What Happens After Your Session: Your Proof Gallery, Explained
You’ve done the hard part… wrangled the kids or dodged the waves, and managed to look relaxed and natural in front of a camera (truly, an Olympic sport). Now you’re probably wondering: what happens next?
Here’s exactly what the process looks like from session to final gallery, so you know what to expect and what to do when your images land in your inbox.
Step One: Your Proof Gallery
Within 10 days of your session, I’ll hand-curate a selection of images and do a round of light editing on them. These will be delivered to your private online gallery. Think of this as your “shopping” gallery, where you get to dig through the good stuff and pick your favorites.
When you receive the gallery link, you’ll log in using the email address you booked with. Once inside, you’ll see two tabs at the top:
- Examples: These are images I’ve already done full final editing on, so you can see what the finished product looks like. These give you a sense of the quality and style of the final edits before you start selecting.
- Pick From These: This is where the magic happens. These are your lightly edited proof images. Go through them, follow your gut, and add your favorites to a list called Final Edits. You’re looking for the ones that made you laugh, the ones that made your heart do a little flip, the ones you can already picture on your wall.
Step Two: Make Your Selections
You’ll have 7 days to go through the gallery and choose your designated number of images. Take your time, but don’t overthink it. You’ll know the ones you really love.
Once you’ve made your picks, send me an email to let me know you’re done! That’s my cue to get started on the good stuff.
Why I Edit This Way (Instead of Just Sending You Everything)
Here’s something I want to be upfront about: during a session, I typically take well over 200 photos. I could theoretically edit all of them and dump them in a folder… but I don’t, and here’s why.
You know your preferences better than I do. I might look at a photo and think you look absolutely beautiful in it. But if the angle is off for you, or the expression isn’t quite right, or it’s just not your favorite it doesn’t matter how good I think it looks. A photo you don’t love is a photo you’ll never use.
And here’s the honest reality of how most people actually use their gallery:
- Most people need one really good photo.
- They want around ten.
- Maybe they’ll use 25 if they’re putting together an album.
- The other 100+ sit in a folder, unopened, for the rest of time.
By having you choose the images that genuinely resonate with you first, I can put my full attention into editing the photos you’ll actually print, frame, and send to your mother-in-law. That’s a better use of my time, and a much better use of yours.
Step Three: Final Editing
Within 10 days of receiving your selections, I’ll deliver your fully edited final gallery.
So what does “final editing” actually mean? A lot more than just hitting a filter. Here’s what I’m doing behind the scenes:
- Cleaning up the sand (this could be weird tracks from lifeguard vehicles, piles of sticks, or even, sadly, trash)
- Smoothing out clothing wrinkles
- Taming flyaways and stray hairs
- Editing out the leash (you’re welcome, dog parents)
- Touching up something you flagged during your session – cuts, pimples, your kids black eye…
- Ensuring all the images feel consistent and cohesive as a set
A note on color vs. black and white: I’ll deliver every final image in both color and black and white, unless it appears in black and white in your proof gallery (then you’ll only get the final version in black and white). This means double the options for printing and framing.
Questions Along the Way?
My inbox is always open. If you’re not sure how to navigate the gallery, can’t find your login, or just want to tell me you’re spiraling over trying to pick between two nearly identical but somehow completely different photos of your kids reach out. That’s what I’m here for.
