How to send photos to clients professionally.

1. Separate previews from final files

Preview files and final files have different jobs. Previews help a client make decisions; finals are the polished deliverables. Keeping those stages separate prevents unedited work from being mistaken for finished work and makes download permissions easier to control.

2. Explain what the client should do

Every share should answer three questions: what am I looking at, what should I do, and by when? A short note can explain whether the client is selecting favourites, reviewing a proof or simply downloading finals. If there is no deadline, say so rather than creating unnecessary urgency.

3. Use private access that fits the project

A private project link is usually cleaner than a public folder. It gives the client one destination and allows the photographer to control the project lifecycle. Use expiry or revocation controls when appropriate and avoid sending sensitive project material through open public links.

4. Keep final delivery clean

When the edits are complete, make the final gallery obviously different from the proofing stage. Provide straightforward download actions, preserve sensible filenames and avoid mixing old previews into the final delivery area unless the client still needs them for context.

5. Keep the project record together

A connected project makes support easier later. If the client asks which images were selected or whether the final files were delivered, the photographer should not have to search several services and email threads to reconstruct the history.

6. Choose transfer software that fits the photography workflow

If the job only needs a one-off transfer, a general file-transfer service may be enough. When the client must review previews, choose favourites, preserve filenames and receive finals later, use a workflow that keeps those stages connected.

See file transfer for photographers →