... work with a client who doesn't feel like logging in to PhotoShelter?

As imaging industry professionals, the conflict of security versus simplicity manifests itself in many ways, particularly when dealing with marketing and serving our client bases. For example, while the ability to instantly transfer files to a client is invaluable, one must always take into consideration where these files - your intellectual property - may possibly end up. Similarly, it's fantastic to be able to offer online access to our image buyers, but amid the faceless sea of web surfers, how do we know the wrong party will not come to look? At PhotoShelter, this is a balance we're constantly striving to maintain. One of our primary goals is to make your workflows and lives easier, but our founding mission is to provide a secure, impenetrable home for the fruits of your labor. That said, we do require users to "authenticate" (log in) in many cases so we can make good on our promise to prevent your work from falling into unauthorized hands. The downside of this: Your busier or more tech-fearing clients may freak out when they see the login screen. While there's no way to completely eliminate the authentication process in the cases of, say, purchasing/obtaining RM quotes, or saving/viewing lightboxes, we've put together a few tips that may help you simplify the process for the time-crunched and the gumshoed:

1. Send the client a URL instead of a PhotoShelter gallery invite.
When inviting a new user (e.g. anyone whose email address is not already in the PhotoShelter database) to view a gallery or gallery collection, consider sending him or her the public URL to the gallery or collection instead of issuing a PhotoShelter gallery invite. This way, we will not automatically create a PhotoShelter account for the invitee, but he or she will still be able to directly access the gallery/collection from the URL you send. It should be noted that this will work ONLY for a public or password-protected gallery.

To find the public URL of a gallery, visit your gallery list from the Photographer Area. Double click on the gallery of choice and refer to the "Gallery Description" box to the right of the thumbnails-the URL(s) you need will be listed here.

2. Send a Quick Download
This option automatically generates an email containing a link that the invitee may follow to download the high-resolution version of a single image. The link, active for a 72-hour period, will work once and will function only when accessed from the email account to which the invite was sent. To send a Hi-Res Download invite, enter the Archive Browser, find and enlarge the image of choice, and click "Quick Download" (the second option under the "Download" tab just above the image). From here you may specify the invitee and send away!

3. "Unlist" your public or password-protected galleries.
By removing a gallery from the list on your personal PhotoShelter homepage, you are adding a layer of privacy to this particular group of images. The URL of the gallery remains public (or password-protected), but it may only be accessed by someone who has been notified of its existence by the photographer or another informed contact.

4. Allow anonymous hi-res downloads from a password-protected gallery.
Photographers may designate global hi-res download permission from a password-protected gallery. Instead of formally inviting all permitted users to the gallery and requiring that they all log in to download, now all they'll need is the password to the gallery, and they'll be on their way! Download history is still tracked from the Image Statistics section of your account - just without the names of the downloading parties.

We recommend either directly emailing your clients the Gallery URL (as described in Step 1 on this page), or sending them to your homepage and have them navigate to the gallery from there. Keep in mind that if you send a client an invitation to a password-protected gallery, they will still be required to login, so use one of the methods described here instead.