When you create your Pic-Time account, your galleries are available by default through your Pic-Time domain. Your URL ends in .pic-time.com
Here is an example of how it would look:
[YourBrandName].pic-time.com
System emails are sent to your clients from [email protected] with your brand name, and your brand email address in the 'reply-to' field. This means when clients reply to the email, the reply gets sent to you.
Alternatively, you can connect your Pic-Time URL with your custom domain, which is a great way to reinforce your branding while clients view your galleries.
Here is an example of how your URL would look if you connect your custom domain:
galleries.[YourDomain.com]
Connecting your custom domain also offers you the option to send emails from your domain, removing the “via Pic-Time” label and helping reduce the chance of your emails being flagged as spam.
Pro Tip: If you’ve already manually connected your custom domain, you can now connect your custom email. Click here to learn more!
If you simply want to change or update your Pic-Time URL, contact our Support Team by clicking the chat icon in your account. We can update it for you.
Please Note: Custom domains can only be connected on Professional and Advanced plans. Learn more.
Make sure you have a domain
First, make sure you’ve purchased your domain through a third party (e.g., Google Domains, GoDaddy, Wordpress, etc.).
1. Add Custom Domain Settings in Pic-Time
Once you have your domain, here is how you can connect it to your Pic-Time account:
In the Brand & Style tab of your Settings, scroll down and under Pic-Time Web Address click to Connect your Custom Domain.
Enter your preferred custom subdomain using this format:
“subdomain.yourphotographydomain.com”
Here are some other examples of subdomains you could use:
yourgalleries.[YourDomain.com]
photos.[YourDomain.com]
clients.[YourDomain.com]
Please Note: Make sure to include the extension, for example, .com, .org, .photo).
Then click to Connect.
Pro Tip: The Pic-Time Custom Domain feature creates a subdomain that will connect to your main domain (for example, you can add "clients" to [YourDomain.com]), and your primary domain cannot be used as your Pic-Time custom domain.
If you do not have a standalone website/portfolio, you can use "www" as a subdomain, which will make your Pic-Time landing page appear to users as a standard URL (for example, "www.[YourDomain.com]").
However, if you already have a standalone website/portfolio, you should not use "www"; instead, you should use another phrase or word like "clients", "galleries", etc. This way, clients will not be confused when they attempt to go to your standalone website but go to your Pic-Time portfolio instead.
Then customize your brand email address and click Next.
Pro Tip: if you don’t want to send emails from a custom domain email, you can uncheck the option after completing this setup.
2. Connect Domain Through Entri
You’ll then be taken to Entri, our secure domain partner for domain setup. Click Continue.
Please Note: Entri is an authorized, trusted service that only uses necessary information to connect your domain to Pic-Time. Please make sure you are on the official Entri login page before entering any details.
Entri will automatically analyze your domain, detect your DNS provider, and prep the necessary information. Then it will prompt you to Authorize with your DNS provider.
If your provider is not supported for automatic authorization, follow the steps by clicking here.
Entri will then ask you to log in to your DNS provider to automatically complete the DNS setup for you.
After logging in to your DNS provider, click to Connect or authorize Entri.
After Entri configures your DNS records, click Done.
3. Verify Your Domain in Pic-Time
You’ll then be redirected back to your Pic-Time account. Click to Verify Your Domain.
And that’s it! The verification process may take 3-4 hours, and you’ll receive an email when your custom domain is verified.
Pro Tip: If you have multiple brands in your Pic-Time account (available on Advanced plan), you can set up a custom domain for each brand.
Please Note: In addition to the DNS propagation period, it may take up to 4 more hours for the change to be applied to your Pic-Time galleries.
Please Note: If you enable this option, email open and click tracking in your User Activity will not work for now. We’re actively working on restoring this feature in the future.
What happens to gallery links I've already sent out?
When you add a custom domain, your original Pic-Time links will automatically redirect to the new domain.
However, if you remove or change your custom domain, any previous links will no longer work. You’ll need to resend gallery invitations. You can use the Gallery Migration App or General Coupon App to notify clients of their new links.
Manual Setup
If Entri cannot automatically connect to your DNS provider, click the link to Log in into your domain provider to manage these settings. You may see anywhere from 2-5 records to copy over.
In your domain provider, go to the Zone File Settings, DNS Manager, or a similar area. Then, you will create a CNAME Record and copy and paste over each Host Name and Required Value from Entri.
For example, in Squarespace Domain's DNS Settings, click to Add Record. Then paste the information from Entri.
Host corresponds with Entri's Host Name
Type will be set to Entri's Record Type (usually a CNAME or TXT)
Data corresponds with Entri's Required Value.
Then click Save. Repeat this for as many records as you've been provided (usually 2-5 records).
After you have copied and pasted over the information, click I have added x/x records above to my domain’s provider in the Entri window.
Then click Done.
Then continue to follow the verification instructions by clicking here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are no SPF and DKIM records added when I set up emails to be sent from my custom domain?
We use a method called CNAME Delegation, which passes it along to SendGrid who publishes and maintains the DKIM and SPF. We recommend using Entri’s automatic domain setup, but you can also manually connect your domain to see the 2 provided CNAME records to SendGrid, and a TXT record for the DMARC (if one doesn’t exist already).
Does the setup change the domain’s MX records?
No, there are no MX records added, and it does not change any existing MX records.
If I change the DNS for emails, will I lose my Google Workspace (or any other email provider) mailboxes?
No, this will not affect Google Workspace email or other email providers. The custom email does not replace your existing mail host, but just means that emails sent from the Pic-Time platform are authorised to use your custom domain as the from address, and replies will continue to go to your current inbox. Your MX records (which point mail delivery to your mail provider’s servers) will remain unchanged.