As photographers, presenting your work to clients in a professional and stylish manner is crucial. Online galleries provide an excellent way to showcase and deliver photos.

While the core thing you’re going to care about is this experience – where some of these online gallery platforms differ is in other features they include such as built in AI features, the ability to sell prints and albums through your galleries, email marketing capabilities and much more.

On the surface, most of these companies are pretty similar in their base offering (they host your client’s images in a aesthetically pleasing cloud gallery after all!), so we recommend exploring a few and signing up for their free plans or trials to see how you like their interface, user experience and other features for yourself.

In this post, we’ll explore the 15 best online gallery platforms for photographers, helping you choose the right one to elevate your client experience and thrive in your business.

Online Galleries for Photographers – Our Recommendation List!

1. Pic-Time

Our Top Recommendation

Pic-Time is a versatile and user-friendly platform, offering a seamless experience for both photographers and clients. It provides customizable galleries, integrated store options for print sales, and advanced marketing tools. We use and love Pic-Time for its beautiful designs and robust features.

Main Features:

• Customizable galleries with beautiful designs
• Integrated store for print and album sales
• Advanced marketing tools
• Easy-to-use interface
• AI sorting tools
• Integrated blogging and vendor sharing tools

Benefits:

• Highly customizable and visually appealing
• Comprehensive marketing and sales tools
• Excellent user experience for both photographers and clients

Check out Pic-Time.

2. Pixieset

Pixieset is popular among photographers for its sleek and modern galleries. It allows you to create customized client galleries, proofing options, and offers integrated e-commerce to sell prints and products directly from the gallery.

Main Features:

• Sleek and modern gallery designs
• Customizable client galleries
• Proofing options for client feedback
• Integrated e-commerce for print and product sales

Benefits:

• Modern and professional gallery appearance
• Easy proofing and client feedback process
• E-commerce capabilities for direct sales

Check out Pixieset.

3. Lightfolio

Lightfolio offers a straightforward and efficient way to share photos with clients. It’s known for its simple design, easy setup, and proofing tools that streamline the client approval process.

Main Features:

• Simple and efficient design
• Easy setup process
• Proofing tools for client approval
• Secure photo sharing

Benefits:

• User-friendly and quick setup
• Effective proofing tools
• Secure and reliable platform

Check out Lightfolio.

4. Shootproof

Shootproof combines online galleries with business management tools, making it a comprehensive solution for photographers. It offers customizable galleries, contracts, invoicing, and the ability to sell prints and products.

Main Features:

• Customizable galleries
• Business management tools (contracts, invoicing)
• Print and product sales integration
• User-friendly interface

Benefits:

• Comprehensive business management tools
• Easy integration of sales and client galleries
• User-friendly and intuitive design

Check out Shootproof.

5. Cloudspot

Cloudspot provides photographers with an easy-to-use platform for delivering high-resolution images. It offers unlimited storage, customizable galleries, and e-commerce capabilities for selling prints and digital downloads.

Main Features:

• Easy-to-use platform
• Unlimited storage
• Customizable galleries
• E-commerce for prints and digital downloads

Benefits:

• Unlimited storage for high-resolution images
• Simple and intuitive design
• Strong e-commerce features

Check out Cloudspot.

6. Pixpa

Pixpa is an all-in-one platform that includes online galleries, websites, and client proofing. It’s perfect for photographers who want a cohesive online presence, allowing you to build a portfolio site and deliver client galleries in one place.

Main Features:

• All-in-one platform (galleries, websites, proofing)
• Customizable portfolio sites
• Client proofing tools
• Integrated e-commerce

Benefits:

• Comprehensive solution for online presence
• Customizable and versatile
• Strong proofing and e-commerce tools

Check out Pixpa.

7. Picsello

Picsello offers a comprehensive solution with online galleries, business management tools, and marketing features. It’s designed to help photographers streamline their workflow and provide a top-notch client experience.

Main Features:

• Comprehensive business management tools
• Customizable online galleries
• Marketing features
• Easy-to-use interface

Benefits:

• Extensive business management and marketing tools
• Customizable galleries
• Streamlined workflow

Check out Picsello.

8. Sprout Studio

Sprout Studio combines client galleries with studio management tools. It offers customizable galleries, client communication tools, invoicing, and scheduling features, making it a powerful tool for running a photography business.

Main Features:

• Studio management tools
• Customizable client galleries
• Client communication features
• Invoicing and scheduling tools

Benefits:

• All-in-one studio management solution
• Customizable and professional galleries
• Strong client communication tools

Check out Sprout Studio.

9. Unscripted

Unscripted is known for its intuitive design and user-friendly interface. It offers beautiful, customizable galleries and proofing tools, making it easy to share and sell your work to clients.

