I've always shot RAW+jpeg, mostly because I don't do alot of editing, usially I just use the iamges from my camera, but on the occasions I feel creative I always have the RAW to mess with if the mood strikes.
@@sdspeedy1probably the A7RIV file sizes. 61MP jpegs can be around 30-40MB. I have the A7RIV and have to compress the jpegs even more for posting online. The raw files are on another level, around 1GB of data, which is why I've been thinking of shooting compressed raw + jpeg instead of raw + jpeg. 😂 I still need to do more research on compressed raw vs raw though.
I think you missed a video there.. In one of the videos, James explains how you can get the presets and it's this video: ua-cam.com/video/8y_ICvrKElY/v-deo.html 😊
You know when you have come full circle when after spending ages editing your raw file, the original jpeg looks better. The algorithms that camera manufactureres use these days are so good that most of the time I can get what I like by just adjusting the saturation and contrast just a bit and its done. In fact, I have an old Canon G6 and the jpegs are so good in normal light, I hardly change them.
@@kencur9690 99% of the people that use a camera are not real photographers and don't need to shoot raw for one simple reason, they don't know how to edit the photos.
@@ademosthenes4911 and then there's that 0.5% who are real photographers and actually take a good photo to begin with, using old school, traditional principles. You know, the ones who actually understand how light works and how to capture a moment, instead of heavily relying on sliding some bars to achieve something similar.
Once again, a fresh perspective that you don't hear all that much! Good job mate! I'm not part of the "in-camera" cult or anything, but I like shooting JPG+RAW as somewhat of a nerdy challenge to myself; I found that by trying to get the shot I want in the JPG as sort of a goal to achieve, I slowed down my shooting and started taking more care in composition, light, etc.
Even as a novice photographer I was highly recommended to shoot raw based on, I guess, the desires of the person who was teaching me about cameras; however, after watching his video juxtaposing a raw and jpeg together in the same frame on a good computer monitor, I really couldn't differentiate the image quality advantage in the raw, even after post-fixing, that much. I think it best to adopt the idea of shooting raw and jpeg at the same time. If the jpeg appears pleasing and does not need touch ups, then go with what's going to save you time. I like the idea of shooting in both formats and believe I will do this for a while.
Editing raw is just better for editing. Say you took a picture of some trees. Under the trees are super dark, but the leaves are almost white from reflecting the sun. Raw would let you edit the dark area and make it visible without turning it into a blob. And it would let you bring back some of the color in the leaves. But you are correct if the photo looks nice in jpeg just use the Jpeg and be done with it.
There are cases where raw is more useful. For example, I'm a black and white photographer. If I want to change how colors are represented, I can carry around color filters and fiddle with them, dodge and burn the jpg or adjust sliders on the raw black and white conversion. The raw option is easiest so I shoot raw+jpg for the times I need it
I thoroughly enjoy your videos. Educational, humorous, and probably the most important parts... genuine and humble. Of all the other youtubers I've watched, even though you are leaps and bounds more professional than I am, and quite possibly most of your other viewers, you are down to earth and relatable. You give us a real-life perspective of what photography is like. The only negative is my own beard envy, but that is something I can't help. What I can help is my photography, and you have been a big part of that improving that. Cheers.
Basically if you don't plan on doing a ton of editing, shoot jpeg. If you plan on doing a ton of editing like bringing back a ton of shadows or highlights, etc., shoot raw.
I only shoot jpeg on the basis that I like use my skill taking the picture. Plus the only editing I do is cropping. If I don't like my results I try to learn from them for next time.
I shoot in Jpeg for exactly the reason you said regarding its like shooting with film. If I shot in RAW I would just take lots and lots of photos knowing that I'd be selecting the best and then editing it. Shooting in Jpeg makes me take my time with each shot. I do counterbalance (or atleast try) the fact i'm shooting in jpeg by using my camera in completely manual mode and manual focus. My photos feel much more personal when I do it this way.
Given how good in-camera processing is nowadays, to me, working with RAW files is just so much like hard work. Photoshop can give me just about all I want, if I need to process a JPEG. On top of that, inevitably, unless I'm going for some weird effect instead of recording reality, my processed RAW file tend to look just like my JPEG.
I shoot RAW and jpeg. I’m not the best at photo editing, especially skin colors. Sometimes I just can’t get a raw file right and the jpeg offers a better starting point. Great advice all around!
Good one. I used to do something quite similar, shooting RAW+JPEG and having the JPEG file as reference as you've shown. But at some point I noticed that on some cameras (Canon in my case) there's an embedded JPEG baked into the RAW file as well, and if you open the RAW file in an image viewer that's what you'll be seeing, so unless you really want the JPEG as a quick backup publishing solution (which is another legit usage sometimes), you might as well shoot in RAW only. Happy new year :)
shooting raw is safer. in case you fuck up the exposure. sometime if i'm working on something that don't require me to rush for deadline, i will do as much correction in raw and edit in jpeg.
i came to realise that my "workflow" is really relaxing when i'm just shooting my pictures, sending a few of them to my phone, quick edit in snapseed and then instagram or flickr or whatever i wanna do with it. and i'm always happy with the results, and then some months later i'm using the raw in capture one, spend two hours on the same pic , stressing me out, and compare it to the old one made with snapseed and i like it better !
This is a one of the most fundamental truths of dealing with your images ! I see hundreds of amateur and even advanced enthusiast. and 'expert' photographers MASSIVELY overworking their images !!! This is a breath of fresh air , by my eye . Thanks for saying this AND for posting it !
GREAT VIDEO! I shoot JPEGS 90 percent of the time and edit in Lightroom..RAW files take up too much space on the memory card and my computer! Keep up the great work!
