ShootProof vs Pixieset: What Do Photographers Choose?

Since 2020, I’ve been working as a professional event photographer, doing my best to meet clients’ needs. I pondered on the ShootProof vs Pixieset competition, because I needed a great tool for my clients to view, share, and download their photos with no fuss. Some of my colleagues opt for basic file-sharing options like Dropbox or WeTransfer.

However, I prefer more extensive options with a sleek gallery so my clients can examine their pictures on any device, pick and choose what to share, and download whenever they want. I started off with Pixieset but switched to ShootProof this year. In this post, I’ll tell you why I think ShootProof is the best choice for photographers.

ShootProof is a feature-rich online platform with different tools for sharing galleries, managing business tasks, and dealing with clients. Such functionalities will come in handy for photographers and other creatives. Using ShootProof, it is also possible to make client galleries, control sales and contracts, as well as develop custom portfolio sites.

The bragging point of ShootProof is its commitment to equality. Every user, regardless of their plan, gets equal access to all tools. There are also mobile apps, using which photographers can communicate with clients on the go.

Pixieset is an innovative platform that can make business running easier for photographers. Expert will surely like this sleek and secure digital space, where they can showcase their work, sell prints and digital downloads, and manage their clients. Generally, Pixieset offers a comprehensive solution for photographers of all levels.

With Pixieset, you can grow your photography businesses conveniently. The platform simplifies the process of delivering photos, selling prints, and managing your clients. Keeping these operations in order, you can focus more on photography itself.

ShootProof has a flexible pricing structure that caters to photographers with different needs. The primary distinctive factor is the amount of photo storage. Every plan offers mobile gallery apps and a set of tools to increase sales and grow your client base.

Free plan. It is a great option for budding photographers. You can store up to 100 shots and share them with others.

1,500 photo plan ($10/mo). By paying for $10/month plan, you get enough space to store 1500 images. This plan can satisfy photographers who need more room for their expanding portfolio.

5,000 photo plan ($20/mo). This plan can meet the needs of experienced photographers. You’ll receive storage for 5000 images & business-oriented features, e.g., invoicing and contract signing.

25,000 photo plan ($30/mo). The premium plan offers a 25,000-image limit and a full suite of advanced business and marketing instruments.

Regardless of the paid Pixieset plan you choose, you can keep all your sales revenue and take advantage of growing storage and top-notch video capabilities.

Free plan. By choosing this plan, you get 3GB of photo storage, unlimited galleries, a built-in store gallery for selling your items, and convenient online payments with a 15% fee.

Basic plan ($10/monthly). If you’re ready to pay a bit more, you can boost your storage to 10GB, get 30 extra minutes for video uploads, connect your own domain, remove Pixieset branding, add your personal branding elements, and keep all your sales revenue.

Plus plan ($20/monthly). It comes with 100GB of storage and allows for full-hour video uploads.

Pro plan ($50/monthly). Spend $50 each month and receive 1TB of storage, the possibility to upload videos up to 2 hours long, process automation, and coupon features.

Ultimate plan ($50 monthly). This plan will appeal to expert users. It includes 5 hours of video uploads and all the features available in the Pro plan.

Curious to see which platform would come out on top, our FixThePhoto team evaluated ShootProof vs Pixieset side by side. We’ve broken down their features and provided visual examples in the accompanying screenshots.

User-friendliness. We assessed the simplicity of the user interface, concentrating on how easy it was to configure galleries, upload images, and handle client interactions.

Customization. We tested customization options, namely, branding and layout, to see whether it is possible to personalize galleries.

Client perspective. We also involved our mates and relatives to understand whether navigation, loading time, and usability were on point.

File handling. It was also interesting to learn how these platforms handled large, high-resolution images. We focused on upload and download speeds as well as the ability to maintain image quality.

Storage options. Storage was another critical factor to evaluate. Our team did its best to determine whether each platform offered sufficient storage and whether it provided tiered plans.

Proofing and feedback. We tested the provided proofing tools (e.g., favoriting, comments) to discern whether clients could easily share their thoughts.

Sales features. We built a store prototype to test various sales functionalities. We evaluated product specifications (printing, loading) and payment processing.

Mobile optimization. It is important to communicate with clients through all possible channels. So, we opened and flicked through our galleries on tablets and mobiles.

