ShootProof Assessment: Professionals & Cons – Ought to You Use It In 2023?

This ShootProof overview has been lately up to date – I’ve been kicking the tires of what I now think about to be one of the best on-line shopper gallery and enterprise administration system for over 6 years!

Once I suggest a professional

duct, particularly when it’s to my fellow wedding ceremony/portrait photographers, I need to be completely positive about it.

After taking pictures over 180 weddings world wide, and delivering each single certainly one of them through the ShootProof on-line gallery, I feel I’ve met the edge for a strong overview!

Whether or not you’re new to images and in search of someplace to showcase (and probably promote) your work, otherwise you’re a seasoned professional who’s maybe in search of an alternate answer to ship work to shoppers, I feel you’ll discover what I’ve to say right here very helpful.

Additionally, even should you don’t have any shoppers but, or by no means intend to have any, maintain studying to find why on-line proofing galleries will be nice for storing and sharing your private photographs too.

What’s ShootProof?

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At its most simple, ShootProof is a web based device for creating picture proofing galleries – it’s a spot to add your photographs into fairly albums for different folks to see.

Apart from its core service of on-line galleries, ShootProof presents helpful instruments that will help you handle numerous elements of your images work, change into extra environment friendly, and finally earn more money together with your images.

On the homepage, you’re greeted with the catchphrase: Create the Images Enterprise of Your Desires.

Hyperbole apart, let’s have a better take a look at the options that make up their service:

• Customizable galleries the place shoppers can simply obtain photographs and purchase skilled prints.
• Studio administration instruments embrace digital contracts, invoices & built-in e-mail advertising and marketing.
• Telephone & E-mail assist workforce of actual photographers.
• Desktop gallery administration app
• Lightroom gallery administration plugin
• As much as 4 completely different brandings
• Cellular shopper app
• Vendor Albums (capability to hide galleries for distributors)
• Slideshow music
• Studio administration system integration
• iPad app for accumulating e-mail addresses
• Contracts market for ready-made images contract templates

There’s clearly a heck of much more happening with ShootProof than simply shopper galleries!

In order to not overwhelm you on this overview, I’ve determined to deal with the options that I consider have had the largest affect on my images enterprise.

A number of of the opposite options, whereas undoubtedly helpful, aren’t needed for me since they’re taken care of by different software program I take advantage of – e.g. invoicing, slideshows, contracts, and so forth.

(If you wish to study extra about any function particularly, obtain a free ShootProof trial to have a mess around your self.)

5 Greatest Options of ShootProof

There are tons of options in ShootProof, a number of of which I’ve no want for in my images enterprise, (on account of some overlap with the opposite software program I take advantage of).

For you, this could be completely different, however listed here are the 5 issues that I discover most helpful in regards to the product:

#1 | Lovely Galleries that Add Worth to your Providers

This goes with out saying, however I’ll say it anyway: A web-based gallery that you simply’re utilizing to ship photographs to a shopper has to look FRICKIN’ AWESOME!

When you’re anticipating folks to pay in your work, you’ve obtained to showcase it in one of the simplest ways potential. Happily, that is all quite simple with ShootProof.

I significantly like how the shopper gallery entrance web page is restricted to 7 completely different seems to be.

As for the album pages themselves, you’re given two foremost show choices – ‘cascade’ and ‘subway’. You can even make a couple of customisations to those, a brand new function ShootProof added in 2019.

One customisation means that you can change the spacing between your pictures. The opposite allows you to change the scale of the photographs as they show within the album – you possibly can choose from small, medium, or massive.

The albums have only one tried and examined background color choice – good previous white 😉

I do know another shopper galleries like to supply infinite background colors and different fancy fashion choices, however should you’re something like me, you’d rapidly get paralysed by alternative.

No less than with ShootProof, it doesn’t matter what you select, your gallery will look good. In addition they scale properly on mobiles and tablets, and clearly, all the pieces is customisable together with your brand.

One other good little function is the power for shoppers to view and order pictures in black and white – clearly that is only a easy B&W conversion (much like what you’d get by clicking the B&W button in Lightroom), however for some shoppers, that is all they’d ever need.

(Personally, I solely ship a handful of black and whites per wedding ceremony, so it’s good to know that the shopper can create their very own one with out my intervention, even after I’ve uploaded and completed with the job.)

If you have already got an amazing wanting web site, you possibly can combine the gallery into it fairly simply. In case your web site is wanting a bit worse for put on (otherwise you don’t even have one), all of your galleries are organised by yourself customized ShootProof homepage, that means the shopper want by no means really see your web site or lack of web site!

Additionally, I ought to point out that the photographs within the gallery load impressively quick – after the preliminary loading of the gallery itself (a second or two relying in your connection), all of the photographs are able to be seen – there’s no annoying ‘lazy loading’, which all makes for a nice shopper viewing expertise.

#2 | Promoting Photographs is made Easy

ShootProof makes it straightforward to make further revenue through print gross sales.

I wrote a whole weblog submit on this subject so I gained’t delve into it too deep right here. All that you must know is that ShootProof makes it very easy to promote your photographs. Loopy straightforward, in truth.

