Shooting in RAW
So I just read this awesome post on a blog I follow and I wanted to lead you over in that direction. The blog is called Digital Photography for Moms and she often has great tips. This morning her post was about shooting in RAW vs. shooting in JPG.
If you are not sure what I am talking about let me explain a little bit:
These are file formats. I believe all digital cameras can shoot in JPG. You can usually choose how large of a file you would like it to use - small, medium or large. I believe most DSLRs have the ability to shoot in both JPG and RAW.
When your camera saves your file as a JPG, it compresses it and then runs the file through an algorithm that determines what the final result will be. Basically your camera makes choices for you like how blue or dark the image will be.
When you shoot in RAW, your camera doesn’t compress the file. It saves this giant file and then when you bring it into your computer you can make choices about how you want it to look. If your white balance was off or you have areas that are a bit blown out, you can often save those pictures and correct them to look better very easily.
So from that really simplified explanation, you can see that shooting in RAW gives you more control. There are a lot of benefits from shooting in RAW.
I have been shooting in JPG all this time and I just switched my camera to RAW on Saturday night for the Photocamp photowalk. I was really surprised by how much control I have in the editing process. I could lighten some of my images or change the white balance. It is pretty cool.
So I’m still experimenting with it and I’ll get back to you with more information about it. Don’t feel like you need to switch over this very second but it is a fun change and it opens a new level to my post processing.
On another note, I need to announce the winners of our giveaway from Friday and I need to put together that much anticipated catchlight post. I’ll get on those as soon as I can. Things have been a little crazy in my part of the woods lately. I was so obsessed with my presentation from Photocamp that now it is time to get back to reality! So the point of this little paragraph is that those posts are coming soon. So hold your horses! I’ll get on those items soon. 
Obligatory MomShot:
A little triptych I made using images from a morning shoot after I gave Mag chocolate cake for breakfast (yeah, I’m that kind of mom too). I really liked how it turned out. I love the brightness of the colors and the lightness of the background. Even though you can see my brown chairs and cupboard behind him, there is a certain “airiness” or “lightness” about these shots that I really dig.
The shot on the left and the one in the middle was shot at 50mm f/1.8 200 ISO, the shot on the right was shot at 50mm f/3.5 200 ISO. All shot with natural light. I decided I’m going to start giving you my settings. I always like it when other people do that so I want to do the same for you.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Awww. Super cute triptych. I don’t think the brown cabinets in the back detract from the photo. It gives it a very real and homey feel. Really nice light in your kitchen too!
I’m glad you figured out how to get at your RAW images. Once I had the software to handle RAW files, I’ve had CS3 for about 15 months now, I started shooting exclusively in RAW. My husband grumbles a little bit about the hard drive storage space for all those big files, but I stood my ground and he’s learned to live with it.
March 17th, 2009 at 10:47 am
I, too, LOVE RAW!!!! It is so versatile. However, they do require a little bit more processing because the camera is leaving the processing up to the user. Because CS3, CS4 and Lightroom can process JPEGs the same as RAW files, I have debated using JPEGs more often.
March 17th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Hello Jessica & MomShots crew!
Thanks for calling my post “awesome!” You made my day!
I like the way you explain Raw processing.
Erin
March 17th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
I haven’t made the switch to raw yet. It terrifies me for some reason. I hate how large the files are but the whole “extra room to post process” is very appealing.
As for your photos…I think those are your best yet. I love them!!
March 18th, 2009 at 11:22 am
I love RAW too - I’ve always shot in RAW unless my camera is in auto mode. I love having the control over my photos in RAW!!!
I remember you saying saturday in your presentation that you had an action for your storyboard. . . . where did you get it?
March 18th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
I love shooting in RAW! I started last August. I was nervous at first because I didn’t know anyone who shot in RAW and didn’t know anything about it - but it’s easy. The only problem is - the files are sooo big! I just had to buy an external hardrive - but it’s worth it right
March 19th, 2009 at 12:03 am
Great post and I’ve been using raw for quite awhile and love it. I see you got a nifty 50 mm. I love mine and that wide aperture helps so much with natural lighting. Love the pictures (I like chocolate ice cream for breakfast, mmmmm).
March 19th, 2009 at 5:57 am
I’m learning about the RAW vs. jpg….one of those things you never think about or know unless someone tells you about it. Hopefully for my b-day i’ll get a “real” camera and can play w/ that… LOVE the pics and i’m glad to hear i’m not the only mama out there that serves chocolate cake for breakfast! ;O)
March 19th, 2009 at 9:19 am
I always get so nervous to switch because that just means BIGGER hard drive space! lol!
I’m scared of the unknown…but look forward to what you do so then I can copy!
March 21st, 2009 at 9:26 pm
i LOVE those pictures of Mag! we’re going to have so much fun when you get here! RAW rocks, whatever it is
April 13th, 2009 at 9:56 am
I shoot nothing but raw!!! Being a event photographer most my shots are done between 200 and 1200mm and lenses of this length can give a bit of colour distortion due to shooting from a great distance as any lighting between the lens and the subject is amplified,
I find shooting raw renders me more able to correct any of this distortion and also I find the images can be sharpened (via editing software) and remain natural as with jpeg when you increase sharpness u normaly increase noise aswell……
I use lightroom 2 and photoshop CS4 to edit my shots these both suport RAW and do a fantastic job.
Great reveiws by the way….