Note: This feature is exclusive to Pro and Advanced subscribers.
What is Client Access?
The Client Access page is a built-in page on your site that your clients can use to access a specific gallery or group using that gallery or group's Gallery ID.
See this link for a demo of a Client Access page.
The Gallery IDs are unique to each gallery or group and will take your clients directly to that specific gallery or group. Click here for how to designate a Gallery ID for a gallery or group.
| A link to the Client Access page can be added to your Site Menu to allow your guests to access the Client Access page from your home page. Click here for how to add items to your Site Menu. |
Please note that Client Access is unrelated to locking a Gallery with a Password. Skip to this section for more details.
To Edit the Content Displayed in your Client Access page
- In your account, hover your mouse pointer over Website and click on Built-in Pages.
- Look for Client Access then click Customize to the right of Client Access. This will open the Client Access page in Customize Website View.
- Click on Edit Client Access Message and Photo
- In the Message and Photo tab, enter the desired message in the Client Access Message field provided.
- Under Photo, mark the circle for Upload image file. Click the Choose File select and upload the file from your computer. Click Upload to begin uploading the file.
- Click Apply to apply your changes.
- While still in Customize Website View, choose the desired customization settings for the Client Access Page.
- Click Publish to make these changes live on your site.
How can I find my Client Access page?
The default web address for the Client Access page is this: username.zenfolio.com/clients.html
Simply replace the username part with your own username to go directly to your Client Access page. You can also find the direct link to your Client Access page by going to your list of built-in pages.
See this link for how to configure your Client Access page.
How can my clients find my Client Access page?
It’s easy to present your Client Access page to your clients: either email them a direct link to the page using the email feature within your account, or simply add a Site Menu item (to your navigation menu) which links directly to the Client Access Page.
When sending the link by email, don’t forget to include the Gallery ID that they can use to find their gallery!
If you choose to display a direct link to your Client Access page in your Site Menu, keep in mind that all visitors of your website will be able to find your Client Access landing page.
Here, you can see an example of what it looks like to use the Client Access Page as a site menu item.
Want to add Client Access to your Site Menu? Check out these step-by-step instructions on how to add a new Site Menu item, here.
What is the Client Access Code/Gallery ID?
The Client Access code/Gallery ID is the code that your client enters into the Client Access page in order to access the corresponding Gallery. Each Gallery ID is linked to a specific Gallery in the account; when that Gallery ID is entered into the Client Access page, the client is automatically directed to the Gallery that is linked.
You, as the website owner, are the one who chooses the Gallery ID for each Gallery.
See step-by-step instructions on how to choose a Gallery ID for any Group, Gallery or Collection, here.
Client Access code/Gallery ID and Gallery Password Distinction
Please note that the Gallery ID is vastly different from locking your Gallery with a Password via Access Control Settings.
Here’s why: if the Gallery is password protected, your client will need to enter the Gallery ID to take them to the Gallery, and then they will need to enter the password to view the actual contents of the Gallery.
A Gallery password will not direct users to the Gallery via a Client Access Page; rather, only the Client Access code/Gallery ID may be used to access the Gallery via Client Access. Similarly, the Client Access code/Gallery ID cannot be used to unlock a password protected Gallery. Password protected Galleries can only be unlocked with the password created in Access Control Settings.
See this link for more on setting up a password.
Integrating the Zenfolio website with another non-Zenfolio website
The Client Access page is a great tool to use in order to seamlessly integrate your Zenfolio website with an external webpage. Photographers tend to do this when they have an external main website for their Portfolio and Blog, but wish to still use Zenfolio for Client Proofing and Selling.
Here is what needs to be done to integrate your Zenfolio website with another website.
Create a link to your Zenfolio website's Client Access page.
This link should be created and displayed on the other website.
Clients can use that link to go to your (Zenfolio) Client Access page, and then to find their Gallery within the Zenfolio website. Please check with the host or provider of the other website to inquire about how to create links that are displayed on that site.
Create a custom theme for the Zenfolio site.
To create a seamless interface between the differing website, create a custom theme within Zenfolio to use the same or similar colors and fonts that are used in the other website. See this link for how to create a custom theme.
Create a subdomain.
If a custom domain like www.mywebsite.com is being used with the other website, a subdomain can be created and used with your Zenfolio site. That can be used to give the Zenfolio site a web address (URL) that is similar to other other website- something like photos.mywebsite.com or proofs.mywebsite.com.
Subdomains are created from through the domain host. That would be the same host that is hosting the custom domain (e.g. www.mywebsite.com). See this link for more details on using a subdomain.
Set the other website as the External Homepage.
The External Homepage feature can be used to replace the built in homepage with the other website. That way when a client clicks on the logo or site display name in the Zenfolio website, they will be directed to the other website. See this link for how to use the External Homepage feature.