Every now and again, I’m asked whether clients can have all the RAW files from their photoshoot. It’s a completely understandable question — when you’ve invested in a special session, whether it’s your newborn’s first portraits, a maternity session, or your baby’s cake smash, you naturally want to keep every little moment.
So I thought I’d share a little more about how I work, what a RAW file actually is, and why I don’t provide them as part of any package.
A RAW file is simply the starting point — a digital negative that still needs professional editing to bring it to life. Think of it like a recipe before it’s baked, or a sketch before the final artwork is added. It’s the foundation, not the finished photograph.
On their own, RAW files don’t represent my style, my colour palette, or the timeless look that clients come to me for. They also require specialist software to open and can look quite flat or dull before the editing process works its magic.
During every session, I take hundreds of frames — more than you would ever want to look through! Part of my job is to curate the very best moments: the softest expressions, the most flattering angles, the tiny details, and the natural, heartfelt connections that tell your story.
I remove any duplicates, blinks, or test shots, leaving you with a beautifully refined gallery of your strongest images. This means you only see the moments that truly matter.
Editing is where your gallery really comes alive. This is when I gently polish each chosen image: perfecting skin tones, softening backgrounds, enhancing light, and creating that warm, natural, timeless feel that you see across my portfolio.
This level of care is part of the service you’re investing in — every final image is hand-edited with love and attention so you receive artwork you’ll be proud to display in your home.
I completely understand wanting more than the number included in your chosen package. Once you’ve seen your gallery, you’re more than welcome to add extra edited images, upgrade to a larger collection, or order beautiful framed prints and wall art to showcase your favourites.
You’ll never miss out on the moments you love.
To keep everything beautifully consistent and true to my style, I only deliver fully edited images rather than RAW files. But rest assured — your gallery will include a lovely variety of the very best photographs from your session, curated with care and finished to the highest standard.
If you ever have questions about how the process works or what to expect, I’m always happy to chat.
