Client can't view Jpeg files on their computer

[Megan Cassidy]

Hello!

I am having an issue with a clients entire wedding gallery. She cannot open her files on her computer.
I have put her images on two different USB's to see if the first may have been corrupt but neither of them show her images. The Jpg file names come up but when you click them to view there is an error message saying they cannot be opened.

One of the USB's I took to test out also had other images from other sessions (USB used for backup) and some of those sessions wouldn't open on her computer either but work fine for the owners from their USB's... 
RAW files would open on her computer though (not files from her wedding).
They are all saved as Jpg files and I don't remember doing anything differently when editing and saving them.

I open them all in RAW and once I've corrected anything needed there I open them in photoshop then batch edit using an action I created (simple lightening, adding contrast etc). They were then all batch cropped as 8:12" (I've just read one of your articles and will crop as 11:15" in future, thank you!) and saved, then copied and pasted onto her USB.
Am I doing this right?

I've done work for her in the past and her images from those shoots are working fine.
I can also see them fine on my computer.. Could this mean that maybe all of the files themselves are corrupt? But this can't be either as I have sent them off to a print lab and they didn't have an issue receiving, viewing and them. 
Please help, so confused!

[Damien Symonds]

Hi Megan, can you send me a couple of the files you've given her?

Send them via this link: https://www.hightail.com/u/BellePhotography

[Megan Cassidy]

Thank you for replying so quickly!
Just sent them through

[Damien Symonds]

The files open just fine, but OH CRAP!!!!!  They're Adobe RGB!  This is catastrophic.  Thank your lucky stars that she couldn't open them.

Also, they're insanely noisy.

So, fix the noise (step 1, step 2 if needed) and while you're there, make sure you fix the colour space.

Then yes, crop them to 11:15.

Then, I'd maybe email her a couple of the files, to see if she can open those ok.  If she can, try the USB stick again.

[Megan Cassidy]

Oh no!
.. I just read a bit of your article about colour space then actually, I still don't fully understand but will read more on the subject.
All of my photos sent out to ALL of my clients must be in the same colour space as well. I'm pretty sure I've never changed anything! What does this mean? That they can change everything?

And I actually add noise as I like the way it looks  (and I didn't adjust the noise in RAW for these images, which I do for NB & family sessions).. but again, just read your article on noise and won't be doing it anymore.

Dammit.... 

But thank you so much, I was going insane!

[Damien Symonds]

1 minute ago, Megan Cassidy said:

Oh no!
.. I just read a bit of your article about colour space then actually, I still don't fully understand but will read more on the subject.
All of my photos sent out to ALL of my clients must be in the same colour space as well. I'm pretty sure I've never changed anything! What does this mean?

It's disastrous.  Adobe RGB files can only be used in colour-managed programs, and non-photographers don't habitually own colour-managed programs like Photoshop.  So your photos will appear dull in colour on your clients' screens, and depending where they get them printed, dull in print too.

3 minutes ago, Megan Cassidy said:

I still don't fully understand

Yes, that's the point.  You need to have a good understanding of colour-management to be able to safely use Adobe RGB.  Please switch to sRGB immediately and never change.

If any of your past clients ever contact you about dullness of colour in their files, you'll know what the problem is.  Your only saving grace is that customers are, in the main, quite ignorant about what photos should look like.  They probably assume that dull colours are your "style" or something.

5 minutes ago, Megan Cassidy said:

And I actually add noise as I like the way it looks

This is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO stupid. Never do this again.

[Megan Cassidy]

Oh wow!!  Will do.
I always get so bummed about how incredibly DULL they look anywhere but on my screen.
Oh My God! 

And LOL.... I won't, I promise.

Thank you SO much, you have changed everything for the better!

[Damien Symonds]

Please, I beg you, don't wait any longer to take The Raw Class.  Your photos make me cry a little.

[Megan Cassidy]

Oh, thats gut wrenching! Hahaha
Where's the link? I'll take the class asap!

[Damien Symonds]

https://www.damiensymonds.net/trainingraw.html

[Damien Symonds]

I forgot to ask - does your client have a Mac or PC?

[Megan Cassidy]

She has a PC

 

[Damien Symonds]

Yep, I have one too.  And as I said, I was able to open the files just fine.  So it must be something to do with the USB sticks - maybe the way they were formatted?  It seems from your post that the sticks weren't new?  You'd used them previously for other purposes, is that right?

[Megan Cassidy]

I thought that too but I have used three different ones.
The first one was a brand new one from a USB supplier I go through. Other USB's that came from the same batch worked fine for other clients as far as I know.

The second I bought from woolies and it actually came up in another language/or code? on her computer. I had/have no idea what to do about that. This is all confusing as hell for me but I'm eager to learn.

And the last one I tried this morning was, yes, a used one but not too old. It's one that I use to back my images up (as well as external hard drives)
Some images off that one worked but none of the Jpg files did, only the RAW files I had on there.
 

[Damien Symonds]

Ok, we'll explore that more deeply once we know if she can see jpegs that you email to her.  Let me know the outcome of that.

[Megan Cassidy]

Alright thank you!

I am checking out the colour profile part of it and everything in the 'colour settings options' are set to sRGB.
In the 'convert to profile settings' are set to sRGB apart from one part that I am unable to change, being the source space. Thats what I need to change is it?

I've just noticed that once I his 'save as' to save an image the option down the bottom 'impeded colour profile: Adobe RGB' is checked and always is.. I'm assuming that shouldn't be checked?

I will be sitting down to learn from the RAW class tonight too.

[Damien Symonds]

No no no no no.  Follow every single step of the troubleshooter, right through to the end.

[Megan Cassidy]

Omg sorry for all the spelling crazies, I have a toddler on my lap...

*once I HIT 'save as'
*'IMBEDED color profile'

[Damien Symonds]

Photoshop's Color Settings are irrelevant.  Only your raw settings are relevant.

[Megan Cassidy]

Okay, 

I think I'm getting it. Its almost the complete opposite to what I was told by my tutor about 5 years ago, I'm just remembering.
I was told that it's best to use the colour space that provides a larger range -- Adobe RGB.
I'm glad I didn't finish the course.....

[Megan Cassidy]

HA! Just reading through now. The Craparazzi.. This is literally almost word for word what I was taught!

[Damien Symonds]

Yes, you and thousands of others, sadly