Why not send RAW photos through email or chat?
A RAW file is not a preview. It is the data recorded by the camera’s sensor. A single photo is often 25–70 MB. The 20–25 MB limit in Gmail and Outlook may be reached with the first photo.
Converting the file to JPEG makes it smaller. It also reduces editing latitude. You cannot recover as much shadow and highlight detail as you can from the RAW file. WhatsApp and Messenger already reduce photo size. Instagram is for displaying photos, not delivering files.
The person editing the photos needs the exact files you uploaded.
| Method | What happens | Suitable for retouching? |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail or Outlook attachment | Attachments over 20–25 MB won’t send | No |
| WhatsApp / Messenger | Reduces photo size; does not transfer RAW files | No |
| Convert to JPEG and send | Smaller file, less editing latitude | No |
| Shared drive | May store the file but require a recipient account | Use with care |
| SendGB link | RAW files and XMP sidecars download unchanged | Suitable for delivery |
The example above is a small selection. You can add the full day’s folder to the same upload box. JPEG albums for clients are not the focus of this page. For those, see how to send a photo album. Files from video memory cards and recordings in formats such as BRAW and R3D are covered in the RAW footage guide.
A JPEG selection is not the same as RAW delivery
If the client only needs to view the photos, JPEG is enough and usually fits within 5 GB. For color adjustments and retouching, send the RAW files. You can include both in the same transfer. The limit applies to total size, not file count.
| JPEG selection | RAW delivery | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Viewing and sharing with family | Color adjustments, retouching, print preparation |
| Typical size | A few MB per photo | Tens of MB per photo |
| 5 GB | May hold a large selection | Only enough for a small set |
| Companion files | None needed | XMP settings should stay in the same folder |
| Opening files | Opens on a phone too | Requires Lightroom, Capture One, or similar software |
Don’t substitute JPEG for RAW. If the recipient adjusts color in a JPEG, they won’t have the editing latitude the RAW file provides.
Which files should you send together?
We have no file type restrictions. What matters is keeping each photo with its settings file. The XMP file written by Lightroom should stay beside the RAW file. The camera’s RAW+JPEG files should also stay in the same folder.
| Camera | RAW file | Files to include |
|---|---|---|
| Canon | .CR3 or .CR2 | .xmp and JPEG copy, if available |
| Nikon | .NEF | .xmp, if available |
| Sony | .ARW | .xmp, if available |
| Fujifilm | .RAF | .xmp, if available |
| Olympus or OM System | .ORF | .xmp, if available |
| Panasonic or Leica | .RW2 | .xmp, if available |
| Adobe DNG | .DNG | Editing settings in the same folder |
You don’t need a ZIP file. Adding the folder directly preserves its structure. If you create a ZIP file, we don’t open the archive.
How many RAW photos fit within 5 GB?
We don’t guarantee a photo count. The limit applies to total size. At 30 MB each, 100 photos total about 3 GB. By that estimate, 5 GB holds roughly 150 photos. Higher megapixel counts mean fewer photos. A wedding’s RAW folder usually exceeds this limit.
| What you’re sending | Typical size | Which option is enough? |
|---|---|---|
| A few selected photos | Usually under 1 GB | Free; up to 90 days for transfers up to 250 MB, 7 days above that |
| A short shoot, dozens of photos | May stay under 5 GB | Free if it fits |
| Half a day or a wedding in RAW | Tens of GB | SendGB Extra, 500 GB per transfer |
| An archive from several days | May reach hundreds of GB | SendGB Exceed if the total exceeds 500 GB |
| A single archive over 500 GB | One transfer | SendGB Exceed, up to 1 TB |
SendGB Extra starts at €29.90 per year. It includes 1 TB of storage. SendGB Extra keeps files for up to 1 year. It suits photographers who send RAW files regularly.
SendGB Exceed requires no subscription. A 1 TB transfer costs €9.99. The code can be used once and is valid for 1 year. SendGB Exceed transfers stay available for 7 days. It is enough for an occasional very large archive.
How to send
- 1
Add your RAW folder
Add the folder to the upload box on the home page, rather than a single photo. The XMP settings file stored alongside the RAW file and any JPEG copy are included in the same transfer. The free limit is 5 GB total.
