Every client relationship is unique and Pixieset’s download options give you full control over how clients can access their images. This guide will walk you through the advanced settings available, from limiting the number of free photos to restricting downloads to specific clients. For more general settings like enabling downloads overall, see Collection Download Settings.

Note: You can find our video tutorial on limiting free downloads and other restrictions here.

On this page:

• Limiting individual downloads
• Restricting downloads to specific contacts
• Selecting downloadable sets
• Limiting PIN usage for gallery downloads

Limiting individual downloads

You can add a download limit to restrict the number of photos that can be downloaded from the collection. This will disable full gallery downloads for everyone viewing the collection (both guests and clients).

To set a download limit:

1. In Collections, select the collection.
2. Go to Settings > Download > Advanced Settings.
3. Toggle on Limit Photo Downloads.
4. Specify the number of photos that can be downloaded.

Tip: The limit is shared between all collection visitors. If you want to apply the download limit per client instead, enable the the Restrict Downloads to Specific Contacts setting.

Client experience

If a photo download limit is set for a collection, your client will see a callout each time they start a download showing how many photos they have remaining.

Restricting downloads to specific contacts

When allowing downloads in a collection, you can set it so that only specific contacts (email addresses) can download the photos and videos. Anyone outside of those contacts will not be able to complete any kind of download.

To restrict downloads to specific contacts:

1. In Collections, select the collection.
2. Go to Settings > Download > Advanced Settings.
3. Toggle on Restrict Downloads to Specific Contacts.
4. Select Add Contacts to create or choose a client email.

Note: If both Limit Photo Downloads and Restrict Downloads to Specific Contacts are enabled, the download limit will apply separately to each contact. For example, if the limit is 10, each contact can download up to 10 photos. You cannot set a different limit for individual contacts.

Client experience

If a collection's downloads are limited to specific contacts, anyone that uses a different email address will see an error when attempting a download.

Selecting downloadable sets

If your collection contains multiple photo sets, you can choose which photo sets are available to download from. This option is useful if you want clients to download only their final selections while keeping proofs, alternates, or behind-the-scenes images viewable but not downloadable.

Note: This setting applies to gallery downloads, single photo downloads, and favorite list downloads. It does not impact digital purchases from the collection’s storefront.

To customize which sets can be downloaded:

1. In Collections, select the collection.
2. Go to Settings > Download > Advanced Settings.
3. Under Photo Sets Available for Download, select which sets have downloads enabled.

Client experience

When a set is marked as unavailable for download, your client will see a tooltip if they try to download a photo from that set. For gallery downloads, they will see a similar note that photos in that set are excluded.

Limiting PIN usage for gallery downloads

You can limit how many times a download PIN can be used overall for gallery downloads. This option is useful if you want to discourage a download PIN from being reused or shared widely.

Note: This setting only applies to gallery downloads, and it is hidden if Limit Photo Downloads is turned on.

To set a PIN usage limit:

1. In Collections, select the collection.
2. Go to Settings > Download > Advanced Settings.
3. Under Limit PIN Usage, specify a limit.

Client experience

Once the download PIN limit is met, clients will see a notice explaining their PIN has expired if they attempt a new gallery download.