Pic-Time has created an innovative gallery system that allows each gallery visitor to be identified via their own secure account.
Please Note: Sharing a gallery without a password is possible. You'll just be missing out on a lot of features we love! We will outline how to set this up further in this article. Before jumping straight there, please hear us out why we think secure accounts are the best practice for your clients and you in elevating your business!
Why do they need an account?
Asking a user to create their own account means the user is identifiable in the gallery, giving greater insight and flexibility, and also additional functionality and tailored solutions for your visitors.
Some of the benefits for you include:
You can track who visits the gallery, and what actions were taken.
You can provide custom download permissions for different users.
You can quickly send customised targeted marketing to promote store sales.
You can share specific photos in a gallery with vendors or professional colleagues, without affecting your client's gallery experience.
Some of the benefits for your gallery visitors include:
Your Main Clients can hide photos in the gallery that they'd prefer to not share with their friends and family.
Gallery visitors can return to the gallery to download previously purchased images. Pic-Time will keep record of the photos they have access to, so they can re-download.
Gallery visitors can save product designs to their account to return to them later.
All of their galleries are in one place, repeat clients can view and order from older galleries, and they only need to remember one password for their account.
Vendors get a unique view of the gallery images, shop, and media usage terms.
Why do your clients need to have a password for this?
Passwords keep their accounts secure. Many functions of their account are intended for a specific user. Passwords prevent unauthorized downloads and access to photos, and prevent unauthorized coupon usage.
What are the different types of accounts?
When inviting visitors to the gallery you can choose which link to share depending on what type of user they are. When the user clicks that link to view the gallery, Pic-Time will know what type of user they are, and what permissions they should be granted based on your settings.
Main Clients are the primary gallery users. They are usually the gallery visitors you have a contract with, and the main recipient of the gallery. Some features in an account are only available to Main Clients, such as the ability to hide photos from their family and friends, the ability to receive Selection Requests, and the ability to receive Album Proofing. Main Clients will always require an account and password to access the gallery due to their special privileges.
Vendors are any professional colleagues, venues, florists, magazine editors, etc. These users are directly invited by you. When they are invited, they will be required to create an account associated with their email. They can receive a custom view of their own Vendor gallery and shop where they need to accept Media Usage Terms before viewing the images. Learn more about Vendors here!
Photographer Invited users are additional users to the gallery that you would like to invite, and can have the same level of download access as your Main Clients. These may include professional colleagues, extended family members in the gallery, or used to offer download permissions. These users are directly invited by you, or you can share the secure link. If they are invited by email they will be required to create an account associated with that email.
Client Invited/Guests are usually the friends or family of your main clients, however it can be anyone that accesses the gallery via the Guest Link or your Portfolio Page. These users are not required to create an account to view the gallery, but will be prompted to create an account if they save product designs or order from the store.
Who will be required to create an account?
Main Clients and Vendors will always be required to create an account. Their account status holds special permissions and privileges. Other users who are invited by email will also be required to create an account. This helps Pic-Time know that it is the intended user accessing the gallery.
When do they create an account?
Main Clients, Vendors, and Photographer Invited users invited by email will be required to create an account before accessing their first Pic-Time gallery.
Upon entering the gallery Pic-Time will suggest a password. They can accept this password, or click Change Password to enter their own.
Any subsequent times they access the gallery or access a new gallery, they can enter their existing email and password.
What happens if my client forgets their password?
If your client forgets their password they can easily reset it by clicking Forgot Password on the login screen. We'll send them an email so they can reset it. If you'd like more info, click here for our other article with more details.
How do I let my gallery visitors enter a gallery without an account and password?
If we haven't yet convinced you to identify different user accounts in the gallery, you can share the gallery without requiring an account. To do this, skip the Main Client fields and only share the Photographer Invited Secure Link or Guest Link Secure Link with any potential visitors.
By only sharing the Secure Link, visitors to the gallery will not be required to create an account to access the gallery. You can still collect their name and email address by enabling Request email before entering the gallery in the Gallery Setup tab. Click here for instructions.
Please Note: If your gallery visitors place an order in your store or request to save any product designs they are working on, they will be required to create an account. This allows Pic-Time to give them access to their design when they come back to it, or contact them for any enquiries about their order.
You can also indicate if you would like users to create an account when downloading or sharing photos by checking or unchecking the box in Settings, then Preferences.
Can I still collect their emails if they don't create an account?
Yes, you can collect names and emails from gallery guests. Checkmark Request email before entering the gallery in the Gallery Setup tab.
Gallery visitors will be prompted to leave their name and email before viewing the gallery.