It’s not uncommon for customers to request all of their photos from their photographer after their session but when a photographer refuses, it can leave clients feeling confused and sometimes even frustrated.

So why won’t your photographer give you all of your images after your session?

What you’re entitled to

It’s important to remember that you are paying for an end product and don’t really have a right to the work in progress. Think of it in terms of a painting. Would you demand all the sketches and research that went into the finished painting? Probably not. But asking your photographer for every image that was taken is basically the same thing.

Understanding your photo session

Even if your photographer has decades of experience, not every photo is going to be perfect, which is why so many photos are taken to begin with.

In some photos your eyes may be closed or the wind may be blowing your hair across your face. Your photographer takes hundreds of photos in order to pick a few that look the best. Even then, the best photos will be processed so that clients receive the most flattering images possible.

Your photographer puts a lot of time into the selection and editing process in order to produce exceptional results so asking for all of the raw images only makes this entire process a complete waste of time.

Plus, seeing the raw photos from your session could leave you feeling disheartened when you don’t see the results you were expecting. There is a reason why the selection and editing process is done by professionals - they want to see their clients happy with the results.

Trust your photographer

Ask yourself why you want to see all of your photos? Are you worried that your photographer may have missed a great shot?

Remember that your photographer does this for a living and has carefully sifted through all of your photos to ensure that you only receive the best shots. Plus, choosing the best shots also impacts their reputation and portfolio so there’s really no reason for them to skimp on this process.

Your photographer truly does have your best interests at heart so trust in the process and their abilities.