Raw Images and Not Being Happy With Wedding Photos

I don’t know any photographer that is willing to give raw images to clients. You can certainly ask if they have more of a certain photo or group, but I don’t think they’ll give you raw images even if you ask.

When we did our engagement photos i asked my photographer who is also a good friend of mine if he could come over and i could essentially “show him the photos i want” so he doesnt have to edit 200 just to have it be one i dont even really like. he did this and it was fine but i could tell he was off about it like it mightve offended him or something so i wouldnt advise it. Then he let me know for our wedding hes not going to do that.
but to be fair the picture he thought id like the best was one of my least fav pics of the entire group. And he does always say he hates wasting his time on pics sometimes. So i was trying to do us both the favor, but again i dont think it sat well with him.

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Yeah, I don't think he will just give me the raw images. I wasn't thinking when I asked that question (oops). But, I paid a lot for the photos (as I'm sure a lot of brides do) and I would just hope he would understand where I was going from, you know? I don't want him to waste his time on any photos and then have to edit more. I just want to clear it up now.

I would just ask him. In my case I am getting the raw images (as he's not editing all of them). He said if there were some I wish he had edited then he'll do some more for me.

My photographer gave me all 2200 pictures they took throughout the day, raw, and then I got 500 of those edited. They use their professional eye to pick roughly 400 of the best to edit, and then I had 100 to choose myself for editing, from all 2200 photos. It was all expressly laid out in their contract, but I know not every photographer works that way.

I think if you know of specific photos or times throughout the day where you'd like to see every shot they got of whatever that thing was, then it's ok to ask for that here and there, but at some point you do have to trust their work and let the pros be pros.

I looked at literally every single photo we got, raw and edited, and our photographers really did pick the best ones to edit. The photos I chose to have edited were family formals, which they just never really edit in advance because they know most clients like to pick their own, and some party shots, that probably no one but me will ever care about. But as far as our couple's shots, ceremony shots, first look, etc... there's no way I could've chosen better than they did, if that gives you some peace of mind.

Professional photographer and former bride here.....Most wedding photographers will give you all of the viable images and only eliminate the truly bad ones (out of focus, bad lighting, etc.). I would ask if he’s willing to take your double chin out of a handful of your favorites, but something like that isn’t standard for wedding editing. They are there to document the day, not play plastic surgeon. That said, I’m sure if he’s able (fixing a double chin can actually be quite difficult), he could do some extra retouching on a few images.

It is never standard for a true professional photographer to provide all the raw images. Mostly because unless you are also a photographer, you don’t have the extremely expensive programs needed to even open them. They also don’t want clients doing their own edits on them, as that is a misrepresentation of their work.

Here’s how I would approach it:
“Hi photographer!
I’m so excited about our wedding photos, I'm so excited see our wedding pictures! I have a quick question… I noticed in some of our engagement pictures, I really have a double chin. Would you be willing to take that out of a handful of my favorite wedding photos after I’ve had a chance to see them? I realize that might not be in your normal scope of editing, but I thought it couldn’t hurt to ask. Let me know, and thanks again!”

As PP's have said, raw images aren't usually given to clients, it's as if the photographer is giving you an unfinished canvas of their work and you could as another person to fix it, if it's bad, it's their reputation at stake.

I'd personally ask your photographer, especially if your MIL has a good relationship with them, if the photographer would be willing to sit down and go through the raw photos with you? They may be more willing to do so, and you'd have the freedom to ask for the photos you want edited.