ShutterPress provides two ways for visitors to mark images: favourites and proofing choices.
Use favourites for informal browsing and shortlisting. Use proofing when you need an assigned client to submit a confirmed set of choices for you to review.
Compare the features
| Feature | Favourites | Proofing |
|---|---|---|
| Available in | ShutterPress Gallery and Pro. | ShutterPress Gallery Pro. |
| Image choices | Favourite or not favourite. | Yes, Maybe, No, or unmarked. |
| Account required | Visitors can favourite images without signing in. | The client must sign in as the gallery’s assigned Proofing User. |
| Selection requirement | No required total or submission step. | You can require a specific number of Yes choices. |
| Final submission | No. | Submit Choices confirms and locks the choices. |
| Submission notifications | No proofing notification. | Administration notification, plus an optional client confirmation email. |
| Photographer review | Favourites are a browsing feature. | Review choices, submission messages, and CSV exports in the gallery editor. |
Enable favourites
- Open the gallery editor.
- Enable Favorite Images.
- Save the gallery.
Visitors can use the heart control to favourite an image and click it again to remove the favourite.
The Show Favorite Photos button filters the gallery view. Show All Photos restores the normal view. If you have hidden the default gallery buttons, you may need a custom favourites button.
Filtering favourites changes the browsing view. It does not submit choices, place an order, or create a proofing record.
How favourites are saved
For visitors who are not signed in, favourites are stored in a browser cookie. They depend on that browser retaining its cookies.
Clearing cookies, using a private browsing session, or changing browser or device can mean those favourites are unavailable.
ShutterPress also includes account-based storage and synchronisation for signed-in users. Favourites remain separate from the gallery’s proofing choices.
Use proofing when you need a saved client submission that you can review and export.
Enable proofing
In the gallery’s Proofing panel:
- Enable Gallery Proofing.
- Assign the client’s account as Proofing User.
- Set Number of Selections, if required.
- Optionally choose a User confirmation email template.
- Save the gallery.
The assigned client must sign in to make proofing choices. A gallery password does not replace that account login.
The client can mark images Yes, Maybe, or No, and use Remove choice to return an image to an unmarked state.
When choices become final
Proofing choices are saved as the client makes them, but remain editable until submission.
If you set Number of Selections to 10, the client must have exactly ten Yes choices before submitting. Maybe and No do not count towards that requirement. Setting it to 0 removes the required Yes total and limit.
After the client confirms Submit Choices, their choices are locked. Check Proofing Status in the gallery editor to confirm submission; saved Yes choices alone do not mean proofing is complete.
Can you use both?
Yes. Favourites and proofing are separate controls and can be enabled in the same gallery.
An image marked as a favourite does not automatically become a Yes choice. Removing a favourite does not clear its proofing status.
For a simpler client experience, consider enabling only proofing when the purpose of the gallery is to collect final image choices.
Changing a submitted proof
Use Unlock to let the client revise their existing choices.
Use Reset all choices when you want to clear the gallery’s proofing choices and start again. This clears choices for every user in that gallery and unlocks proofing while retaining submission history. It does not reset favourites.
