"Cheapest" option for Dropbox. And are referrals for space still a thing?

[Ben_McPhee]

Hi guys, I'm currently a free user (with 3.5GB of storage - with around half of that being "earned" from referrals etc). Until now, it's been enough, but I've reached a point where I need some more space.

But 1-2TB would honestly be overkill. I really just need 50-250GB extra.

Is there an option for something like this? And what (if any) compromises to features etc would it make?

Also, on a related note, is there still a referral scheme or other methods to increase my "free" storage? I don't have a pressing need for any of the "pro" features right now (as far as I can tell) - just the storage.

And is there a cap on "free" storage by referral etc? (I'd like to get it to 5GGB at least, but 10-25GB would also be very useful.

[Ben_McPhee]

TL;DR My client rated photos for selections, and I couldn't see what she did. Does Dropbox even have this functionality? If not, what does?

Questions at the bottom. 

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Hi guys, I'm a commercial and fashion photographer and have been looking for an easy and "universal" way to send files to clients so that they can make selects. I don't shoot for private clients, and so I don't need the ability to "sell" or allow my client "print" the images. It's just for review, and selection.

I am building out a website, and that may be the answer going forward. But for now, several people have  suggested Dropbox, (I have a "free" account with around 4GB space, and that's enough for this), and on a basic level it works great to just send files if the client downlaods them and uses their normal workflow (Bridge, lightroom, Capture etc) to make selects. Then they just tell me file names or send jpgs back. 

But recently, a client seems to have downloaded the files, then used dropbox on her end to "STAR" her favourites and make comments on some files in the app.  She then linked me to what she'd done. But I couldn't see her stars (supposedly they're only visible to the user and are meant for quick reference, not collaboration), and whilst I could see the comments, I had to view them via dropbox (web or app), and I couldn't tell if a photo had a comment until I selected it.

This made it extremely frustrating for both me, and my client who had to find a way to repeat her work, and it made me look a bit disorganised too. 

My personal workflow when making my own selects would be to:
1. Look at each of the 1000 photos (in Capture One) and give any that seem good, 1 star.  
2. Look at the 1 star images and then repeat step one with 2,3,4 and 5 stars until only the best were left.

So:
1. Also, is there any way for my clients to use dropbox to more or less replicate what I would do on my end. (Ideally, rating with 1-5 stars, but 1 star would be ok, especially if paired with the ability to create new nested folders and move selects there, or to delete files that aren't good enough).

2. Does functionality to see/edit a folder full of files (in my case, photos and videos) even exist in dropbox?

3. Is there at least a way to make it so that her comments are written to metadata and viewable on the file itself, and that I could see her starred files? Ideally, her work in dropbox would be visible in something like Adobe Bridge (on my end). But even if not, I just want to be able to see what she did via dropbox, so I can know which files she selected (and hopefully why).

4. An alternative (but clunky) method would at least be if I could link her to a folder and she could star her selects, then either:
- place them in a seperate folder that she sends back somehow, OR,
- that she has edit permissions on the folder I sent, so she can edit/move/add/delete files within it, and it all syncs to my dropbox. (I'd just have her put her faves in the "selects" folder".

Is something like this possible?

5. If no to those, can anyone suggest another method/service to send files that does NOT require my client to have specific software (Like adobe Bridge, or the same editing software I use), and would just requires a web login, and that has the ability for my client and to rate files, and for me to see those ratings? (Apparently it's possible to build a web gallery and publish it online (or send it for offline viewing?) using software I already have, but I haven't explored that yet)

[Megan]

Hey @Ben_McPhee, happy Wednesday! 

I apologize in advance for my long paragraph, I just want to make sure that I am covering all of your questions!

Let's start with the plan, and referrals. At the moment, the next available plan after our Basic plan, would be Plus with 2TB of storage. Unfortunately, there's not a smaller plan, that allows you to add as much space as you need. 

In regards to the referrals, yes they're definitely still a thing. You can see more about them here.

Now onto the sharing files part. You were correct about starring files. When you star a file or folder, it’s starred only for you. It’s not starred for anyone else who shares the file or folder.

Passing the comments as metadata on the file is a great idea, not going to lie. However it's not something that Dropbox can provide at the moment. Your feedback regarding this though, has been very valuable and I will endeavor to make sure your voice is heard.

From what I understand, you currently use shared links to work with your clients, is that correct? Let me add, that the "easiest" way to achieve what you mentioned above, would be to share a folder directly to them. 

That way, they would be able to edit, delete, add content in the folder and you would be able to see any changes reflected in your own Dropbox account. There is however, a downside to this. Both you and the recipient would need: 1) a Dropbox account 2) enough space on the account, in order to add the folder. 

Alternatively, you can continue sharing links to them, ask them to download the content on their end, choose the files they want and then send them back to you using a new shared link.

I hope this clarifies things. If you have any questions, or if I forgot to include anything, let me know! 

[Ben_McPhee]

Hey Megan, no need to apologise. 🙂 You're awesome! Thanks for the awesome information. All very clear I think. 

The metadata comments dea I think would be really useful. 🙂 But also, as I mentioned, some way to markup/rate files would be extremely useful (a star/colour system like you might find in adobe bridge, Lightroom, capture one and other programs. (And if possible, done in such a way that those programs could read that information and display the client info. 🙂 )

But until then, I'll try sharing folders next time and see if it's any more suitable. 🙂 

When you say that the downside is that I'd need "enough space on the account, in order to add the folder", do you mean both of us? Or only the sender?

I think I only have one last question.

It seems that the "reward" for a basic member such as myself referring people is 500MB up to a max of 16GB, whilst the reward for a paid member is 1GB up to 32GB.

Just wondering what happens if someone refers 32GB worth of people whilst a paid member but then drops down to a basic membership? Do they lose half their referral bonus, or do they get to keep that for "life?"

Thanks again. 🙂

[Megan]

Hi @Ben_McPhee, I'm glad I could shine some light on this!

Yes, both you and the recipient would need the space, since the shared folder would take up space on both Dropbox accounts. 

In regards to the referral space, you won't lose your referrals if you upgrade or downgrade your account. They'll just be worth different values, depending on your plan.

[Ben_McPhee]

Thanks again Megan! Sorry for the confusing last question, but I think I may not have been clear. And now I have a few more random questions. Sorry!

What I mean is, if I refer 30 people to Dropbox as a paid member, I would be awarded 1GB of space for each of them (plus the 2GB free I started with). I will then have 32GB of extra storage (right?)

If that's the case:
1. Would I have 2.032GB? (2TB + 32GB?). Or does the 32GB only count if someone is using the basic plan?

2. If I drop back to basic, would the referrals I did as a paid member still count as 1GB each? Or would they also be downgraded so that my "free" storage was only at the 16TB limit for a basic member? (Making my 1GB referrals while paid only worth 500GB because I am now on a free plan). Or, would I be able to keep my 32 GB storage as a former paid member?

3. If I refer 30 people while a basic member, I would reach the 16GB limit. But if I then upgrade to paid, would I be able to refer 16 more people to get up to 32GB?

Hope that made sense!

[Rich]

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@Ben_McPhee wrote:

1. Would I have 2.032GB? (2TB + 32GB?). Or does the 32GB only count if someone is using the basic plan?

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2 TB plus 32GB.

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2. If I drop back to basic, would the referrals I did as a paid member still count as 1GB each?

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No. They would be halved back to 500MB each.

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3. If I refer 30 people while a basic member, I would reach the 16GB limit. But if I then upgrade to paid, would I be able to refer 16 more people to get up to 32GB?

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No. Your 16 referrals would double from 500MB each to 1GB each, for 32GB.