I used to by no means trouble with attempting to promote prints to shoppers because it appeared like approach an excessive amount of trouble.

I knew I used to be leaving cash on the desk, however simply the considered doing an in-person sale, after which having to fiddle with the precise order/supply course of put me off it altogether.

With ShootProof, all the pieces’s on auto-pilot. When you’ve chosen a print lab and set your costs, anybody who views your gallery additionally has the power to purchase a print, and have it delivered straight to their house.

You get notified earlier than the order goes by way of to the lab (in case that you must make print changes to the picture, for instance), however apart from that, there’s nothing you (or the shopper) must do!

I really use this so as to add worth to the entire on-line gallery service to my wedding ceremony shoppers, saying that if a visitor needs a picture, they will obtain it from the gallery, and even order a print (or wall artwork, and so forth), with out the shopper lifting a finger.

Which means that after a marriage, the bride isn’t inundated with requests from her bridesmaids for photographs – she will merely direct all of them to the gallery. Now that’s environment friendly.

You can even arrange numerous e-mail automations utilizing ShootProof – reminders that galleries are expiring, one time codes, and so forth. – something which may encourage a sale – then earn cash through passive promoting, all when you sleep 🙂

ShootProof has additionally added a Bundle Builder that cleverly encourages shoppers to buy whole picture packages somewhat than one-off pictures or prints. These pre-bundled collections make it simpler for shoppers because it’s all there already laid out for them – no want to consider what to decide on or do any advanced calculations.

This, plus the mixture of automated emails and the seamless ShootProof gallery viewing/supply expertise, can result in gross sales chances are you’ll by no means have in any other case made.

#3 | Simplified Workflow with the Lightroom Plugin

The Lightroom plugin supplies an environment friendly technique to handle your ShootProof galleries.

There are 3 methods to add pictures to a ShootProof album – through the web site, through a desktop app, and my favorite, through the free Adobe Lightroom plugin.

I’ve to confess – setting it up the primary time is just a little complicated. You must do a couple of issues with catalogues and export settings, however whenever you’ve executed that, two superior issues occur.

First, you’re capable of export your photographs straight to a brand new ShootProof gallery (i.e. bypassing your pc’s laborious drive).

Secondly, all of your work is saved in sync – this can be a HUGE profit, that means that should you edit a photograph after it’s been uploaded to your ShootProof gallery, the edits will sync to the identical picture within the on-line ShootProof gallery!

(Equally, should you add or take away a file in your Lightroom gallery, the adjustments might be mirrored within the on-line gallery too.)

This can be a huge time-saver, and actually useful should you’re a type of photographers who maintain twiddling round with edits after supply – no less than you’ll know your shopper at all times has one of the best (last) model of a file.

#4 | A number of Customers & Permissions for Highly effective Sharing

That is a type of small, unglamorous options which are really actually helpful – ShootProof means that you can present different folks entry to your shopper galleries.

A easy instance can be when you’ve got a second shooter, or are a part of a studio. Permitting a number of photographers entry to galleries, together with giving them the power to add/obtain, add watermarks, music, or no matter else is fairly commonplace.

What I feel is a extremely cool utilization although, is for when distributors are concerned – right here, you’re capable of ship a gallery to your shopper, then arrange logins for all the person distributors, every with customized permissions.

For instance, I’ve created a login for editors of sure wedding ceremony blogs I work with to go in and obtain no matter pictures they’d like to make use of for his or her web sites (with credit score, after all).

This protects us all an enormous period of time, because the editors can get precisely what they need, and I don’t should faff round choosing, downloading, or sending pictures.

(This tactic really contributes to enhancing the search engine marketing efficiency of my web site, since I’m capable of procure many extra backlinks than I’ll have had time to in any other case.)

In addition to me giving entry to different distributors, the shopper has the power to indicate/disguise photographs of their gallery earlier than sharing it with family and friends.

You possibly can even create cellular apps in your ShootProof galleries.

The bride often loves this, because it means they will curate one of the best photos of their gallery, hiding ones from the bridal prep, for instance, and displaying off no matter they like.

(I really discover this actually insightful, to see which photographs are the shoppers’ actual favourites – as a rule they’re completely completely different to those I’ve chosen for my very own weblog! Little question you’ve had an identical expertise…?!)

Lastly, there’s the choice to create permissions on the picture stage. For instance, you would give the shoppers the power to obtain all full-resolution recordsdata, however restrict anybody else to downloading solely low-res pictures, or ones with a watermark.

(Watermarks/low res pictures will be an efficient technique to encourage customers to buy the unique digital recordsdata.)

#5 | Simplified Album Creation with Favourites

Purchasers can choose favourites from the ‘grid’ view – no must load every picture individually.

That is one other huge benefit, albeit one which’s just a little fiddly to make use of – you’ll see what I imply in a minute.

When you’re a type of courageous (assured?) wedding ceremony photographers who selects all of the shoppers’ pictures for his or her album your self and it’s working for you, huge respect! I attempted it as soon as – by no means once more!

When you’re like me and like for the shopper to decide on their pictures, maintain studying, as this function is one other huge time-saver.