- 2
Send the link
Email the link to the person editing the photos, or copy and paste it into a message. You can add a password. Send the password separately from the link.
- 3
The recipient downloads the files
The recipient downloads from the link and does not create an account. Downloading the entire transfer preserves the folder structure. Free transfers over 250 MB stay available for 7 days. Free transfers up to 250 MB stay available for up to 90 days. SendGB Extra keeps files for up to 1 year.
What happens to your file?
- Files download unchanged. Color gamut and shooting metadata stay intact if they are stored in the file.
- CR3, CR2, NEF, ARW, RAF, ORF, RW2, DNG, and other RAW files are accepted.
- XMP files transfer with the photos if they are in the same folder. The structure stays intact when the recipient downloads everything.
- If you set a password, anyone with the link must know the password to download.
What we don’t do
- We don’t convert RAW files to JPEG. We don’t generate preview images either.
- RAW files don’t open on the download page. Recipients open them in their own copy of Lightroom, Capture One, or similar software.
- There is no Gmail or Outlook add-on. You paste the link yourself.
- The free 5 GB limit is enough for a small selection. A full day of RAW photos usually requires SendGB Extra.
Frequently asked questions
Are RAW photos converted to JPEG when I send them?
No. SendGB does not re-save files or reduce their size. CR3, NEF, ARW, and DNG files download exactly as you uploaded them. Color gamut and shooting metadata stay intact if they are stored in the file. WhatsApp and email attachments are not suited to this.
Can I send CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, and DNG files?
Yes. Canon CR2 and CR3, Nikon NEF, Sony ARW, Fujifilm RAF, Olympus ORF, Panasonic RW2, Adobe DNG, and Leica RAW files transfer unchanged. They are not converted to another format.
Will my Lightroom XMP settings stay intact?
Yes. We don’t open XMP files. Put them in the same folder as the RAW files and add the entire folder. When the recipient downloads the entire transfer, the settings files stay beside the RAW files. If you include the Lightroom catalog, it downloads as a file too. We don’t open the catalog.
How many RAW photos can I send for free?
The limit is 5 GB total, not a file count. A RAW photo is often 25–70 MB. Roughly 100 photos at 30 MB each total 3 GB. By that estimate, 5 GB holds about 150 photos. At 45 or 60 megapixels, each photo is larger. It depends on the camera and compression settings. We don’t guarantee a photo count.
Can I attach a single RAW photo in Gmail?
A high-resolution photo can exceed 25 MB. Gmail and Outlook won’t accept that attachment. Don’t attach the file. Create a transfer and paste the short link into your email.
Can I send RAW photos through WhatsApp?
Don’t put the file in the chat. The app reduces photo size and does not deliver the RAW file. Paste the download link into your message. The recipient downloads the original file from the link.
Does the recipient need a SendGB account or Lightroom?
No account is needed to download. They need their own editing software to open the file. SendGB is not a RAW viewer. RAW photos don’t open on the download page.
Can I send JPEG copies and RAW files in the same transfer?
Yes. If the camera’s JPEG and RAW files are in the same folder, add them together. If you are only sending a selection to a client, see the [photo album guide](/send-large-files/send-photos-without-compression). This page is for RAW files.
Is the folder structure preserved, and do I need a ZIP file?
You don’t need a ZIP file. Add the folder directly. The structure stays intact when the recipient downloads the entire transfer. If you create a ZIP file, we don’t open the archive.
Which option can handle a full day of RAW photos?
A small selection may fit within 5 GB. A full day usually requires SendGB Extra: 500 GB per transfer, 1 TB of storage, starting at €29.90 per year. SendGB Extra keeps files for up to 1 year. For a single archive over 500 GB, SendGB Exceed is enough: no subscription, €9.99 for a 1 TB transfer, and a code that can be used once and is valid for 1 year. SendGB Exceed transfers stay available for 7 days. You can set a password. Send the password separately from the link.
Send a download link, not a RAW file in a chat
A few photos fit within 5 GB. Send a full shoot of up to 500 GB with SendGB Extra, or up to 1 TB in a single transfer with SendGB Exceed.
Start sending