Proofing galleries: how photographers get faster, clearer client selections

A proofing gallery lets your client pick favourites inside the gallery, with a clear limit, and send you one final list. No screenshots, no "the one where we're laughing", no counting file numbers from a long chat. Here is how to set one up so album selections take days, not weeks.

#Why selections stall

Clients love the photos and hate choosing. Without a limit they pick everything; without a deadline they pick nothing. Every message thread becomes a puzzle you have to decode before you can start designing.

#Set a selection limit from what you sold

If the package includes a 20-spread album, allow about 40 photos. Say it in the gallery message: "Choose up to 40 for your album — extra spreads are available if you fall in love with more." A limit makes decisions easier and creates a natural upsell.

#Ask for notes, not messages

Let clients leave a note on a photo — "black and white please", "crop tighter", "for the cover". Notes stay attached to the right image, so nothing is lost between your inbox and your editing software.

#Lock the selection when it is sent

When the client presses Send my selection, lock it. Changes after that are a conversation, not a silent edit. You get a single email with the count, their notes and the filenames.

#From selection to Lightroom in one paste

Copy the selected filenames and paste them into Lightroom's Library filter to find every pick at once. No re-typing file numbers.

#Protect and deliver

• Password for private work; change it to lock out anyone who should not have access.
• Downloads off while proofing, on when the balance is paid.
• Expiry date so galleries do not live forever — and a reminder to download before then.

Sarvyam's Studio plan includes proofing galleries with limits, notes, Lightroom-ready filenames and a deliverables tracker so sneak peeks, the edited gallery and the album never slip.

#Key takeaways

• Set a selection limit from the album you sold.
• Collect notes on photos, not in messages.
• Lock the selection when it is sent.
• Paste filenames straight into Lightroom.