the price you are comfortable with.
wedding image

Nick_Reading.UK wrote in post #16666455
Weddings. Do you give customers the RAWs ??

Never give away your raws. Being a computer tech I know probably 80% of people won't know how to open them anyways

themugman wrote in post #16694797
Never give away your raws. Being a computer tech I know probably 80% of people won't know how to open them anyways

Which means 20% of them will... and a portion of that 20% will want to buy them.