Baby Minerva—Her stalk marks are intact. I asked parents what they preferred before I edited the images.
Photographers are artists. I think a professional photographer should never give raw files to customers, as it is an essential part of the creative process, and the final edit is part of the style that represents their work. Imagine going to a restaurant for a meal and being served the raw ingredients instead of a finished product. It would be unprofessional.
I understand a customer may be concerned about a photographer’s editing style. To mitigate any potential issues, you can first find someone whose portfolio shows a history of the artistic style you like, images with freckles intact, etc.
Also, if you want a birthmark or beauty spot protected in the images, tell the photographer when you book and remind them during the session. Good photographers should have a website page showing a few before-and-after edits to see precisely how realistic their editing is. Not everyone wants images where all “flaws” are removed, and others do, so it is up to you to make yourself clear in person and back up your requests with an email. This will help ensure that the beautiful details you love will not be edited.
Telling a photographer that you wish to edit the images yourself can be insulting; hiring a different photographer in the first place would be wiser if you feel you or someone you know can do a better job. It may mean that the person you’re considering is an amateur or not proficient enough for your needs. Or maybe their style is not a good fit. In these cases, it is better to invest in someone who does work that you like.
