Would you give a client your raw image files?

[aprilm]

I have an unhappy client who is demanding the raw files of her images (I offer digital files of processed images as part of my base fee). I'm generally quite protective over my raw files, but I'm curious as to what others would do.

(I'm April, btw...I lurk occasionally, but rarely have time to post. Hello, everybody!)

 

[tirediron]

I can't envision any circumstance I would turn over RAW files unless it was negotiated and agreed upon before hand. What are the circumstances of her dissatisfaction (generally)? Is it a case where she feels she could do a better job of post, or she just wants them to have them?

 

[ksmattfish]

My contract specifically mentions that the files will be delivered as jpegs. My FAQ explains that tiffs are available for an extra charge, but that raw files are not available.

I'd be willing to negotiate ahead of time for the raw files if the client had good reason. I've shot plenty of weddings of amateur and pro photographers, and even they don't ask for the raw files.

I think you need to figure out why she wants them. Is it just because she heard they were better? Maybe it would be worth it to give them to her to get her off your back, and she can learn that jpegs are what the labs want on her own.

 

[aprilm]

She had originally requested to have a mix of processing (some in color and some in black-and-white), but when I gave her the disk, she said she had misunderstood. She thought I would give them to her all in color and let her choose which ones she wants in black-and-white.

I charge $10/image to do color conversions, but since there was a misunderstanding, I offered to do it (eta: reprocess the b&w in color) at a discount. She was upset and asked if I could just give her the raw files (which I declined) and let her do her own processing to save $$. Honestly, I just want her out of my hair, but I don't want badly edited pictures floating around with my name attached to them, you know?

And, like I said, I'm pretty protective of them to begin with. I barely let my husband see an unedited image.


(To clarify, she's not asking for RAW files...I meant "raw" as in unedited.)

 

[sarahp]

No way. I don't sell digital files, although I do sometimes "gift" the clients with web-sized files if they place a large order and even then I make it very clear that any manipulation of the files is prohibited and a violation of copyright. The only logical reason for a person to ask for RAW files is b/c they want to change them - and if you allow that you're giving up creative control. It's a deal-breaker, I think.

 

[tirediron]

(To clarify, she's not asking for RAW files...I meant "raw" as in unedited.)

But aren't your unedited files RAW?

 

[RyanLilly]

A little more background would help, but generally a raw file is an unfinished product, So I would never give it to anyone, plus the raw is the origin of any photo made from it so if any issues involving copyright were to ever come up, having the original could be important.

If you wanted to buy a painting and told the painter, that's OK I'll finish up the last few strokes. What would the painter say?

 

[aprilm]

But aren't your unedited files RAW?

:blushing: No, I shoot in jpeg for the time being.

 

[RyanLilly]

I guess I type too slow. Thanks for the backgroung. If you feel that the misunderstanding was partialy your fault, I would consider providing both the b&w and color photo, and then revising your contract to clairify what product is to be delivered.

Usualy I see people offer all inages in color, and then additional b&w conversions availible.

If this was a good client, in general I would say fix the problem. If the client was the type always expecting something for nothing, then Do what you feel protects your interests and find New/Better clients.

 

[tirediron]

:blushing: No, I shoot in jpeg for the time being.

Okay, gotcha. I would still be very hesitant to give any unfinished files to a client, but it may be worth it to get her off your back. If you did, you'd have to spell out very strictly what the terms of use were.

 

[aprilm]

If you wanted to buy a painting and told the painter, that's OK I'll finish up the last few strokes. What would the painter say?

That's a great way to put it.

Background: On the appointment request form, I have a section for processing preferences. I give clients the following options: black-and-white, color, a little of each, or custom (sepia, bronze, special effects, what have you). She put "a little of each" on the form. So I processed some black-and-white and some color, as per her instructions. After the fact, she says that she wants all of them in color, with the option to choose which ones will be processed in black-and-white. And she wants this at no extra charge. On my list of custom services, I have color conversions priced at $10 per image. I offered her a discount since there was an obvious misunderstanding, but she will only be happy for me to either (1) go back and reprocess all of the black-and-white images at no charge or (2) give her the unedited files so she can edit them herself.

 

[aprilm]

Usualy I see people offer all inages in color, and then additional b&w conversions availible.

This is what I intend to start doing.

Thanks so much for the input, guys! I feel pretty good about the way I handled it. But this was my first time dealing with a difficult client (I've been doing professional portrait photography since July). It's good to hear opinions from other photographers.

 

[LarissaPhotography]

We give our customers cds with the images too, and this has never come up for us. If it were me, I'd try to keep the customer happy. It's a little extra work, but in the end a happy customer is a referring customer.

 

[ksmattfish]

Honestly, I just want her out of my hair, but I don't want badly edited pictures floating around with my name attached to them, you know?

Did yo give her a price list or does the contract have the prices listed? If not do the BW conversion for free, get her out of your hair, and chalk it all up as a lesson learned. Next time you'll make sure this is all clear ahead of time.

 

[Sarah23]

I never, ever, ever give raw files. Very few people even SEE my unedited files.

I do sell Jpegs after a certain minimum is met from their print order, and after that each jpeg is $100 a piece. But I hate doing it, and so far no one has asked for a digital file. (even the ones who have gone far beyond the $600 minimum purchase)