Most cameras in the modern age have the ability to save images as RAW image files. This isn't just a higher-quality image, it's a gift from the photography gods bestowed upon those living in the age of digital photography. And yet, so many squander their chance at getting into Valhalla by opting for JPEG instead.

This needs to stop. By buying a decent camera, you're exchanging money for the ability to shoot in this format, and if you really want to get the most out of your purchase, abilities, and any other equipment you’ve invested in, then shooting RAW is the way to go.

What Is RAW?

Photographer holding Nikon camera in greenery.

RAW is an image format that retains more information than other standard image formats. It provides an unparalleled ability to adjust various image parameters after pressing the shutter button in post-processing software.

While this shouldn't be seen so much as "shoot without thinking" mode, it certainly gives you some leeway when it comes to problems like incorrect white balance, overexposure or underexposure, and correcting lens vignetting.

RAW image formats are much larger than standard JPEGs because of all the information they hold. You need suitable storage to shoot in RAW, a high processing power computer to edit RAW images, and certain editing software that handles RAW image editing.

Why You Shouldn’t Shoot JPEG

The fact of the matter is you still can, and should, shoot in JPEG. Any camera with the ability to shoot in RAW can also shoot and store JPEGs. Need a quick JPEG to show to your client, stick on eBay, or share a look with a friend? Simply choose to shoot both!

Most modern high-end cameras allow you to save images in RAW and JPEG formats simultaneously. Got a bunch of RAW files you no longer need because that JPEG sufficed? Just delete them.

With most of us having smartphones at our fingertips, even when using DSLRs, you can use your iPhone as a method of snapping "one quick JPEG" because it's hands-down the quickest way to shoot and share an image online. For anything that warrants more attention, potential edits, or that you intend on keeping, then RAW is the better choice.

See our guide on RAW vs. JPEG to learn more about the differences.

Why You Should Shoot RAW

For all the reasons you might think not to shoot in RAW, there are twice as many counter reasons for why you should be shooting in RAW.

1. It Retains Color

A RAW format image holds lots more data than that of a standard JPEG. That data includes color retention, which is why it’s much easier to create an HDR image from RAW photos in Photoshop than if you tried making HDRs with JPEGs.

Where the naked eye sees shadows, a RAW image holds data hidden in the shadows. Editing a RAW image can bring to life what was lost in a JPEG with bad lighting.

2. Easier to Edit

Where the photo corrections end, the photo enhancements begin. It's often amazing how much better an already passable image can get when you start tweaking it, allowing for some really creative touches to be added simply by moving some sliders around. As with any photo editing, restraint is key to ensure you don't end up overdoing it, but really the sky's the limit.

To show the difference between editing from RAW versus taking a straight JPEG, look at the below photos of a rabbit. The first is the straight-out-of-the-camera JPEG with no processing.

shooting raw

Next is the same photo shot in RAW format having been put through Photoshop’s Camera RAW—with slightly boosted exposure, corrected white balance, a touch desaturated, and minorly adjusted shadows, highlights, and blacks before applying a 5x7 crop.

shooting raw

While it's not exactly the difference between night and day, the corrections have improved the shot and given it a far more true-to-life appearance. Just about every camera manufacturer has their own RAW image editor, so there’s no excuse not to utilize this format for editing purposes.

3. Higher Quality

It seems obvious, but since RAW format images create more information and color retention, it goes without saying that the images themselves are of higher quality than many other image formats.

If you’re taking photos because you want to create the best photos you can, it makes the most sense to go with the higher-quality format. It’s disappointing to spend time perfecting your shot only to see the final photo and realize it’s pixelated, or the colors don’t look right.

4. Lossless Gains

Most RAW formats these days are lossless (at the very least "high quality" lossy on older cameras), and some manufacturers provide a compressed lossless RAW format too.

This is in stark contrast to JPEG, which is fine for sharing images on the web where loading speeds are as important as the content itself. However, for archiving and creating high-quality derivatives and prints, RAW is king.

Photo information from Mac.

The above image shows the information difference between a RAW photo that was saved as JPEG via Photoshop (left) and the converted RAW photo otherwise untouched (right).

Sure, RAW files are a lot bigger than JPEGs, but that's because they contain a lot more information. This information enables you to make the edits described above with greater ease. Overall image quality is higher, simply because information is not being discarded. You'll squeeze more out of shadows when boosting exposure, and you won't see a patch of ugly compression artifact.

5. Affordable Access to Storage

Memory cards next to a laptop.

In the age we live in, storage for large files is no longer an excuse as to why you won’t shoot RAW. Yes, the files are huge, but SD cards and SSDs or external hard drives are bigger. And affordable.

DSLRs, smartphones, and other cameras allow for memory cards big enough for shooting RAW. You’ll certainly need a larger SD memory than if you were only shooting in JPEG, but allow the larger image size to encourage you to slow down and compose photos rather than clicking away hoping for the best.

Ensure that once you have the correct storage for your RAW photo, you also learn how to organize your photos in Adobe Lightroom too. There's no reason not to keep your photos organized correctly after all the effort of shooting in RAW format.

6. Learn as You Shoot

Quite possibly the best and most underrated reason to use RAW image formats is that you will develop as a photographer by doing so. By noticing what it is you're frequently correcting, you're less likely to make the same mistakes time and time again.

Not only will you get a better idea of where your strengths and weaknesses lie as a photographer, but you'll probably adjust your shooting style to suit.

It's also a surprisingly good way of getting to know your equipment. Two things you might learn from shooting RAW are to never trust the camera's white balance setting unless it was a custom reading, and that it's often best to leave the ISO low and boost the exposure in post-production rather than ending up with a grainier image.

If you're starting off with a new camera on your RAW photography journey, here are some things you should do as soon as you get a new camera. Push yourself to be the best photographer you can be.

Opt for RAW

Not only will the above points push you to shoot RAW, but once you have RAW photos, there’s nothing better than going back to them years in the future and reprocessing old shots.

RAW files stay of great quality even years after technology has improved. You’ll notice how you’ve developed over time, not only in photographing, but also in post-production editing and whether you followed trends or edited uniquely. Looking at old photographs is fun, but reprocessing old photographs is even better.