Pay-to-Unlock Galleries

Require payment before clients can download photos.

Pay-to-Unlock Overview

Pay-to-unlock galleries require clients to pay before downloading full-resolution photos. This is perfect for:

  • Event photography
  • Portrait sessions
  • Commercial shoots
  • Any work delivered digitally

How It Works

Client Experience

  1. Client receives gallery link
  2. Views watermarked previews
  3. Browses and reviews photos
  4. Clicks "Unlock Gallery"
  5. Completes payment via Stripe
  6. Immediately accesses downloads

Photographer Experience

  1. Upload photos to gallery
  2. Set gallery price
  3. Share link with client
  4. Receive payment notification
  5. Funds deposited to your Stripe

Setting Up Pay-to-Unlock

New Gallery

  1. Create a new gallery
  2. Add your photos
  3. Under "Pricing," select "Paid"
  4. Enter the price
  5. Create the gallery

Existing Gallery

  1. Open gallery settings
  2. Change pricing to "Paid"
  3. Enter the price
  4. Save changes

Pricing Options

Flat Rate

Charge one price for the entire gallery:

  • Best for most situations
  • Simple for clients to understand
  • Clear value proposition

Variable Pricing

(Coming Soon) Different prices based on:

  • Number of photos
  • Photo resolution
  • Usage rights

Preview Options

Watermarked Previews

Default behavior:

  • Low-resolution previews shown
  • Your watermark overlaid
  • Protects your work
  • Client can evaluate photos

Blurred Previews

Alternative option:

  • Photos shown with blur effect
  • Tease the content
  • Maximum protection

After Payment

Immediate Access

Once payment clears:

  • Watermarks removed
  • Full resolution available
  • Download options enabled
  • No expiration (unless set)

Payment Confirmation

Client receives:

  • Payment receipt email
  • Updated gallery link
  • Access confirmation

You receive:

  • Payment notification
  • Client payment details
  • Gallery status update

Partial Payments

Deposits

(Coming Soon) Accept partial payments:

  • Set deposit amount
  • Client pays deposit first
  • Pays remaining balance to unlock

Handling Issues

Payment Failed

If payment fails:

  1. Client sees error message
  2. Can retry with different card
  3. Contact support if persistent

Refund Requests

To issue a refund:

  1. Go to Payments dashboard
  2. Find the transaction
  3. Click "Issue Refund"
  4. Gallery access revoked

Disputes

If client disputes the charge:

  1. You're notified immediately
  2. Provide evidence in Stripe
  3. Stripe handles the dispute
  4. Follow their resolution process

Best Practices

Clear Communication

  • State pricing before the shoot
  • Include in your contract
  • Remind before gallery delivery
  • Explain what's included

Fair Pricing

  • Research competitor rates
  • Value your work appropriately
  • Consider client budgets
  • Offer payment plans if needed

Professional Presentation

  • Use high-quality watermarks
  • Show enough to entice
  • Deliver promptly after payment
  • Follow up with thank you

Combining with Other Features

With Favorites

Clients can favorite photos before paying:

  1. View and browse gallery
  2. Mark favorites
  3. Pay to unlock
  4. Download favorites easily

With Download Limits

Set limits even after payment:

  1. Enable pay-to-unlock
  2. Set download limit
  3. Client pays to unlock
  4. Limited downloads available

With Expiration

Galleries can expire after payment:

  1. Set expiration date
  2. Client has limited time to download
  3. Encourages timely downloads
  4. You can extend if needed

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