Including pictures a shopper chooses to an album draft has at all times been a messy workflow for many photographers. The shopper has to in some way choose the photographs, then that you must discover these pictures by yourself pc, probably re-export them, after which add them to no matter album constructing software program you utilize.

Now utilizing ShootProof, I merely ask my shoppers to ‘favorite’ photographs they’d like added to their album, by including a star to photographs of their gallery.

Then I obtain the filenames of the starred photographs, and add them to Lightroom utilizing a somewhat clunky however nonetheless efficient methodology… and voila! All of the starred photographs are actually displaying as a filtered set, prepared for me to re-export and add to the album.

(With a bit extra fiddling, you would in all probability discover the recordsdata in your laborious drive, eliminating the necessity to re-export something from Lr, however I haven’t obtained to that stage but…)

3 Issues that Annoy me about ShootProof

After 4 years of constant use, I’d be mendacity if I stated that all the pieces smelt of roses with my ShootProof wedding ceremony images workflow!

Listed here are the small niggles that I’d wish to be ironed out:

#1 | Complicated Again-end Person Interface

Numerous options can result in occasional confusion inside the person dashboard.

Even after constant use, I nonetheless have the occasional “the place the hell is the XYZ setting?!” second when utilizing ShootProof.

In your ‘dashboard’, there are a number of menus scattered round, each housing numerous features, some open to sub-menus with different settings, and different sub-menus…

(It’s a bit like taking pictures Sony, come to think about it – the menu is a labyrinth of choices!)

Happily, all of the confusion occurs in your finish, i.e. not the shopper’s. I’m comfortable to say that the shopper has a streamlined expertise (you possibly can check it as a shopper for your self).

Although I feel the ShootProof workforce must put some extra thought into their dashboard navigation, I’ve to confess, there’s not often any must go digging round as soon as all the pieces’s been arrange.

#2 | Temperamental Desktop Uploader

For these instances once I need to add photographs to my galleries with out utilizing Lightroom, utilizing the desktop uploader is usually a little sketchy.

Perhaps it’s one thing on my pc, however I’ve needed to click on the ‘Authorize Uploader’ button just about each time I take advantage of it!

I do admire it when it really works, although. Typically I desire to bypass the Lightroom add, significantly on the subject of importing private recordsdata.

#3 | Bizarre Gallery Preview UX

Previewing your personal Galleries requires you to enter an e-mail and password. Why?!

ShootProof Value (+Low cost Code)

By archiving older galleries, you’re in a position to save cash in your ShootProof subscription.

I really thought of having the ShootProof worth as one of many issues I like about their service…

There are literally 5 keys issues I feel are nice about their pricing mannequin:

1. All the options can be found at each worth stage – even issues just like the cellular apps, invoicing, contracts, and all the opposite instruments are all accessible irrespective of how a lot you pay every month. That’s fairly cool.

2. There’s a free plan which is definitely fairly beneficiant – 100 photographs might not look like a lot, however should you dabble in nice artwork images, or are tremendous selective together with your picture uploads, it’s really potential to make use of Shootproof totally free. That’s additionally cool.

3. You possibly can mechanically archive galleries after they expire – archiving frees up area in your plan, that means which you can keep inside the thresholds. Now that’s very cool 🙂

4. You possibly can add excessive or low res, as much as 50MB per picture – that ought to cowl even the medium format shooters, you fortunate buggers.

5. There’s a 14-day limitless free trial – take advantage of it to essentially see if it’s best for you.

Use the code SHOTKIT25 to get your first 12 months at a 25% low cost.

Truly, I lied – there are 6 issues – the final is a ShootProof promo code, unique for all you pretty Shotkit followers!

To say it, obtain a free 14 day trial right here, however ensure you enter the code SHOTKIT25 the place it says ‘Have a promo code’ –  you’ll save a whopping 25% off your first 12 months!!

When you earn cash through your images work, it’s actually a no brainer to have an environment friendly technique to ship photographs to your shoppers. (With the ability to make more cash through print gross sales is admittedly the cherry on high.)

Even should you’re not knowledgeable, utilizing a web based gallery is a good way to create personal galleries to indicate off latest photographs to buddies, and permit them to obtain them, and even purchase them.

Closing Phrases

The principle cause I postpone scripting this overview for therefore lengthy is that ShootProof retains including new options to their service!

Most lately, the power so as to add music to slideshows, and an entire market to purchase customized images contracts… mainly I used to be ready for them to decelerate with the goddamn releases already!!

… then I realised that was by no means going to occur, and therein lies another excuse why I feel these guys are so good – they’re always innovating their product.

(That is key for a SaaS product – constant enchancment means the person is extra more likely to stay comfortable, and proceed paying for the service every month.)

I’ve solely scratched the floor of what ShootProof presents to photographers right here in 2022, however I hope I’ve satisfied you to cease your seek for a web based gallery answer.

Everybody needs to find out about ShootProof vs Pixeset, ShootProof vs SmugMug, Zenfolio, or no matter else is on the market, however the best way I see it, it’s easy – after getting an answer that works effectively for you, cease wanting, get signed up, then get again to taking nice photographs 🙂