Photographer + client workflow

You're delivering files to a commissioning client. The client does not have a ZenTransfer account and shouldn't need one. They need to receive files cleanly, with the right credit and rights information, and know how to download them.

Scenario¶

Commercial, wedding, portrait, or editorial commission delivery. Could be a single set of finished images at the end of the job, a steady stream during a shoot, or both. The client wants the photos, not a new app to learn.

What ZenTransfer offers for client delivery¶

What ZenTransfer does not offer¶

• No client approval / proofing workflow
• No comment, annotation, or "select your favorites" tools
• No client login or role
• No public share for your private Browser — only galleries are client-facing

If the client needs to mark selections or approve a final set, that's a downstream tool (Pixieset, ShootProof, etc.). ZenTransfer handles delivery, not collaboration on the client side.

Email delivery¶

Add an email recipient under File Relay in your dashboard. When a file arrives at ZenTransfer with this destination enabled, the recipient gets an email with a traceable download link.

Properties:

• One email per file (or batched depending on your settings)
• Download link is unique and can be tracked
• Links work without a ZenTransfer account
• Useful for "send the final headshot" or "send today's selects"

See Email destination guide.

Shared cloud folder delivery¶

For ongoing or larger volumes, connect the client's cloud:

• They share a folder in their Google Drive / Dropbox / OneDrive with you
• You connect that cloud as a destination
• Enable it for the assignment
• Files appear in their folder as you shoot or upload

This works well for commercial clients who already use a particular cloud and want assets in their workspace.

See Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive.

Gallery + share link delivery¶

The most polished client experience. Best for wedding, portrait, and event finals.

1. Create a gallery from the dashboard
2. Enable gallery ingest and select that gallery as the active gallery, or upload finals directly through the gallery editor
3. From the gallery editor, generate a share link
4. Set permissions: VIEW only, or VIEW + DOWNLOAD
5. Set an expiry that gives the client time but doesn't last forever
6. Send the link

The client opens the link, browses a clean grid, optionally downloads individual files or a bulk ZIP. The share page is mobile-friendly.

See Galleries and sharing.

What the client sees¶

Recommended setup¶

• Metadata template for client work — your byline, copyright, credit line they may want as the source
• Gallery named for the client / assignment, with ingest enabled
• Cloud folder destination if the client provided one
• Email recipient for individual file requests during the project
• Backup destination always enabled so you keep your own copy

Choosing expiry on share links¶

Expired share links return a clean error page; you can extend or regenerate when the client asks.

During the job¶

For live galleries (clients watching a wedding cocktail hour from afar):

1. Create the gallery, enable ingest, share the link before the event
2. Shoot — files appear in the gallery in near-real-time
3. The share page updates automatically (live indicator on the logo)
4. Disable gallery ingest after the event so future shoots don't accidentally land there

Common mistakes¶

• Share link without DOWNLOAD permission when the client needs files — they can browse but not save
• Share link expired before the client downloaded — extend or regenerate
• Promising approval workflow that ZenTransfer doesn't provide — set expectations before the job
• Wrong gallery active when ingest is enabled — wedding files appearing in a corporate client's gallery
• Metadata template with wrong credit for the client relationship

Branding and customisation¶

Galleries display under your account branding. The share page is mobile-friendly, fast, and looks professional. If a client wants a fully branded portal, that's the boundary at which a downstream proofing tool fits — you can deliver to that tool from a ZenTransfer destination.

Related reading¶

• Galleries and sharing
• Email destination guide
• Multi-destination delivery