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Proof Gallery Storage and Upload Planner

Reviewed for 2026, updated September 8, 2026.

Estimates how many gigabytes of proofing galleries a photographer keeps online and how long each upload takes, based on shoot volume, cull rate, file size and connection speed.

Your numbers

Results update as you type.

Your estimate

Proofs per gallery...
Size of one gallery...
Storage in use at any time...
Upload time per gallery...

Estimates only. Assumptions are listed below, and you can change every input.

Proofing galleries pile up. A wedding photographer who posts three hundred proofs per shoot and keeps galleries live for a year can be hosting tens of thousands of files without ever deciding to. That matters for storage plans, for backup, and for the evening you spend watching an upload bar before a client can see anything.

This planner multiplies frames shot by the share you keep to get proofs per gallery, multiplies that by your average proof file size to get gallery size, and then scales by shoots per month and retention to estimate the storage you are carrying at any one time. Upload time divides the gallery size by your connection upload speed. It assumes the full rated speed, so real uploads will usually take somewhat longer.

How to use this tool

  1. Enter how many frames you shoot on a typical job and what percentage make it into the proofing gallery.
  2. Set your average exported proof size in megabytes, your monthly shoot count and how long galleries stay online.
  3. Add your upload speed from a speed test to see gallery size, total storage in use and how long each upload should take.

What the math assumes

  • Proofs per gallery equals frames shot multiplied by the proof rate, rounded to the nearest whole image.
  • Gallery size uses the average proof file size you enter, and 1 GB is treated as 1,000 MB.
  • Storage in use assumes a steady shoot volume, so the number of galleries live at once equals shoots per month multiplied by retention months.
  • Upload time converts megabytes to megabits at 8 bits per byte, then divides by the full rated upload speed with no overhead; real transfers are usually slower, so treat it as a lower bound.
  • Thumbnails, previews and any resized copies generated by the gallery platform are not counted.

Frequently asked questions

What file size should I use for proofing JPEGs?

Check a recent export in your file browser and average a few files. The size depends on your export quality setting, pixel dimensions and the subject, so measure your own files rather than guessing.

Why is the storage figure so much bigger than one gallery?

Because it counts every gallery that is still live. With 8 shoots a month and 12 months of retention, that is 96 galleries online at once. Shortening retention is the fastest way to bring the number down.

My uploads take longer than the estimate. Why?

The estimate uses your rated upload speed with no overhead. Wi-Fi, other devices on the network, browser upload limits and per-file processing on the server all add time. Run a speed test right before uploading for a better input.

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