Excellent points. It is very easy to get too overly active in "reforming" a picture. On the other hand, the artistic element may be what you want and the jpg might confuse the process.
This video and your opening comment about people who are watching it later seems like as good a time as any to write a comment - I am working my way through a lot of your old videos having recently (re?)discovered photography as a hobby. I recently found your channel and learned a lot in a short time. Love the content and the style of delivery - feels authentic/genuine compared to some others where it feels like they're on some kind of permanent sugar/caffeine hype! Feels a bit silly to say "keep up the good work" on a four year old video when you also just dropped a new one and so have clearly done so... Keep up keeping up the good work maybe?
Terrific advice James, as always, so generously given and always with a good helping of humour which is always appreciated. Hope 2020 is a fantastic year for you both. Best wishes, David
Nice one James. I have been in that situation where I have been so engrossed in editing images that some can look terrible! Good advice to have that JPEG as a reference point and take it from there.
I have been using digital for 21 years and have yet to take a RAW image...... I don’t own any edit program on my computer. I wouldn’t know the first thing about how to edit something because computers are impossible for us senior citizens to comprehend. 😢. Whatever comes out of the camera is my finished product.
im too lazy to edit photos so i just do the work (composition and exposure) before taking the picture and shoot jpegs so its easy to post to insta or whatever (also it means each photo is only like 5 MB)
In my opinion jpgs look so good I've been unable to edit the RAW image and make it better. It's not that I can't edit a jpg image, just not as much. But as you said RAW may actually allow too much editing. One of the most common positive comments about RAW is pulling things out of the shadows. But it seems to me that if things are in the shadows, perhaps they should be dark! I've tried editing RAW quite a few times and always revert to jpg. At most I set the camera to jpg+RAW in case there is an image or two out of 500 that I may want to spend more time on. Even then the jpg usually looks pretty darn good.
I shoot raw and jpeg simultaneously; mostly for expediency (sports). If the photo is needed urgently and the jpeg is reasonably exposed it's ready to go out the door.
I like to make everything right with exposure out of the camera and dont want to edit my pictures so much afterwards, so for me JPG is better And you can do so much with JPG's in edding, for me that is more than enough
I spend less than 3 minutes at editing any photo. If it takes more time to change colors, tweak here and there, I consider it as a failure and just go take a new one. Anyway, 95% of commercial photos don't look anything even close to reality, so it doesn't really matter unless you severely over processed it.
After a terrible day, the best way to end it off is by watching James Popsys! Thanks for ALWAYS putting a smile on my dial, you're only helping to grow my love for photography 📸 love your Apple setup by the way #DreamSetup
dual monitors also works for having two photos up at the same time.. tiny bit more costly but if you are a PC user and not a mac user... it works wonders.
Even videos like this with content that that don’t offer me new knowledge I always watch all the way trough at least once. Because the delivery is always fun to watch. And the the fact that all your videos consistently gets over a third the views of your subscribers ecco that statement. That statistic about your channel is among the best in class and means you got a consistent group of followers that actually what he’s your stuff😉 Great stuff sir✌🏽
Great video, you made a great point and I'm also one of those people that get sucked into the photos too much. I normally have to wait till the next day to finalize my edits
I've actually thought about this before! Sometimes I sit for ages trying to perfect my photo in Lightroom, only to come back to it and realising the colors are waaaay to saturated. A technique I've been using goes like this: no matter how cool an effect might look like in Lightroom, turn down the effect at least 20% of what you find yourself satisfied with. If you still think the effect is too weak after a while, you might consider cranking it up again.
I have learned the same thing. I tend to use a lot of effects on my photos and I find if I go too far on any single one, the final image will end up looking pushed too far. Now I dial the effect to where I like it then dial it back slightly before applying it. In the end the subtle changes add up to a much more pleasing final image.
My brain will get used to the extra saturation I made in one picture then the next picture I wil add even more saturation. Now I try to limit how long I edit my photos so my brain won’t adjust to the added saturation.,
Depends upon the camera and also what you want to do with the image. RAW to .jpg is best done with DxO PhotoLab 3. Do you own tests. Lightroom is for when you want do to loads of other manipulations.
I nearly always shoot JPEG and RAW simultaneously, and also nearly always delete the RAW file directly after I have saved the JPEG on my harddrive and looked at it, because I am nearly always more than happy with the JPEG and am hard pressed to create something that much better on my computer, that the result can justify the time I've invested in that. Only in very, very rare cases I open the RAW file to try to correct an error I made when I shot the photo, because the composition or the theme is good enough to try to safe it. The reason for that is that I startet with photography some 50 years ago, when one only had very limited possibilities to change something in a photo after the trigger was pushed. I learned to be as perfect as possible at the time I press the trigger because of that, and I continued to that ever since. The capabilities of the computers and their software integrated in today's cameras are that good, it is nearly impossible to beat them when the photo itself had no technical deficits which are that far out of range, that a camera computer cannot deal with them properly. Editing RAW is a way to repair results of sloppy photographing. If the photographer is technically excellent, modern camera computers are better then most people to create a photo out of data. The camera computer cannot compose a picture, but it can compile good colors, lights and shadows and correct lens and sensor weaknesses, and only very rarely I can do it noticeably better than the computer. Not mentioning the time I'd need for that.
Rabert's World You are right, Sir! It's like this: The main builder of great photography is not the tech (camera, post-processing software, lens, medium, etc.), those are all just "facilitators": The real driver is the person behind the camera. Take a look at what limited hardware and lack of software Ansel Adams, Henri cartier-Bresson and so many others had to deal with... The photographer makes the photograph.
we all have our opinions about file formats to use - as someone who equally has been shooting for a decent period of time, I look at it this way. The file coming out of your camera is only half done and I want to decide what I want to do to it not some camera algorithm. I kind of appreciate the idea of Ansel Adams: the file is the score, the final Tiff is the performance. And I want my score to have as much information as possible.
