Selling images online is easier than ever. With the ability to send private photography galleries to clients and do virtual and traditional in-person sales (IPS), PhotoBiz’s Proofing tool is a great way to sell your images from anywhere. With multiple download options including, web resolution and high-resolution images, you can sell and distribute images to your clients knowing your images are secure and the image quality is retained.
If your photography business model and customers require your files at their very best or original resolution, you may choose to enable our premium feature called Original Files.
Released last year, hundreds of photographers have enabled this premium feature to enhance what digital download options they offer their clients. But what are Original Files, and how can you utilize this feature? In this blog, we’ll compare image resolution options and explore how file storage works with PhotoBiz.
What is Original Files?
Original Files is an optional premium feature that allows you to upload, store, and sell your images with no compression, resizing, or optimization. You can upload images up to 50MB, any pixel size, and any DPI (normally the max file size you can upload is 4MB). This is great for selling large format files as well as storing your files.
Learn how PhotoBiz Original Files work
How does PhotoBiz image storage work?
Each PhotoBiz account includes space to store 5,000 images, with the ability to add more image space if you need. While we don’t offer an “unlimited plan” we are transparent about how many files or images you can store, right from the beginning.
When one image is uploaded, it counts as one image, regardless of the size. To ensure your files load quickly for both mobile devices and desktop computers, our system is engineered to automatically create both a web and high-resolution format of the image when it is uploaded.
If Original Files is enabled, our system will store three versions of each image you upload: (1) your original uncompressed image, (2) a web-resolution image, and (3) a high-resolution version. Our system determines which image to display when based on a number of factors. The Original Files are only available to you in your control panel and to your clients who purchase them.
Why isn't Original Files automatically enabled on PhotoBiz?
Original Files was created as a premium feature because not everyone wants to sell or needs to store their uncompressed images in their account. Some photographers only sell web and high-resolution digital images along with various printed products to have more creative control over the printing of their images. This premium feature is great for photographers who want their customers to purchase their full-size images and allow their customers to choose where and how their images are printed.
It really comes down to your business model. With Original Files enabled you can sell these digital images at a premium price (which will quickly compensate you for enabling this feature).
Not every business is the same, which is why we make this feature optional to let you choose how you want to sell your images.
Why is there no unlimited plan?
We’re transparent when it comes to what’s included in the PhotoBiz platform. We think it is valuable to be straightforward about how many images you can store in your account. Each new PhotoBiz account includes space to upload 5,000 files including images, PDFs, and other file formats. There are no varying degrees to what you get and our system optimizes the images you upload, so you don’t have to. If and when you need more space, there are options for that.
You don’t have to do any math to determine how many images can fit in a certain amount of space or read the fine print to uncover that “unlimited” really does have limits.
Even so, let’s do some math for a minute. If you upload 5,000 4MB files on any system, that’s 20 GB. If you upload 5,000 files that are each 50MB, that is 250GB. With PhotoBiz, there is no mystery as to how many files you can store, you get 5,000 files to start and if you need more there are options to grow.
Unfortunately plans advertised as unlimited rarely are. If you have an unlimited data plan on your phone, you may discover that once you use a certain amount of data, there are limitations like lower speeds. Unlimited photo storage plans are similar. Once you hit a certain amount of data, you discover there are limitations.
We choose to be straightforward and transparent about what you get — 5,000 files with options to grow.
Which resolution is right for me?
With three different image resolutions to sell to your clients, depending on your business model you can create packages that are easy for your customer to purchase at any size. Let’s go through the options available, and you can see which is best for you:
Web Resolution (4 MB, 72 DPI)
Perfect for social media sharing
Everyone loves sharing images online through social media. This size is perfect for that. You can sell web-resolution images individually or by creating a digital downloads package — it is super easy and you can make it profitable.
High Resolution (4 MB, 72 DPI)
Great for printing up to 11x16 inches
This size is great for your customers to get the images printed, up to 11x16 inches. By offering digital images in different sizes, you can sell them at different price points.
Original Files Resolution (Up to 50MB)
Enable for only $10/month
To sell and share large-format images, consider enabling Original Files on your PhotoBiz plan. This is great if you want your customers to print images larger than 11x16 inches.
Are Original Files right for your photography business?
It depends on your goals and business model. If you want your customers to do their own large format printing, then yes Original Files is a must. Not every photographer sells their original resolution images and that’s ok. If you do, for only $10/mo., this feature gives you a great way to sell and deliver these images to your clients.
What other files can I upload to my PhotoBiz account?
In the files section of your account, you upload many different file types, not just images. When Original files are enabled you can upload these files in larger sizes (up to 50MB) as well. Here is a list of file types you can upload into the document center:
JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF, TTF, OTF, WOFF2, PDF, PSD, DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, ZIP, ICO, MP3
How can I enable Original Files?
It is very simple! Log into your PhotoBiz account and click on the rocket in the bottom corner of the left side menu. This will take you to see our premium features and services. Once you click on Original Files, you can enable this feature.
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