Occasionally, I find myself in a situation where I’m required to restore or create images for clients. However, after the job is finished, I’ve been asked a multitude of times if I can send them the native files.

While I personally have no issue giving out my native files when a client asks for it, other image editors may refuse to give out their native files. Why is this, you ask? Well,

Reasons To Give Out The Native File

1. The Clients Want To Keep It As A Backup

Some people may prefer keeping the native file just in case the png or pdf file you gave them becomes corrupted or lost. In my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with giving them the native file to keep as a backup. The plus side of doing this is that you can save space on your own storage device after you send the file to them. However, I prefer keeping my own copy just in case they manage to lose their backup (yeah, I’ve had a client lose their backup file before).

2. The Client Wants To Make Their Own Changes To The File

Only the client knows exactly what they want, and you know this is true if you’ve ever dealt with an infuriating client who nitpicks. If you’re editing a photo for a client who has some experience with photo editing software and you have the image almost perfect, providing the client with the native file to let them finish up the details is a great way to get paid for the work you’ve done up until that point while keeping your client satisfied at the same time. I’ve actually been doing something similar with one of my infrequent client over the last four years, so I know it works.

Reasons Not To Give Out The Native File

1. They’ll Take The Native File To Your Competitor

If you’re worried about your clients taking your work to one of your competitors, then this means 1 of 2 things: they’re not happy with your work or they found someone who made them a better deal.

If they’re not happy with your work, don’t take it as an insult. Just move onto the next client and don’t work with that unsatisfied client again or find out why they’re unsatisfied and correct the issue to avoid future problems.

2. You Won’t Be Able To Charge Your Client For Extras

I’m personally not a fan of this reasoning as holding the files hostage just so your client is forced to come back to you to alter the image shouldn’t be a way to get people to work with you. You should want your client to come back to you because they’re impressed with your work, not because you’re the “Keeper of the Files”.

However, there are some cases where this reason for not giving out the native file is valid. For instance, let’s say you’ve just completed the wedding cake photo below this sentence for a client who owns a business related to displaying wedding apparel and cakes for preview purposes.

As you can see, the project is not intricate in the least bit and is easy to replicate. Now, let’s also assume the client has some photo editing experience. Well, guess who no longer needs you because they now have the ability to churn out an endless supply of previews for their business? Yes, you guessed it, your former client. Before you know it, you’ll start seeing their replications plastered all over their website in great numbers.

Final Words

In the end, whether you choose to give out the native files or not is a personal choice. Some people would rather not deal with the risks associated with it and others do not care. If you want to give out the native file when the client requests it but you fear they may abuse it, you can always charge them a extra fee in addition to your initial fee (or hourly wage) to compensate for the potential damage.