Blog · October 28, 2026

Should photographers give clients raw files?

“Can we just get all the raw files? We’d like to have everything.” The set is 1,400 frames and you delivered 120.

It’s your call. Nothing obliges you to unless your contract does. When a client asks, find out what they want the raws for and answer that: more photos, the freedom to edit and a backup each have a better answer than a folder of .CR3 files they can’t open. If you do hand them over, the price and what they can do with the files go in the contract.

By Vitaly Kibenko

What they usually mean.

“We want more photos”
They liked the set and want frames you left out. Show a wider selection and let them pick, or sell an extended set.
“We want to edit them ourselves”
Fair for some clients, risky for your name. If you agree, ask that edits you didn’t make go out without your credit.
“We want everything, just in case”
They’re worried about losing them. Full-size finals and a clear line on how long you keep the files answer that better.
“Our retoucher needs them”
An agency or brand with its own post team. Then the raws are the job, and how to share raw photos with a client covers it.

If you say yes.

Put three things in writing: the price, which frames (all of them or a selection), and what your client can do with them. The photography contract template keeps the copyright with you; add a line for raws if you sell them. Nothing says you have to include them.

Let them choose from previews first.

Upload the raws to DropYourFiles as they are. Your client sees a preview of each one in the browser, no raw software needed, and hearts the frames they want. You hand over those, not 1,400 files.

After approval your client downloads the raw file itself (Original) or a JPG of each (Web size), so the person who asked “what’s a .CR3?” still gets something they can open.

Questions.

Do photographers have to give clients raw files?

No. Whether raws are included is up to your contract: you can leave them out, include them, or sell them separately.

How much do photographers charge for raw files?

There’s no standard. Price the edit you’re giving up and the extra support you’ll get asked for, and add it to the contract before you send anything.

Can a client open raw files?

Usually not without editing software. On DropYourFiles they see a preview of each raw in the browser and can download a JPG instead.

Keep reading.

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