White Tulip Photography

I have a great feature on my website that enables clients and their family and friends to view and purchase images online. Under ‘client area’ on the website you will be linked to the online gallery to see all your pretty pictures!

I’m creating this post in case anyone gets stuck and needs a bit of a helping hand getting through the process

It will be quite a long post, but it takes you through each step of the process, from viewing your images, to registering, to ordering and other features. If you have any problems please contact me and I will be able to help you.

First you will need to click on the link ‘client area’ on the website. The following screen will show:

You do not have to register or login to be able to view your images. You click on the menu link ‘your gallery’ on the top right hand side and enter the access code you have been given.

Once the code is submitted, you will be able to see your gallery, an example of which is shown below. Click on any image to take you through to the next page where you will see more information and can navigate through the thumbnails.

So in the above screen you will see loads of information to the right hand side. The top box details your price list for this gallery, the ‘collections’ box listed below offers you 3 packages, all with discounts built in. The third box down is ‘custom products’ and will take you to an additional store where you can purchase gift sets, albums, brag books, coffee table books and you can choose your frames for enlargements. The lower box is your navigation tool and takes you to different thumbnail images.

The image on the top left can be enlarged and navigation is also possible underneath these pictures.

To make a purchase you need to register an account. After the ‘prices’ box you will see a link ‘click here to create account’. You can also register my clicking on the ‘log in’ menu button up the top.

You only need to enter your full name, email and a password. Then ‘create account’. From now on, you can login easily using your email address and password you have created.

So when you log in next time, it will remember your galleries and you can click on an image and drop pictures into ‘my faves’ or purchase images, albums, canvas - anything you like. So now this screen looks a little different - the prices section now allows you to purchase this particular image. If I like this flower image and say, want it in a 5×7″ - I make sure this is selected and shown in the top left hand corner, choose my quantity, the size from the drop down menu, I want it in colour so I leave that as is and I want it on Glossy paper (you can choose from Glossy, Lustre (matte) and Metallic for a small extra fee). You can add any notes you would like by clicking on the link and then ‘add to cart’. The system will remember this in the cart, even if you decide you’ve had enough for the day.

But hopefully not! Continuing on…

Okay, this above screen is what you get if you click on ‘more info’ under the box marked ‘collections’ on that right hand side of the previous page. Here it tells you more about each package and how many images you have to pick for each size etc. You need to add the package to your cart first - watch the quantity and zero out ones you don’t need. Then go back to the gallery and you can choose your image, then click on ‘large print package’ for example and it will add the image to your package. Remember with any of these packages, you receive a 5% discount on any other a la carte items in your cart when purchasing them together.

I have selected my tulip picture and have decided I would like this one as part of my package and have ticked that I want it as a professionally framed 16×20″. I’ll have it in colour and think it would look amazing on Metallic paper. (I can choose my frame later from the accessory store for no extra cost). Then I go back to the gallery and choose the other images I would like to fill out the rest of the package.

Here is my final selection. I have chosen four tulip pictures as mounted 8×10″s and two tulip pictures as 5×7″s, along with my 16×20 image.

Now I’ll go back and see if I would like to purchase anything else, knowing I have a 5% discount on any a la carte items.

Oh, I love this one and think it would make an amazing large wall canvas. I have selected a 20×30″ and I want it in black and white (the gallery does black and white versions for you to look at!). I select the canvas from the drop down menu. Then I add it to my cart. I remembered that I liked that original image of the purple flower against the green foliage so I might get that in a 5×7″ as well. I click on the name of the gallery ‘White Tulip Art’ and it takes me back to the gallery thumbnails.

After I have chosen all I want and put it all in my cart, I click on ‘check out’ at the top of the menu links below the header and I see a list of the products in my shopping cart. Check here to make sure everything is correct - you can remove items, adjust the quantity and add or edit notes. If all is good, proceed to the check out.

Here you can choose your delivery option and payment option. On the next page you can also pay by Paypal or credit card (you do not have to have a Paypal account to pay my credit card). Please fill in your delivery details, making sure they are correct. Feel free to add any special notes or comments for the order and press ‘continue’.

On the next screen it shows my final order (you’ll notice the discount applied here) and a list of the products in the shopping cart again. If you are happy with the order click ‘place this order’.

Take note of your order number here! Pay by Paypal on the left, or take down the details for paying by direct deposit or cheque/money order. Please note that no prints or products will be ordered until payment has cleared. Once you have paid, orders cannot be cancelled as they are custom products.

This is what you see if you click on the ‘custom products’ link in the top menu. It is an additional store that features brag books, albums, coffee table books, portfolios, parent albums etc as well as frames you can choose from.

Okay, I have chosen a boxed set from the ‘custom products’ store and now have to choose the images I would like in the box. All you need to do is go through the gallery and note down the image IDs of the images you need for this set and add them in the boxes. Add any notes in the box - do you want them glossy or matte? Black and white or colour? Feel free to add comments. The boxed set features 10 images. You will not be allowed to place the order until all 10 Image IDs are in place.

The registry is another great feature of this online gallery. You may wish to set up a registry for your wedding or upcoming birth of your child or for any reason. This is a great idea for weddings especially as custom albums can be expensive and if your budget is stretched a little already, why not ask your guests to help towards your wedding photography and album? Enter your event name and date and you can create a registry.

There is some basic help information under the ‘faq’ menu link.

Another great feature below is the ability to hold and compare images if you just can’t decide. You can add images to ‘my faves’ then select them to compare side by side.

I hope this tutorial has helped! I hope you get great satisfaction from your online gallery and show all your family and friends.