With Photonesto, photographers can quickly and easily create and manage photo galleries, giving clients access to their photos online.
A custom photo layout is a tool that will allow for a better presentation of your work. Make a stunning impression on your clients by designing a gallery that best captures the emotions of those special moments! Forget about rigid, automatic file sorting – from now on, you have full control over every frame. This feature allows for manual photo arrangement in the gallery exactly according to your plan, ensuring every shot ends up exactly where you envisioned it.
Using this functionality will help you arrange your photos into a captivating story and surprise your clients with a beautiful result. In the case of mini sessions, highlighting individual shots can help you sell more of them and earn more. How do you use a custom photo layout? Let us show you!
This guide is also available in a YouTube version - CLICK
1. Create a new gallery by selecting "Custom photo layout"
Open the Photonesto panel and create a new photo gallery. In the window that appears, select "Custom photo layout" and click "Save".
2. Add photos
Upload the photos from the session, then add and set the gallery cover.
If you want to set a custom photo layout in an existing gallery, this is exactly where you should start.
Remember that you can change a custom photo layout to an automatic one at any time directly from within the gallery.
3. Create a custom photo layout
Now is a good time to start designing your custom layout; to do so, click the "Design the layout" button.
There are two ways to start designing: first, by clicking "Add first section" and selecting the appropriate sections and photos; second, by enabling "Generate layout", which will allow the application to create an initial layout that you can later modify manually.
Let's look at the first option. After clicking "Add first section", you will see many different sections to choose from. Once you have selected the element you are interested in, drag the photo you want to use to the right side. After you use it, an icon will appear on the photo indicating that the specific photo has already been used.
Then, use the "plus sign" on the right to add more sections until you create a layout that meets your expectations. Using the "drag" icons, you can change the order of photos and sections.
All changes you make are saved in real-time, so there is no way to return to a previous layout if you decide to change it.
The second option – "Generate layout" – will allow you to create a "draft" photo layout that you can then modify as you wish. You will be asked to choose two templates: one for horizontal photos and one for vertical ones. After clicking "Save", based on your preferences, a layout will be generated using all the photos from the section on the left. What you see at first glance may not meet your expectations, so make the appropriate changes to achieve a satisfying result.
Additionally, there is a slider at the top right – by zooming in or out of the sections, you can check whether you like the obtained result.
On the left side, in addition to the photos you have added, you will find the option to manually set margins, delete unused photos, and filter photos by used and unused.
PROTIP: Add GIFs to the gallery
In Photonesto, you can present your work even more beautifully in galleries and private sessions, surprising your clients with interactive effects from photo shoots. Our application supports GIFs, which will give your photo reports more dynamics, engage your audience, and allow them to relive the emotions that accompanied those extraordinary moments once again.
5. Close the window and see the changes
When you finish designing, close the window with the "Close" button. Going to the gallery settings, you will notice that the value of the marker on the left has changed. Initially, it is always 0%, and now it shows 100%. This value tells you what % of photos have been used at a given stage of designing the photo layout. This means that every photo we have available in the gallery has been used in the layout. If for some reason some of the photos are not used in the custom layout design, this number will not be 100%, and a lower value will appear here.
Next, publish the gallery. Now log in to it and see the final result. If it is not satisfying for you, reopen the layout design and make the appropriate changes.
A custom photo layout is a feature that allows you to create visually engaging galleries, building them into a coherent story. This tool not only ensures a professional look but also increases the attractiveness of your work in the eyes of clients, giving you full control over the presentation of your photos. Use this solution to fully express your artistic intent.