What to expect when you receive your photo gallery

You've had your shoot — now what? If your photographer delivers through LensQuay, getting your photos is simple, secure and entirely online. Here's exactly what happens after the camera stops, so you know what to expect and how to make the most of it.

1. You receive a link (or an email)

Once your photographer has prepared your previews, you'll get a link to a private online gallery — often sent straight to your email. If the gallery is PIN-protected, they'll share the PIN so only you can open it. There are no files to download from an email, no discs in the post, and nothing to install.

2. You browse your proofs

Inside the gallery you'll see a preview of every photo from the session. Each one carries a light watermark — that's completely normal, and it's there to protect your images before purchase. Take your time. The previews are there for you to enjoy and to help you choose the shots you love most.

3. You choose your favourites

This is where you're in control. Depending on how your photographer works, you'll either:

• Pick from a package — your booking includes a set number of images, and you choose which ones. If you fall in love with more, you can usually add extras.
• Buy individually or as a set — choose specific photos, or unlock the whole gallery.

Either way, you only get the images you actually want, and any extras are shown clearly before you pay.

4. You get your finished photos

Once you've chosen (and paid for any extras), your photographer edits your selected images and adds the finished versions to the same gallery — clean, watermark-free and full resolution. You download them to your phone, laptop or tablet, ready to print, frame and share. Because they live in the gallery, you can re-download them later too — no more lost files.

5. You can order prints

Loved a shot? Many galleries let you order prints, canvases and albums straight from the same place, delivered to your door. It's the easiest way to get your favourite images off the screen and onto the wall.

Why this is better than the old way

Emailed files are size-limited and easy to lose. Shared cloud folders hand over full-resolution originals with no protection. A USB stick is slow and impossible to re-download. A proper online gallery solves all of that: it's instant, secure, re-downloadable, and it lets you choose exactly what you want.

A few tips

• Choose on a big screen if you can. It's easier to judge photos on a laptop than a phone.
• Involve the family. Share the gallery link with partners or parents to help pick.
• Don't rush the extras. If you're torn between images, most galleries let you add more later.

The bottom line

Getting your photos should be the easy, joyful part — and with an online gallery it is. You'll receive a link, choose your favourites from protected previews, and download the finished, full-resolution images to keep forever. That's exactly how every LensQuay booking is delivered.