Guide
JPEG vs PNG for photo delivery
Deliver photos as JPEG. PNG costs several times the file size for no visible gain on a photograph — and on shoots.page, the file you export is byte-for-byte the file your client receives.
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The short answer
Deliver your photos as JPEG. For photographic work, saving as PNG creates files that are typically several times larger in bytes with no visible gain on screen. Converting an existing JPEG to PNG cannot restore missing detail; it only inflates the file size.
On shoots.page, your delivered files are stored and downloaded byte-for-byte. The choice you make at export is the exact file your client receives, so delivering JPEGs keeps downloads fast without compromising visual quality.
JPEG vs PNG at a glance
| JPEG | PNG | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy, built for photos | Lossless, built for graphics |
| Photo file size | Compact at high quality | Typically several times larger |
| Transparency | No | Yes |
| Re-saving | Loses a little data each save | No further loss on re-save |
| Best for | Delivered photo sets | Screenshots, logos, graphics |
How each format compresses
JPEG relies on lossy compression designed specifically for continuous-tone photographic images. It trims image data that the human eye cannot easily detect. At high quality export settings, this compression is visually invisible while keeping files compact.
PNG relies on lossless compression built for graphics with flat color, sharp edges, text, and logos. PNG also supports transparent backgrounds, which JPEG cannot do. When applied to real-world photographs with complex textures, lossless compression struggles to shrink the data, leaving you with unnecessarily heavy files.
When PNG is the right call
PNG is the right format for screenshots, digital illustrations, brand logos, and graphics that require transparency. A standard photo delivery almost never requires any of those traits. Unless a client specifically needs a graphic asset or a cut-out subject with a transparent background, delivering a photo set as PNG only slows down their download.
What your client actually receives
When you upload JPEG, PNG, or RAW files, shoots.page generates 480 px thumbnails and 2,000 px JPEG previews for fast gallery browsing, including a rendered 2,000 px JPEG preview for RAW files. When clients download files, they receive byte-for-byte copies of the originals you uploaded. You can also allow clients to download a full ZIP of the original files, a JPEG ZIP, or both.
Curious what the difference is between what they see and what they download? Read preview vs original downloads.
Common questions
Should I deliver my photos as JPEG or PNG?
You should deliver your photos as JPEG. JPEG is designed for photos, whereas a photo saved as a PNG is typically several times larger with no visible gain in quality.
Is a PNG of a photo higher quality than a JPEG?
Not in any visible way. PNG is lossless and designed for graphics, but saving a photo as PNG offers no visible benefit, and converting a JPEG to PNG cannot restore lost detail.
What does my client download if I upload PNG files?
Your client receives the exact PNG file you uploaded. shoots.page stores your files byte-for-byte, so original downloads always match your uploaded bytes.
Can I upload HEIC photos from an iPhone?
No, shoots.page does not support HEIC or HEIF uploads. You must convert your images to JPEG before uploading; follow our guide to preparing HEIC photos to learn how.
Once your exports are ready, you can deliver the entire set with a single link using shoots.page photo delivery.