How to get clients or friends to help pick photos

The cleanest way to get other people to help pick photos is to give them one link that shows every photo, let each person choose on their own, and combine their picks as votes. You still make the final call. No one has to download hundreds of files over chat, you don't have to match file numbers from scattered messages, and your original photos never leave your computer.

When a second opinion helps

Photographers usually cull alone. But sometimes other people's opinions matter more than yours:

A graduation or wedding client wants a say in what goes into the album.
A couple or family needs to agree on which photos to print.
An event team chooses photos for press or a report.
You're unsure yourself and need fresh eyes after hours of culling.

The trouble with sending photos over chat or a shared drive

The usual approach is to send everything through a messaging app or a shared drive folder and ask people to reply with file numbers. That runs into problems:

Size. Hundreds of full-resolution photos eat data and upload time.
Quality and naming break. Chat apps recompress photos and often rename files, so numbers stop matching.
Lists are hard to merge. Everyone replies in a different format, and you reconcile them by hand.
Originals spread. Once shared, you no longer control who keeps or forwards the files.
No limit. Without a target, people tend to pick far too many.

Principles for choosing photos together

Whatever tool you use, these make the process smoother:

Remove the obvious misses first. Don't ask people to judge blurry or blinking frames. Show only photos worth considering.
Give everyone the same target. For example, "pick 30". A shared target makes picks comparable.
Let each person choose independently. Choosing together in one room tends to follow the loudest opinion.
Combine the picks as votes. Photos picked by many people are strong candidates; low-vote photos are yours to weigh.
One person makes the final decision. Usually the photographer or the client who owns the event.

For what makes a photo worth keeping, see how to pick your best photos.

Choosing photos together with Pulahpilih

Pulahpilih has a sharing feature built on these principles. It all runs from the app on your Windows PC; no account, no upload to a server.

Start a session on your photo folder, then click Share in the toolbar.
Wait about 25 seconds for the link and a 4-digit PIN to appear. The link only works once the connection is ready.
Send the link and PIN to your client or friends. Sending the PIN in a separate message is a good habit.
Each guest sorts on their own in the browser, phones included. It works like the app: three photos at a time, pick or reject, a few rounds until the count matches the target. Nothing moves on your PC while they do this.
Guests press Send when they're done. They can start over and send again; a new submission replaces the old one.
Open Guest results in the app. Every photo appears in a grid sorted by vote count, with the voters' names. The most-voted photos are already checked as a suggestion.
Adjust the checks, then Approve. Your selected folder ends up holding exactly the photos you checked.

What about privacy?

Original files are never sent. Guests see downsized copies of 800 KB at most.
The link is temporary. It runs through a Cloudflare tunnel and stops when you click Stop sharing or close the app.
Without the PIN, the link is useless.

The full details are on the privacy page.

A message you can send to a client

A clear message saves a lot of back and forth. Adapt this to your shoot:

Hi, your graduation photos are ready to choose from. Open this link on your phone or laptop: [link]. I'll send the PIN separately.

Please pick 30 photos for the album. You'll see three photos at a time; press Pick for the ones you like and Reject for the rest. If you end up with more than 30, there's another round to narrow them down. Press Send when you're done.

Please send your picks by Friday 5 pm. If you change your mind, you can start over and send again.

If several family members are choosing, ask each of them to enter their name when they join. Names show up next to the vote counts, so you can see who picked what.

Tips for getting answers back quickly

Set a clear deadline, such as "by Friday 5 pm".
Explain the target and what the photos are for, for example a 30-page album.
Cull the obvious misses yourself first so guests don't tire out on bad frames.
Stop sharing when you're done. Click Stop sharing as soon as all submissions are in.

See it applied to graduation photos and wedding photos. Technical questions about share links are answered in the help page.

Download Pulahpilih to start choosing photos together.

FAQ

Do guests need to install an app or create an account?

No. Guests open the link in any browser, including on a phone, and enter the PIN.

Can guests move or delete my photos?

No. Guests only sort virtually in their browser. Files move only after you approve the result in the app, and nothing is ever deleted.

How long does a share link stay active?

As long as the app is open and you haven't clicked Stop sharing. Once you stop sharing or close the app, the link no longer opens.

What if the link won't open?

Make sure the link has appeared in the app, since it only works once the connection is ready. More troubleshooting steps are on the help page.