Best Way to Send Large Photo Files to Clients 2025 (Photographer's Guide)

Let me guess how you found this article.

You just tried to email 30 photos to a client. The email bounced. "Attachment size exceeds limit."

So you tried compressing the files. Now they look like garbage, and you're a professional photographer—you can't send compressed, pixelated images.

You're Googling "best way to send large photo files" at 11 PM, and here we are.

I've been there. Let me save you some headaches and show you what actually works.

Why Email Doesn't Work for Photos (And Never Will)

First, let's get this out of the way: email is terrible for sending photos. Full stop.

Email attachment limits: - Gmail: 25 MB total - Outlook: 20 MB - Yahoo: 25 MB - Most corporate servers: 10 MB

Your typical photo file sizes: - JPEG from modern camera: 8-15 MB each - Edited TIFF: 50-100 MB - RAW file: 25-50 MB

Do the math. You can send maybe 2-3 JPEGs per email before hitting the limit.

For a portrait session with 30 finals? That's 10-15 separate emails.

Your client's inbox: "Photos 1-3" "Photos 4-6" "Photos 7-9" "Re: Photos 7-9 (resend)" "FINAL Photos 10-12"

This is chaos. There has to be a better way.

(Spoiler: there is.)

Method #1: WeTransfer (The "Good Enough" Option)

Look, I'm not going to pretend WeTransfer doesn't work. It does. Sort of.

How it works: 1. Upload your files (up to 2GB free) 2. Enter client's email 3. Click send 4. Client gets download link 5. Link expires in 7 days

Pros: - Super easy to use - No account required (free version) - Works for big files - Fast uploads

Cons: - Links expire after 7 days (big problem) - No professional branding (shows WeTransfer logo, not yours) - Client must download everything at once - No way for clients to select favorites - If client loses files? You're re-uploading everything

Real situation that happened to me:

Sent wedding photos via WeTransfer. Couple was on honeymoon for 10 days. Link expired before they got home. They emailed asking for the photos. I had to re-upload 487 images. Again.

Lesson learned: expiring links are not your friend.

When WeTransfer works okay: - One-time file transfer to tech-savvy clients - Sending files to editors/assistants - Emergency delivery when nothing else works

When it doesn't: - Client deliveries (they need long-term access) - Wedding photos (too important to expire) - Clients who travel - Anyone who might lose files and need to re-download

Method #2: Google Drive (The "Everyone Has It" Option)

Google Drive feels like the obvious choice. Everyone has Gmail, right?

How it works: 1. Upload photos to Google Drive folder 2. Share folder link with client 3. Client downloads from Drive

Pros: - No file size limits (15GB free, 2TB for $10/month) - Links don't expire - Everyone knows how to use Google products (theoretically) - Can organize in folders

Cons: - Looks completely unprofessional - Confusing folder navigation - Clients often can't figure out how to download - No selection capability - No branding - Mixes your business and personal files

The emails you'll receive: "How do I download these?" "I clicked 'add to my drive' but I don't see them?" "The files downloaded as a ZIP and I don't know what that means?" "I'm on my iPhone and it's not working?"

Every. Single. Time.

I used Google Drive for six months when I started. I spent more time providing tech support than I did shooting photos.

When Google Drive works: - Sharing with other photographers - Personal backup - Collaboration with editors - Internal team file sharing

When it's terrible: - Professional client deliveries - Anyone over 50 years old - Mobile-only users - Clients who need to select specific images

Method #3: Dropbox (Google Drive's Cousin)

Dropbox is basically the same story as Google Drive, but with a few differences.

Pros: - Slightly more intuitive than Google Drive (maybe) - Better mobile app - Good syncing

Cons: - Free plan is only 2GB (basically useless for photographers) - Paid plans are expensive ($12/month minimum) - Still no professional presentation - Still confuses clients - Still requires accounts for some features

I had a client call me once, genuinely upset:

"I don't want to create a Dropbox account just to see my photos. Can't you just email them?"

That's when I realized—adding friction to the delivery process makes clients unhappy. Even if the tool works great for *you*, if it's annoying for *them*, it's the wrong tool.

Method #4: Professional Photography Galleries (The "Actually Professional" Option)

Okay, here's what I wish someone had told me three years ago:

Stop using file-sharing tools designed for documents. Use tools designed for photographers.

What professional galleries do differently:

1. They look professional Your logo. Your colors. Your branding. Not WeTransfer's branding. Not Google's interface. *Yours.*

When clients open your gallery, they see a beautiful presentation of their photos—not a folder full of file names.

2. They work on any device Your client opens the link on their phone while sitting at a coffee shop? Perfect. It works.

Their dad wants to see on his iPad? Works.

Grandma clicks on her ancient desktop computer? Also works.

No app downloads. No account creation. Just click and view.

3. Clients can actually select favorites This is huge.

Instead of: "Please download all images and email me which ones you want"

You get: Client clicks hearts on their favorites, you receive instant notification of exactly which images they selected.

No more: - "I like DSC_4782 and the one where I'm smiling" (which one? There are 50) - Emailing back and forth about file names - Clients sending 40MB emails that bounce - Confusion about which photos are the finals

4. Links don't expire Client needs to download their photos again in 6 months because their laptop died? No problem. Link still works.

