Client Galleries vs. WeTransfer vs. Zip Files: An Honest Comparison
A seamless, professional photo delivery process can greatly enhance client satisfaction, word-of-mouth referrals, and optimise a photographer’s workflow. At Smiler, we believe that client happiness is paramount, and after delivering over 4 million photos through our platform, we've found that client galleries offer the best experience for both photographers and clients.
Yet, we understand that every business has unique needs, and what's ideal for one might not be for another. To help you make an informed decision, this article takes an objective look at the pros and cons of three popular photo delivery methods—Smiler Client Galleries, WeTransfer, and .ZIP files. By the end, you'll have a clear understanding of which method best aligns with your business and client needs, helping you make an informed choice.
Smiler Client Galleries vs. WeTransfer vs. Zip Files
Sending photos via Zip files are quick, they are limited by file size and lack professional presentation. WeTransfer allows easy, free sharing of large files but offers temporary storage and limitations. Client galleries provide a highly professional and seamless experience for clients, with mobile-friendly access and long-term storage but it can be limited in terms of customisation.
Smiler Client Galleries Pros and Cons
Pros of Smiler Client Galleries
- Professional presentation
- Ease of use for all parties involved
- Storage & security
- Upselling
Professional presentation
First impressions matter, and online galleries provide a polished, branded experience that elevates a photographer's work. They allow you to showcase photos in a beautiful, curated format that impresses clients.
Ease of use for all parties involved
Client photo galleries are designed with both photographers and clients in mind. Even clients who aren’t tech-savvy can easily browse, download, or share photos from any device without needing to deal with unzipping files or download links.
Intuitive navigation, responsive design for mobile devices, and easy-to-use sharing tools make it super straightforward for clients. It allows them to share their memories with friends, family and followers effortlessly, directly from their mobile devices, exposing your work to a broader audience.
Storage & security
Through online client galleries, only authorised clients can access and view their galleries. This is crucial for maintaining trust, especially when handling sensitive or private events. This level of security protects your clients' privacy while safeguarding your intellectual property from potential misuse or piracy. Plus, with watermarking options, you can protect your work and hide them behind a pay wall.
Upselling
One of the most compelling features of Smiler client galleries is the ability to upsell your work directly through the platform. This seamless integration of e-commerce functionality can open up new revenue streams, allowing you to monetise your work long after the initial shoot.
Cons of Smiler Client Galleries:
- Limited customisation
- 4% service fee
Limited customisation
Currently, Smiler client galleries don't allow for full gallery branding with personalised logos and colours. While the galleries are clean and professional, photographers can't yet tailor them completely to match their branding. We are actively working on adding these customisation features to give photographers more control over the look and feel of their galleries.
Service Fee
The Smiler Photographer Suite includes a mobile-friendly client gallery feature. While all of Suite's tools (including client galleries) are free to use, a 4% service fee applies when using payment links, which might be a downside for photographers seeking entirely free solutions. However, this service fee covers hosting, gallery creation, and transaction fees, adding convenience and a professional touch. Aside from the service fee, all of Smiler’s features are completely free to use!
WeTransfer (Cloud-Sharing Platforms)
Pros of WeTransfer
- Quick sharing
- Free to use
Quick sharing
WeTransfer allows for fast and easy file transfers, making it a great option for sending high-resolution images quickly. You can upload and send large files (up to 2GB for free) with just a few clicks, without the need for complicated setups or account creation.
Free to use
The free version offers enough space to send up to 2GB of files, making it a cost-effective option for small projects, which is perfect for those who don’t need regular or ongoing file storage.
Cons of WeTransfer
- Temporary storage
- Unprofessional presentation
- No customisation
Temporary storage
WeTransfer files your images for only a limited time—typically 7 days. After that, the download link expires, so clients must act quickly to save the images. This short timeframe can be inconvenient if the client misses the window and needs the files re-sent.
Unprofessional presentation
Files are sent as basic downloads without any visual presentation, which can feel unpolished for clients who are expecting a better user experience.
No customisation
WeTransfer doesn’t offer branding or personalisation options, so photographers can't add logos, watermarks, or customise the download experience for their clients.
Zip Files
Pros of Zip Files
- Batch organisation
- Free to use
Batch organisation
Unlike WeTransfer, Zip files allow photographers to bundle many files together into a single download, keeping everything neatly organised for the client and minimising the risk of missing files.
Free to use
Creating and sharing Zip files doesn’t require any additional software or fees, making it a cost-effective solution for photographers.
Cons of Zip Files
- Unprofessional presentation
- Limited capabilities
- Need for a delivery tool
Unprofessional presentation
Zip files are purely functional. They don’t provide a visual gallery or branded experience, which can detract from the overall professionalism of delivering images to clients.
Limited capabilities
Clients can't preview the images until they unzip the folder, making it less convenient. Plus, there's no possibility to add logos, watermarks, or customise the download experience for clients.
Need for a delivery tool
While Zip files prevent compression and maintain the original quality of your images, sending them still requires an extra tool such as a cloud service like WeTransfer or Google Drive, to handle larger file sizes.
Plus, more often than not, Zip files can lead to confusion or frustration, especially for those clients who aren’t tech-savvy. The unzipping step might feel cumbersome and lacks the polished, professional touch that photographers strive for when delivering their work.
Key Takeaways
Each of the three types of photo sharing methods—Smiler client galleries vs. WeTransfer vs. Zip Files—comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages depending on the needs of your photography business.
Pros and Cons of Smiler Client Galleries
Smiler client galleries offer a professional look, easy access for clients, and long-term storage. However, while customisation features are in development, they are currently limited, and there is a 4% service fee involved.
Pros and Cons of WeTransfer
WeTransfer is quick and free for files up to 2GB but only offers temporary storage (7 days) and lacks customisation or visual presentation.
Pros and Cons of Zip Files
Zip files are free, require no extra tools, and compress large files but need unzipping, lack professionalism, and don’t allow additional features like watermarking or branding.
Up Next:
The Best Way to Share Photos with Clients: Client Photo Galleries
Upselling for Photographers: Tips to Boost Your Photography Business