1. The Old Question: To Give the Originals, or Not

One of the oldest debates among photographers has been: “Should I hand over the originals (film negatives, RAW files) to clients?”

In the film era, studios never released the negatives. Clients purchased only the prints or albums, while the negatives remained under the studio’s control. This was not just tradition—it was the way photographers preserved authority over their work.

Copyright discussions followed the same line. The question “Who owns the work?” was never just a legal issue. It has been the foundation of professionalism and artistry for photographers throughout history.

2. The Digital Disruption

The digital era, however, changed everything. Clients no longer want only printed products. They ask for RAW files, high-resolution JPEGs, or even entire galleries. The boundaries of copyright became blurred, and many photographers started offering files with conditional copyright releases in their contracts.

But that does not mean the photographer’s rights have disappeared. North American associations such as PPA and ASMP still affirm that copyright belongs to the photographer. In Canada, the 2012 copyright reform clarified that “the photographer is the default copyright holder.”

Even in a digital age, the rights and identity tied to the work remain with the artist.

3. Two Tensions: Art and Business

Today, professional photographers must balance between two realities:

The Artistic Dimension

• RAW files are the foundation and intellectual sketch of the artist’s vision.
• Only the finished work communicates the philosophy and brand of the photographer.
• Retaining copyright safeguards identity and consistency.

The Business Dimension

• Clients expect both digital files and tangible products.
• JPEGs, web galleries, and social media exposure drive brand visibility.
• Albums and prints remain core revenue models, with opportunities for upselling.

These two dimensions may appear in tension, but in truth, they support each other. Artistic rights give meaning to the business model, and a sustainable business allows the preservation of artistic rights.

4. The Album: The Intersection of Art and Permanence

For a photographer, protecting copyright is not only about holding the files—it is about preserving the work in a lasting form. And true permanence is not a digital folder of images, but a visible, tangible album.

To clients, albums are family history and keepsakes.
To photographers, albums are the ultimate proof of authorship and artistic rights.

Failing to produce albums, and leaving only files behind, is essentially letting one’s art fade with time.

Failing to produce albums—and leaving only files behind—ultimately lets one’s art fade with time.

Album sales are more than a revenue stream. They are:

• The preservation of an artist’s identity and permanence.
• The point where art and business converge.

5. Bonmatch’s Differentiation: Story View Service

If albums are the key to completing both artistic rights and business value, then solving the pain points in the album creation process for both clients and photographers becomes the true strategy. This is the core philosophy and business strategy that sets Bonmatch apart.

Challenges in the process:

• Photo Selection: Some clients want to choose their photos, while others find the process overwhelming.
• Curation & Design Gap: Sorting through hundreds of images to design an album is time-consuming for both clients and photographers.

Bonmatch offers three services to solve this:

1. Curation Service – Helps clients with photo selection. Limited scope; details available on the Design Service Page.
2. Free Story View Service – Send about 20 representative images, and our professional designers create a storyboard-style preview. Clients can imagine their album, increasing the likelihood of ordering.
3. Free Album Design Service – Final design support to deliver a complete, high-quality album experience.

Bonmatch’s mission is more than convenience. We respect photographers’ work and partner with them to ensure that their art endures in the permanent form of albums. This is the core philosophy and business strategy that sets Bonmatch apart.