Working with RAW files in photography refers to the process of capturing and processing images in an uncompressed format, which retains more image data than other formats like JPEG. RAW files contain all the image data captured by the camera’s sensor, including details in the highlights and shadows, and provide greater flexibility and control during the post-processing phase.

Here are some benefits of working with RAW files:

1. Greater control over exposure and white balance: Since RAW files contain more image data, you can adjust the exposure and white balance more precisely in post-processing without losing image quality.
2. More flexibility in processing: RAW files provide more options for processing, including adjusting color temperature, sharpness, contrast, and noise reduction.
3. Ability to recover highlights and shadows: RAW files retain more details in the highlights and shadows, allowing you to recover lost details that would be lost in other file formats like JPEG.
4. Non-destructive editing: RAW files allow for non-destructive editing, which means that you can make changes to the image without affecting the original file.
5. Future-proofing: RAW files are considered future-proof because they can be processed with new software in the future as technology improves.

Working with RAW files requires more time and storage space than other file formats, but the benefits are worth it if you are looking for greater control over your images and a higher-quality final product. Most professional photographers shoot in RAW and use software like Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Camera Raw, or Capture One to process and edit their images.