You're not re-uploading anything. They're not panicking. Everyone's happy.

5. You save hours of time I track everything because I'm nerdy like that.

Time per delivery with Google Drive/WeTransfer: - Upload files: 15 min - Create folder/transfer: 5 min - Write email with instructions: 10 min - Answer client questions: 15 min - Resend when link expires or client loses files: 20 min - Total: 65 minutes per client

**Time per delivery with professional gallery: - Upload files: 5 min (drag and drop) - Gallery auto-created: 0 min - Email automatically sent: 0 min - Client questions: 2 min (rare) - Resending: 0 min (link never expires) - Total: 7 minutes per client**

58 minutes saved per client.

I deliver to 15 clients monthly. That's 14.5 hours monthly I'm not spending on delivery logistics.

What I Actually Use Now

After trying everything, here's my honest setup:

For client deliveries: Professional photography gallery platform

Why: - Clients love the presentation - Mobile-friendly (most clients view on phones first) - Visual selection (click hearts, no file management) - Permanent access (no expired links) - Automatic notifications (I know when they've viewed or selected) - Looks professional (my branding, not generic tech company branding)

For file backup: Backblaze (separate from delivery)

Why: - Automatic cloud backup - Unlimited storage - Disaster recovery - Not client-facing

For team collaboration: Google Drive

Why: - Works fine for sharing between professionals - Not client-facing - Free

For emergency transfers: WeTransfer

Why: - Quick and easy - When I need to send something RIGHT NOW - Maybe twice a year

Separating client delivery from file storage was a game-changer. Different tools for different purposes.

How to Choose the Right Method for You

Here's a simple decision tree:

Are you delivering to clients?

→ Yes → Use professional photography gallery

Do you need clients to select specific images?

→ Yes → Definitely use professional gallery

Are you sending to other photographers/editors?

→ WeTransfer or Google Drive is fine

Do you want to look professional?

→ Yes → Professional gallery → No → Why are you even a professional photographer?

Are you tired of tech support emails from clients?

→ Yes → Professional gallery (intuitive design = fewer questions)

Do you value your time?

→ Yes → Automate with professional gallery

See the pattern?

For almost every client delivery scenario, the answer is the same: use tools built for photographers, not generic file transfer services.

Real Photographer Experiences

Don't just take my word for it. Here's what happened when other photographers switched:

Marcus, wedding photographer:

"I used WeTransfer for 2 years. Links expired, couples panicked, I re-uploaded galleries constantly. Switched to ChosenShots. Zero expired link issues. Couples can access their wedding photos forever. Should've done this way earlier."

Lisa, portrait photographer:

"Google Drive was killing me. So many 'how do I download' emails. My clients are busy moms—they don't have time for tech confusion. New gallery platform has cut my client questions by 90%. Everyone can figure out 'click the heart, download your favorites.'"

David, family photographer:

"The visual selection feature alone is worth it. Clients used to email me things like 'the one with the tree' or 'photo number 12 I think?' Now they just click hearts. I get a notification with exactly which images they selected. Game changer."

Common Questions Answered

Q: "Isn't a professional gallery platform just another expense?"

A: Let's do the math.

Gallery platform: ~$30-50/month

Time saved: 14+ hours monthly

Your hourly rate: $75 (probably higher)

Time value: 14 hours × $75 = $1,050

Investment: $50

Savings: $1,000

Plus: clients are happier, you look more professional, you can charge more.

So... no. It's not an expense. It's an investment that pays for itself in the first day.

Q: "My clients are older and not tech-savvy. Will they figure it out?"

A: Funny thing—my oldest clients (60s-70s) have the easiest time with professional galleries.

Why? Because they're intuitive. Click to view photos. Click heart to favorite. Download.

Google Drive's interface with "add to drive" vs "download" vs "make a copy"? That confuses everyone.

Simple is universal. Good design works for everyone.

Q: "What if I only shoot a few times a month? Is it worth it?"

A: Even at 3 clients per month:

58 minutes saved per client = 2.9 hours monthly

2.9 hours × $75/hour = $217.50 value

Cost: $30-50

Still worth it. Plus the professional presentation often leads to referrals, which leads to more clients.

Q: "Can I just keep using what I'm using?"

A: Sure. You can also keep using a flip phone and writing invoices by hand.

But why would you?

Better tools exist. Use them.

The Bottom Line

The best way to send large photo files to clients is: stop thinking about "sending files" and start thinking about "delivering an experience."

Your clients don't want files. They want their beautiful photos presented beautifully, easy to view, easy to select from, and available whenever they need them.

File transfer services (WeTransfer, Google Drive, Dropbox) are designed for business documents, not photography.

Professional gallery platforms are designed for exactly what you're doing: showing clients their photos and letting them choose favorites.

The difference in client experience is night and day.

The difference in your time investment is 58 minutes per client.

The difference in how professional you look is impossible to quantify but absolutely real.

Ready to stop wrestling with file transfer services? Try ChosenShots' professional galleries free for 14 days and see why photographers don't go back to WeTransfer.

What's the Best Way to Send Large Photo Files to Clients in 2025?