RAW is useful and good, but frankly speaking — overrated.

1. You can process JPEG photos that look very good!

Based on my personal experiences, RAW is best for processing photos into black and white. But generally speaking, I think that JPEG color photos are superior to RAW photos processed afterwards (jpeg color photos generally have better tones, better saturation, and better contrast).

Photographers often forget that we can post-process JPEG photos! We can always adjust exposure, adjust contrast, and other settings!

2. Why does everyone tell us to shoot RAW?

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I don’t think any photography beginner shoots RAW. By default, we all shoot JPEG.

But where does the idea that we “should” shoot RAW come from? Simple: photography “experts” and teachers tell us to do so.

But what do they have to gain by telling us to shoot in RAW?

My suspicion:

Perhaps they want to justify their technical prowess by telling us to shoot RAW.

For example, if I’m a photography teacher, it is in my best interest to get (paying) students. And how do I sell my services? I must teach technical things to beginner photographers — things that I know, and things that they don’t know. And considering that most beginners don’t shoot RAW, encouraging beginners to shoot RAW makes students dependent on me! Because only I can teach them how to “properly” shoot in RAW, and how to best process their RAW photos.

3. What are they trying to sell us?

Another theory:

I wonder if photography experts try to get beginners to shoot RAW, in order to sell more photography RAW presets or software, and educational material on how to process RAW photos.

They often use scare tactics— thinking that our potential as photographers is being held back, because you can “maximize” the quality of your photos by shooting in RAW.

4. RAW is super slow.

My personal gripe with RAW is that it is super slow. Even having a maxed out MacBook Pro, RAW is super slow in Adobe Lightroom and most other software.

JPEG is way faster. Faster to import your photos, faster to render your photos, faster to process your photos, and the files are a lot smaller (more megapixels, more problems).

Even with wedding photography, let us say you shoot 3,000 photos. Having to import and process all those photos (if shot in RAW) would take an insane amount of time. The best advice I got at age 21 from Gavin Holt was that he shot everything in JPEG, to speed up his workflow. He calibrated his flash settings in JPEG (in camera), and manually white balanced his photos (in camera).

RAW is still great if you want the most superlative control over processing your digital files, but in 2019, JPEG makes phenomenal image quality.

5. Keeping it simple and consistent

The problem with RAW is that there is a trillion ways to process your photos which means it is difficult to make a consistent aesthetic/look with your photos.

Generally with color photography, I think it is difficult to get a consistent color aesthetic, because we are always experimenting with new presets and ways of processing our photos. Furthermore, new digital sensors in our cameras are constantly changing and evolving so quickly; whenever we get a new camera, we need to figure out how to process the RAW photos all over again. However, I think most camera companies strive to make their JPEG files look consistent.

For example the good thing with the Fujifilm system: you can stay consistent with your color aesthetic, across all their Fujifilm cameras. I’m a fan of “Classic Chrome”, and their default “Provia” film simulations.

On RICOH GR II, the positive film JPEG looks great, which you can further process in Lightroom or whatever software you use.

6. Ignore the experts

Truth be told you can extract the maximum image quality and control from RAW.

But what I want to encourage you is this:

If you’re not a technical photographer, or you don’t care to nerd out over processing photos on your computer, know if is a legitimate option to NOT shoot in RAW, and to shoot JPEG instead.

I want to expand the options for photographers, without making us feel degraded or delegitimized by “experts” who tell us otherwise.

This is also a slight tangent, but you don’t need to use Lightroom. Just use a simple program like the default Apple Photos; it is totally legitimate.

7. Seek to simplify your workflow, not to “improve” it.

Ultimately I think as photographers, we are happiest when we are exploring and making photos! Of course there is a joy in post processing, but for some of us, it is unnecessary stress.

As general advice, it is preferable to have a simple “80% good enough” workflow that just works. Don’t seek to “maximize” your workflow. Adding further complexity to your workflow will add unnecessary confusion and stress to your life.

Conclusion

Of course this is all just my opinion. If you love shooting RAW, by all means, keep shooting RAW!

But if shooting RAW stresses you out, or is slow and cumbersome to you, experiment shooting more JPEG.

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For myself, I only shoot RAW if I cannot get a JPEG file to look beautiful in my own eyes. For example for monochrome, I perfected my ERIC KIM MONOCHROME 1600 preset when used with RAW files on RICOH GR II. But now, I’m trying to discover new and innovative workflows to better integrate with JPEG.

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Whatever you do with your photography, do it according to your own standards, and ignore everyone else (especially ERIC KIM).

JUST SHOOT IT.

ERIC