Understanding Gallery Delivery: galleries, digital files explained

CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT TO DO
WHEN YOUR GALLERY LINK ARRIVES?

I’ve got you. Here’s the gently educational, no-shame guide to viewing, downloading, printing, and protecting your photos.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR GALLERY DELIVERY

Delivering your gallery is my favorite part — the moment your photos finally land in your hands. Whether it’s a wedding, elopement, milestone, or boudoir session, this guide keeps the process simple and stress-free.

WHAT “DIGITAL GALLERY” & “DIGITAL FILE” REALLY MEAN

DIGITAL GALLERY

Think of a digital gallery as your private photo album on the internet. It’s a secure online space where you can view your images, pick favorites, and download them. Only the people I share the link with will ever see it.

DIGITAL FILE

A digital file is the electronic version of a photo. It isn’t printed — it lives on your phone, computer, or cloud storage. These are the files you can share online, text to friends, or use for prints and albums.

WHAT YOU’LL RECEIVE

When your gallery is ready, I’ll send you a secure ClickNikki link. Inside, you’ll find two versions of every photo:

• WEB-OPTIMIZED JPGS — small, fast-loading files for social media, texting, and email.
• HIGH-RESOLUTION JPGS — large, detailed files for printing, albums, and wall art.

Heads up: hi-res files are big and may take longer to download, especially on phones or slower internet. They’re the ones you’ll want for any print magic. Both versions are optimized so they look sharp wherever you share them.

STEP-BY-STEP: USING YOUR GALLERY (ADHD-FRIENDLY)

1. Open your gallery link from your email or text.
2. Let the thumbnails load.
3. Favorite or heart your top picks (this helps me, too).
4. Hit Download. Options usually include:
   • All web-size images
   • Only your favorites (web size)
   • Full-resolution versions
5. For hi-res: use a desktop or laptop to download as a .zip file.
6. Move files out of “Downloads” into a safe photo folder or external drive.
7. Use web-size files for sharing online; use hi-res for printing.
8. Don’t screenshot — screenshots compress detail (and yes, it’ll make me cry a little 🥲).
9. Back everything up (see below).

QUALITY, ALWAYS

• Web-size files are compressed for speed but stay clean and sharp.
• Hi-res files keep full detail for beautiful prints.
• Every export is handled with care — nothing blurry, nothing low quality.

HOW LONG IS MY GALLERY LIVE?

Your contract sets the official window to download everything:

• Boudoir & Milestone: 14 days
• Weddings: 3 months

After that, galleries automatically archive. I’m not obligated to keep hosting once your window closes, and retrieval later may come with a hefty fee. Please download and back up your images before your link expires.

USAGE RIGHTS (PLAIN ENGLISH)

• I keep the copyright.
• You get a personal license to print, share, and enjoy your photos.
• RAW or unedited files are never delivered — those stay behind the scenes.
• No altering, selling, or entering contests/commercial projects without my permission.
• For social media: feel free to post your images. Some contracts may ask for credit — check yours.
• Boudoir: nothing is shared publicly without your written consent.
• Weddings: images may appear in my portfolio/marketing unless you opt out in writing.

PRINTING 101

For prints, albums, or wall art, always use the high-resolution files. They’re designed to meet lab standards (around 300 dpi). Web files are perfect for screens but not for enlargements.

BACKUP STRATEGY (BECAUSE MEMORIES DESERVE PROTECTION)

Follow the 3-2-1 rule:

• 3 copies of your images
• 2 types of storage (e.g., external SSD + cloud)
• 1 copy offsite (cloud or a drive stored elsewhere)

Great storage options: external SSDs, iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, or a NAS system. Use clear folder names (ex: 2025_Wedding_J+K > HiRes) and set yourself a backup reminder.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Your gallery is your story in digital form. Use web files when you want speed, hi-res when you want to print, and always back everything up so your memories last.

Important: Receiving digital files or a temporary online gallery never includes unfinished or unedited photos. I do not deliver RAW or FRAW files under any circumstance. Just like old-school negatives, those aren’t meant to be shared. You’ll only ever receive the finished, polished images that reflect your story with care.