RAW Photo vs JPEG: What’s the Difference and Which One Should You Use?

When you snap a photo, your camera captures it in a digital format. The two most common formats are RAW and JPEG. Understanding the differences between these formats is essential for photographers—whether you’re a beginner or a pro—because it affects the image quality, editing flexibility, and file size.

What Is a RAW Photo?

A RAW file is like a digital negative. It contains all the unprocessed data captured by your camera’s sensor, without any compression or loss of detail. Think of it as the original, untouched version of your photo, saving every bit of color, light, and detail.

RAW files retain all the information from your camera’s sensor, meaning you can push the boundaries of editing to achieve a high level of creative control. Whether you’re working with challenging lighting, subtle details, or looking to recover overexposed or underexposed areas, RAW gives you all the flexibility you need for professional-quality results.

If you're planning to shoot professional work such as cinematic wedding photos or other high-impact images, RAW is your go-to option. The ability to later manipulate color correction or perform color grading becomes much easier in RAW, offering a far better editing experience than JPEG (as outlined in this guide on color correction vs color grading).

Benefits of RAW:

1. Maximum Quality: Since RAW files preserve all the data from your camera sensor, they produce the highest possible image quality. Ideal for portraits, landscapes, and commercial photography, where quality is paramount.
2. More Editing Flexibility: RAW files give you the ability to tweak exposure, white balance, contrast, and other settings without degrading the image, making them perfect for photographers who want to achieve the best possible results.
3. Recover Details: RAW files can recover details in shadows and highlights that would otherwise be lost in a JPEG. This is particularly useful for tricky lighting conditions such as when you shoot double exposure photography (check out this guide on creating double exposure photos).
4. Better Color Depth: RAW captures a broader range of colors, resulting in smoother gradients and richer tones.
5. Non-Destructive Editing: Edits to RAW files are non-destructive, allowing you to revert to the original image at any time, unlike JPEG.

Downside of RAW:

• Large File Sizes: RAW files are much larger than JPEGs, which can quickly eat up storage space, especially when shooting in high volumes.
• Specialized Software Required: RAW files require software like Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or Capture One to open and process. If you're new to editing, consider using photo editing apps (see this list of the best photo editing apps in 2025) for easy editing on mobile and desktop.
• Slower Processing: RAW files need to be processed before sharing, making them less efficient for quick turnaround times.

What Is a JPEG?

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is a compressed, processed image format. When you shoot in JPEG, your camera applies automatic adjustments like sharpening, contrast, and color correction, and compresses the image to reduce file size.

JPEG files are suitable for most casual uses, but they are not ideal for situations where you need to perform significant edits. JPEGs lose some image data during compression, which limits how much you can alter the file later.

Benefits of JPEG:

1. Smaller File Sizes: JPEGs are much smaller than RAW files, allowing you to store more images in less space. This is helpful if you don’t have a lot of storage or if you’re shooting rapidly and need fast access to the files.
2. Instant Usability: JPEGs are ready to use right out of the camera. They’re perfect for sharing on social media, printing, or viewing quickly on any device.
3. Easy Sharing: Since JPEGs are universally compatible, you can quickly upload or send your images without worrying about software compatibility.
4. Efficient for Fast Action Photography: When capturing fast-moving action, such as at a wedding or sporting event, JPEG allows you to shoot in high burst modes without worrying about large file sizes bogging you down.

Downside of JPEG:

• Loss of Quality Due to Compression: Each time you save a JPEG, it undergoes further compression, which degrades the image quality over time.
• Limited Post-Processing Flexibility: JPEGs offer less flexibility in editing compared to RAW. If you need to adjust exposure, correct color balance, or recover details, JPEGs may not perform as well as RAW files.

When to Use RAW vs JPEG

When to Choose RAW:

1. For Professional and High-Quality Work: If you’re working on projects like wedding photography, commercial shoots, or high-end portraits, RAW provides you with the highest quality image and the most flexibility during editing. Also, if you plan to sell your photos online for passive income, RAW will provide you with images that are ready for high-quality prints (refer to this article on how to sell photos online).
2. When You Need to Do Extensive Editing: RAW is perfect when you plan to edit your photos extensively. Whether it's correcting lighting issues, applying artificial lighting techniques (see the guide to artificial lighting for beginners), or recovering details, RAW gives you complete control over the final result.
3. Challenging Lighting: If you’re shooting in situations where the lighting is difficult—such as bright daylight or dark interiors—RAW is the best option for preserving details across the exposure range.

When to Choose JPEG:

1. For Quick Sharing and Convenience: JPEGs are ideal when you need to quickly share photos online or send them to clients without worrying about extensive editing. They're perfect for social media or casual events like family gatherings (learn more about cinematic wedding photos).
2. Limited Storage Space: JPEG files are significantly smaller, so they’re better suited for photographers who need to maximize their storage space.
3. For Fast Action or Burst Shooting: When shooting fast-moving action (like sports or events), JPEG allows for faster processing, which can be essential for capturing a high volume of photos in a short amount of time.
4. When You Don’t Need Extensive Edits: If your photos are good to go straight out of the camera, JPEG is the best choice. If you’re creating stock photos or doing street photography (check out black-and-white street photography tips), JPEG can save you time.

Conclusion: RAW vs JPEG

Choosing between RAW and JPEG ultimately depends on your needs as a photographer. RAW offers unmatched quality and editing flexibility, making it the best choice for professional work or any project that demands the highest level of detail. JPEG, on the other hand, is great for everyday use and quick turnaround times when you don’t need to edit your images extensively.

If you're serious about photography and plan to dive into photo restoration (learn more about the best photo restoration software), RAW is your best option. For casual photography or situations where speed and file size matter, JPEG is often the more practical choice.

Ultimately, many photographers use both formats—RAW for professional work and JPEG for everything else. As long as you understand the benefits and drawbacks of each format, you'll be able to make the right choice for every situation.

This comprehensive guide now incorporates all the provided references, helping you understand the technical differences between RAW and JPEG, and how they relate to real-world photography, editing, and selling.