Smart apps such as Viber, Telegram and WhatsApp are making communication easier. In offices, people can now share files while seated across from each other. However, these platforms are not as professional and efficient as email. With all their popularity and glory, email remains a favourite, especially in the professional scenery.
Sometimes, while sending out an email, you might find yourself needing to attach large photos. It’s convenient to send files via email, especially from your smart device. But, when you try to attach large photo files, you come across the annoying “File too large” warning. Keep on reading to find the best ways of sending large photo files over email.
How to Send a Lot of Photos Over Email
Here are some steps on how to send large photo files over email. These tips apply to any instance, even when sending the email from your phone. But, if you are sending out a large number of photo files, its recommended to transfer them to a laptop or desktop prior to sending. Dealing with huge files from a PC is easier than when you do it from a mobile device.
The First Step: Check the Total Size of the Files
Group all the photos that you are trying to send. It would be best to create a folder somewhere on your computer, for example, the desktop. Even if you want to send a portion of the pictures, it would be better, easier and more efficient to create a folder within the current folder. You will notice that managing and handling the attachment becomes easier to complete.
Once all images that you would want to send have been grouped, check their size. To do this, from Windows, select all the files in the particular folder (do so easily by opening the File Explorer window and pressing Ctrl + A). Right click on the selected material and choose “Properties.” You can view the total file size under the ‘Properties’ section. If using a Mac, select all the files you want and simultaneously hit Command-Option-I.
Note the combined size of all files (in MB or GB), you will need to remember it later when you need to determine the size of the file attachment and the limits your email provider allows. Furthermore, size can be used to estimate the time for uploading.
The Second Step: Determining the Time for Upload
When using a slow or mobile internet connection, knowing the time needed for the file or attachment to be done is important. This can be vital in determining whether or not to break your large photos batch into a smaller one or buy more mobile data to complete the connection. If your upload might take a long time, check out the next step.
Third Step: If Necessary, Reduce File Size
Here is how you reduce the overall size of your file:
- Reduce the resolution to reduce the size. Most photos sent via email don’t get printed out, so it’s ok to reduce the size.
- Consider reducing the photo dimensions. At times, the dimensions on your photos are big because the digital camera pushes the limits when using the largest photo size modes. This will not really reduce photo quality.
When you have reduced your photo files, check the estimated upload time once again. If it has reduced, great, go to the fourth step. If not, try again following these instructions.
Step Four: Group All Photos in a Single File
You’ve read this far in search of “how can I send large photos via Gmail,” well, we’re getting there. These tips along the way are there to help you not just this one time. Actually, sending large photo files over email is similar to sending large PDF files via email.
If you’re sending over 5 photos, put all of them into a single archive file (e.g. ZIP, RAR formats). Search and only use a file archiver that’s easy to use and is free. There are a lot of options online. Search, compare and contrast before selecting.
If you go with 7-Zip, follow the instructions to install, then select all files you want to send, right-click on the group and select “Add to archive...” A single zip file with all your photos will be created.
To create a zip file on Mac, select all files, Ctrl + Click, then select “Create Archive”. Double check to make sure that you only selected the smaller version of those photos that you resized or altered.
Send the Photos
Finally, we give you the lowdown on how to send large photos as email attachments. Yes, you can send files as attachments within an email, but this service comes with restrictions. Like everything else, moderation is key. Thus, you can send files to a certain amount of capacity.
Email providers give upper limits on the maximum size that can be sent or received as an attachment in an email. Most emails currently have a limit of 25MB per message when sending attachments. These cuts are due to:
- Physical limitations on storage space.
- Network bandwidth.
When sending photo files over email, 25MB is too little. Thus, email providers offer alternatives that allow email users to attach large photo files. Most email providers allow you to upload your large files to their online storage service. This way, your photo files are not only uploaded to send via email but also uploaded to be stored and kept safely, such as in Google Drive or FileWhopper. Once uploaded, you can draft your email as usual and then place a link to the file in the email.
You can change your online storage service settings to enable as many people as you want to view the photo files at that particular link. The email being sent doesn’t have all the images per se, they are all in the online storage unit and thus, can be accessed as long as the original file sharing link has not been deleted or viewing options changed.
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