Almost what I do. I just connect my camera to my phone (Note 8) and copy the folder to it so I can check really fast every JPEG and start deleting all what is really bad with their raw copy while keeping those really nice JPEGs and deleting their raw copies. And at the end I leave alone those raw from the best of the best photos and or those I know I need to correct because of my bad job as a photographer hahaha.
I started out with Jpeg, and to be honest I did'n know what I was doing back then, although I did'n mind about my photos that much because what I would do back then was to take as many photo as I could, select the images I need, then I would later edit and upload those edited Jpeg files to social media, and I continued that for nearly 2 years until I went completely to RAW. It was rather fun when I started out like that because I truly enjoyed what I had and what I could do.
As little as 10 years ago the image processors on the cameras were quite primitive and we needed the power of a computer to post-process them. Nowadays as you said, the image processors (e.g. Lumix Venus Engine) have "had lots and lots of work put into them by the camera manufacturers", are very powerful and specifically attuned to the camera system. To the extent that the generic photo crunchers are now falling behind on the camera's capabilities and functions. Yes, do shoot raw+jpeg, but if you need to do a lot of fixing-up, maybe the photo ought to be binned. If the jpeg looks bad, the raw will be too.
I know one photographer that doesn't even look at his photos for 6 months. He does this so he will be more objective about which ones are good. I can't do it, but I do see the value in it.
Happy New Year James. This the first great video from you in 2020! This tip is a helpful, juicy nugget of info from a seasoned photographer. Thank you.
I think the processing the camera does should be distinguished from the file format JPG. The file format itself does not do the processing but the camera itself, and it depends on the camera (and its firmware) how well the processing is done. Jpeg just takes the processed image and reduces the size by throwing away some data less essential to viewing the image (but is not optimal to edit).
You got one thing right, now, when this video has appeared on my suggested videos, is certainly nothing like new year. Despite the current circumstances, great video!
Nice idea, shall definitely give that a try. Have shot raw+jpeg for a while already, but more because for some straight forward shots the jpeg version is good enough (or as good as my LR skills could produce), so might as well use them and focus time on those few shots that genuinely need the options available from the raw file.
I've always shot both RAW and Jpeg. I like to change my aspect ratio to suit the subject and if shooting b&w images I like to see the image in b&w as I shoot. I always process my images later when I'm not as excited about a trip or the images and the Jpeg having all the aspect crop and other data helps to remind me what I was thinking when I took the image.
Great vid, I get into all sorts of debates about this on various forums, and now with your permission I would like to refer them to this. My Lumix and Mr Nikon are never going to make a camera that does n't produce excellent J pegs. In my experience if I have nailed the settings for a shot i have found its very difficult/time consuming to better that shot editing a Raw file. But this method of keeping the J peg in sight is a great idea.
I always wanted to be welcomed into the new year by James and oh my God is happened. It actually happened. Happy shooting in 2020. Take lots of photos and get out more !!!
"Happy new year! It's 2020!" It's like watching a slow motion train wreck. Brutal! Great tip to use a JPEG as a reference! Can't believe I haven't done that.
The processing of JPEGS has never inspired me really. I use to do this exact thing but it was kind of a waste for my personal work flow. I tend to edit my images over a couple days though, because my preferences really depend on the mood and I might want to change an edit 1, 2, or 3 days later until I can’t think of more ways to improve it. So I just stick to shooting 100% RAW now, but for beginners I think this is a great thing to consider, I agree.
@Maëlick Claes - That is certainly a good idea, but me, I'd rather have copies of my originals, perhaps on a thumb drive or external hard drive (or the cloud), just in case in the midst of me working on my computer, the hardware commits suicide or the equivalent. Then I'll think, "Well, at least I still have the pictures (and a lot of other stuff) backed up safe!" Storage is becoming cheaper all the time, backing up is always important. 😊
I'm sure Lightroom and other similar software programs are perfect, but what happens if someone steals your computer or your motherboard or internal storage fail, and everything that was on it that was not backed up elsewhere is no longer available to you? It's not a matter of the software -- it's the _security._ That's all I'm advising.
I am shooting with Fuji, a brand that is widely considered to provide very good jpegs. Even though I don‘t see any point in shooting jpegs since good raw converters like Lightroom cc or C1 provide presets (‚film simulations‘) that come very close to Fuji‘s own presets. So when editing the raw ( if necessary) I am starting already with an image that looks almost exactly like the jpeg. So why bothering about jpeg?
Thanks James, I never realised about the reference photo - I'll give it a go. I tend to shoot Raw + Jpeg for two reasons. 1) I can quickly upload the jpegs at events for speed and use the raws for printing. 2) When zooming in on the back of the camera to check focus, you get a much more detailed image than when you just use raw on it's own - try it...
Since I started in Photography in 2012, I used to shoot straight to JPEG and is getting paid from doing so, rather than exhausting myself in shooting complicated procedures in RAW. Btw, I am shooting mostly for corporate events. But sometimes I also shoot for modeling agencies, food and products photography, portraits for Graduating students are one of my major works these days.
I always shoot raw and jpeg. I don't use light room though so I keep the jpeg open in another viewer or I use the jpeg to locate a raw file that is good for Luminar 4 and go from there. Good video though. I always learn something from them which is a good thing.
Having an old 5dMk3, I leave two cards in it and let it drop RAW to the CF and JPG to the SD as a safety. Having a reference is certainly handy, I tend to just use the before & after function in LR mobile which I seem to end up using mostly.
RAW+JPEG, that's OK. But the question is what presets have to set to process (in the machine...) JPEG image. Standard, Neutral? Not Vivid. When I see the result on the little LCD-screen, the image is deceptive, can't show the over- or underexposure.
In short, start with an artistic decision: you want snapshots of higher quality than your smartphone. A form of photorealism that is in the range of what the "profiles" in the camera can do. If you do portraits, groups, parties, you may want to do JPEG + raw so as to be able to share the JPEG shots with people immediately. With better cameras, the algorithm used to generate the JPEG summary from the raw shot is usually better than from simpler devices, including smartphones. JPEG quality can be influenced a lot by selecting the least compression or the highest quality. Use an electronic viewfinder set so as to show the ultimate exposure, so you can make corrections based on what you see there. Use camera profiles in order to influence the JPEG conversion and other qualities to your taste. Experiment with setting the camera to manual when you make a series of shots in the same circumstances (not for flash). (Make a couple tests shots in different directions, window in background or not, different light-dark relation frames.) This helps getting shots where people's skin tones are the same in all shots and perceived natural. (Manual includes white balance.) If the camera can do JPEG + raw, you can still save the raw shots and see if you can improve on the camera's JPEGs, or make artistically motivated changes: cropping, perspective, color changes, saturation or desaturation, create HDR-feel images, composites, filters, layers, etc.
I generally shoot raw + JPEG . I recently came across an old , misplaced memory card from years ago when I used to shoot mostly JPEG . I was surprised how much room I had to edit in these old files and was able to get some great final images .
One thing we have to do is look away from time to time. Use a TV or a large picture. Then look back at your work. You'll notice rt off the bat what's wrong. Mainly under exposed or lack of contrast!
I always a. Make a backup copy of the original photos, - that way if something does go seriously wrong I can easily restart. b. Get a second monitor, that way you don't need to keep flipping between photos, plus if you print out a photo it never look like it does on the monitor.
Great information as usual James. Each to their own, but JPEG's as they are work for me. I would rather hold my hand on hot stove than spend my limited time editing photos in post.
@@craigavonvideo That is sensible, BUT "right in camera" is subject to interpretation. Some of my photos look quite different from what the camera recorded. For me, "right in camera" gives me something to work with.
Here i am 3 years later and watching this vidio 😅 Truly amazing man! Your work and your way of explaining is so suiting and easy to understand. Love my journy on watching every single vidio
Have never heard of these uses before for JPEG which are amazing pieces of applicable advice to my photography, and I already shoot RAW + JPEG. Thank you do much!
Watching in February 2021 to keep me entertained in lockdown... James your welcome to 2020 words, who would have thought it would turned out like this.
“Welcome to 2020” is a bit mad watching in May as we slowly watch the world fall to pieces
It's getting wilder by the day.
august 4th commen here, CAN CONFIRM! D:
hm
I come from the future. Just you wait. ;)
Fml just set me back to 2020.
I've always shot RAW+jpeg, mostly because I don't do alot of editing, usially I just use the iamges from my camera, but on the occasions I feel creative I always have the RAW to mess with if the mood strikes.
@Brandon S mine are only like 20mb, the buffer on my a6400 is pretty good so I don't really notice but I can see your point if your raws are 80mb.
@Brandon S lmao, how do you even get 80 megabyte photos I shoot 24megapixels 14Bit RAW and each files is under 30 megabytes
@@dallasgrant 80MB?!?
@@sdspeedy1probably the A7RIV file sizes. 61MP jpegs can be around 30-40MB. I have the A7RIV and have to compress the jpegs even more for posting online. The raw files are on another level, around 1GB of data, which is why I've been thinking of shooting compressed raw + jpeg instead of raw + jpeg. 😂
I still need to do more research on compressed raw vs raw though.
I was surprised to see presets in your link list, but then clicked and got a good laugh. Well done! 😂
haha, cheers :)
Had to go look 😂
I can't put them in the cart though 🤔
I think you missed a video there.. In one of the videos, James explains how you can get the presets and it's this video: ua-cam.com/video/8y_ICvrKElY/v-deo.html 😊
I'm buying that. It's a good deal.
Be careful, some prince will buy it one day 🤣
But then I can’t wear a “I SHOOT RAW” tshirt everywhere I go! Lol
Sure you can. You still shoot RAW.
You can always add (in small print) "but I process my images with the help of the JPG" :-)
BAHAHAHAH! Or you could get a shirt that says "I shoot whatever the hell I want to shoot!"
Do you want to look like Jered Polin at all?
I would buy that shirt and under that I would write ‘every great once in a while’
Mike The Finder
That is such an Americanly silly thing to do.
It’s like wearing a T-shirt saying....”I drive a BMW”
You know when you have come full circle when after spending ages editing your raw file, the original jpeg looks better. The algorithms that camera manufactureres use these days are so good that most of the time I can get what I like by just adjusting the saturation and contrast just a bit and its done. In fact, I have an old Canon G6 and the jpegs are so good in normal light, I hardly change them.
Exactly.
“YoU aRe nOt A rEaL pHotOgrAphEr!”
@@kencur9690 99% of the people that use a camera are not real photographers and don't need to shoot raw for one simple reason, they don't know how to edit the photos.
@@ademosthenes4911 and then there's that 0.5% who are real photographers and actually take a good photo to begin with, using old school, traditional principles. You know, the ones who actually understand how light works and how to capture a moment, instead of heavily relying on sliding some bars to achieve something similar.
@@kencur9690 and i'm sure that 0.5% need videos like this to teach them how to do their work.
Once again, a fresh perspective that you don't hear all that much! Good job mate!
I'm not part of the "in-camera" cult or anything, but I like shooting JPG+RAW as somewhat of a nerdy challenge to myself; I found that by trying to get the shot I want in the JPG as sort of a goal to achieve, I slowed down my shooting and started taking more care in composition, light, etc.
Nice! and thanks :)
Even as a novice photographer I was highly recommended to shoot raw based on, I guess, the desires of the person who was teaching me about cameras; however, after watching his video juxtaposing a raw and jpeg together in the same frame on a good computer monitor, I really couldn't differentiate the image quality advantage in the raw, even after post-fixing, that much. I think it best to adopt the idea of shooting raw and jpeg at the same time. If the jpeg appears pleasing and does not need touch ups, then go with what's going to save you time. I like the idea of shooting in both formats and believe I will do this for a while.
Editing raw is just better for editing. Say you took a picture of some trees. Under the trees are super dark, but the leaves are almost white from reflecting the sun.
Raw would let you edit the dark area and make it visible without turning it into a blob. And it would let you bring back some of the color in the leaves.
But you are correct if the photo looks nice in jpeg just use the Jpeg and be done with it.
There are cases where raw is more useful. For example, I'm a black and white photographer. If I want to change how colors are represented, I can carry around color filters and fiddle with them, dodge and burn the jpg or adjust sliders on the raw black and white conversion. The raw option is easiest so I shoot raw+jpg for the times I need it
You look really like gerard butler lol.
hi, Gerard! are you going to do another movie like the 300? you are awesome in that movie!
Nice
My thoughts exactly🤣
😂😂
Thats what i've been thinking the whole time that where i've seen this guy
Bob dad version
Interestingly, I am watching this in the new year, just 3 years later. And oh how innocent 2020 seemed at the time...
Rarely do I edit photos but to crop. Makes me a better photographer knowing this is my shot...no edit.
I thoroughly enjoy your videos. Educational, humorous, and probably the most important parts... genuine and humble. Of all the other youtubers I've watched, even though you are leaps and bounds more professional than I am, and quite possibly most of your other viewers, you are down to earth and relatable. You give us a real-life perspective of what photography is like. The only negative is my own beard envy, but that is something I can't help. What I can help is my photography, and you have been a big part of that improving that. Cheers.
Thanks so much mate, and if it's any consolation the beard is itchy as hell!
Basically if you don't plan on doing a ton of editing, shoot jpeg. If you plan on doing a ton of editing like bringing back a ton of shadows or highlights, etc., shoot raw.
I only shoot jpeg on the basis that I like use my skill taking the picture. Plus the only editing I do is cropping. If I don't like my results I try to learn from them for next time.
I shoot in Jpeg for exactly the reason you said regarding its like shooting with film. If I shot in RAW I would just take lots and lots of photos knowing that I'd be selecting the best and then editing it. Shooting in Jpeg makes me take my time with each shot. I do counterbalance (or atleast try) the fact i'm shooting in jpeg by using my camera in completely manual mode and manual focus. My photos feel much more personal when I do it this way.
Given how good in-camera processing is nowadays, to me, working with RAW files is just so much like hard work. Photoshop can give me just about all I want, if I need to process a JPEG. On top of that, inevitably, unless I'm going for some weird effect instead of recording reality, my processed RAW file tend to look just like my JPEG.
Depends on the camera software too. Mine sharpens everything too much in jpeg
I shoot RAW and jpeg. I’m not the best at photo editing, especially skin colors. Sometimes I just can’t get a raw file right and the jpeg offers a better starting point. Great advice all around!
Good one.
I used to do something quite similar, shooting RAW+JPEG and having the JPEG file as reference as you've shown.
But at some point I noticed that on some cameras (Canon in my case) there's an embedded JPEG baked into the RAW file as well, and if you open the RAW file in an image viewer that's what you'll be seeing, so unless you really want the JPEG as a quick backup publishing solution (which is another legit usage sometimes), you might as well shoot in RAW only.
Happy new year :)
shooting raw is safer. in case you fuck up the exposure. sometime if i'm working on something that don't require me to rush for deadline, i will do as much correction in raw and edit in jpeg.
i came to realise that my "workflow" is really relaxing when i'm just shooting my pictures, sending a few of them to my phone, quick edit in snapseed and then instagram or flickr or whatever i wanna do with it. and i'm always happy with the results, and then some months later i'm using the raw in capture one, spend two hours on the same pic , stressing me out, and compare it to the old one made with snapseed and i like it better !
This is a one of the most fundamental truths of dealing with your images ! I see hundreds of amateur and
even advanced enthusiast. and 'expert' photographers MASSIVELY overworking their images !!!
This is a breath of fresh air , by my eye . Thanks for saying this AND for posting it !
Thanks for watching :)
GREAT VIDEO! I shoot JPEGS 90 percent of the time and edit in Lightroom..RAW files take up too much space on the memory card and my computer!
Keep up the great work!
Excellent points. It is very easy to get too overly active in "reforming" a picture. On the other hand, the artistic element may be what you want and the jpg might confuse the process.
This video and your opening comment about people who are watching it later seems like as good a time as any to write a comment - I am working my way through a lot of your old videos having recently (re?)discovered photography as a hobby. I recently found your channel and learned a lot in a short time. Love the content and the style of delivery - feels authentic/genuine compared to some others where it feels like they're on some kind of permanent sugar/caffeine hype! Feels a bit silly to say "keep up the good work" on a four year old video when you also just dropped a new one and so have clearly done so... Keep up keeping up the good work maybe?
Terrific advice James, as always, so generously given and always with a good helping of humour which is always appreciated. Hope 2020 is a fantastic year for you both. Best wishes, David
Cheers David, much appreciated :)
Nice one James. I have been in that situation where I have been so engrossed in editing images that some can look terrible! Good advice to have that JPEG as a reference point and take it from there.
