When guests open the gallery, they see a small download button on each photo and video. Tapping it saves the original file to their device. This is on by default because the point of a shared gallery is that everyone gets access to the memories.
But sometimes you want the opposite, a "viewing only" gallery where guests can see but not save. Capture Club has a per-event toggle for exactly this.
How to toggle it
From your event page:
- Click Settings in the toolbar
- Click Guest downloads ON (or OFF, the label shows current state)
Takes effect immediately. The download button disappears (or reappears) in guest views on next refresh.
When to leave it on
Most events, most of the time. The default exists because:
- Weddings are shared experiences. Guests want to save their favorite moment.
- Couples often ask guests to share. "Text me that one where we were laughing" is a thing. Downloads save you the round-trip.
- It is the friction-free experience. Blocking downloads often confuses guests ("why is there a photo I want but I cannot save it?").
When to turn it off
Real cases where photographers turn it off:
- Paid delivery galleries where the couple has not paid yet. You are showing proofs to the couple before they sign off on the package. Downloads off means guests cannot accidentally distribute the unfinished gallery.
- High-profile or private events. Celebrity weddings, corporate events, or any shoot with a tight privacy clause in the contract.
- Brand / sponsored events. The brand wants control over who downloads and shares official photos.
- Selling prints. You are charging for downloads and do not want to give them away free via the gallery.
When to turn it off temporarily
A common workflow:
- During the event: downloads on (live vibe, everyone sharing)
- The day after: downloads off (so guests stop flooding their camera rolls while you curate)
- Ten days after: downloads on again (the couple has reviewed and approved, gallery is official)
You can toggle as many times as you want. There is no cost or limit.
What guests see when downloads are off
The download button on each photo is hidden entirely. There is no "download denied" error, guests just see a gallery without a save option. Most will not notice; those who do typically ask the host directly.
The gallery still lets them:
- Browse and zoom
- Like photos
- See videos play
- See the slideshow if it is enabled
They just cannot save files to their device.
Does turning off downloads actually prevent them?
Not perfectly. Determined guests can always screenshot a photo from their phone or browser, or use "inspect element" on a desktop to find the image URL. Our toggle disables the explicit download UI, but it is not DRM.
If you need hard protection (e.g., for a contracted paid gallery), the best defense is not technical, it is the contract and the social norm. Watermark your photos, include a copyright notice in the gallery, and make the expected behavior clear.
Does it affect bulk download?
No. The bulk download on the event page toolbar (for the host) is always available regardless of the guest-downloads toggle. That is your download, not theirs.
Can specific guests have download access while others do not?
Not currently. The toggle is per-event, all-or-nothing. If you need per-guest permissions (e.g., the couple can download, extended family cannot), you would need to run two separate events: one private gallery with downloads on for the couple, one public gallery with downloads off for guests.
API behavior
If you are using our API to fetch downloads programmatically, the guest_downloads_enabled flag on the event object reflects the current state. Respect it, it is there for contract reasons.
Guest downloads and Founding Member
Founding Member accounts have guest downloads on by default for new events, same as Pro. The feature itself is not tier-gated, free accounts can turn it on or off too. The tier controls limits around upload count and storage duration (see plan comparison).
Pairing with review mode
Some hosts use Review mode and guest downloads together:
- Review mode on → nothing appears in the public gallery until you approve
- