Key takeaways
- Send photos and videos in groups and direct messages, up to 25 MB each.
- Media is encrypted in transit (TLS) and at rest (AES-256, per-organization keys).
- Group media is part of what owners and admins can audit and export.
- Combine a photo with one line of context and a location for clear field reports.
- Pin key photos, like the correct setup or a floor plan, so they don't scroll away.
On the front line, a picture replaces a paragraph. A leaking pipe, a pallet that arrived crushed, the way a room should be set up for an event: one photo says it faster and more precisely than any description. C Chat makes photos and short videos a normal part of team messaging, and keeps them in the right place: the team’s group, not someone’s personal camera roll.
What photo and video sharing does in C Chat
You can attach photos and videos to any message in a group or a direct message. Each attachment can be up to 25 MB. Others in the conversation see the media inline, can reply to it, react to it and find the message later.
Typical uses:
- Evidence: damage, incidents, completed work, meter readings.
- Instructions: “this is how the display should look”, “this is the right valve”.
- Status: a quick shot of the loading dock or the lobby at the start of a shift.
For documents such as PDFs or spreadsheets, use file sharing; when your hands are busy, a voice note can accompany the photo.
How to share photos and videos step by step
- Open the group where the information belongs (the site, project or department).
- Tap the attachment button and take a new photo or video, or pick one from your phone or computer.
- Add one line of context: what it shows, where, and what you need.
- Send. If it’s a reply to a specific question, use reply so the thread stays clear.
- If the photo is a reference others will need again, pin it so it stays at the top of the group.
Real scenarios from business teams
Incident reports. A guard photographs a broken window, adds the time and location, and posts it in the site group. The office replies with next steps in the same thread. See incident reporting by chat and the template in how to write an incident report.
Construction daily logs. The site lead posts end-of-day photos of progress in the project group. Months later, search helps find when a wall was closed up. The workflow is in construction daily logs with site photos.
Home services. Technicians send before-and-after photos for each job so the office can answer customer questions without a second visit. See before-and-after job photos for technicians.
Shift handover. A photo of the state of the equipment at shift change avoids “it was like that when I got here” debates, as described in shift handover communication.
Privacy, permissions and limits
Media gets the same protection as text: TLS in transit and AES-256 at rest with per-organization keys. Because C Chat uses auditable encryption, team owners and admins can audit and export group conversations, including their photos and videos. Direct messages between people stay private.
Before you send:
- Think about who is in the group. Guests and clients may be members; don’t post photos that show unrelated people, documents or screens.
- 25 MB per attachment. Long videos need to be trimmed or split.
- Camera access. Your browser or device will ask for camera permission the first time.
- Not an emergency channel. If a photo shows an emergency, call your local emergency number first.
Tips for admins
- Write a photo rule: one photo per issue, always with one line of context.
- Separate evidence from chatter. Keep a dedicated group for reports if the main group is busy.
- Pin reference images such as setup diagrams or the correct uniform.
- Teach good evidence habits with our photo evidence best practices and the photo documentation use case.
Getting started
Create a team at getcchat.com/c, add a group for each site or project, and post your first photo. C Chat is free for now within the limits on the pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
How big can a video be in C Chat?
Each attachment can be up to 25 MB, which fits short clips. For longer footage, record several short videos or trim the clip before sending.
Are the photos I send in C Chat encrypted?
Yes. Photos and videos travel with TLS encryption and are stored encrypted with AES-256 using a key specific to your organization. C Chat uses auditable encryption, not end-to-end encryption, so team owners and admins can audit and export group content.
Can my manager see photos I send in a direct message?
No. Direct messages between people are private and are not part of the team audit. Photos sent in team groups can be audited and exported by owners and admins.
Is a photo in a chat good enough as evidence?
It helps a lot, especially with context: what, where and when. A photo in a team group stays in the company's record, but whether it is sufficient for a claim or legal case depends on your situation, so check with your counsel.