01
Set a clear selection brief
Tell clients how many photographs to choose and what the choices will be used for. A portrait package, team headshot selection, and album shortlist need different instructions.
client photo selection on your website
How to Add Client Photo Selection to Your Website
Add client photo selection to your website with a GalleryDock proofing gallery, favorites, contextual comments, and a defined next step.
- Give clients a focused proof set
- Keep favorites and notes visual
- Carry the shortlist into production
Quick answer
Client photo selection on your website lets customers review a prepared proof set, mark favorites, and leave image-specific notes inside the studio's branded page. The practical result is a focused selection experience that produces an understandable shortlist for the photographer without turning the website into a custom proofing application. Begin with one representative project, prepare only the images and actions this audience should see, and define the next step before publishing. GalleryDock supplies the client-facing gallery, contextual favorites and comments, controlled downloads, guest uploads where configured, and digital or physical print sales when products are enabled. The website owner chooses the placement and remains responsible for the surrounding page, access decisions, publishing permissions, and testing. Check the public experience on desktop and mobile instead of treating an editor preview as proof. This is not the general proofing guide, a Lightroom workflow, automatic image selection, legal approval, or a promise that favorites alone resolve conflicting stakeholder decisions.
Step 1
Define what the shortlist means
Start with the client’s purpose and the gallery choices that support it.
02
Prepare the proof set
Curate the collection before asking for favorites. Remove obvious duplicates and organize the remaining photographs so clients can compare meaningful alternatives.
03
Distinguish favorites from comments
Use favorites to identify candidates and image comments to explain a specific preference or requested change. A long comment should not be the only way you can identify a selected photograph.
04
Name the person confirming the list
For a team or couple, agree who sends the final confirmation. Multiple opinions do not automatically become one production-ready shortlist.
Step 2
Bring selection into the studio website
Use the prepared GalleryDock gallery and the website’s supported placement path.
01
Configure the selection gallery
Prepare the relevant GalleryDock client actions and check the collection before copying the embed. Keep download and sales decisions separate from the shortlist task.
02
Add the selection instructions
Place the brief near the embedded gallery, including the requested number of choices and your deadline. Avoid sending clients to a separate spreadsheet to understand the task.
03
Give the photos enough room
Use a page layout that makes opening and comparing images comfortable. Check that the favorite controls remain usable without horizontal scrolling.
04
Explain how to finish
Tell clients how to let you know the shortlist is ready. Do not imply that a favorite alone is legal approval or that it automatically starts retouching.
Step 3
Check the handoff into production
Review the published page from the intended visitor’s point of view.
01
Mark a test favorite
From the public page, select a representative photograph and verify that the photographer can identify it. Confirm the actual image rather than relying only on a total count.
02
Add a contextual note
Leave a sample comment on a selected image and check that it stays with the right photograph. This is useful for separating the preferred frame from a retouching request.
03
Try the selection on a phone
Open several proofs, mark choices, and return to the collection. Watch for controls that are hidden by the surrounding website layout or mobile browser chrome.
04
Confirm before editing
Reconcile the shortlist with the client’s brief before beginning production. Use the dedicated Lightroom workflow if you need to carry those choices into Lightroom Classic.
Comparison
Choose the right selection workflow
Compare the options by the job they need to do, not just by whether they can display photographs.
| Approach | Best for | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Embedded favorites and comments | A shortlist within your studio website | Agree what marks and confirmation mean |
| Direct proofing link | A focused selection without website placement | The client starts outside your site page |
| Filename list | A small selection already identified precisely | Manual matching can introduce mistakes |
| In-person selection | A guided decision with the photographer | Requires a shared appointment |
| Lightroom selection handoff | Carrying confirmed choices into editing | A later step, not the website selection itself |
Portrait package
A client chooses the included portraits and leaves a note on one favorite.
Team headshots
Employees or a decision owner identify the approved portraits without filename spreadsheets.
Wedding album shortlist
A couple marks the images that should move into the album-design conversation.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about this workflow
Can clients select photos on my website?
Yes. Embed a prepared GalleryDock selection gallery and give clients clear instructions for favorites and comments.
Are favorites the same as approval?
Not automatically. Define what the favorite list means and who confirms the final decision.
Can clients leave notes on selected photos?
Yes. Contextual comments can clarify retouching or usage requests when the workflow is configured.
Does GalleryDock choose the best photos automatically?
No. Creative culling and final professional judgment remain with the photographer and client workflow.
Can I move the selection into Lightroom?
Use the dedicated Lightroom selection workflow after the website selection is complete.
Related resources
Client proofing workflowPlan the complete selection process.Online photo proofingUnderstand the client-facing proofing activity.Photo gallery with commentsKeep detailed notes beside the image.Client photo feedbackSeparate feedback from the shortlist itself.Embed a gallery with HTMLUse the platform-neutral placement path.
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- Password-protect client galleries
- Use your own logo as a watermark
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- Your own shop for digital sales
- Sell print products in your shop
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- Your own profile in client galleries
- Password-protect client galleries
- Use your own logo as a watermark
- Let clients select images and mark favorites
- Control photo and video downloads
- Embed galleries on your own website
- Hide GalleryDock branding
- Use your own logo in galleries
For regular client delivery
Build a clearer client photo selection on your website workflow
Prepare one real gallery, place it on the intended page, and test the public result from start to finish. The goal is a focused selection experience that produces an understandable shortlist for the photographer without turning the website into a custom proofing application. GalleryDock supports the gallery and commerce path without replacing website administration, professional judgment, access policy, or third-party platform responsibility.
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