Client file download?

[Daniel W.]

Hey all!

I currently have my website run by Squarespace and hosted by GoDaddy. I'd like to make it possible to have my clients (who order digital files instead of prints) just download the files from the interwebs (as a .zip or something neat and compressed) instead of meeting to exchange a CD. Naturally, I'd like it to look a bit polished rather than just a plain file-directory, any thoughts on how do to so? I'm not a big fan of sending them to another site (i.e. a file sharing site like YouSendIt or Dropbox), as most require them to sign up. I'd rather have a generic login for them.

I typically deliver JPEGS, around 300-600MB total, if that makes a difference.

Thanks ya'll!

p.s. please, do not turn this into a "files vs. selling prints" discussion.

[Redneck]

Host your website and pictures at smugmug.com and sell your image downloads online.

Or make a nice CD and ship it by [input your favorite shipping carrier here].

Or use a shopping cart system with a file download feature.

[Daniel W.]

Thanks for your response! Well, changing my hosting at this point really isn't a viable option and I'm not a big fan of SmugMug's (at least of what I see to date from users) feels much more close-ended than I'd like to be. (Albeit Squarespace it also limited but it's not 100% photo-centered, which allows me to widely vary content as my body of work changes).

My current workflow/process already has me meeting with the client face-to-face (lightly noted on in the OP) to deliver a CD, but often times driving 20 minutes to meet halfway or spending more $ on shipping+packaging is less attractive than simply having an online download feature. Likewise, having the client go through and select individual images from a web-qual preview doesn't seem fair to them.

Basically, I'm just looking to integrate a file-retrieval setup for clients to get their images, in a manner that coincides and can be integrated with my current setup.

[mrsrice22]

I just create a separate directory, zip the folder/file and upload then email the link to them. On BlueHost, you can password protect the directories, so just give them the link with the username and password (it's one that you make up, not you log in).

I do this for family and friends, for clients I'm working on the separate directory and installing another wordpress theme thats pwd protected and within that site would be a gallery and a link to the .zip file.

[kayumangi]

But why not pad the cost of shipping and packaging into your prices, at least the customers have something tangible. Although, you're kinda missing a lot of revenue from prints but that's for another thread.

[Kalrog]

You can certainly do a password protected ftp site... but that would require your clients to know how to ftp stuff. And that is a bad assumption these days.

If you were selling single files - I can think of quite a few better delivery methods. I just switched from SmugMug to PhotoCart and if you like self hosting with all of the freedom (headaches) that entails then it might appeal to you as well. But while it is great about allowing the purchase and download of a file or 10 - when you get up into the CD size downloads (the 300MB+) then I don't think a download is truly feasible.

I think your problem is size and customer perception - not really technical.If you are delivering full CD data, then you are really best off providing that CD (my thoughts).

[Daniel W.]

The cost of ship/CD is part of the equation (in addition to insurance, gas, and whatnot) but lately I've been getting requests for lost discs and whatnot, which is an issue when I'm not immediately able to ship a new CD due to working from afar. Nathan you made a great point about the specific file size, and I'll make sure to reinvestigate the solution when I'm renewing web-presence service.

Thanks everyone!

[d2creative]

I've recently started using Photo Shelter for this and it rocks.
I use it as an online viewing gallery and then when all shots are approved by the client, I send them a link to the final gallery where they can download the entire thing at once, with my specifications regarding file size. Password protected, too. Or if it was portraits or something you are selling per shot, you can set up a pricing structure and sell the images with self fulfillment or choose one of their print vendors. You can upload original files to your archive (psd, tiff, etc) and then copy whatever images you want into galleries, and then specify what kind/size files are available for download to clients, or the general public. So with original files it's also another form of backup.

I know you didn't want to send them to another site, but it's been working out great for me so far. My normal website is my portfolio/selling tool, and photo shelter now handles everything else. It's professional looking and easy for the client, and it's easier for me as opposed to taking the time to export galleries out of lightroom, uploading them to my ftp server, and then later zipping files and uploading that and then sending the link out, and then later clearing space off my ftp.... etc.