Setting up a private gallery on my site for specific buyers
Last month I finished a small commission series for a collector and wanted to show her the finished pieces online before shipping, somewhere she could view them privately and place her order without everything being public on my main site.
I ended up just emailing photos back and forth, which felt clumsy. What I really wanted was a password protected page on my website, a simple gallery where she could see the paintings, maybe choose frames, and confirm what she wanted.
Has anyone set up something like that on their own site? I am not particularly technical. I can handle the basics but I do not want to rebuild everything from scratch. Wondering if there is a straightforward way to create a locked gallery that only certain clients can access, and whether it is worth the effort for someone who only needs it a few times a year.
Would appreciate hearing how others have handled this.
Hey! The fact that you're already thinking about the client experience beyond "here are some photos in an email" puts you in a really strong spot. That instinct is right, and the fix is simpler than you'd think.
Most website platforms (Squarespace, WordPress, Shopify, Wix) have a built-in password-protected page option. The basic move:
- Create a new page, upload the finished pieces with titles and pricing, add your frame options if your platform supports product variants or just list them as text. Keep navigation hidden so the page is link-only access.
- Password-protect it (one unique password per client, not a universal one) and send the client the link plus password in a single clean email. She sees everything in one place, at full quality, without digging through attachments.
- If your platform lets you add a simple order form or buy button on that page, include it so she can confirm and pay right there. If not, even a "reply to confirm your selections" note at the bottom of the page beats a photo thread.
- After she's confirmed and you've shipped, take the page down or change the password. Keeps things tidy and private.
The upgrade over email is real: collectors feel like they're getting a private viewing, not sorting through an inbox. One artist in the community described it as turning a clunky back-and-forth into something that felt like a white-glove experience, and it took about 20 minutes to set up.
Want help writing the email you'd send alongside the private gallery link? I can draft that for you.
Other resources you might find helpful:
- Setting up a commissions page on your website — Concrete strategies for structuring a commissions page to convert inquiries into paid work, with specific tactics on portfolio presentation and pricing disclosure.
- First time pricing a custom commission piece — Learn practical pricing strategies for custom commissions including per-square-inch rates, hourly calculations, and line-item breakdowns to confidently quote this buyer.
- Michael's testimony on my UK website front page!! My Art Storefronts Website will get the same treatment today! Thanks Michael — Shows how displaying collector testimonials on your homepage builds trust and converts browsers into buyers before they even evaluate the work.
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