How to share collections

Shared Collections let you bundle selected images into a shareable collection with a single link. Anyone with the link can view and download those images — no PixelFiddler account required. You control how long the link stays active and whether a password is needed to open it.

This is useful whenever you need to hand off product photos to someone outside your dashboard, such as a freelancer, a client awaiting approval, or a retail partner reviewing your latest collection.

What is a collection?

A collection is a publicly accessible page that displays a set of images you have chosen from your media library. Each collection has its own unique link that you can send to anyone.

Key characteristics of a collection:

• Public link — recipients do not need to sign up or log in
• Time-limited — the link automatically expires after the duration you set
• Optionally password-protected — add a layer of security for sensitive product images
• Read-only — viewers can browse and download, but cannot edit or delete your originals

Creating a collection

Step 1: Select your images

1. Open your media storage in the PixelFiddler dashboard
2. Browse or search for the images you want to share
3. Select each image by clicking its checkbox, or use Select all to grab everything visible on the page

Tip

You can select images across different folders. The batch action toolbar at the bottom of the screen shows how many images are currently selected.

Step 2: Open the share dialog

Once you have selected at least one image, the batch action toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen.

1. Click the Share button in the toolbar

The share dialog will open, where you configure your collection settings.

Step 3: Set a collection name

Give your collection a descriptive name. This name is displayed at the top of the public collection page, so choose something your recipients will recognize.

Good examples:

• “Summer 2026 Sandals — Final Selects”
• “Client Proof — Homeware Photography”
• “Marketplace Listing Images — March Batch”

Step 4: Choose an expiration time

Select how long the collection link should remain active. Once the expiration time passes, the link stops working and visitors see a notice that the collection is no longer available.

Available options:

Duration	Best for
1 hour	Quick review during a live call or meeting
6 hours	Same-day feedback from a colleague
1 day	Overnight review by a client in another timezone
7 days	Weekly collaboration with a freelancer
30 days	Ongoing partnership or seasonal collection share

Note

Once a collection expires, the images themselves are not affected. They remain safe in your media library. Only the public link is deactivated.

Step 5: Set a password (optional)

If the collection contains sensitive or unreleased product images, toggle the Password protection option and enter a password. Anyone who opens the collection link will be prompted to enter this password before they can see the images.

Caution

Share the password through a separate channel (for example, a direct message or phone call) rather than including it in the same email as the collection link.

Step 6: Copy the shareable link

After you confirm your settings, PixelFiddler generates a unique collection link.

1. Click Copy link to copy it to your clipboard
2. Paste the link into an email, chat message, or project management tool and send it to your recipients

That is all it takes. Your collection is now live and accessible to anyone who has the link (and the password, if you set one).

Viewing a shared collection

When someone opens a collection link, they see a clean, branded page with all the shared images displayed in a grid. From this page, viewers can:

• Browse through every image in the collection
• Click on an image to see it at full size
• Download individual images or the entire collection

No sign-up, login, or software installation is needed. The collection works in any modern web browser on desktop or mobile.

Note

If the collection is password-protected, visitors will see a password prompt before the images load. They will need the password you shared with them.

Password protection for sensitive images

Password protection is optional but recommended in several situations:

• Pre-launch products — prevent images from leaking before an announcement date
• Exclusive retail partnerships — restrict access to authorized partners only
• Client-specific photography — ensure only the intended client can view their proofs
• Pricing or packaging details visible in photos — keep competitive information private

To enable it, simply toggle the password switch in the share dialog and set your chosen password. There is no limit on password length, so use something strong if the content is particularly sensitive.

Time-limited access

Every collection link has a built-in expiration. This is a deliberate security feature that ensures shared images do not remain publicly accessible indefinitely.

When a collection expires:

• The public link returns a friendly “Collection expired” message
• The images remain untouched in your media library
• You can create a new collection with the same or different images at any time

Tip

If a recipient tells you the link has expired and they still need access, simply create a new collection with the same images. It takes less than a minute.

Use cases

Share product photos with a listing team or freelancer

You have a batch of newly photographed products and your listing team needs the images to write descriptions and upload to your store. Select the relevant images, create a 7-day collection, and send the link. The team downloads what they need without requiring access to your PixelFiddler dashboard.

Send image proofs to clients for approval

A client hired you to photograph their products. Instead of emailing large attachments, create a password-protected collection and send the link. The client can review every image at full resolution in their browser and let you know which ones to finalize.

Provide images to a marketplace listing service

Third-party listing services often need your product images to create listings on platforms like Amazon, eBay, or Etsy. A 30-day collection gives them ongoing access to the current batch while automatically expiring once the project window closes.

Share a seasonal collection with retail partners

You are launching a spring collection and want to share lookbook images with your retail partners. Create a collection named after the product line, set a password so only authorized partners can view it, and distribute the link during your sales outreach.

Best practices

• Name collections clearly — a descriptive name helps both you and your recipients understand what the collection contains
• Match expiration to the task — use short durations for quick reviews and longer ones for ongoing collaborations
• Use password protection for anything unreleased — it only takes a moment to set up and significantly reduces risk
• Send passwords separately — never include the password in the same message as the collection link
• Create focused collections — share only the images that are relevant to the recipient rather than your entire library

Next steps

Now that you know how to share collections, explore related features that can help you work with images more efficiently:

Batch processing Apply transformations to multiple images at once before sharing them

Comments and annotations Collect feedback directly on images from your team and clients