Quick answer: Photographers send proofs, final galleries and RAW files that run from a few hundred MB to tens of GB per shoot. Upload them to Share Large Video Files (up to 20 GB and 1000 files per transfer), tick Client review and View only for proofs so the client hearts favourites on watermarked previews, then deliver the edited full-resolution set on a normal link with your logo on the download page.
Files photographers send, and how big they get
| File | Format | Typical size |
|---|---|---|
| RAW photo, 24 MP camera | CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, DNG | about 25 to 35 MB each |
| RAW photo, 45 to 61 MP camera | CR3, NEF, ARW | about 50 to 90 MB each |
| Edited JPEG, full resolution | JPG | about 8 to 25 MB each |
| 16-bit TIFF, 45 MP (uncompressed) | TIF | about 270 MB each |
| Layered retouch | PSD, PSB | 200 MB to several GB |
| Wedding gallery, 500 edited JPEGs | JPG in a folder or ZIP | about 5 to 10 GB |
The TIFF figure is worked out: 45 million pixels × 3 colours × 2 bytes = 270 MB before any compression.
Can it go by email or chat?
Can you send a 500-photo wedding gallery (about 5 GB) as an attachment?
| App | Limit | Fits? |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail | 25 MB per email | No, send a link |
| Outlook.com | 20 to 25 MB per email | No, send a link |
| WhatsApp (document) | 2 GB per file | No, send a link |
| Telegram | 2 GB per file | No, send a link |
| Facebook Messenger | 100 MB per file | No, send a link |
| Discord (free) | 20 MB per file | No, send a link |
| Slack | 1 GB per file | No, send a link |
| WeTransfer (free) | 3 GB per transfer | No, send a link |
| Share Large Video Files | 20 GB per transfer | Send the link anywhere |
Limits from our file size limits by app table, checked against each service's help pages.
A workflow that works
- Proofs: export web-size or full JPEGs and upload the folder. Open More options, tick Client review and View only (no downloads), keep the watermark on.
- Set Who can open the link to Anyone who confirms their email, so each favourite and comment comes with a real name.
- The client hearts favourites, comments on individual photos and presses Approve or Request changes. You see the list of favourites with file names on your Transfers page, ready to filter in Lightroom.
- Delivery: upload the final edits on a new, normal link with Brand the download page (your logo and message) and the longest expiry. Tick Email me when it's downloaded to know the gallery arrived.
- RAW handover (when agreed in the contract): zip the RAW folder and send it separately with a password.
Recommended options
| Option (under More options) | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Client review | On (proofs) | Favourites, comments and a clear approve button instead of numbers in a chat |
| View only (no downloads) | On (proofs before payment) | Clients see watermarked previews, not full-resolution files |
| Who can open the link | Anyone who confirms their email | Names every favourite and watermark |
| Brand the download page | Your logo, name and website | Delivery looks like your studio, not a generic site |
| Custom short link | e.g. smith-wedding | Easy to print on a card or read out |
| Email me when it's downloaded | On (delivery) | Know when the client has the files |
Open the upload page with the “Photo proofs” settings on: the client confirms their email, hearts favourites and approves; previews are view only with your watermark. Send the full-size finals as a second transfer. You can change anything before sending, then press Save current next to Preset to keep your own version for every shoot.
Tidy file names and a quick overview
Camera names like IMG_4821.JPG mean nothing to a client. Before uploading, rename the set in one go with the free batch rename tool (for example Smith wedding 001.jpg), in your browser and without uploading anything. On the download page the client sees thumbnails of the photos and a contact sheet of the whole set, so they know what they are getting before they download.
RAW or JPEG: what to send
Most clients want edited JPEGs, and RAW files need software to open. If you do hand over RAW, send them as they came off the card (do not convert to DNG unless asked), zip the folder so file names and order survive, and say which camera made them so the recipient knows which RAW converter to use. See sharing RAW photos.
Frequently asked questions
How do photographers send a full gallery to a client?
Upload the edited JPEGs as one transfer (up to 20 GB) and send the link. Add your logo with Brand the download page and the client downloads everything with one button.
Can a client pick favourites without downloading?
Yes. Tick Client review and View only: they heart photos on watermarked previews, and you get the list of chosen file names.
Are photos compressed?
No. Downloads are the exact files you uploaded, unlike WhatsApp or social media. Only view-only previews are shown in the browser with a watermark.
How long do galleries stay online?
Transfers expire after 1 day. Ask clients to download promptly, and keep your own archive: a transfer link is not long-term storage.
Can I send RAW files?
Yes, any format. Zip the folder so the files stay together, and add a password if the RAW handover is part of a paid agreement.
Ready to send?
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Send with Photo proofs settings