Best Ways to Share Photos With Clients as a Freelancer
In today’s digital age, where visuals play a vital role in communication and marketing, photographers and creative professionals constantly seek efficient and secure ways to share photos with their clients.
With the rapid evolution of technology, a wide variety of new avenues have emerged, transforming how we interact with and deliver visual content. In this article, we will explore the best and most secure methods for sharing photos with your clients.
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Cloud-Based File Sharing and Storage Services
One of the best ways to share photos with clients is through cloud-based file sharing and storage. The benefits of using this sharing method for sharing photos include ease, data security, and efficiency. Photographers can simply upload their photos to their preferred cloud storage platform and create a folder to share with their clients. This can be done by sharing a link or sending an email.
Some popular examples include:
- Google Drive: Google Drive comes free with every Google account, albeit with limited storage. With a free Google Workspace plan, users can get up to 50GB of free storage on Google Drive.
- Dropbox: Dropbox is another excellent way to share photos with your clients, and plans start at just $9.99 per month. With this plan, users get up to 2TB of cloud storage.
- OneDrive: OneDrive is included in a Microsoft 365 subscription and includes up to 1TB of cloud storage per user.
Online Client Galleries and Proofing Platforms
Client proofing is the process of sharing photos with clients so that they can determine which ones they would like the photographer to edit and send to them. This can be accomplished through online galleries that allow clients to make comments and select the photos that they want sent to them.
Some of the best proofing platforms include:
- CloudSpot: CloudSpot is more than just a photo-sharing platform; this platform offers unlimited galleries to send to clients. It also allows for integrations with Lightroom, Stripe, and YouTube, even on their free plan.
- PixieSet: Pixieset is an excellent choice for photographers in need of a tool that offers client proofing, stores, galleries, and business management. They offer a free plan and offer additional features from $8 a month.
- SmugMug: Some of SmugMug’s features include Lightroom integration, customizable privacy controls, and unlimited storage, including for RAW files, for every tier.
File Transfer Services
If you prefer to simply send your clients a .zip file containing their images without the hassle of setting up a cloud storage account or paying for a proofing platform, then these free file transfer services are perfect for you. One of the benefits of using file transfer sites is that they do not compress the quality of the images at all.
Some of the best file transfer tools include:
- WeTransfer: One of the easiest and quickest ways to send large files is through WeTransfer. This platform allows you to upload images and videos to their website and automatically sends an access link to your desired email address.
- SendGB: SendGB works in a similar fashion to WeTransfer, and allows users to upload and send up to 5GB at once with their free plan.
- FileTransfer.io: With FileTransfer.io, users can upload and send up to 6GB at a time, and up to 50 downloads are allowed per file. Additionally, your upload will be saved and available to download for up to 21 days, eliminating the need for urgency.
Collaboration & Communication Tools
One of the simplest methods for sharing photos with clients is through online collaboration tools. However, this is best for proofing, as the image quality may be compressed on these platforms. Photographers can then use one of the other tools outlined in this article to share the finished photos.
Some examples of collaboration tools include:
- Slack: Slack is a staple for teams, and allows for seamless and instant online communication. Photographers can send images to clients through Slack, so that they can determine which ones they want edited.
- Asana: Asana is a project management tool that allows for clients and professionals to work together on multiple projects at one time. This helps to keep clients updated on the progress of edits, and can also be used for sharing photos with clients.
- Trello: Trello works in a similar way to Asana, albeit with a more user-friendly interface. Users can add ‘cards’ to columns that represent the different tasks or stages of a project and keep clients in the loop without the need for written communication.
Customized Online Portfolios and Websites
Photographers can share examples of their previous work through online portfolios and websites, by uploading their best photos to these platforms and sharing them with potential clients to determine whether they are the right fit for their needs. Professional websites can also be useful for discoverability and for building a strong online presence.
Examples of online portfolio and website builders include:
- Wix: Wix is arguably one of the most user-friendly website builders out there, and offers free hosting and web design capabilities. Photographers can create their own portfolio website with ease and with zero coding knowledge and showcase their best images for clients to see.
- SquareSpace: Photographers can use one of SquareSpace’s many portfolio templates to design their own portfolio website.
- Behance: While Behance is technically a social media platform for creatives to share their work, it doubles as a great portfolio. Photographers can simply upload their photos onto their profiles and share this link with potential clients.
Conclusion
Today’s age brings forth a diverse range of secure methods for sharing photos with clients, providing photographers and creative professionals with an array of options to suit their specific needs. From cloud-based file sharing to online portfolios, there are a variety of methods for sharing photos with clients.
Whether you are looking to transfer edited photos to clients or share your best with with prospects, this comprehensive list of secure photo sharing methods has an option for every need.
