Edited photographs, retouching and RAW files

Three words cause most of the confusion in photo delivery: edited, retouched and RAW. They sound like points on one scale. They are actually three separate things, and each one needs to be agreed on its own.

What does "edited" mean?

An edited photograph is one that has been adjusted after capture so that it looks right. Typical adjustments include brightness, contrast, colour balance, straightening and cropping. The aim is a natural result that matches what people remember seeing.

Editing is applied to the selected photographs, not to every frame the camera recorded. A set is also matched, so the first photograph and the last look as if they belong together. That is usually what people mean when they ask for "finished" photographs.

What does "retouching" mean?

Retouching changes details inside the picture. Examples are removing a stray object, softening a mark on skin or tidying a background. It takes more time per photograph than ordinary editing, and it involves judgement about what should be changed.

Retouching is not automatically part of editing. Ask us whether a specific change can be included. We confirm it in writing for your event. Our page on what retouching can and cannot change explains how to set limits. If you plan to change photographs yourself later, see cropping, retouching and modifying photographs after delivery.

What is a RAW file?

A RAW file is the unprocessed record from the camera. It holds more information than a finished photograph, which is why some people want it. It does not look finished when opened, and it needs suitable software to view and edit.

RAW files are not automatically included in a delivery. Do not assume they are, and do not assume they are not. Ask what the agreement says. If you want them, say why. The reason affects the answer, because a file made for editing is handled differently from a file made for sharing.

How do the three compare?

Item	What it is	Who uses it	Assumed in a delivery?
Edited photograph	Selected, adjusted, ready to use	Almost everyone	Check the agreement
Retouched photograph	Edited, with changes inside the picture	People who need a specific finish	No, ask
RAW file	Unprocessed camera data	People who edit their own files	No, ask

Why is not every camera file delivered?

A camera records far more frames than any gallery needs. Many are near-duplicates, test shots or frames with a blink or a blur. Delivering the selected set saves you time. It is also why a gallery is a considered product and not a copy of the memory card.

If you want to understand how those choices are made, read how photographs are selected for the delivered gallery. If a particular frame is missing from your gallery, raise it through the delivery contact, with the moment and the time.

A worked example

For example, imagine a family hosting a 60th birthday dinner. Several photographs show a harsh shadow across a relative's face, and one has a bright exit sign behind the cake.

The family would expect ordinary editing to balance the light. They might ask whether the exit sign can be reduced. That is a retouching question, so they would ask it before the event, in the brief, and again when reviewing the gallery. They would not need RAW files, because they do not plan to edit. They would ask for the finished set in a format suited to printing, and note it in the agreement.

What should you write in the brief?

Keep it short and specific.

• The look you prefer: natural, bright, warm or dark.
• Any retouching you expect, and any you do not want.
• Whether you intend to edit photographs yourself.
• The final use: print, screen or both.

Our photography style preference brief helps you describe a look in plain terms. For the full set of delivery decisions, return to event photo delivery, editing and preservation. Check the finished set with the photo delivery acceptance checklist.