Cheers Steve :)
I have been using digital for 21 years and have yet to take a RAW image...... I don’t own any edit program on my computer. I wouldn’t know the first thing about how to edit something because computers are impossible for us senior citizens to comprehend. 😢. Whatever comes out of the camera is my finished product.
jpeg or raw won't determine if your photo come out good or not, it's just a decoder, I use jpeg exclusively and I don't see any reason to use RAW.
im too lazy to edit photos so i just do the work (composition and exposure) before taking the picture and shoot jpegs so its easy to post to insta or whatever (also it means each photo is only like 5 MB)
In my opinion jpgs look so good I've been unable to edit the RAW image and make it better. It's not that I can't edit a jpg image, just not as much. But as you said RAW may actually allow too much editing. One of the most common positive comments about RAW is pulling things out of the shadows. But it seems to me that if things are in the shadows, perhaps they should be dark!
I've tried editing RAW quite a few times and always revert to jpg. At most I set the camera to jpg+RAW in case there is an image or two out of 500 that I may want to spend more time on. Even then the jpg usually looks pretty darn good.
I shoot raw and jpeg simultaneously; mostly for expediency (sports). If the photo is needed urgently and the jpeg is reasonably exposed it's ready to go out the door.
What a great idea! Happy 2020 to you and Emily.
Thanks Wendy :)
interesting Idea - it's similar to the idea that people should listen to a reference track when mastering (or maybe mixdown-ing) audio.
I shoot RAW + JPEG because I can never decide which film simulation I like best even though it's always Eterna.
I like to make everything right with exposure out of the camera and dont want to edit my pictures so much afterwards, so for me JPG is better
And you can do so much with JPG's in edding, for me that is more than enough
So THAT's what the RAW + JPEG function is for! Great tip, thank you!
I spend less than 3 minutes at editing any photo. If it takes more time to change colors, tweak here and there, I consider it as a failure and just go take a new one. Anyway, 95% of commercial photos don't look anything even close to reality, so it doesn't really matter unless you severely over processed it.
After a terrible day, the best way to end it off is by watching James Popsys! Thanks for ALWAYS putting a smile on my dial, you're only helping to grow my love for photography 📸 love your Apple setup by the way #DreamSetup
dual monitors also works for having two photos up at the same time.. tiny bit more costly but if you are a PC user and not a mac user... it works wonders.
I came in doubting this video but I think this would have helped a lot when I started photography for the first time. Nice video man :)
Thanks :)
@@JamesPopsysPhoto We'll I've just started, so I appreciate the content!
Even videos like this with content that that don’t offer me new knowledge I always watch all the way trough at least once. Because the delivery is always fun to watch. And the the fact that all your videos consistently gets over a third the views of your subscribers ecco that statement. That statistic about your channel is among the best in class and means you got a consistent group of followers that actually what he’s your stuff😉
Great stuff sir✌🏽
Thanks so much mate, really appreciate it :)
Very good advice! Thank you! I have definitely ruined shots with too much editing. I will use your technique religiously from now on!
Another great video James. What I do is create a virtual copy in lightroom, then auto adjust the virtual copy and then use that as the reference.
Cheers David, nice! :)
Happy new year James and Emily.
Hope you have a great 2020, and looking forward to what you get up to.
Cheers Richard - you too! :)
Great video, you made a great point and I'm also one of those people that get sucked into the photos too much. I normally have to wait till the next day to finalize my edits
I've actually thought about this before! Sometimes I sit for ages trying to perfect my photo in Lightroom, only to come back to it and realising the colors are waaaay to saturated. A technique I've been using goes like this: no matter how cool an effect might look like in Lightroom, turn down the effect at least 20% of what you find yourself satisfied with. If you still think the effect is too weak after a while, you might consider cranking it up again.
Sounds good :)
I have learned the same thing. I tend to use a lot of effects on my photos and I find if I go too far on any single one, the final image will end up looking pushed too far. Now I dial the effect to where I like it then dial it back slightly before applying it. In the end the subtle changes add up to a much more pleasing final image.
My brain will get used to the extra saturation I made in one picture then the next picture I wil add even more saturation. Now I try to limit how long I edit my photos so my brain won’t adjust to the added saturation.,
Depends upon the camera and also what you want to do with the image. RAW to .jpg is best done with DxO PhotoLab 3. Do you own tests. Lightroom is for when you want do to loads of other manipulations.
It’s strange to see people in early 2020. They have no clue what’s coming
Great tip James actually never thought of this nor have we seen anyone else ever mention anything about it. Cheers 👍
I'm an amateur photographer and even more amateur photo editor. I will try this! Thank you very much for the video.
I nearly always shoot JPEG and RAW simultaneously, and also nearly always delete the RAW file directly after I have saved the JPEG on my harddrive and looked at it, because I am nearly always more than happy with the JPEG and am hard pressed to create something that much better on my computer, that the result can justify the time I've invested in that. Only in very, very rare cases I open the RAW file to try to correct an error I made when I shot the photo, because the composition or the theme is good enough to try to safe it.
The reason for that is that I startet with photography some 50 years ago, when one only had very limited possibilities to change something in a photo after the trigger was pushed. I learned to be as perfect as possible at the time I press the trigger because of that, and I continued to that ever since. The capabilities of the computers and their software integrated in today's cameras are that good, it is nearly impossible to beat them when the photo itself had no technical deficits which are that far out of range, that a camera computer cannot deal with them properly.
Editing RAW is a way to repair results of sloppy photographing. If the photographer is technically excellent, modern camera computers are better then most people to create a photo out of data. The camera computer cannot compose a picture, but it can compile good colors, lights and shadows and correct lens and sensor weaknesses, and only very rarely I can do it noticeably better than the computer. Not mentioning the time I'd need for that.
Rabert's World You are right, Sir! It's like this: The main builder of great photography is not the tech (camera, post-processing software, lens, medium, etc.), those are all just "facilitators": The real driver is the person behind the camera. Take a look at what limited hardware and lack of software Ansel Adams, Henri cartier-Bresson and so many others had to deal with... The photographer makes the photograph.
Good post. Could not agree more. RAW is highly over rated.
we all have our opinions about file formats to use - as someone who equally has been shooting for a decent period of time, I look at it this way. The file coming out of your camera is only half done and I want to decide what I want to do to it not some camera algorithm. I kind of appreciate the idea of Ansel Adams: the file is the score, the final Tiff is the performance. And I want my score to have as much information as possible.
Almost what I do. I just connect my camera to my phone (Note 8) and copy the folder to it so I can check really fast every JPEG and start deleting all what is really bad with their raw copy while keeping those really nice JPEGs and deleting their raw copies. And at the end I leave alone those raw from the best of the best photos and or those I know I need to correct because of my bad job as a photographer hahaha.
I started out with Jpeg, and to be honest I did'n know what I was doing back then, although I did'n mind about my photos that much because what I would do back then was to take as many photo as I could, select the images I need, then I would later edit and upload those edited Jpeg files to social media, and I continued that for nearly 2 years until I went completely to RAW.
It was rather fun when I started out like that because I truly enjoyed what I had and what I could do.
As little as 10 years ago the image processors on the cameras were quite primitive and we needed the power of a computer to post-process them. Nowadays as you said, the image processors (e.g. Lumix Venus Engine) have "had lots and lots of work put into them by the camera manufacturers", are very powerful and specifically attuned to the camera system. To the extent that the generic photo crunchers are now falling behind on the camera's capabilities and functions.
Yes, do shoot raw+jpeg, but if you need to do a lot of fixing-up, maybe the photo ought to be binned. If the jpeg looks bad, the raw will be too.
I know one photographer that doesn't even look at his photos for 6 months. He does this so he will be more objective about which ones are good. I can't do it, but I do see the value in it.
Well, that intro has aged like some fine milk.
I should be welcoming you , seeing how I am in Australia , and therefore got to 2020 before you.
Have a brilliant new year.
Cheers Anthony!
Happy New Year James. This the first great video from you in 2020! This tip is a helpful, juicy nugget of info from a seasoned photographer. Thank you.
Thanks so much :)
I think the processing the camera does should be distinguished from the file format JPG.
The file format itself does not do the processing but the camera itself, and it depends on the camera (and its firmware) how well the processing is done.
Jpeg just takes the processed image and reduces the size by throwing away some data less essential to viewing the image (but is not optimal to edit).
Another very helpful video and have a great 2020!
Cheers John! :)
You got one thing right, now, when this video has appeared on my suggested videos, is certainly nothing like new year. Despite the current circumstances, great video!
Nice idea, shall definitely give that a try. Have shot raw+jpeg for a while already, but more because for some straight forward shots the jpeg version is good enough (or as good as my LR skills could produce), so might as well use them and focus time on those few shots that genuinely need the options available from the raw file.
Cheers Keith :)
I've always shot both RAW and Jpeg. I like to change my aspect ratio to suit the subject and if shooting b&w images I like to see the image in b&w as I shoot. I always process my images later when I'm not as excited about a trip or the images and the Jpeg having all the aspect crop and other data helps to remind me what I was thinking when I took the image.
Super useful video that. I have been taking photos a long time but never ventured into RAW but now I understand why.
Great vid, I get into all sorts of debates about this on various forums, and now with your permission I would like to refer them to this. My Lumix and Mr Nikon are never going to make a camera that does n't produce excellent J pegs. In my experience if I have nailed the settings for a shot i have found its very difficult/time consuming to better that shot editing a Raw file. But this method of keeping the J peg in sight is a great idea.
No problem, thanks for watching :)
congrats on the 100K subscribers james!!
2022 here damn what a year 2020 was shud have enjoyed it while it lasted 😅
Happy new year 2023.
Good tips! Any belated happy new year!
Lol 4 years later I'm watching on Christmas. So happy new years from the future.
I always wanted to be welcomed into the new year by James and oh my God is happened. It actually happened. Happy shooting in 2020. Take lots of photos and get out more !!!
Cheers Steve :)
"Happy new year! It's 2020!" It's like watching a slow motion train wreck. Brutal!
Great tip to use a JPEG as a reference! Can't believe I haven't done that.
How many times have I worked the raw file only to come to the conclusion that the bloody camera did a better job?
Obviously, you need a MacPro Paul. There's a guy up in the Great White North that did a MacPro Watch, funny stuff.
@@WilliamBeam I've blocked him.
I've started importing images using AUTO in the develop module as a preset. It's been a great starting point for me to work from.
Great advice. Never thought about using jpeg as my reference for my raw editing escapades.
The processing of JPEGS has never inspired me really. I use to do this exact thing but it was kind of a waste for my personal work flow. I tend to edit my images over a couple days though, because my preferences really depend on the mood and I might want to change an edit 1, 2, or 3 days later until I can’t think of more ways to improve it. So I just stick to shooting 100% RAW now, but for beginners I think this is a great thing to consider, I agree.
Really great info here, James!
Another tip: Back up all originals before "improving" photos. Then, if mistakes are made... one still has the originals 😊
Or use non-destructive editing software?
Yes, as Mr. Sony says ... "If it's not backed up at least 3 times on seperate devices ... it doesn't exist!"
Debby S-AbqNM but Lightroom is non destructive and the original always stays untouched
@Maëlick Claes - That is certainly a good idea, but me, I'd rather have copies of my originals, perhaps on a thumb drive or external hard drive (or the cloud), just in case in the midst of me working on my computer, the hardware commits suicide or the equivalent. Then I'll think, "Well, at least I still have the pictures (and a lot of other stuff) backed up safe!" Storage is becoming cheaper all the time, backing up is always important. 😊
I'm sure Lightroom and other similar software programs are perfect, but what happens if someone steals your computer or your motherboard or internal storage fail, and everything that was on it that was not backed up elsewhere is no longer available to you? It's not a matter of the software -- it's the _security._ That's all I'm advising.
I always shoot both. A lot of time I don’t have to do anything to the jpg. Fujifilm works out jpgs good.
Didn't know about reference view. Thanks
I am shooting with Fuji, a brand that is widely considered to provide very good jpegs. Even though I don‘t see any point in shooting jpegs since good raw converters like Lightroom cc or C1 provide presets (‚film simulations‘) that come very close to Fuji‘s own presets. So when editing the raw ( if necessary) I am starting already with an image that looks almost exactly like the jpeg. So why bothering about jpeg?
Thanks James, I never realised about the reference photo - I'll give it a go.
I tend to shoot Raw + Jpeg for two reasons.
1) I can quickly upload the jpegs at events for speed and use the raws for printing.
2) When zooming in on the back of the camera to check focus, you get a much more detailed image than when you just use raw on it's own - try it...
Cheers Graham, nice!
Since I started in Photography in 2012, I used to shoot straight to JPEG and is getting paid from doing so, rather than exhausting myself in shooting complicated procedures in RAW. Btw, I am shooting mostly for corporate events. But sometimes I also shoot for modeling agencies, food and products photography, portraits for Graduating students are one of my major works these days.
For portraits did you shoot in jpeg or raw?
I always shoot raw and jpeg. I don't use light room though so I keep the jpeg open in another viewer or I use the jpeg to locate a raw file that is good for Luminar 4 and go from there. Good video though. I always learn something from them which is a good thing.
Cheers mate :)
One of the best bits I've seen on the subject. Very useful. Thanks.
Thanks so much :)
Having an old 5dMk3, I leave two cards in it and let it drop RAW to the CF and JPG to the SD as a safety. Having a reference is certainly handy, I tend to just use the before & after function in LR mobile which I seem to end up using mostly.
RAW+JPEG, that's OK. But the question is what presets have to set to process (in the machine...) JPEG image. Standard, Neutral? Not Vivid. When I see the result on the little LCD-screen, the image is deceptive, can't show the over- or underexposure.
I love your sense of humor and content but the Jurassic Park comment really made me love this channel even more. I feel the same way!
In short, start with an artistic decision: you want snapshots of higher quality than your smartphone. A form of photorealism that is in the range of what the "profiles" in the camera can do. If you do portraits, groups, parties, you may want to do JPEG + raw so as to be able to share the JPEG shots with people immediately. With better cameras, the algorithm used to generate the JPEG summary from the raw shot is usually better than from simpler devices, including smartphones. JPEG quality can be influenced a lot by selecting the least compression or the highest quality.
Use an electronic viewfinder set so as to show the ultimate exposure, so you can make corrections based on what you see there. Use camera profiles in order to influence the JPEG conversion and other qualities to your taste.
Experiment with setting the camera to manual when you make a series of shots in the same circumstances (not for flash). (Make a couple tests shots in different directions, window in background or not, different light-dark relation frames.) This helps getting shots where people's skin tones are the same in all shots and perceived natural. (Manual includes white balance.)
If the camera can do JPEG + raw, you can still save the raw shots and see if you can improve on the camera's JPEGs, or make artistically motivated changes: cropping, perspective, color changes, saturation or desaturation, create HDR-feel images, composites, filters, layers, etc.
Thx , James. That's a simple but rather very useful advice. Without the JPG one tends to lose reality and over decorate RAW.
Whats the difference between
RAW + JPEG and RAW +F?
Nice one. Thank you. Great idea. Let's hope too that the Yarra Valley survives the horrid bushfires happening here at the moment.
I generally shoot raw + JPEG . I recently came across an old , misplaced memory card from years ago when I used to shoot mostly JPEG . I was surprised how much room I had to edit in these old files and was able to get some great final images .
They are amazingly compliant :)
Thanks. Excellent rationale and one I’ll probably take up. Cracking photo as well.
One thing we have to do is look away from time to time. Use a TV or a large picture. Then look back at your work. You'll notice rt off the bat what's wrong. Mainly under exposed or lack of contrast!
I always
a. Make a backup copy of the original photos, - that way if something does go seriously wrong I can easily restart.
b. Get a second monitor, that way you don't need to keep flipping between photos, plus if you print out a photo it never look like it does on the monitor.
Your tip about using JPEG as a reference should be standard in the community, thank you!
Thatks 4 that. I now know what R and A stand for in LR. Good man.
Great information as usual James. Each to their own, but JPEG's as they are work for me. I would rather hold my hand on hot stove than spend my limited time editing photos in post.
Haha, sounds good :)
Yes, coming from a video background, I always try to get it right "in camera" first and do as little in post as possible.
@@craigavonvideo That is sensible, BUT "right in camera" is subject to interpretation. Some of my photos look quite different from what the camera recorded. For me, "right in camera" gives me something to work with.
Here i am 3 years later and watching this vidio 😅 Truly amazing man! Your work and your way of explaining is so suiting and easy to understand. Love my journy on watching every single vidio
Have never heard of these uses before for JPEG which are amazing pieces of applicable advice to my photography, and I already shoot RAW + JPEG. Thank you do much!
Watching in February 2021 to keep me entertained in lockdown... James your welcome to 2020 words, who would have thought it would turned out like this.