A gentle guide : 6 common request to avoid asking your photog and why?
When you hire a professional photographer, you're paying for their creativity, expertise, and unique vision. However, there are certain requests that can disrupt their process or diminish the quality of your photos. Here are five things you should never ask your photographer, including why you shouldn't ask for raw images.
Here’s why:
# 1. Raw Images Are Incomplete
Raw images are the digital equivalent of a film negative. They contain all the information captured by the camera’s sensor, but they’re unfinished products. These files are unprocessed and lack the color, sharpness, and detail that bring a photograph to life. When you see a photographer's portfolio, you're seeing the final product—the image that has been carefully edited and retouched to reflect their artistic vision. Asking for raw images is like asking a painter for their sketches instead of the completed painting.
Raw photo
Edited Photo
# 2. All of the Unedited Photos
It might seem tempting to ask for every single photo taken during your shoot, but this request is often impractical. Photographers typically take hundreds or even thousands of shots during a session, many of which are duplicates, test shots, or images where someone blinked or moved at the wrong moment. The selection process is a critical part of a photographer’s workflow, ensuring that only the best images—those that truly capture the essence of the moment—are delivered to you. Asking for all unedited photos can overwhelm you with choices and dilute the quality of your final gallery.
# 3. Major Edits or Retouching Requests After Delivery
Once you receive your edited photos, it’s best to avoid asking for significant changes, like completely altering backgrounds, removing people, or drastically changing someone’s appearance. These kinds of edits are time-consuming and can sometimes compromise the integrity of the image. Photographers strive to deliver images that represent their best work, and too many alterations can detract from the final product. If you have specific requests, it’s best to discuss them before or during the editing phase, not after the images are delivered.
Raw photo
edited photo
# 4. Replicating Another Photographer’s Style
Each photographer has a unique style, which is likely what attracted you to them in the first place. Asking your photographer to replicate someone else’s work can stifle their creativity and lead to disappointing results. Instead, embrace your photographer’s style and trust their ability to create something special that reflects their artistic vision. If you find yourself drawn to a different style, it may be worth reconsidering your choice of photographer before the session begins.
# 5. Last-Minute Changes to the Schedule
Photographers often plan their shoots around specific lighting conditions, locations, and timelines. Making last-minute changes to the schedule can disrupt this carefully crafted plan and may result in less-than-ideal photos. Whether it’s a change in location, timing, or the number of people involved, it’s essential to communicate any adjustments well in advance. This allows your photographer to adapt and still deliver the high-quality images you’re expecting.
# 6. Steep Discounts or Free Work
While it’s natural to be budget-conscious, asking your photographer for a steep discount or free work can be uncomfortable and disrespectful to their profession. Photography is a skill that takes years to master, and the pricing reflects the time, effort, and expertise that go into creating beautiful images. Negotiating a fair rate is acceptable, but asking for significant price reductions or free services undermines the value of the photographer’s work. Instead, focus on finding a photographer whose pricing fits within your budget, or be upfront about your financial constraints from the beginning.
Your photographer is an artist and a professional, dedicated to capturing your moments in a way that reflects both their style and your personality. By avoiding these common pitfalls—like asking for raw images or all unedited photos, making last-minute schedule changes, or requesting major edits after delivery—you’ll not only make the experience smoother but also ensure that the final images are everything you hoped for and more. Trust in their expertise, respect their process, and you’ll be rewarded with stunning photos that you’ll cherish for years to come.
