Why might a photographer choose to shoot in RAW format rather than JPEG?

Choosing to shoot in RAW format is particularly appealing for photographers because RAW files retain significantly more image data than JPEG files. This characteristic allows photographers greater flexibility during post-processing. When editing, they can adjust exposure, white balance, contrast, and other parameters to a much greater extent without degrading the image quality. This is due to the fact that RAW files capture all the information from the camera's sensor without compression, while JPEG compresses this data, resulting in some loss of detail and dynamic range.

The other options do not accurately reflect the attributes of RAW files. For instance, RAW files are typically larger than JPEGs, making them more challenging to share and store, contradicting the idea that they are smaller or easier to handle. Additionally, RAW files often require specific software for viewing and editing, as most standard image viewers are designed for JPEG. Lastly, because RAW files contain more data, they actually require more storage space compared to JPEGs, which makes the statement about requiring less space inaccurate. Thus, the substantial advantage of working with RAW files lies in their ability to preserve detail for extensive and professional-level post-processing.