Main Features:

• Intuitive design
• User-friendly interface
• Customizable galleries
• Proofing tools for client feedback

Benefits:

• Easy to use and navigate
• Beautiful and customizable galleries
• Effective proofing tools

Check out Unscripted.

10. SmugMug

SmugMug is a long-standing favorite among photographers for its reliable service and extensive customization options. It offers unlimited storage, customizable galleries, and e-commerce features to sell prints and digital products.

Main Features:

• Reliable service
• Extensive customization options
• Unlimited storage
• E-commerce integration

Benefits:

• Highly customizable
• Reliable and secure platform
• Unlimited storage for photos

Check out SmugMug.

11. Pass

Pass is designed for photographers who want a simple and elegant way to deliver photos to clients. It offers easy-to-use galleries, download options, and integrated print sales to enhance your client’s experience.

Main Features:

• Simple and elegant design
• Easy-to-use galleries
• Download options for clients
• Integrated print sales

Benefits:

• Simple and user-friendly
• Elegant gallery designs
• Integrated print sales

Check out Pass.

12. Pixellu

Pixellu offers a range of tools for photographers, including smart online galleries. Its galleries are designed to be beautiful and easy to navigate, providing a seamless way for clients to view and purchase photos.

Main Features:

• Smart online galleries
• Beautiful and easy-to-navigate designs
• Client purchase options
• User-friendly interface

Benefits:

• Beautiful gallery designs
• Easy to navigate for clients
• Strong client purchase options

Check out Pixellu.

13. Zno

Zno is a versatile platform that offers online galleries, print products, and album design services. It’s perfect for photographers who want to provide a comprehensive service to their clients.

Main Features:

• Versatile platform
• Online galleries and print products
• Album design services
• Customizable options

Benefits:

• Comprehensive service options
• Customizable galleries and products
• Album design tools

Check out Zno

14. Photobiz

Photobiz offers customizable online galleries with a focus on client proofing and sales. It provides an easy way to share photos with clients, gather feedback, and sell prints and products directly from the gallery.

Main Features:

• Customizable online galleries
• Client proofing tools
• Sales integration for prints and products
• Easy sharing options

Benefits:

• Strong client proofing tools
• Easy sales integration
• Customizable gallery designs

Check out Photobiz.

15. Photoshelter

Photoshelter is a powerful platform for photographers who need robust storage and sharing capabilities. It offers customizable galleries, e-commerce options, and advanced security features to protect your work.

Main Features:

• Robust storage and sharing capabilities
• Customizable galleries
• E-commerce options
• Advanced security features

Benefits:

• Strong storage and security features
• Customizable and professional galleries
• Integrated e-commerce

Check out Photoshelter.

Common Questions When Choosing an Online Gallery Platform

What features should I look for in an online gallery platform?

When choosing an online gallery platform, consider the following features:

• Customizability: Look for platforms that allow you to customize the look and feel of your galleries to match your brand.
• Storage Options: Ensure the platform offers enough storage for your needs, especially if you handle large volumes of high-resolution images.
• Client Proofing: A good platform should offer proofing tools that allow clients to review and approve images.
• E-commerce Integration: If you plan to sell prints or digital products, choose a platform with integrated e-commerce capabilities.
• User Experience: The platform should be easy to navigate for both you and your clients.
• Security: Ensure the platform has robust security features to protect your images and client information.

How do online galleries improve client experience?

Online galleries enhance the client experience by providing a convenient and professional way to view and purchase photos. Clients can access their images from anywhere, easily share them with friends and family, and purchase prints or digital downloads directly from the gallery. Customizable galleries also allow photographers to present their work in a visually appealing manner that reflects their brand.

How do I choose the best platform for my business?

Consider your specific needs and preferences when choosing an online gallery platform. Here are some steps to help you decide:

1. Identify Your Requirements: Make a list of the features that are most important to you, such as storage capacity, customization options, and e-commerce capabilities.
2. Compare Platforms: Use the information provided in this post to compare different platforms and see which ones meet your requirements.
3. Try Free Trials: Many platforms offer free trials or even free tiers of their platform. Take advantage of these to test the user interface and features.
4. Read Reviews: Look for reviews from other photographers to get a sense of their experiences with each platform.
5. Consider Your Budget: Ensure the platform you choose fits within your budget, considering both initial costs and any ongoing fees.

Conclusion

Choosing the right online gallery platform can significantly enhance your client experience and streamline your workflow. Whether you’re looking for simple and elegant galleries or a comprehensive business management solution, this list has something for every photographer. Explore these platforms to find the best fit for your needs and deliver your photos in style.