How to Offer One Free Digital Download Using Favorites in PhotoBiz Client Galleries

Overview

PhotoBiz Client Galleries allow you to sell digital images and digital packages while also sending a complimentary download to your client. One of the easiest ways to offer a single free download is to have your client mark their chosen image as a Favorite, then send that Favorite as a free digital download from the Activity section of your account.

This workflow is helpful when your session includes one complimentary digital file, a sneak peek image, or a prepaid image selection. It allows your client to choose their included image without going through the full checkout process for the free download. You also do not need to create individual one-time-use coupon codes for each client.

Your client can still purchase additional digital images, prints, products, or digital packages from their gallery if those items are included in the event price list.

This guide explains how to use Favorites to deliver one free download while keeping paid purchase options available in the gallery.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following in place:

A Client Galleries event created in your PhotoBiz account
Images uploaded to the event
Favorites enabled for the event
Digital images or digital packages added to the event price list if you want clients to purchase additional downloads

If you have not set up digital image sales yet, see How to Sell Individual Digital Downloads in PhotoBiz Client Galleries.

If you want to sell multiple digital images together, see How to Create Digital Packages.

When to Use This Workflow

This workflow is best when you want to give your client one free digital image without requiring them to complete checkout for that free file.

Common uses include:

One complimentary image included with a session
Sneak peek image delivery
Prepaid digital image selections
Retouched image delivery after a client chooses a Favorite
Free downloads that do not need to appear as ECommerce orders
Avoiding one-time-use coupon setup for each client

This is a manual delivery workflow. After your client marks their Favorite, you will need to review the selection and send the download link from the Activity section. The download is not sent automatically when the Favorite is selected.

Why Use Favorites Instead of a Coupon?

Using Favorites is often the simplest option when you want to give a client one free image while still allowing additional purchases.

This method works well because:

The client chooses their free image by marking it as a Favorite
The client does not need to check out for the free download
You do not need to create a separate one-time-use coupon code for each client
You control which Favorite image is sent as a free download
No order is created for the free download
The client can still place a paid order for other digital images, prints, products, or packages

Important: Sending Favorites as a download creates a free download link. It does not charge the client or create an order in ECommerce.

STEP ONE

Log in to your PhotoBiz account and click CLIENT GALLERIES in the left-side menu. This opens your Client Galleries dashboard, where you can manage your events, client activity, favorites, orders, and gallery settings.

STEP TWO

At the top of the Client Galleries dashboard, click EVENTS. This opens your list of Client Galleries events.

STEP THREE

Create a new event or open the event your client will use to choose their free image. Confirm that the images are uploaded and that the event is ready for your client to view.

If you want your client to purchase additional digital images or digital packages, make sure the event is using a price list that includes those options.

STEP FOUR

Click the Share button on the upper right side of the event to access your Email Invitations and Share options.

Share the event with your client so they can open their gallery and mark the image they want as their Favorite. This Favorite will be used as their complimentary download selection.

You may want to explain that the Favorite image is their included free download, but they can still add other images, digital packages, prints, or products to their cart if they want to purchase more.

STEP FIVE

After your client has selected their Favorite, return to your PhotoBiz account and click ACTIVITY at the top of the Client Galleries control panel.

The Activity area allows you to view client interactions, including Favorites that have been submitted through your galleries.

STEP SIX

Find the client whose Favorite image you want to send. Click their Activity entry to view the images they selected as Favorites.

Review the selected image before sending the download. This helps make sure you are sending the correct complimentary file.

STEP SEVEN

Click SEND FILES TO DOWNLOAD. This opens the download delivery options for the selected Favorite image.

The email address used by your client when marking Favorites will automatically appear in the email field. You can add additional email addresses if needed by separating them with commas.

STEP EIGHT

Choose the resolution you want to send to your client. Select the option that matches what you want to include with their session, package, or promotion.

You can choose from the following download sizes:

Web Size – Low Resolution: Maximum 1500 × 865 px
Web Size – High Resolution: Maximum 3000 × 1730 px
Original Files: Full-size images up to 50MB each with the Original Files Premium Upgrade

Images in your Client Galleries that have the Original File resolution available for download will show a small OR on the thumbnail inside the control panel.

Use the web-size options for online sharing, social media, or smaller digital delivery. Use Original Files only when you want to provide the full-resolution file and your account includes the Original Files Premium Upgrade.

FINAL STEP

Confirm the selected gallery or image, then click SEND FILES to email the download link to your client.

Your client will receive an email with a secure download link for the Favorite image you selected. The link is active for 7 days. If the link expires, you can repeat these steps to send a fresh download link.

What Your Client Receives For Their Free Download

Your client receives an email with a secure download link for the Favorite image you sent. The link is active for 7 days.

If the link expires, you can return to the client’s Activity entry and send a fresh download link.

The screenshot below shows an example of the download email your client receives.

What Your Client Can Still Purchase

Sending a Favorite as a free download does not prevent your client from placing an order in the gallery. If your event price list includes additional items, your client can still purchase them separately.

Clients can still purchase:

Individual digital images
Digital packages
Prints
Products
Other items included in the event price list

This makes the Favorites workflow a good option when you want to include one free image but continue offering paid upgrades or additional downloads.

Sample Message to Send Your Client

You can use the message below when sharing the gallery with your client.

“Your gallery is ready to view. You can choose your included free image by marking it as a Favorite. Once you have selected your Favorite, I will send you a separate download link for that image.

You can also purchase additional digital images, packages, prints, or products directly from the gallery.”

Additional Options & Helpful Notes

The Favorites download method is best when you want to manually approve and send the free image. Since this method does not create an order, it should be used for complimentary files, prepaid selections, or images included as part of a session.

Because this workflow does not create an order, the free download will not appear in your ECommerce order history. Use the Activity section to review the client’s Favorite selection and resend the download if needed.

If you need the free image to go through checkout, appear as part of an order, apply automatically to a cart, or be tracked as a discount in ECommerce, a coupon code may be a better option. However, for most single complimentary download workflows, sending the Favorite as a download is faster and easier.

If you offer retouched images, you can use Favorites as part of your proofing workflow. Your client can mark the image they want, you can complete any final editing, and then you can send the finished file as a download.

Troubleshooting

My client marked more than one Favorite

If your client selected more than one Favorite, review the selections before sending the download. You can choose only the image or images you want to include before clicking SEND FILES.

My client did not receive the download email

Ask your client to check their spam or junk folder. You can also resend the download by returning to the Activity entry and sending the files again.

The download link expired

Download links are active for 7 days. If the link expires, repeat the download steps to send your client a new link.

My client wants to buy more images

Your client can return to the gallery and place an order for any additional digital images, digital packages, prints, or products available in the event price list.

I do not see the Original Files option

Original Files are available only with the Original Files Premium Upgrade. If your account does not include this upgrade, use one of the available web-size resolution options instead.

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