Good photographer who delivers RAW and will do NDA

May I add onto Jay: no photographer worth their salt will allow you to edit their files. Their edits are done for a reason and you are not allowed to edit them because it reflects the photographers work not your pretty pretty princess photos.

I get it none of you photographers like this. I also didn't ask for your opinion on this thread, and I don't need your permission. Im not quite sure what made you want to comment. I'm just asking for suggestions from brides who have had a similar thing, which I've already received one suggestion so I'd say it hasn't been a futile exercise.

There is at least one award winning wedding photographer that speaks at industry conferences that openly quotes for RAW files on their website. There is another in this range who has made a quote privately. I don't know the rules about posting names, but you should easily be able to find the first. Now, are they a perfect for us stylistically? Probably not. Do they create beautiful images? Yes. Do I still want to look at other options? Yes. It's the same reason we interviewed 14 caterers and 7 restaurants before narrowing it to 3. When you want something a little different than normal (ei RAW files, or 15 course tasting menu), your options are more limited but if you push hard enough you can find what you want. This post is simply a method of crowd sourcing some information so I don't have to contact 300 photographers.

I'll add this, Jay. If your business model works for you, and you're making a good living, that is all that matters. I'm happy for you. I understand that maybe you think you're helping explain the industry to someone, but it comes off as you trying to push an agenda and force people to do things your way. Nobody here is asking for you to shoot their wedding, and I'm perfectly fine if you don't want to give out your RAW files, but I think it is important for you to realize some people aren't going to like that, and we don't have to. Just because you do it one way, doesn't mean everyone else does it that way. You could just as easily leave these posts alone and keep doing what you're doing. Nobody is stopping you, but also nobody on this thread is asking your opinion.

Well you posted on a public forum so you're going to get opinions whether they are "asked for" or not. You could have made this thread closed to vendors although I wouldn't recommend that as the vendors usually have some of the most helpful advice.

Wait....you posted this in regards to photography and you don't think my participation in the discussion is valuable? With nearly 20 years in between photojournalism and fine art / wedding journalism in the freelance market, even some commercial, I'm simply telling you why what you are asking for is being met with resistance. You just don't want to hear the answer. Is it just because you don't like me, as well as others here btw, calling you out for your disrespect for the profession I love, and demanding behavior? As MN bride said, you don't get to choose the comments you get. Brides have told you similar things that I have, yet I seem to be striking the nerve for some reason. There are two ways to look at this. Your logic here can be seen as generous, or patronizing and controlling. If you guessed the latter, you would be right!

Fair enough. I know I can't stop people from posting their opinion. I just don't get coming on here to tell people they shouldn't get what they want. Perhaps I don't spend enough time on online forums, but I'd think it would take some stress out of their life if they didn't waste time pushing their agenda to people online who are obviously not potential clients. I would guess most people who have a specific request couldn't care less that people don't like their request. I really just want to get some more choices so I can make a decision after evaluating a full range of options. I guess I just don't understanding feeling the need to comment when they have nothing helpful to add.

Apparently just because my comments aren't what you wanted, and princess didn't get her way, I'm not helpful. I stayed exactly on point and explained why what you are asking for is taboo. You have this much disrespect for the industry I love, and is endangered because of too many imposter photographers ruining it's integrity, yes, I will chime in. If you hired one whose work during and after you liked (But no one else is smart enough to meet your standards I gather) you'd have digital files and the NDA would be worked out easily enough in most cases. And you could save a ton of money....so if you weren't so rigid, my tips could save you a ton of money and aggravation. You're welcome

Sarah, absolutely. Thanks to you and others who have to be the voice of reason here. If someone made a crappy HDR version of my photos, it doesn't fit my brand. It's not for her to do. Set up Go pros and do as you wish.

Jay, you're right about several things. I do want total control of my event. Additionally, I don't want to hear your answer if it only consists of telling me you don't like what I'm doing. You have a financial interest in telling people you're way is superior. You're free to express it, but your opinion means nothing to me.

I love my photographer. He edits the photos to be more of a fashion photo style.. He's giving us two edits, his style and a more traditional style, because he understands not everyone likes the newer look and he likes to give options for the parents. However, if I asked him for RAW files, he'd laugh. He's not just taking the photo, its his vision and art that goes into every shot. He's one of the best photographers in NYC. He didn't get that reputation by allowing people to play with his images. What if you do show people your edit and it doesn't match their brand? Don't you think it would hurt their brand? Heck, even my FH who is an amateur wouldn't give you RAW files.

If you want RAW files, go ask some random family member for them. Most pros won't do it.

Also, as someone who has discerning taste, I plan on hanging my photos. They'll hang with limited edition prints and artwork. Why? Because its my wedding. My house won't be a museum. It'll be homey. That is why I found a boutique photographer who is one of the best in NYC!

It's not my way, it's an industry standard and way to do business. You think you are the exception. BTW it's your, not you're. You're welcome. I think I need a shower now, I'm out.

