← PhotoShare

PhotoShare

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

What is PhotoShare?

PhotoShare is a private photo delivery service. Photographers and creators use it to share polished, password-optional galleries with clients, families, or businesses — without social platforms, algorithms, or noise.

Do I need to create an account to use PhotoShare?

No — not for anyone. PhotoShare has no accounts, no sign-ups, and no passwords of our own. We don't collect your personal information, your email address, or any profile data. Photographers get a private management link, secured by a private key, when they create a gallery, and that link is all they ever need. No login, no dashboard, no account recovery emails.

Clients don't need anything at all — just the gallery link you send them.

Do my clients need to create an account to view or download photos?

No. Clients open a unique private link — that's it. No sign-up, no app, no friction. If you've set a gallery password they'll be prompted to enter it, but otherwise it just opens.

How do I share a gallery?

From your management page, copy your gallery link and send it however you like — email, text, WhatsApp, client portal, wherever. Every gallery gets a unique private link, and you have two options for how that link looks:

Option 1 — Auto-generated private link (default)

When you create a gallery, we automatically assign a unique URL made up of three random words — something like: silver-maple-crane.photo.expirefile.com
With hundreds of millions of possible combinations, the link is effectively unguessable. No one stumbles upon it by accident. This is the easiest option and requires nothing from you. Additionally, you can add a gallery password on top for an extra layer of protection.

Option 2 — Custom subdomain (optional)

If you'd prefer a link that means something, you can set your own subdomain from the management panel — for example: the-smiths-wedding-june-2026.photo.expirefile.com
This is great for a polished, professional touch when sending to clients. You can still combine this with a gallery password if the shoot is sensitive.

Uploads & Files

What file types can I upload?

We fully support JPEG and PNG files. JPEGs are highly recommended for photographic work as they provide the best balance of quality and performance for your clients.

Unfortunately, camera RAW formats (.CR3, .NEF, .ARW, .RAF, and all others) and lossless archive formats like TIFF are not supported — not by us, but by web browsers themselves. Chrome, Safari, and Firefox simply cannot display these formats natively, so your clients would never be able to see them. Please export to JPEG before uploading. See the FAQ entry below for the full list of unsupported formats.

Why don't you support RAW or TIFF files?

While these are the industry standard for capturing and editing, web browsers (like Chrome, Safari, and Firefox) cannot natively display "unprocessed" or "lossless archive" formats. To ensure your images are viewable by all your clients, please export them as JPEGs before uploading.

Currently, web browsers do not support direct display for:

  • Archive Formats: TIFF
  • Digital Negatives: DNG
  • Manufacturer-Specific RAW Files:
    • Canon: .CR3, .CR2, .CRW
    • Nikon: .NEF, .NRW
    • Sony: .ARW, .SRF, .SR2
    • Fujifilm: .RAF
    • Panasonic: .RW2, .RAW
    • OM System / Olympus: .ORF
    • Pentax: .PEF
    • Leica: .DNG, .RWL
Is there a file size limit per photo?

Yes — 100 MB per file. In practice, this is more than enough for virtually any camera on the market today.

To put that in perspective, a full-quality JPEG exported from Lightroom or Photoshop typically ranges from:

  • 5–15 MB — 24 MP cameras (e.g. Canon R6, Sony A7 IV, Nikon Z6 III)
  • 15–35 MB — 45–50 MP cameras (e.g. Canon R5, Nikon Z8/Z9, Sony A7R V)
  • 35–70 MB — 60–100 MP cameras (e.g. Fujifilm GFX 100S, Phase One)
  • 70–100 MB — Ultra-high-resolution medium format or panoramic stitches

Even a 100 MP medium format JPEG exported at maximum quality from Lightroom will rarely exceed 80–90 MB. The 100 MB limit is designed to accommodate essentially any professional photographic workflow without compromise.

If you are somehow hitting the limit, the file is likely not a standard JPEG — for example, a multi-layer TIFF or a panoramic stitch. In those cases, please export as a flattened JPEG before uploading.

Can I delete individual photos after uploading?

Yes. In the management panel under the All Photos tab, each image has a delete option. Deleted photos are removed permanently from storage.

Can clients download the original files?

Yes. A download button is available on each photo in the gallery, delivering the original file at full resolution.

Pricing & Plans

How does pricing work?

Pricing is calculated to the penny based on exactly how much storage your gallery uses and how long you want it live. There are no flat tiers — smaller galleries cost less. You pay once, for a fixed term (1, 3, 6, or 12 months). No subscriptions, no recurring charges.

Do I need to renew my gallery?

It's up to you. You can let your gallery expire at the end of its term or choose to extend. Your management page will always show your expiry date and a button to extend before anything expires.

What payment methods are accepted?

All major credit and debit cards via Stripe. We never see or store your card details.

Can I get a refund?

Payments are generally non-refundable once a gallery is activated. If there was a technical failure on our end, contact us and we'll resolve it.

Privacy & Storage

Are my galleries private?

Yes. Galleries are not indexed by search engines and are only accessible to people who have the unique gallery link. You can add an extra layer of protection with a gallery password.

Is my content safe?

We do not share, sell, or process your content for any purpose other than delivering it to your recipients.

Who can see my photos?

Only people you share the link with (and optionally the password). We do not display galleries publicly or allow them to appear in search results.

What happens when a gallery expires?

After the term ends, the gallery enters a grace period. If not renewed, files are queued for deletion and permanently removed from storage.

Other

Can I use PhotoShare as a CDN or to host assets for my website?

No — this is not what the Service is designed for and is not permitted under our Terms of Service. PhotoShare is a photo gallery and photo delivery tool, not infrastructure.

I'm a photographer. Can I manage multiple galleries?

Yes. Each gallery is independent with its own management link. You can have as many galleries as you need, each priced individually based on its own storage and term.

Something isn't working. How do I get help?

Email us at hello@photo.expirefile.com. Be sure to include your management URL or management key if relevant — it's the only way to prove you're the gallery owner and helps us resolve things faster.