This article walks through steps to view and download your images on a desktop browser. For mobile downloading, take a look at the FileFlow app!
If you’re a client of a photographer, you will most likely be given access to view and download your images either with a password or with your email address. Viewing permissions and download permissions are two separate settings determined by the photographer. You may have been given exclusive access to view a gallery, but not to download from it. You may have been given permission to download from a publicly viewable gallery. Or, you may have been given exclusive access to both view and download.
If you’re concerned that you have not been given correct viewing or download permissions for an image gallery, please contact the photographer.
- Password Access
- Login Access
- Downloading a Single Image
- Downloading Multiple Images
- Low-Res Comp Downloads
Password Access
If your photographer provided you with a password when sending a link to your image gallery, this will be all you need to view and/or download your images. Passwords are case sensitive, meaning capital and lowercase matter when typing them in!
If you’ve been given exclusive viewing permissions, you will be prompted to enter the password upon clicking the gallery link:
If you’ve been given exclusive download permissions to a publicly viewable gallery, you will be prompted to enter the password upon clicking the “Download” button next to an image or on the gallery page:
Login Access
If your photographer sent you a link to your images, with no password provided, you may need to create a free account with a password of your choosing in order to access the images. This is because your photographer has granted you access based on your email address, and we want to ensure it’s really you accessing the images. Don't worry, we won't send you any marketing emails.
If your photographer gave you exclusive login (or email-specific) viewing or download permissions, you will be prompted to log in upon clicking the gallery link. If you have yet to create a free PhotoShelter account, you will be asked to choose a login password and create an account:
If that gives you any trouble, you may also create your free account at this link.
Downloading a Single Image
1. When you’re ready to download a single image, click the download button next to it. Log in or input the download password if prompted.
2. Next, select a file size from the list of options. The options are based on the size of the original file, as well as how the photographer set download permissions. If you select “Original File,” the original file format will be delivered to you, whether that’s JPEG, RAW, or another type.
3. Once you click a size, the image will immediately start downloading. Once complete, you can find it on your computer wherever your browser is set to send downloads.
Downloading Multiple Images
1. When you’re ready to download, click the download button on the full gallery page. Log in or input the download password if prompted.
2. A box will appear prompting you to select which images you want to download. You can also click “Select All” in the top right corner to select all images in the gallery. If you’d like to select multiple, but not all images, hold down the Control or Command key on your computer while clicking selections. Make your selections and click “Continue.”
3. Next, select a file size from the dropdown box of options and click “Continue.” The options are based on the size of the original file, as well as how the photographer set download permissions. If you select “Original File,” the original file format will be delivered to you, whether that’s JPEG, RAW, or another type.
4. The next page will contain a download link. Once you click this link, your group of images will be downloaded as a zip file. You can find the file on your computer wherever your browser is set to send downloads. Simply double-click the zip file to unzip it and find your images.
Low-Resolution Comp Downloads
A photographer may have enabled low-resolution comp downloads on their website. If so, this means that you can download a 500px size of any image you have permission to view. These versions of the images may be watermarked, and are too low quality for most uses, but are perfect to use as thumbnail proofs or mock-ups before deciding which images you’d like to purchase or download in a larger size. Here’s how:
1. Click through to the single-image view of a photo you'd like to download. Once there, click the download button next to it.
2. If you're not already logged into a PhotoShelter account, you will be prompted to log in or create a free account. We require that you log in to download a low-resolution comp so that the photographer can track who is downloading their images.
3. Once you’re logged in, a box will appear with the low-resolution size selection.
4. Select the 500 pixels size. The image will immediately start downloading. Once complete, you can find it on your computer wherever your browser is set to send downloads.
Note: If you do not see this option, the photographer likely hasn't enabled low-res comp downloads. Please contact them if you have questions.