Photographer workflow
Photographer client galleries: compare proofing, favorites, and delivery.
For portrait, wedding, family, and small-studio photographers, the right gallery workflow should make the client's next step clear. Use this guide to compare how a service handles image selection, private access, final files, and the costs that come with your busiest season.
The preview lasts seven days and is read-only: no card, no automatic billing, and no live-gallery access. You get live-gallery access only if you choose to opt in to Studio.
Separate the handoffs
Proofing is a decision. Delivery is the finished work.
Keeping review and delivery distinct helps clients know what you need from them now and what they can expect when the photographs are ready.
01
Proofing is for decisions
Share the images a client needs to review, then explain what you want them to do: narrow a shortlist, choose included photographs, or flag images for your next edit. Set expectations before the gallery link goes out.
02
Selection rules should be clear
Tell clients how many images they may choose, whether they can change their choices before submitting, and what happens after they submit. For weddings or larger proof sets, make sure the selection process still feels manageable.
03
Final delivery is a separate handoff
Finished photographs are the approved result, not another round of proofs. Label the delivery stage clearly and decide which files clients should receive, how they will download them, and how long you will keep them available.
Compare the details
Questions to ask before choosing a client-gallery service.
Feature support varies by service and plan. Ask these questions in a demo or trial, and check the plan terms for anything that affects your own client process.
01
Favorites and selection rules
A heart can mean a shortlist, a final choice, or simply an image a client likes. The workflow should make that meaning explicit for both sides.
- Can you set or communicate the number of included selections, and what happens if a client chooses more?
- Can clients revise favorites before submitting? Is submission clearly different from saving a favorite, and can a submitted selection be changed?
- For family or wedding galleries, can each decision-maker contribute without making the final choice ambiguous?
02
Private access and downloads
Check the path from sharing a gallery to receiving its finished files, including what the photographer can control along the way.
- How is gallery access restricted? Can you revoke a link, set an expiry, or add another access step if your work calls for it?
- Can proofing images be viewed without being downloadable, and can final downloads be limited or enabled only at the right stage?
- Are file type, resolution, watermarking, download count, and delivery-link lifetime clear before you commit?
03
The client’s mobile experience
Many clients review photos on a phone between other parts of the day. Test the client view itself, not just the photographer dashboard.
- Can a client browse a large gallery, inspect an image, and mark or remove a favorite comfortably on a small screen?
- Is the selection count and submit action easy to find, and does the experience remain usable on a slower connection?
- Can clients download final images on the devices they are likely to use?
04
Fit with your existing workflow
Compare the steps you already use for culling, editing, client communication, contracts, and archiving with the steps a gallery service expects.
- How do images move from your editing process into proofing and then final delivery? Which steps remain manual?
- Do file names, organization, and client context carry through the handoff in a way that suits your process?
- Does the service connect to tools you rely on, or should you plan for a separate export, upload, or message?
05
Total cost, active galleries, and storage
A monthly price is only one part of the fit. Consider how many shoots overlap and what happens to files after a gallery is no longer active.
- How many active galleries does your busiest season require, and what does the plan count as active?
- What storage is included? Are there file-size, gallery-size, retention, or download limits, and what happens when you reach them?
- Does the full recurring cost include the storage and delivery needs you expect, without a charge you have not accounted for?
Where LumaVault Studio fits
A focused path from client gallery to final delivery.
Studio supports client galleries, favorites for proofing, and final delivery. The Founding plan is $29/month for up to 10 active client galleries. If you are comparing fit, begin with the sample gallery, then review the separate seven-day preview before deciding whether to opt in.
LumaVault Studio
Photographer client-gallery questions
- What does LumaVault Studio support for photographers?
- LumaVault Studio supports client galleries, favorites for proofing, and final delivery. Studio Founding is $29 per month and includes up to 10 active client galleries.
- Can I use a live client gallery during the seven-day preview?
- No. The seven-day preview is read-only and does not include access to live client galleries. Live-gallery access is available only if you choose to opt in to Studio.
- Do I need to enter a card for the preview, or will it bill automatically?
- No card is collected, and the preview does not bill or enroll you automatically. After the seven days, Studio is $29 per month only if you choose to continue.