Send RAW photos as original files, with any agreed sidecars or editing information, through a downloadable transfer. For a client who wants finished images, provide the edited exports separately. A RAW file and a finished JPEG serve different purposes.
Before preparing hundreds of images, agree on what the recipient actually needs. A retoucher may want RAW files and editing instructions; a client choosing images may need previews; a print lab may specify a particular export format and color profile.
Separate originals, edits, and previews
Create folders named Originals, Edited, and Previews only when those categories are part of the delivery. Keep filenames consistent across versions so a recipient can match a preview to its source. For example, IMG_0421.CR3 and IMG_0421_edit.jpg are easier to pair than unrelated filenames.
If your workflow stores adjustments in sidecar files, include them alongside the corresponding originals. Explain which application and version produced the edits. A sidecar does not guarantee that a different editing application will reproduce the same appearance.
Export the intended version
In Photos on Mac, File → Export → Export Unmodified Original exports the imported original format. Apple also documents an option for exporting IPTC information as XMP. A Live Photo exports as a still-image file and a video file; keep both when that behavior matters to the recipient. See Apple's export instructions.
If you need the appearance of your edited photograph, export the edited version too. “Original” is not a synonym for “finished.” Check the export by opening it outside the photo library before you package the delivery.
Keep full resolution through the transfer
- Export to a normal folder and confirm the expected file extensions and dimensions.
- Record the number of images and the total folder size.
- Upload the files or package the folder as a ZIP.
- Download a representative RAW, an edited image, and any needed sidecar from the recipient link.
- Ask the recipient to confirm that their software opens the files.
A gallery preview may be smaller than the original. Tell the recipient to use the original download, not save a browser thumbnail or take a screenshot. If an application cannot open a RAW format, provide an agreed viewing copy while preserving the original delivery.
Include a short delivery note
State the image count, intended use of each folder, editing software where relevant, and link expiry. Mention any deliberately excluded files. For privacy-sensitive work, inspect location metadata and remove it from a delivery copy if appropriate; retain your source separately.
For example: “Originals contains 180 RAW files for retouching. Edited contains 25 approved JPEGs for publication. Please download both folders before the stated deadline and confirm the counts.”
Common questions
Will a ZIP reduce photo quality?
Ordinary ZIP compression is lossless. Extracting the archive restores the stored files. Whether the archive becomes much smaller depends on the source formats.
Should every client receive RAW files?
That depends on the agreed deliverables and the client's workflow. Confirm the requirement first; sending extra originals can create confusion about which images are approved.
For a large photo delivery, our guide to pCloud alternatives explores options for transferring files rather than maintaining a shared photo library.
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