Are You Afraid of Photographing in Raw? Don’t Be, It’s Easier Than You Think

Some beginning photographers keep on shooting in JPEG because of one reason. They’re a bit of afraid of the raw file format. But shooting in raw is easier than you think. If you want to start photographing in raw but you don’t know how, I’ll show you how it’s done.

If you are already photographing in the raw file format, this article is not intended for you. It’s intended as a simple guide for the beginning photographer that still uses in-camera JPEG because of one reason: the idea that the raw file format is difficult to use.

The idea is understandable. After all, a raw file is the raw sensor data that has to be edited before it can be used. This implies a difficult workflow and a lot of knowledge that’s beyond the beginning photographer.

This is not true, of course. Everyone can photograph in raw without any issues. Raw editing software is doing the difficult part for you. In this article, I want to show in five simple steps how to start with the raw file format. If you’re already experienced with the raw workflow, feel free to add any advice in the comments below, to make it easy for everyone to shoot in raw.

JPEG Is not Wrong

Before we start, you should know photographing in jpeg is not wrong. The software that camera manufacturers have installed in the camera is very sophisticated. This means the jpeg out of the camera can be just as good compared to a manually edited raw file. 

The most important difference is the ability to take advantage of the maximum dynamic range of the camera. It means you can correct the image in post by correcting exposure or lifting shadows. There is also the benefit of changing the color balance if needed.

If you correct a JPEG image the same way as a raw, the quality will deteriorate very quickly. That doesn’t mean you can’t do any post-processing on a JPEG image; you just can’t go as far.

Shooting JPEG can be a choice. If you’re happy with JPEGs from the camera, there is perhaps less reason to change to the raw file format. But if you’re running into some issues concerning exposure and dynamic range, it might be a good choice to step into the world of raw.

Things to Consider

There are a few important things to keep in mind. Raw files are larger files. This means you need more memory to store the images, especially if you decide to shoot both raw and JPEG. 

You also have to realize that you need to use a raw file editor before you can use the photo. It allows you to edit or correct the image if needed. You have to export the raw file as a JPEG in order to use it on social media, for sending it to a print shop, or to share it with others.

You can use Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, Capture One, ON1, Affinity Photo, Luminar, or one of the many others that are available. Camera manufacturers also have dedicated raw editing software that you can use.  

Step 1: Set Your Camera to the Raw File Format

The first step is to set your camera to the raw file format. Every camera brand has its own file extension. Nikon raw files are called NEF, Sony ARW, Canon CR2 or CR3, Olympus ORF, Panasonic RW2, and sometimes, it can be a DNG file. No matter what extension these files have, they're all raw files.

Sometimes, a camera offers different kinds of raw files, like compressed or uncompressed. Most of the time, compressed raw files are perfect to start with. If necessary, you can always change the setting later.

If you’re not certain about the raw file workflow, it is always possible to record both raw and JPEG. But eventually, only a raw file should be enough, unless there's for a special purpose for the extra JPEG.

Step 2: Photograph Everything as Usual

This is an important step. A lot of starting photographers think they need to do something totally different when photographing in the raw file format. This is not the case. There is almost no difference between photographing in raw or JPEG.

If you’re fond of shooting in manual, keep shooting in manual. If you shoot in aperture priority or shutter priority, keep on doing so. Just keep in mind the loss of some in-camera setting that are only for the JPEG file format.

A good example is the HDR setting, which is often available when shooting in JPEG. Most cameras don’t offer that setting with raw. But that’s when the benefit of the raw file format comes in. You can use the ability to lift shadows in post-processing. Or you can make your own HDR by shooting bracketed exposures.

Step 3: Open Your Images in Editing Software

Raw files often can be viewed from within Windows Explorer or Apple Finder. But some editing is needed in order to use the image for regular purposes. That’s why you have to import your images into editing software first. As said, there are many different brands of software available, but these will all allow the basic editing needed for a raw file.

If you’re not sure which software you will like the most, just download a trial and use it during the trial period. In case you’re not familiar with it, for this article, I used software made by Adobe called Lightroom Classic. It has its benefits and its downsides, just like all the other ones available.

Step 4: A Simple Edit if Needed

This is where the strength of raw editing comes in. You can adjust the exposure, contrast, color, and much more. But you’re not obligated to do so. All raw editing software will read the settings of the camera in the information stored within the raw file. This way, the image you see on screen will look almost the same as it did on your camera LCD screen.

If the appearance of the image is the way you like it, just go to step five. If you see something you want to change, change it with the tools that are available. Make it lighter or darker. Add color saturation or reduce the saturation. If you become familiar with the possibilities, you can perform both global and local adjustments. But don’t worry about that if you’re just starting. Only the basic tweaks can be enough to make a difference.

The beauty of raw editing software is the ability to change everything without changing the raw file itself. This is called non-destructive editing. As long as you don’t delete the raw file, you can always return to the original image, even when you’ve totally screwed up the editing. Just reset the editing and start over.

Step 5: Export to a JPEG

This is the final step to do. You need to make a JPEG image from the raw file in order to use it online, on social media, or if you want to send it to friends and family.

Since the raw file won’t be affected, you can export as many JPEG files as needed, each with a different edit or in a different size. You can save these JPEG images next to the raw file. If you decide to change the edit at a later stage, just open the raw file again and make the changes.

Just remember, use the sRGB color space when exporting a JPEG image. Often, this is done automatically when exporting a JPEG, but it might be wise to check it. If it’s not a sRGB color space, the image can have strange colors after the export.

Keep the Raw File Safe

After you’ve exported the raw files as JPEG images, don’t throw the raw files away. These are the original files, which can be used over and over again. If something happens to the exported JPEG images, you have the originals.

There is absolutely no need to be afraid of the raw file format. You won’t have to do some difficult editing. But don't be afraid to try things out. Nothing can go wrong with the image, since a simple reset is enough to go back to the original.

If it turns out you don’t like shooting in raw and you don’t feel the need for editing the image yourself, just go back to shooting in JPEG. As said, it’s not wrong. It’s a choice. I want to ask to all the experienced raw shooters if you have any addition for the beginning raw photographer. Feel free to add the advice in the comments below.