Unlike a wedding, some events demand a near-immediate delivery: the birth photo that goes to the family the same day, the visuals from a corporate event expected for the next day's communication. The timeline is no longer a choice, it's a constraint written into the brief.
Prep your selection before the shoot even starts
When speed is the priority, plan ahead: know in advance how many photos you have to deliver and in what format, so you don't waste time hesitating in post. A fast, decisive cull beats a perfect but late selection.
A light export first, the master afterwards
Deliver a light web export first, more than enough for immediate use (social, press release, sharing with family). The high-resolution file can follow in a second pass, without blocking the client's urgent use.
A delivery ready ahead of time, not built under pressure
The day of the event is not the moment to figure out how your delivery tool works. Having a page template ready in advance (your brand, your standard note for the client) saves you the minutes that count when the client is waiting live.
On xFer, once the page is set up, all you have to do is drop the files and send the link: nothing to improvise under pressure.
In short
Prep your selection before the shoot, deliver light then complete, and set up your delivery page ahead of time. Speed is won before the rush, not during it.