SMS Gallery Delivery and Magic Link Access are here.
June 2nd, 2026
Two updates that make sure your work gets seen.
You shoot. You edit. You deliver.
And then your client texts: “I never got the email.” Or: “I can’t get in. It’s asking for a password?”
You’ve done everything right. The session was perfect. The edit is ready. And somewhere between your gallery and your client’s screen, the moment falls apart.
That’s the problem we set out to fix.
Today we’re introducing two new features designed to make sure your work gets seen and your clients get in without friction.
SMS* delivery for folders & galleries.
When your photos are ready, something important happens—your clients are excited. They’re waiting. They’re already checking their phones.
But email inboxes are crowded. Messages get buried. Spam filters do their worst. And by the time your client finally finds the notification, that first-look excitement has already started to fade.
Here’s what the data tells us: SMS open rates hit 98%. Email sits at 27%. The average SMS response time is 3 minutes. Email? 90 minutes. And the majority of clients are already viewing galleries on mobile—often within minutes of receiving a notification.
The opportunity to meet that excitement in real time has always been there. Now you have the tool to do it.
SMS* Delivery for Folders & Galleries is now available across all Zenfolio plans—giving you a simple, instant, reliable way to notify clients the moment their work is ready to view. Instead of hoping an email lands at the top of their inbox, your gallery link goes straight to their phone. One tap, and they’re in.
Because timing matters. And your work deserves to be seen right away.
Why SMS? Because excitement converts.
The numbers don’t lie: the majority of client engagement happens on mobile—and it happens fast. Faster notifications lead to faster viewing. Faster viewing leads to faster purchasing. The window between “gallery delivered” and “order placed” is shorter than most photographers realize.
When clients get instant access, momentum builds on its own. They click faster. They share sooner. They buy while the moment still feels fresh.
SMS* helps you protect that momentum.
What SMS* delivery can do for you:
Instant gallery access: Send a direct, mobile-friendly link to your gallery the moment it’s ready. No inbox required.
Folder delivery by SMS*: Deliver folders via text for streamlined client access across multiple galleries.
Shortened, trackable links: Clean links built for mobile viewing, plus visibility into delivery and access so you always know what’s happening.
Built-in compliance: Professional opt-out support and best-practice messaging standards are built right in, so your communications stay trusted and respectful.
SMS* built into every Zenfolio plan.
SMS Delivery is included with a monthly allotment based on your Zenfolio plan and region*:
- Basic: 500 SMS / month
- Professional: 2,500 SMS / month
- Advanced: 5,000 SMS / month
No setup. No extra tool to manage. Just a faster way to deliver your work.
Why we love SMS* gallery delivery.
It cuts through the noise. Your clients are already on their phones—SMS meets them there, bypassing crowded inboxes and spam filters entirely.
It keeps excitement alive. When clients see their photos sooner, they engage sooner. They click faster, share sooner, and buy while the moment still feels fresh. Faster notifications lead to faster viewing, and faster viewing often leads to faster purchasing.
It works alongside email. SMS* isn’t a replacement—it’s an upgrade to your existing workflow. Choose SMS*, email, or both. You stay in control.
It reduces friction. No apps to install. No logins to remember. One tap from text to gallery.
Try SMS* Gallery Delivery now →
*Regional Availability: SMS delivery is currently available in the United States and Canada.
Magic Link and Access Code: passwordless gallery access.
You’ve sent the gallery. Your client has the notification. And then the login wall appears—and the moment falls apart.
For years, gallery access has been one of the most frustrating friction points in photography. Clients forget passwords. They confuse their account login with the gallery password. Some even give up halfway through and never see the work you poured everything into.
Today, that ends.
Magic Link + Access Code removes the login wall between your clients and their photos. With a single tap, they land directly in their gallery. No account creation. No password to remember. No confusion.
The first thing they feel is wonder, not friction.
How Magic Link and Access Code work.
When you share a gallery, your client receives an email or SMS** containing a Magic Link. One tap, and they’re viewing their images.
