---
id: mac-storage-basics.should-i-keep-both-raw-and-jpeg-photos
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/should-i-keep-both-raw-and-jpeg-photos
category: "Mac storage basics"
subcategory: "Creative and media apps"
question: "Should I keep both the RAW and JPEG versions of my photos?"
alt_questions:
  - "raw plus jpeg storage"
  - "delete jpeg keep raw"
  - "raw and jpeg pairs photos mac"
  - "camera shoots raw and jpeg"
  - "save space raw photos"
  - "raw jpeg duplicate files"
short_answer: "Keeping both stores every shot twice. Keep RAW if you edit (export JPEGs when needed), JPEG if you don't, and set the camera to shoot only the format you use."
tags: ["raw", "jpeg", "photos"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/why-do-raw-and-prores-files-take-so-much-space", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/why-is-my-photos-library-bigger-than-my-photos"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Should I keep both the RAW and JPEG versions of my photos?

Keeping both roughly adds a JPEG's worth of space to every RAW file. The RAW holds the most detail for editing; the JPEG is a ready-to-share preview. Most people keep one:

- **Keep RAW** if you edit photos — you can always export a JPEG later.
- **Keep JPEG** if you never edit and want the smaller files.

In Photos, an imported RAW+JPEG pair shows as one picture but stores both files. Setting your camera to shoot only the format you use stops the doubling at the source. Why RAW is big in the first place: [RAW and ProRes files](https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/why-do-raw-and-prores-files-take-so-much-space).