Video Delivery

What is Video Delivery?

Video delivery is the process of getting finished video files from the filmmaker to the client in a form they can watch, download and keep. It covers the method of transfer, the format and quality of the files, and the experience the client has when they receive them. In professional work, delivery is the last visible step of a project, and often the one the client remembers.

Why it matters

A film can be shot and graded beautifully and still land badly if the delivery is clumsy. Clients judge the whole job partly by how they receive it: a tidy link that plays instantly feels finished, while an expiring download, a zip that fails halfway or a folder of oddly named files feels like an afterthought.

Delivery also has practical consequences. It determines whether the client actually gets the full-quality master or only a compressed preview, whether they can share the film with family or colleagues, and whether you have a record that the files were collected. For contracts that tie final payment to delivery, that record matters.

How it works

Most professional deliveries follow the same basic sequence:

• Export the deliverables from your editing software, usually a high-quality master plus any cut-downs, social versions or alternate aspect ratios.

• Upload the files to a service that can hold large video files reliably. Resumable uploads help when files run into tens of gigabytes.

• Prepare playback. Good platforms transcode the upload into streaming copies so the client can watch immediately in a browser or on a phone, while keeping the original file intact.

• Share a link with the client, often protected by a password or limited by an expiry date.

• Confirm the client has watched and downloaded the files, then close out the project.

The key technical distinction is between the stream and the download. The stream is an optimized preview built to start quickly on any connection. The download should be the exact file you exported, at full resolution and bitrate.

Common approaches

Filmmakers deliver video in several ways, each with trade-offs. Cloud drives such as Google Drive and Dropbox are familiar and inexpensive, but they present files as a folder, and their previews are often heavily compressed. Transfer services like WeTransfer are fast for one-off sends, but links typically expire and the client gets a file to download rather than something to watch. Video hosts such as Vimeo offer excellent streaming but are built around playback, not handing over masters. Review tools like Frame.io are designed for feedback during production. Physical media, such as a USB drive, still suits some clients as a keepsake. Dedicated video delivery platforms aim to combine streaming playback, original-quality downloads and a presentable client experience in one link.

How does DLVRD handle video delivery?

DLVRD delivers each project as a gallery link where the client can stream the film and download the original file you uploaded, untouched. Galleries can hold video and photos together, work on phones and tablets, and can carry your own logo and colors. You can add a password, switch downloads off, or set an expiry date, and clients do not need to create an account to view their files.