Uploading Images Directly to a Server for Download

You send as many files as you want, people with login info download them all.

This article was inspired by a friend of mine who lives thousands of miles away and wanted to send me many pictures. There are so many pictures that they cannot be emailed because most most e-mail servers are capped with a 10MB limit (or less). So the question becomes, how can you send a boatload of images to someone else without using e-mail? Or how can I send pictures that are high resolution (large file sizes)

It’s your lucky day! I am going to show you the easiest way I know to send a large number of images using the internet. There are 100′s of ways you can send people images in the social space, but sometimes you do not want anyone else to see them! There is a simple drag n’ drop method you can use to upload all those images directly to a secure server. Only the people that have the log in credentials for the server have access to the files (not limited by file type). Here’s how it works …

Sender’s Requirements

  1. Access to the internet.
  2. Download Free FTP Software (Filezilla).
  3. Connect to Server Using a Free FTP program called Filezilla.

Recipient’s Requirements

  1. Access to the internet.
  2. Ability to set up an FTP account (hosting).
  3. Use of a simple FTP program called Filezilla.

Resource Requirements of the Recipient (Sets Up FTP)

First you will need to log into your server and create a new FTP account for the person that wants to send you all those beautiful pictures. In this example I’m going to use my hosting company, Bluehost. I have logged into my control panel and found the FTP manager under the files section. It looks like this …

Once I make this selection I am taken to another screen which will allow me to set up an FTP user.

  1. Enter the login name you wish to give this FTP account.
  2. Enter a password.
  3. Confirm the password.
  4. For security reasons try to use an alphanumeric combination so your FTP account can not be hacked.
  5. By default the system will create a folder the same name as the FTP login.
  6. Click create FTP to account.

That’s it, you’re done. Now you should be taken to a confirmation screen that verifies the FTP account has been created successfully. The screen should look something like this …

Note: The password has been removed for obvious security’s reasons. This is all the information required to make a direct connection with your server. You can simply copy and paste this into an e-mail and you send to your friend who wants to send you all those beautiful pictures.

Resource Requirements of the Sender

For the person that is sending these images it has never been easier. And the method I’m gonna show you is completely free. Are you ready to get started? Let’s do it!

  1. In order to upload your pictures to a server you will need an FTP program. The kind folks at Google have made a program available called Filezilla. It is completely free and can be downloaded right here http://filezilla-project.org/ The version you will want to download is download “FileZilla Client”
  2. After you have downloaded the software, install it.
  3. Assuming you are using a windows operating system go to your start menu and find the new installation of your new program called Filezilla and open it.
  4. Once you have opened Filezilla there are only a couple of areas you will need to concern yourself with. Here’s how to get started …
  5. Click file> Site Manager to set up your FTP connection. Then click the new site button as shown below.
  6. Now you want to give your new connection a name. This is especially important if you are going to have more than one FTP account. We’re almost done! The recipient should have sent you FTP information (as shown above) that you can now enter into the appropriate fields.
  7. Based on the information I have shown you above ( See screen capture above“ Add FTP account”) your login information should appear like this (password in encoded) …
  8. The information you will be required to enter is as follows, host address, server type, logon type, user name and password. Once you have entered this information click the connect button.
  9. If you entered all of the information correctly you should be greeted with a welcome message in the text log screen at the top. The welcome message usually appears in green lettering. If you see the red lettering, chances are you have entered something incorrectly. You’ll need to go back and revisit the login information you have entered. Carefully study the screen above and make sure you enter the information exactly as shown.
  10. You are now connected to the server directly. This works a lot like your windows file system. On the left hand side find the files you want to upload from your computer (You can upload folders). When you find them drag and drop them onto the right hand side. You’ll notice at the bottom of your Filezilla program there are three tabs.  The first tab is queued files.  These are the number of files that have not been uploaded yet.  The second tab is failed transfers.  If your connection is interrupted or broken it will show you the files that were not successfully transferred in this tab.  Once all your photographs have transferred to the server the final tab will confirm that by showing successful transfers in brackets.

That’s all there is to it!  If you want to upload more images another day to the same server Filezilla we’ll remember the settings so you do not need to input the username, password and host address again.

Happy FTPing

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