Upload with FTP (Contributor)

The organization you are submitting your files to can add you as an Incoming FTP (file transfer protocol) user so that you can upload files (image, video, etc.) directly into their PhotoShelter for Brands account. 

In order to transmit photos via FTP, you’ll need to use a FTP client. The FTP client is the application that you use to connect to the PhotoShelter FTP server, select your files to upload, and initiate the transfer. There are many free FTP clients available to download from the Internet. Our documentation will reference the settings in FileZilla, but as long as your FTP client of choice has similar options, then you can do the same in that client. If you don’t already have a FTP client set up, we recommend FileZilla, as it’s free and relatively easy to use.

Step 1: Obtain your credentials

Step 2: Set the FTP Client to do one transfer at a time

Step 3: Establish the connection

Step 4: Select folders or files for upload

FTP Tips & Troubleshooting

Step 1: Obtain your credentials

• An Administrator or Editor on the organization's PhotoShelter for Brands account must first provide you with FTP-specific credentials. These credentials are different than the username and password you use to login with at photoshelter.com. The credentials you will include:
  • Username
  • Password
  • FTP Server: ftp.photoshelter.com
  • Port: 21 

Step 2: Set the FTP Client to do one transfer at a time

• In your FTP client (e.g. Filezilla, Transmit, Cyberduck, etc.), go to settings and set the number of simultaneous file transfers to one (1).
  
  Example: If using Transmit, go to Preferences > Transfers
  
  
  
  

Example: If using Filezilla go to Preferences > Transfers

As a best practice, we recommend limiting simultaneous transfers to one. Utilizing more than one simultaneous transfer can cause issues uploading in batch. To configure that in FileZilla:

1. Click “Edit” > “Settings…”
2. Choose “Transfers” on the left pane.
3. Under the heading “Concurrent transfers” set the “Maximum simultaneous connections” to “1."

4. Click “OK.”

Step 3: Establish the connection

• Enter the username, password, server, and port information that you have been provided.

In Filezilla, we recommend the Quickconnect toolbar:

In Transmit:

• Once you're connected, use the left pane under “Local site” to navigate to the location of the files that you want to upload.

Step 4: Select folders or files for upload

• Select the files or folders you are going to upload (they should be highlighted in the left pane).
  • Note: Check with the Administrator or Editor granting you FTP access to see whether or not they have given you access to upload straight into a Gallery (in which case, you will select files for upload) or a Collection (in which case, you can select files or whole folders for upload).
• Right click on the selected files or folders and click the option “Upload” from the menu to begin the transfer.

The queue of files being transferred will be at the bottom along with each file’s upload progress and speed of upload. There are also tabs at the bottom that show the Failed transfers and Successful transfers which you can check after the transfer completes.

The transfer will begin automatically and speeds will vary based on your internet connection.

Want to set up a wireless, real-time workflow using your camera's FTP transfer capability? Read this support article to learn more.

 If the files you would like to upload are on your mobile device, you may also be interested in the Mobile Uploader App, or, search the Apple App Store or Google Play store for a free FTP client application. 

FTP Tips & Troubleshooting

"I can't select a destination to upload to" or "I can't see what I uploaded in the destination"

This is to be expected. As a Contributor, you do not have access to view the upload destination (nor anything else inside of the organization's account, for that matter). The destination your files are uploading to is predetermined by the owner of the PhotoShelter for Brands account and you are completing a "blind" upload. The confirmation message you see upon completion of the upload is your confirmation your files were transmitted. It can't hurt to follow up by text or email with your contact at the destination organization to ensure they received your files.

Failed Transfer Error "Prohibited Directory Name" 

If you see failed transfers with the error “Prohibited Directory Name,” we suggest editing your settings to skip file and folder types that our server will reject (such as hidden files and hidden folders on your computer). To do this in FileZilla, follow these steps:

1. Click “View” > “Directory listing filters.”

2. Click “Edit filter rules...”

3. Add a new filter with the blue “New” button. Name it “Special Filter” or anything you’d like (the name is inconsequential).

4. Set the filter to:

• Filter Conditions: “Filter out items matching all of the following”
• “Filename”; “Begins with”; “.”
• Check the boxes under “Filter applies to” for both “Files” and “Directories.”

5. Click “OK”.

6. On the next screen, check the box next to the “Special filter” you just made, Useless Explorer files, and  “Temporary and backup files.”