PhotoProof

1. 01Upload the photoproof folder to /wp-content/plugins/ .
2. 02Activate the plugin through the Plugins screen.
3. 03Go to Galleries → Settings to configure watermark, renaming, colors and email templates.
4. 04Create your first gallery under Galleries → Add New .
5. 05Upload photos, assign a client, and publish.

Do my clients need a WordPress account?

Browsing the gallery works without any account. A WordPress account (subscriber role is enough) is only required when the client wants to validate their final selection.

Can I use my own login page?

Yes. In Settings → Security & Watermark , you can set a custom login URL. If left empty, WordPress uses its default login page.

How does the watermark work?

In Settings , upload a PNG logo and set the desired opacity. This makes the watermark available . Then, on each gallery, a “Watermark protection” toggle lets you decide whether to apply it or not. When enabled, PhotoProof generates watermarked copies in a /watermarked/ subfolder; the originals are never modified. Clients see the watermarked version, you keep the originals safe.

The toggle can be changed at any time — even after publication. The frontend always reflects the current setting.

How does the file renaming work?

In Settings , enable automatic renaming and set your global pattern (for example: MyStudio-{gallery_title} ). Once enabled, every gallery’s files are automatically renamed using the pattern, with a counter ( -0001 , -0002 …) appended to each file.

On a per-gallery basis, you can fill in a “Custom file name” field in the metabox. When set, this name replaces the global pattern entirely (useful if the gallery title doesn’t make a good file name — too long, special characters, internal codes…).

Can I reopen a validated gallery?

Yes. From the gallery editor, you can reopen a validated gallery — either keeping the previous client selection or resetting it entirely.

What happens when a gallery expires?

If auto-archiving is enabled, galleries are automatically set to “archived” status 30 days after publication. The client sees a friendly message asking them to contact their photographer. Admins can always view and reactivate archived galleries.

Does PhotoProof work with page builders?

The gallery uses its own standalone template, completely independent from your theme. This avoids conflicts with page builders, animation libraries (Barba.js, GSAP…), or any JavaScript framework your theme may use.

What happens when I uninstall the plugin?

WordPress asks “Are you sure you want to delete this plugin and all of its data?” — PhotoProof respects that promise. Uninstalling the plugin permanently removes:

• All galleries (custom post type)
• All photos uploaded through PhotoProof (originals + watermarked copies)
• The /uploads/photoproof/ folder and its contents
• All plugin settings, options and the custom database table
• Scheduled cron jobs

If you want to keep your data, deactivate the plugin instead of deleting it. Deactivation preserves everything.