Is it illegal not to distribute all negatives?

Legal analysis: not illegal. There is no explicit provision on whether a photo studio takes pictures. You need to ask or negotiate in advance, and the price may vary depending on whether you give the film or not. Because the negative is the result of the photographer's labor, the studio often takes a lot of unnecessary photos. The photos that the average customer has not selected will not be given to the studio because they are not included in the shooting price. So the studio can't give all the negatives.

Legal basis: Article 577 of the Civil Code of People's Republic of China (PRC). If one party fails to perform its contractual obligations or fails to meet the contract obligations, it shall bear the liabilities for breach of contract such as continuing to perform, taking remedial measures or compensating for losses.