How to Share Unlisted Gallery on SmugMug?

SmugMug is a popular photo sharing and hosting platform that allows users to
create different types of galleries. One useful but lesser-known feature is
the ability to create unlisted galleries that are not publicly viewable but
can still be shared with select people. This guide will explain what an
unlisted gallery is, why you may want to use it, and step-by-step instructions
for creating and sharing unlisted galleries on SmugMug.

What is an Unlisted Gallery on SmugMug?

An unlisted gallery on SmugMug is a gallery that does not appear in search
results or public listings of your galleries. It is essentially a “private”
gallery that can only be accessed directly by people you share the specific
gallery URL with.

Here are some key things to know about unlisted galleries:

• They do not show up on your public SmugMug portfolio and cannot be
  discovered by search engines or random visitors.
• Only people who have the specific gallery URL can view the gallery.
• You can share the gallery URL to provide access to specific people.
• You retain full control over the gallery and can edit or delete it at any
  time.

Unlisted galleries are useful for sharing event, family, or other personal
photos that you don’t necessarily want completely public but do want to share
with selected friends, family, event attendees, etc.

Why Use an Unlisted Gallery on SmugMug?

Here are some common reasons you may want to use an unlisted gallery on
SmugMug:

• Share photos from a private event (wedding, reunion, etc) with attendees.
• Send family photos to relatives without making them fully public.
• Share work samples with prospective clients without showcasing them
  publicly.
• Allow access to certain photos only to people you trust with the gallery
  link.
• Test out a new gallery with friends before making it public.

The main advantage of unlisted galleries is that they allow you to share
galleries selectively while keeping them hidden from public view. You retain
full control over who can see the gallery.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating an Unlisted Gallery

Creating an unlisted gallery on SmugMug is straightforward. Just follow these
steps:

1. Log Into Your SmugMug Account

If you don’t already have a SmugMug account, you’ll need to sign up for
one first. Make sure you’re logged into your SmugMug account before
proceeding.

2. Click ‘Create Gallery’

From your SmugMug dashboard, click on the “Create Gallery” button to start a
new gallery.

3. Configure Basic Gallery Settings

On the gallery setup page, add a title and description for your gallery. You
can keep the default URL or customize it if you wish.

4. Select the ‘Unlisted’ Option

Under the “Privacy” section, choose the “Unlisted” option. This will make the
gallery unlisted.

5. Upload Photos to the Gallery

Add photos to your gallery from your computer, SmugMug folders, or linked
cloud sources like Dropbox. Organize the photos within the gallery.

6. Save the Gallery

Once you’ve added photos and are happy with the gallery, click “Save” to
create the unlisted gallery.

7. Share the Gallery URL

To give access to your unlisted gallery, you need to share the specific
gallery URL with each person you want to grant access.

You can find the gallery URL by clicking “Share” on your gallery after saving
it. Share this URL directly with selected people or via email invitations.

That’s it! Your unlisted SmugMug gallery is ready to share with your selected
audience while remaining hidden from public view.

Sharing Options for Unlisted Galleries

Once you’ve created an unlisted gallery, there are a couple options for
sharing access:

• Share URL directly – Copy and send people the
  gallery’s unique URL to provide direct access. Useful for sharing via
  email, messaging apps, etc.

• Email invitations – Use SmugMug’s invitation tool to
  generate email invites that contain the gallery link. You can customize
  the message and track who views the gallery.

• Password protection – For an additional layer of
  privacy, you can password protect the gallery when first creating it, then
  share the password separately from the link.

• Social sharing – If you want to share a few select
  images from the gallery publicly on social media, you can do so without
  making the whole gallery public.

The advantage of the unlisted gallery is that even if you share a few images
publicly, the gallery itself remains private and unlisted.

Managing Access and Visibility

As the gallery owner, you have full control and can manage access over time:

• Revoke access by changing the URL at any time.
• See a list of who has viewed the gallery if email invites were used.
• Make the gallery fully public later if desired.
• Delete or edit the gallery at any time.

Unlisted galleries give you flexibility in who can view your galleries now or
in the future.

Tips for Using Unlisted Galleries Effectively

To take full advantage of unlisted galleries on SmugMug, keep these tips in
mind:

• Use clear titles and descriptions so you can keep track of gallery content.
• Organize related galleries into folders for easier management.
• Change the URL if you want to revoke access to a gallery at any time.
• Enable downloads or printing if you want to allow recipients to save copies
  of your photos.
• Use watermarks if concerned about unauthorized sharing of the images.
• Send new emails if you add photos to an existing unlisted gallery and want
  to notify recipients.

Quick Tip to ensure your videos never go missing

Videos are precious memories and all of us never want to ever lose them to
hard disk crashes or missing drives. PicBackMan is the easiest and simplest
way to keep your videos safely backed up in one or more online accounts.
Simply Download PicBackMan (it’s free!), register
your account, connect to your online store and
tell PicBackMan where your videos are – PicBackMan does the rest,
automatically. It bulk uploads all videos and keeps looking for new ones and
uploads those too. You don’t have to ever touch it.

Downsides and Alternatives to Unlisted Galleries

While unlisted galleries are useful in many cases, they may not be the best
solution for all private sharing needs on SmugMug.

Some downsides or limitations to consider:

• Recipients can share or forward the URL to others unless you password
  protect.
• Photos are still stored on SmugMug’s servers rather than privately hosted.
• There is no time limit or auto-expiring access as with some sharing
  platforms.
• Gallery organization tools are more limited compared to fully private
  SmugMug accounts.

For some use cases, creating fully private SmugMug galleries or using
time-limited sharing platforms like Dropbox may be better options to consider.
The ideal solution depends on your specific needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find the URL for my unlisted gallery?

You can access the gallery URL by clicking “Share” on your gallery, then copy
the URL displayed there. This is the direct link you’ll need to share access
to your unlisted gallery.

Can I password protect an unlisted gallery?

Yes, you can add password protection to an unlisted gallery for an extra layer
of security. On the gallery privacy settings, check the “Require password” box
when first creating the gallery.

Can I make an unlisted gallery public later on?

Absolutely. As the gallery owner, you can return to the privacy settings at
any time and change an unlisted gallery to be fully public if you choose to do
so.

Will my unlisted gallery appear in search engines?

No. Unlisted galleries will not appear in any public search engine results or
public SmugMug gallery listings since they are designed to be private.

What happens if I delete an unlisted gallery?

If you delete an unlisted gallery, it will immediately become inaccessible to
anyone you previously gave the URL to. All photos will be deleted from
SmugMug’s servers as well.

Conclusion

Unlisted galleries provide a simple way to share your SmugMug photos privately
with selected people. By keeping your gallery unlisted, you can control who
views it while still leveraging SmugMug’s powerful photo sharing and
management tools. Just be sure to share the gallery URL carefully, organize
related galleries into folders, and manage access over time to get the most
out of unlisted galleries.