If they’re on a new device or their session has expired, a simple 6-digit Access Code verifies their identity. That’s it. No password manager battles. No “forgot my password” rabbit holes.
Security stays present when it matters. And stays out of the way when it doesn’t.
What it means for your photography business.
One-tap access—Whether you’re delivering a portrait session to a single family or hundreds of galleries to sports parents, every client steps straight into their photos with a single tap. No account setup required, no waiting for confirmation emails, no login confusion slowing down the viewing experience.
Zero password headaches—Eliminate the most common client support request: “I forgot my password.” Clients don’t need to create or remember anything. Re-authentication confusion disappears. You spend less time troubleshooting and more time behind the lens.
Modern security that knows its place—Your clients’ images are protected. But protection shouldn’t feel like a barrier. Identity verification only appears when it’s genuinely needed—a new device, an expired session. A simple 6-digit code handles it cleanly. The experience stays seamless and secure.
Optional passwords, on their terms—Some clients prefer passwords. That’s fine. They can create one if they want, and their browser will actually remember it correctly this time. No more confusing flows that trip up password managers.
Why we built Magic Link and Access Code.
Our data tells a clear story:
- Most clients view galleries from mobile devices, often within minutes of receiving a notification
- Faster access leads to faster favorites selection
- Faster favorites selection leads to higher sales
Every moment of friction between your notification and your client’s first “wow” costs you momentum. And momentum is everything in photography sales.
Magic Link + Access Code protects that momentum.
Why we love this feature.
It removes invisible barriers. Your clients already want to see their photos. Now nothing stands in their way.
It feels premium. A polished, one-tap experience reflects the quality of your work. First impressions extend beyond the images themselves.
It works everywhere. Deliver via email or SMS**. Copy a link directly into a text message. Your workflow, your channel, your relationship with your client.
It gives you back time. Fewer support questions. Fewer password resets. More space to focus on what you actually love doing.
Available now in all Zenfolio plans.
Magic Link + Access Code is live in your Zenfolio account today. No setup required. No extra tools to manage. Just a faster, smoother path from your gallery to your client’s screen.
Share a gallery with Magic Link →
**Regional Availability: Magic Link + Access Code is available to all Zenfolio users. SMS delivery of Magic Links is currently available in the United States and Canada.
One more layer of protection worth turning on.
While you’re here—if you haven’t set up SMS Two-Factor Authentication on your account yet, it’s worth a minute of your time.
Your Zenfolio account holds years of work, client relationships, and the reputation you’ve built shoot by shoot. SMS 2FA adds a second layer of security to your sign-in process and dramatically reduces the risk of unauthorized access—wherever you’re working. It’s already available on your account and takes less than a minute to enable.
Your work deserves to be seen.
Not buried in an inbox. Not stuck behind a login wall.
Seen, shared, and celebrated—the moment it’s ready.
SMS Delivery and Magic Link + Access Code make that possible. Both are available now, included in every Zenfolio plan level.
Not hosting your galleries on Zenfolio? Start a free trial →
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Contributor
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Elizabeth Glanville is the Content Marketing Manager at Zenfolio, based in Abu Dhabi, UAE. With over 12 years of professional photography experience, she has captured a wide array of subjects, from equestrian sport and luxury real estate to fashion editorials, commercial campaigns, family portraits, and Arabic weddings. Her photography has appeared in publications such as Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Vogue Arabia, Elle, and Marie Claire. Deeply embedded in the equestrian world, Elizabeth also offers photography, creative and strategic marketing consulting to equestrian brands including some of the countries leading polo and equestrian clubs.
Elizabeth holds a Master’s degree in Graphic Communication from the University of Hertfordshire in the UK and has a deep passion for design, branding, and visual storytelling. Her expertise bridges the creative and strategic, with a strong focus on marketing and commercial communication. Outside of work, Elizabeth enjoys spending time at the stables with her two daughters, horses, and an ever-growing collection of pets.
