The Google Drive Problem
You spent 8 hours shooting a wedding, 20 hours editing, and then delivered the final product via a Google Drive link. No branding. No presentation. No download controls. No idea whether the client even opened it.
This is the most common delivery mistake beginner photographers make. Not because Google Drive is a bad product — it is excellent for file storage. But file storage is not gallery delivery. They are fundamentally different things.
Gallery delivery is a presentation experience. It is the moment your client sees their wedding day for the first time through your eyes. That moment deserves more than a list of filenames in a folder. This is one of the key steps in the professional wedding workflow.
Google Drive vs Professional Gallery Platform
Here is a direct comparison of what each approach offers:
The gallery platform wins on every professional metric. Google Drive wins only on simplicity — it requires no setup. But that simplicity costs you referrals, brand perception, and control over your work. For a detailed comparison of gallery platforms, see 12img vs Pixieset and 12img vs Pic-Time.
What Actually Matters in Gallery Delivery
Branding
Every gallery you deliver should carry your brand. Your logo, your colors, your domain. When the bride shares the gallery link with 50 guests, each viewer sees your professional brand — not a generic file-sharing service. This is passive marketing that works 24/7.
Download Controls
You should control what resolution clients can download, whether they can download all images or select favorites, and how long downloads remain available. This is not about restricting access — it is about maintaining the value of your work and creating natural upsell paths for prints and albums.
Mobile Optimization
Over 70% of gallery views happen on mobile devices. If your gallery does not load beautifully on a phone, you are delivering a broken product. Professional platforms optimize for mobile by default — Google Drive does not.
View Analytics
Knowing when a client viewed the gallery, how many images they browsed, and whether they downloaded files gives you actionable data. You know exactly when to follow up, when to request a review, and whether the gallery was shared with others.
The Delivery Email
The gallery link alone is not enough. Your delivery email should include: a warm personal note about the wedding day, the gallery link with password, download instructions, a note about how long the gallery will remain active, and an invitation to reach out with questions.
Keep it short, warm, and professional. This email will be screenshotted and shared with friends and family. Make it represent you well.