Photographers use RAW+JPEG when they want a finished file immediately, with RAW kept as backup and flexibility.

Common reasons:

• JPEGs are ready to use right away: easy to email, share, deliver quickly, or preview without conversion.
• JPEGs load faster on slower computers, tablets, or other devices, so they’re convenient for browsing during or after a shoot.
• For things like timelapse, small JPEGs can be quickly reviewed while the RAWs are kept for final processing.
• If your camera makes JPEGs you already like, the JPEG may be your main output and the RAW is a safety net for exposure, white balance, or other corrections.

So the main advantage of JPEG isn’t just smaller size — it’s that it’s already a processed image. RAW+JPEG is useful when you want speed and convenience now, but still want the editing latitude of RAW if needed later.

If you always process every image yourself and don’t need instant previews or delivery, shooting RAW only is often simpler.