Watermarks in a client gallery: present photographs before purchase

You offer a session with a set number of included images and additional photographs available to buy. Your gallery should encourage clients to choose while distinguishing previews from delivered files. A carefully adjusted watermark gives this stage a visible brand reference while keeping the pictures pleasant to browse.

🎯 Define what the gallery is for

Before adding your logo, decide what clients should do. Are they selecting pictures for retouching, purchasing additional files or viewing an already delivered assignment? A watermark is particularly relevant when the displayed pictures are still previews.

For a portrait session, you can present an edited series, request a selection and then prepare the chosen files. Explain those steps in the welcome message. Clients understand what they are looking at, what they need to choose and when the final version of their photographs will arrive.

🖋️ Create your watermark on Pelli

On Pelli, you can create a watermark using your artwork, name it and adjust its position, size and opacity. Prepare a version for proofing galleries, with a mark that is visible enough to recognise.

Test the setting on several pictures. A white logo may disappear on pale clothing. A dark one may be difficult to see in concert photographs. Review landscape and portrait crops, different backgrounds and a few close-ups before applying the same setting across the series. The mark should suit the images clients will actually see.

🎨 Balance visibility with a clear view

Clients need to assess an expression, lighting and composition. An overly prominent watermark distracts from those qualities. Aim for a recognisable mark that does not cover the details people need to choose a photograph.

A central position makes a mark harder to remove with a simple crop. A corner position leaves more of the picture unobstructed. On Pelli, you can choose from several positions and adjust size and opacity. Decide according to the purpose of the gallery, then review the result on a phone as well as a computer.

🗂️ Apply the mark to the right gallery

On Pelli, you can assign a watermark to a gallery in its settings. The gallery previews then display your chosen mark. This lets you adapt the presentation to a proofing, sales or delivery stage.

Gallery watermarks and download permissions serve different purposes. Review download settings before sharing a link, especially when original files should not be offered during selection. A marked picture on screen does not replace this check. Open the public gallery and follow the available actions yourself to confirm the intended client journey.

🛍️ Make the offer easy to understand

Show the essential terms alongside the selection process: included image count, additional photo pricing and the files clients receive. A clear offer makes choosing easier. Clients should not have to reconstruct the price from several different messages.

For example, a session includes five retouched images, with further photographs available at the stated price. The watermark identifies previews; your wording explains the service. On Pelli, the gallery, favourites and store can support this journey according to the configuration you select. Keep each stage consistent with what you have sold.

UNKNOWN list

✅ Prepare a consistent final delivery

Once the selection or order has been confirmed, prepare the files covered by your offer. Check the delivered version, its format and download conditions. Clients should receive the promised photographs with a direct instruction explaining how to collect them.

Check your public showcase too. On Pelli, a picture taken from a watermarked gallery is displayed without that watermark when used on your public page. Select portfolio pictures with that visibility in mind. A gallery setting does not apply in the same way to every public surface where you present your work.

✨ Build a professional proofing experience

The watermark is one reference within a wider experience. An edited selection, consistent images, clear pricing and simple instructions make the gallery easy to use. A watermark cannot guarantee that a picture will never be copied; it marks your previews and visual identity.

Explore Pelli’s photo galleries to prepare this stage around your brand. For organising client choices before the final work, read our guide to photo selection before retouching. Test your gallery through the public link before sending it to your client.