Lumara for photographers
Public, private and password-protected galleries explained
Use a public gallery when discovery and broad sharing are intentional, a private gallery when it should not be generally discoverable, and password protection when people with the shared link must also prove they have the access secret.
A simple decision table
| Setting | Use it when | Remember |
|---|---|---|
| Public | The work is intentionally discoverable or shareable | Confirm releases and portfolio permissions |
| Private | Only people given the link should reach it | A forwarded link may still grant access |
| Password protected | The link needs an additional access check | Send the password through an appropriate channel |
Questions to ask
- Are children, private homes, medical settings or sensitive events shown?
- Has the client agreed to public display, or only delivery?
- Will guests need access without repeatedly asking the main client?
- Could a forwarded link create an uncomfortable disclosure?
- Is the password simple enough to enter but difficult to guess?
Search visibility and access
A gallery being reachable by a URL does not mean it belongs in search results. Private and password-protected galleries should not be placed in public sitemaps or portfolio features. They should also send appropriate no-index instructions.
Access control and search control solve different problems. A no-index instruction is not a password; a password is not a substitute for correct search handling.
Communicate the choice
Tell the client whether the gallery can be shared, whether a password is required and how long access is expected to remain available. Avoid language such as “completely secure” when what you mean is controlled access.
Client gallery privacy checklist
Privacy is a sequence of decisions about people, access, search, sharing and retention—not a single password switch.
How to deliver photos to clients professionally
Professional delivery is a short, repeatable sequence: prepare the files, build the gallery, test the client view, send one clear message and follow up.
Client gallery vs Google Drive or Dropbox
Cloud storage is excellent at moving and retaining files. A client gallery is designed to make those files feel like a finished photography delivery.
Client gallery delivery email templates
A delivery email should feel personal while making the link, access details and next action impossible to miss.
How to upload a large photography gallery reliably
A reliable upload is planned around the real connection, the final export and recovery from individual failures.
Photo gallery upload time calculator
Use your measured upload speed—not the download speed printed on the broadband package.