Downloading Photos
When your photos are ready, your photographer will make them available for download. This guide shows you how to get your final, high-resolution files.
Accessing the Downloads Section
- Log in to your client portal.
- Click Downloads in the sidebar.
- You'll see a list of galleries or collections that are available for download.
You may also receive an email notification from your photographer letting you know your photos are ready, with a direct link to the Downloads section.
Download Availability
Not all galleries are immediately available for download. Here's what determines when you can access your files:
- Ready for download: Your photographer has finished editing and enabled downloads. You'll see a download button right away.
- Complimentary download: Your photographer has granted you free download access. These galleries appear with a "Complimentary" badge in your Downloads section -- no payment required.
- Payment-gated: Your photographer has linked downloads to an invoice. You'll need to pay the invoice first, and downloads unlock automatically once payment is confirmed.
- Not yet available: Your photographer is still working on the photos. The gallery will appear in your Downloads section once they're ready.
Tip: If your gallery shows as payment-gated, head over to Invoices to make your payment. Downloads unlock immediately after payment goes through.
Choosing Download Quality
Before downloading, you can choose the quality of the files you receive. Each gallery card in the Downloads section has a quality selector with two options:
| Quality | What you get |
|---|---|
| Hi-Res | The original full-resolution files your photographer uploaded. Best for printing and archiving. |
| Web View | Smaller, web-optimised versions. Ideal for sharing on social media, email, or websites. |
Select your preferred quality, then use either the Download ZIP or Individual Files button. Your choice applies to both download methods.
Tip: If you just need photos for Instagram or a quick email, Web View downloads are much faster and use less storage on your device. Use Hi-Res when you want the best quality for prints or albums.
Downloading Individual Photos
To download photos one at a time:
- Open the downloadable gallery.
- Select your preferred quality (Hi-Res or Web View).
- Click Individual Files. Seleckt generates download links for each photo.
- Click the download icon next to any photo to save it to your device.
This is useful when you only need a few specific photos rather than the entire gallery.
Downloading All Photos as a ZIP
To download the entire gallery at once:
- Open the downloadable gallery.
- Select your preferred quality (Hi-Res or Web View).
- Click the Download ZIP button.
- Seleckt will prepare a ZIP archive containing all your photos. For large galleries, this may be split into multiple parts.
- Once the archive is ready, download each part and unzip them on your computer.
Tip: ZIP files can be large, especially for galleries with many high-resolution photos. If you're short on time or storage, try Web View quality first -- the ZIP will be significantly smaller.
Photo Quality
The photos you download from Seleckt are the real deal:
- Hi-Res downloads: You receive the highest quality version your photographer has made available -- no compression or downsizing. These are your final photos, ready to print, frame, or archive.
- Web View downloads: Optimised for screen viewing and sharing. Smaller file sizes but still excellent quality for digital use.
- No watermarks: All downloaded photos (both Hi-Res and Web View) are clean, without any watermarks or branding overlays.
- Original format: Photos are delivered in the format your photographer chose (typically JPEG at high quality).
Troubleshooting
If you're having trouble downloading:
- Downloads appear locked: Make sure you've paid any associated invoices. Check your Invoices section.
- Download is slow: Large galleries take time to prepare. Give it a moment and try again on a stable connection.
- ZIP file won't open: Try using a different unzip tool. On Mac, the built-in Archive Utility works. On Windows, try the built-in extractor or a free tool like 7-Zip.
- Missing photos: If you expected more photos than what's available, reach out to your photographer -- they may still be editing the rest.
Tip: Always back up your downloaded photos to a cloud storage service (like Google Drive, iCloud, or Dropbox) so you never lose them.
What's Next?
- Viewing Galleries -- Go back and browse your galleries
- Selecting Photos -- Need to make selections first? Here's how
- Client Portal Overview -- Back to the portal home