Jane, what you don't understand is that this is not just a forum where only people who specifically can answer you question will post. We are a community that exchanges ideas, provides information, and tells each other when we are being unrealistic (& rude, demanding, & acting like divas - not that I am saying you are). You said yourself you don't spend much time on forums. Future brides will visit here, search for information, and stumble upon this thread. The information provided is not just for you, but for everyone in the future who choses to ask a similar question.

I knew very little about wedding photography when I joined almost a year ago. I now know what I can expect, and a few things I can insist on (but wouldn't demand, as that sets the wrong tone) when dealing with a professional photographer.

Good Luck with your search.

I specifically asked for Jay's opinion. And he has no financial interest in telling you what to do, no more than me telling a couple in Nebraska that including 12 Harry Potter quotes in a row is a bad idea. You realize we come here because we love our industry, and in a way, this is a way to pay it forward to people who need help.

Apparently you don't need help because you had two people to do this for you before you even posted. You're not finding more because this is not how photographers work. People who ask for RAW mistakenly think they are getting every single photo that the person took and they'll love more of them than edited finished products. That is rarely if ever true.

No one is pushing their agenda on you; they're telling you that what you're looking for is unreasonable and not the way photographers work, for good reason. This is like you asking me for every shitty rough draft that led up to your first finished draft of the script. People hire me because I'm good at what I do and when they try to extensively edit my work? It never works out the way we all hope. Even if they're editors or writers themselves; especially in that case. They realize that I write weddings; they do tech writing or legal briefs and those are totally different things. That's why I don't write them.

If you're not finding a lot of 'pros' willing to do this, it's because it's not done for good reason. Wedding pros are not unlike other pros; we want the work with our name on it to be our best work. It has nothing to do with being wedding-industry specifically grumpy and inflexible. I can tell you that all those gorgeous SMP style shoots and Pinterst photos the couples drool over were not edited by anyone but the person who took them.

And having "total control" over your event means you hired people with expertise and then disregarded that expertise. Apparently no one's opinions mean anything to you because you're always right. It makes for a lovely, lovely working situation and we all look forward to those clients. (Sarcasm)

@Star, if you want to tell me, who is your photog? I'm nosy ;-)

Celia, Benchwerk Photography. They are a boutique photographer. They shot my BIL and SIL's wedding and DH's best man's wedding. So sweet, so professional, and their photos are drool worthy.

@OP, I get what you are saying about wanting the raw image so you can chose the exact finished product, and not what your photographer thinks is best, and I can understand that if you are used to having uber control over everything in your professional life, it might be hard to relinquish even a tiny amount control for your wedding.

That being said, however, part of what makes a great photographer a great photographer is their ability to tell a story (as other PPs have said). No matter what photographer you end up going with who will comply with your requests, their photos will STILL tell a story, regardless of whether they edit the photos or not (simply in the photos they chose to take, which angles, etc.). The only way for you to have complete control and for each image to tell ONLY the story you want it to tell is for you to take your photos yourself. That seems a bit ridiculous doesn't it?

I say, use your very generous budget and the outstanding advice from PPs (specifically Jay), find an amazing photographer who you trust to tell the story as close to how you would tell it, and give them creative control to provide that for you. I can almost promise you that you will not be disappointed.

Erin, I appreciate your comment. I think the point is that I do want the photographers version of our story but I want our version too. I totally understand that most photographers don't want to do it this way. I'm just hoping to get some recommendations for someone willing to meet our needs.

Why don't you just find a photographer who's "story" matches yours. It shouldn't be hard...

Your needs are excessive.

I find this post fascinating. I've been following it since last night and although I knew what photographers' input would likely be, I was still curious to see how it would play out.

Jane - As a photographer, I do find this request a little bizarre and I don't agree with giving customers RAW images, but I have to say that I think you stood your ground well. A lot of people on here spew off rude comments when they're confronted with people's opinions that definitely aren't in agreement and they end up hiding/deleting their posts. You didn't do that and you kept explaining and saying what you thought in a rather respectful way, so I admire that.

Jay - I'm glad you don't completely look down on shooting in JPEG I prefer shooting JPEG for a few reasons, some of which you mentioned.

Thanks for the kind words Rachel. I'll be honest, it hasn't been easy to bite my tongue (keyboard?), but I'm new to the online forum world and would prefer to not get kicked out. That said, I do think the whole wedding world, not just photography is twisted. There is no other industry that I know of where potential clients are so disrespected and abused. It seems like the whole industry is set up to give you what they want and any different requests are met with critique and criticism. Even a simple "no, sorry, we don't do that" would be great and is what I'd expect. Like I said, I've tried to keep my cool but if corporate contractors were half as discourteous as some wedding folks I've encountered they'd be met with a big F-U and then told not to return. I guess the wedding industry gets away with it because it is usually a one time event for a bride.