Integration options. Generally, photographers use different programs for their work. So, we checked whether these platforms can be paired with standard tools like Adobe Lightroom, CRMs, and email marketing services.

In addition to the core features, we paid attention to pricing models, customer support, billing, and email integrations, commission structures, and other functionalities. We worked hard to compare Pixieset vs ShootProof and choose versatile free photo organizing software.

You can customize your client galleries using either of these platforms. Make sure to select a captivating photo for a cover to interest potential clients.

Pixieset offers modern and easy to navigate client galleries. Using the platform is easy thanks to clear instructions and attractive design. I can neatly organize the pictures into different albums and even adjust how they’re displayed. Splitting photos into albums and changing the format is a no-brainer task.

Pixieset automatically redirects you to log in, while ShootProof has a two-step process. First, you click “Open Gallery” and then you log in.

ShootProof’s gallery may not look super modern, but it comes with a couple of extra perks. First off, I can personalize the color scheme to match my style. Plus, for an extra $10 a month, I can set up a custom music playlist for my clients to enjoy while they browse their photos.

When it comes to user interface, I like ShootProof’s centered layout. Pixieset, on the other hand, has all social sharing buttons placed in the top-left corner. Generally, ShootProof has a cleaner workspace.

In ShootProof, you can archive client galleries for a small cost. This way, I can clear up storage space without losing any photos. Plus, ShootProof lets me put watermarks on the pictures. It automatically vanishes when the client downloads high-resolution files.

One of my favorite features is the ability to customize the color palette of my galleries. Check out the screenshot for a visual. It’s a great way to differentiate between client projects and maintain a well-organized workspace.

If you like instruments that are easy to understand, you should prefer Pixieset. But if you enjoy customizing and using advanced features, like I do, then ShootProof is the winner in the Pixieset vs ShootProof battle.

Both programs let you create mobile apps so that clients can share their wedding photos and download them straight from their phones. The way you create and install a photo sharing app is pretty much the same for ShootProof and Pixieset. Even though both apps seem similar at first glance, Pixieset’s mobile app looks more like a web page until you get into the mobile gallery.

With Pixieset’s free plan, you can create up to three mobile apps, and there’s no limit on paid plans. Using ShootProof, you can make five mobile apps for free and unlimited ones in paid plans. Both services offer unlimited app creation when you upgrade to their paid plans.

It is possible to make custom URLs for galleries on both platforms. With ShoofProof, you get a custom URL generated just for you, no matter your plan. To protect your gallery’s unique link and guarantee exclusive access, simply start the checkout.

Since many networks and browsers block access to non-secure sites, you may be unable to view the user URL gallery. For optimal security, it’s recommended to use ShootProof’s custom URLs for your galleries.

Pixieset’s custom gallery URLs have enhanced security, but they are available only to paid plans.

US-based studios using ShootProof can accept credit card payments directly through ShootProof’s integrated payment gateway, or they can use their existing Business PayPal or Authorize.net accounts.

International studios can choose between Braintree and PayPal for their payments on ShootProof. However, it’s important to note that while studios must utilize a PayPal business account, their clients cannot pay ShootProof invoices with credit cards. In addition, Canadian studios can also use Authorize.net for their payment needs.

Pixieset integrates with both Stripe and PayPal Business for accepting online payments.

If you prefer traditional payment methods, both websites allow for offline transactions. You can receive payments by check, cash, or using third-party payment platforms not supported by ShootProof or Pixieset.

Keep in mind that ShootProof requires a five-day holding period for all client payments.

With this tool, you can create personalized discounts to attract more customers. For example, you can offer a gallery-wide 50% off sale.

To streamline your operations, you can invoice clients directly from the platform, instead of resorting to external invoicing software.

ShootProof vs Pixieset – your choice should align with your unique requirements. Both platforms have interesting features to please users.

Pixieset stands out with its ease of use, being a favorite of many users. In contrast, ShootProof offers a full-service delivery solution with payment processing and contract generation options.

Customer support is top-notch on both platforms. However, ShootProof often wins over users due to its comprehensive contract and payment solutions.

Personally, I chose ShootProof for my work because here I can set up multiple “permissions”, create a hidden album in the gallery that’s only accessible through a specific link and has its own digital download rules. Besides, with the iPad app, I can gather email addresses at events. Plus, ShootProof provides support through smartphones, which is very handy.