jpeg vs RAW PP

Is PP in RAW much differnt than PP in jpeg? I only have a 1G CF card and debating the purchase of an additional one. I know, I know lots is better BUT I can get almost 300 jpeg on highest resolution, and only 85 in RAW. What are going to be the advantages? I have that wedding on Sat, how many pics can I expect to take?
Thanks for any help!

What you can do with either format is mostly a matter of the software you use. There are a few programs that can handle both formats, including Digital Photo Professional and Adobe Lightroom (you can download a 30 day trial for free).

The main differences from a post-processing standpoint are the exposure and white balance sliders in RAW conversion software, and the ability to copy and paste settings from one image to a whole batch.

I would suggest you do some experimenting. Take some shots in RAW+JPEG mode so you have both to work with, then play around with them in DPP. Better yet, take a few shots that are purposely underexposed, overexposed, and with the wrong white balance setting. Then see if the RAW file is easier to fix.

As far as how many pics you will take, that depends on you!

If you're a main or secondary photographer, you could expect to take 300+ photos (probably more!)

OfficeMax around here lately has had 1 GB cards for $20... they're not the fast Ultra II's or anything, but unless you're doing alot of burst shots you likely won't notice the difference.

Note that there is only so much you can do in PP of a RAW (all dependant on processing software you use.) With DPP you could correct WB, adjust exposure, reduce noise, sharpen, crop, clone/stamp for dust and the like, convert to monochrome, apply picture styles, adjust saturation, etc.

You can then either print directly from DPP, or convert to .tiff or jpeg to do further editing in photoshop (straighten the image, filter effects, layers, etc.) and/or to send images to have them printed... (labs cannot print RAW images.)

Curtis and David both give great points. I started playing around with RAW last year and I really like the benefits it provides. I have to admit that Lightroom has a lot to do with this because I really like how intuitive the program is to work with.

When I first started using RAW I was using Photoshop Elements and I could only work on one picture at a time. This process was not very efficient and I did not think RAW was worth the time.

If you have the full version of Photoshop or one of the many great RAW editing programs: Bibble, Capture One, Lightroom, Aperture (for Mac), then you may be very happy with RAW.

As far as your upcoming wedding is concerned, I agree that if you want to give RAW a try, then you should use RAW + JPEG. That way you can process the photos the way you currently do and you can play with the RAW files to see if you are happy with the difference. Unfortunately, RAW+JPEG will eat your memory card quickly.

If you don't understand why to choose one over the other you should shoot RAW. For a wedding I recommend 8GB when shooting RAW. If you're the primary photographer you should tell them to hire a professional. If you're shooting for fun and can't afford more CF shoot JPG, use white balance presets, and try to expose well.

I did spend some $$ and got a 4G at least. (and a remote) The couple were not going to have a photog at all till I suggested so there not expecting anything terribly fantastic. My composition and style is what they liked. I am usually working in a studio in a chain store and there I have to be picky and pick that exact moment, as we dont PP, so i am just good at getting what I want with the first shot, and one backup. If you meter and calibrate, and have talked with the b&G and all is known what to expect, what can be bad?

Anyway, sadly with the bill paying job, I have not had time to learn any PP yet, I have whatever program that came with my XT. Luckily, im just good. I should bite my tounge, this could be the weekend from hell!

I was just thinking if I had time to PP what was going to be the most effecient? (for me the dummy)

chloeosmom wrote in post #2868983
I did spend some $$ and got a 4G at least. (and a remote) The couple were not going to have a photog at all till I suggested so there not expecting anything terribly fantastic. My composition and style is what they liked. I am usually working in a studio in a chain store and there I have to be picky and pick that exact moment, as we dont PP, so i am just good at getting what I want with the first shot, and one backup. If you meter and calibrate, and have talked with the b&G and all is known what to expect, what can be bad?

Anyway, sadly with the bill paying job, I have not had time to learn any PP yet, I have whatever program that came with my XT. Luckily, im just good. I should bite my tounge, this could be the weekend from hell!

I was just thinking if I had time to PP what was going to be the most effecient? (for me the dummy)

If you don't have time you might suggest to the bride and groom to find a local lab that can edit the shots you take. No offence to you but PP isn't something you can just learn overnight.

I think that's a great situation for getting feet wet in Wedding photography, personally.

My niece got married last year and asked me to do her's... I actually told her she should get a professional, and made the B&G think about it for a week. They were on a tight budget, I guess, and weren't expecting anything more than snapshots... so that took the pressure off of me. But, of course, I wanted to do the best I possibly could (because if I just took snapshots, I wouldn't be happy with my own work.)

Luckily I had a couple months to read up on techniques, the basics of posing for portraits, shots to watch for, etc... but when that day came I was BUSY. Everything turned out well, but I DID make some mistakes. It was a good learning experience. But I think if you've been honest with bride and groom, and they realize you're not a pro-wedding photographer you're fine.

I had another friend that had been there ask me to do their photos for upcoming wedding, but I turned them down. I told them they should get pro. too, but I would be happy to be secondary photographer to take candids to get shots pro might not. (someone who knows the familys well can often capture great shots, as they know who are close to the bride and groom) I definately respect the pro wedding photographers after my experience! If I were to try to go into this seriously, I would find a local pro and try to work a few weddings with him.

As far as PP, I used DPP mostly (Canon's) when I did the wedding... did some with the Lightroom beta I had also. DPP worked really well for me, and was glad I shot mostly in RAW, becaue it helped me immensely with white balance for ceremony shots, also for rating images helped seperate the duds from ones I took time to process.