Private access

Password-protected galleries clients can still open easily

Use simple shared-password access for private client galleries without forcing normal viewers into full client accounts.

Create Account All Features

How it works

When this matters

Use this for weddings, private portraits, corporate events, proofing galleries, or any delivery where a public link alone is not enough.

Password protection keeps private gallery access attached to the gallery link. A photographer can set, generate, remove, and save a share password from the gallery sharing workflow.

On the client side, SendPhoto has a dedicated password entry flow. After a successful password entry, gallery access can be remembered, so clients do not have to re-enter the password on every view.

Set, generate, remove, and save gallery share passwords
Dedicated password entry flow for protected galleries
Gallery access remembered after successful password entry
Normal gallery viewing does not require a client account

Client experience

What clients can expect

A closer look at what clients see and what photographers can control.

Password controls live in the gallery sharing screen.

Client galleries use a simple shared-password access flow.

Gallery access can be remembered after successful password entry.

Practical setup

Private gallery access without turning every client into an account user

Password protection is the simplest privacy layer for client photo delivery: the gallery link can still be easy to share, but the photos are not exposed to anyone who finds or forwards the URL without the shared password.

Shared-password gallery access

A SendPhoto gallery can have a share password that is set, generated, removed, and saved from the sharing workflow. Clients enter that shared password on a dedicated access screen before they see the gallery. This keeps the handoff lightweight for weddings, portraits, schools, and corporate events where the photographer wants privacy without making every viewer create an account.

Set or generate a gallery password
Remove password access when it is no longer needed
Keep ordinary gallery viewing account-free for clients
Use one protected link for the client and approved guests

Access remembered after entry

After a successful password entry, SendPhoto can remember gallery access so clients do not need to re-enter the password on every view. That matters for real galleries: a couple may open the wedding gallery from a phone, share it with parents, come back later from a laptop, and revisit again when they are ready to download or favorite images.

Cleaner repeat visits for clients
Useful for events with many approved viewers
Works alongside the normal gallery link
Avoids unnecessary account prompts for ordinary viewing

Privacy as part of the gallery workflow

Password access works best when it is part of the delivery workflow, not a separate portal. SendPhoto lets password protection sit beside watermarks, download settings, expiration, and search visibility protections, so the same gallery can move from private proofing to final delivery without changing tools.

Protect private galleries without separate portals
Use passwords for confidential events or private portraits
Pair with expiration when access should close later
Combine with watermarks before final files are released

When a password is enough and when it is not

A shared password is a practical privacy barrier for client-facing delivery, but it should not be treated like legal-grade access control for highly sensitive records. For most photography workflows, the goal is to keep casual viewers, search engines, and unintended recipients away from the gallery while preserving the simple client experience that makes photo delivery feel polished.

Good fit for weddings, portraits, family galleries, and controlled event access
Not a replacement for contracts, releases, or confidential document handling
Best paired with private sharing habits and clear client instructions

Client communication that reduces support

Password-protected galleries work better when the client invite explains what to expect. A short note with the gallery link, password, download status, and sharing guidance prevents the common follow-up questions: where to enter the password, whether guests can view the gallery, and when downloads are available.

Send the password with the gallery link in the same client message
Explain whether guests may receive the password
Tell clients whether downloads are enabled now or later

Best fit

Corporate events with a controlled audience

Portrait, family, or school galleries that should not be open links

Wedding galleries shared with guests but not indexed publicly

Password-protected gallery workflow

Use this checklist when a gallery should be easy for approved viewers but closed to everyone else.

1 Create the gallery and organize photos into client-friendly collections.
2 Set or generate the gallery password before sharing the public link.
3 Decide whether downloads are disabled, smaller delivery files, or original-file delivery.
4 Apply watermarks if the gallery is still in proofing or client selection.
5 Send the link and password with one clear sentence about who may receive access.
6 Remove or rotate the password when the gallery no longer needs the same audience.

Which privacy setup fits the job?

Scenario	Recommended setup	Why it helps
Private wedding gallery	Shared password plus optional expiration	The couple can share with family, but the gallery is not an open public link.
Proofing before final delivery	Password plus watermarks and downloads disabled	Clients can review images while the photographer controls final file release.
Corporate or school event	Password plus clear sharing instructions	Access is simple for the approved group and less likely to spread unintentionally.

Frequently asked questions

Do clients need a SendPhoto account to open a password-protected gallery?

No. The normal client viewing flow can stay account-free. Clients enter the shared gallery password on the access screen and can then view the protected gallery.

Can password protection be used with downloads?

Yes. Password access controls who can open the gallery, while download settings control whether visitors can download files and which quality they receive.

Should every client gallery use a password?

Use a password when the gallery contains private portraits, wedding images, school photos, corporate event photos, or any delivery that should not behave like an open public link.

Can I remove the password later?

Yes. Password access can be removed when the gallery no longer needs that privacy layer, or changed when access should move to a different group.

Product media

See the protected gallery workflow

Real product screenshots are more useful here than decorative images: the page should show where password settings live and what the client gallery experience feels like after access is granted.

SendPhoto sharing settings with gallery password controls — Password controls live with the normal gallery sharing settings.

Zoomed SendPhoto gallery sharing workflow — The privacy layer stays attached to the same gallery link clients receive.

SendPhoto mobile client gallery after access — Clients can continue into a phone-friendly gallery after entering the password.

Client gallery browsing walkthrough

Password protection should not make the gallery feel heavy. The client still lands in the normal mobile-friendly browsing experience after access is approved.

Related pages for this feature

Open

Build the gallery around the job, not the workaround.

Use SendPhoto for gallery delivery, access controls, organized browsing, and client-ready downloads in one workflow.

Create Account View Pricing