How do you "deliver" your photos to the client?

I'm curious how everybody does this. Currently I'm using Google Drive, which has a great way to visualize all the photos and for those that are savvy it's easy to download all the photos or just the photos you want. The problem I'm running into is that most of the realtors I encounter are not tech savvy. In fact I would classify them in the tech deficient category. I have a lot of problems with them trying to download the full resolution photos because they right click and do a "Save as" which always results in a much lower resolution photo because of the way Google presents the photos to the user. I use Gmail for my email, so emailing the pictures actually results in the same thing as putting them on Google Drive...

I'm not concerned with privacy or protection, I allow them to do whatever they want with the photos, they are their's as far as I'm concerned. They can share the link if they want and allow anybody to download. As long as they aren't easily searched by just any yokel on the internet then I'm fine. It'd also be nice if they can download the entire album in one go rather than having to download photos one-by-one.

How does everybody else do this? Any perfect solutions?

They can download a zip file off my own server, but I usually give them the images in a branded USB flash drive: it's an extra customer service detail, and it gives them the sense of 'ownership' after the purchase that we all like so much.

My clients are mostly regulars who want my photos as quickly as possible so I use DropBox for delivery. Some of them use the download button which gives them a zip file of all of the photos I've uploaded, others have loaded the DropBox application and they get the photos delivered directly to their computer seconds after I upload them. DropBox has worked well for me.

If they are not regulars I send them a link to the DropBox folder with a note explaining how to download the photos. That has also worked well except in one case where it took a couple of tries to instruct on the download process.

I had a friend recommend DropBox to me as well. I may give that a try. For now I've configured Owncloud on a host that I've had for an existing website. It was super simple to configure and I think it will suit my needs pretty well. Downloading files doesn't require a login (like Google Drive does) but is otherwise very similar. If client are still having a hard time then maybe I'll look into Dropbox.

So far just emailing the photos in gmail has been preferred. I mentioned dropbox and got a dumb look.... :/
I'm considering the USB drive. We'll see. Depends how cheap I can fetch 1GB drives for since 30 photos isn't real large.

I'd love to send them in USB Business cards. (Reusable) but they are like $5 each. Could just build that into my pricing I guess. So they get a little USB flash drive business card each time.

I'll be tuning into this to hear from others. I also did a Virtual tour on tourbuzz, But she just downloaded the photos and made her own tour on remax. Not sure why she wanted me to create one.. and at $15...

I use Dropbox most of the time, but for folks not used to the service, I upload onto my ftp server (yeah, I still have one, haha) and send them a link to a zipped up file with all of the photos. Some of my eldest clients request DVD-R discs, for which I'd have to dust off a spindle of DVDs and pray that my dvd drive can still write.

That sounds like a good idea =) I'm gonna have to look into those.

I'm in the boat with all the other DropBox users. It seems to work rather well, but again, for the realtors that literally don't know how to save a file to their computer, what else can you do..? Those realtors are being phased out of the business pretty quickly as technology is getting more involved.

FTP the zip file to my site. Give them a link and let them download it. Now if they want a gallery then no problem since I'm proficient with code. Just set up a PhP based gallery that's pulling images from a SQL database. Badabing few mins later it's up and running. They're happy because they can just link their friends and family super fast and I'm happy because as they spread the link all over their little social media, it comes back to the gallery I've set up for them with my contact info. And more business from those looking. $$$$$$

Dropbox

jnecr wrote in post #17917713
I had a friend recommend DropBox to me as well. I may give that a try. For now I've configured Owncloud on a host that I've had for an existing website. It was super simple to configure and I think it will suit my needs pretty well. Downloading files doesn't require a login (like Google Drive does) but is otherwise very similar. If client are still having a hard time then maybe I'll look into Dropbox.

I've been trying to configure OwnCloud on my home NAS forever and can never get it to work right. I have an installation on my web host as well but the space is limited. I recently purchased a WD MyCloud drive and so far it's been pretty solid with 4tb of space.

I deliver via TourBuzz. All my houses get a virtual tour from them and a "Client Panel" from which they can edit the tour and download image files. There is no additional charge for the tour and no subscription for either the client or me - only a $15 one time charge. Setting up the tour is easy and fast after you have set up your preferences.

I follow up with a CD, mailed or hand delivered depending on which is easier, with the image files. Since they can download whatever they want from TourBuzz, I consider the CD to be just an archive/file copy.

Hi. Since a few weeks I joined http://photo-xl.com/index.php
This is a new platform to present en sell photos.
They focus on fast selling photos in the touristic sector.
The site is still under construction and will be launched end of september.
No costs, no contracts and it's for free

.

Jean La Fayette wrote in post #18096322
Hi. Since a few weeks I joined www.PHOTO-XL.com
This is a new platform to present en sell photos.
They focus on fast selling photos in the touristic sector.
The site is still under construction and will be launched end of september.
No costs, no contracts and it's for free

.

Interesting - but, even though I have some Dutch ancestry, I don't read Dutch and the drop down to change the language doesn't work.

Hi.
You right. Click at the red photo-xl logo to refresh the page.
Then the site will bring you to the index area. http://photo-xl.com/index.php
Succes.
Jean

A while back I used Dropbox myself but it's ugly, unbranded and clumsy at best. I was looking to somehow integrate a distribution from my site (Wordpress at that time) and wasn't satisfied with many of the choices as I was also looking for fulfilment for prints. I checked out a few and finally settled on SmugMug. I'm at the first payment tier (not the pro) and while I can't do multiple price lists (which would be nice and maybe in the future) it does give easy access to customer files within a few clicks. Folders can also be password protected to keep unauthorized access. A nice feature for boudoir clients.

I have to say, their online design process is a bit clumsy but once you get the hang of it making changes becomes easier. You can click on the first link in my signature line below to see how I use their service for portfolio, clients and general event photography.

Hope this helps.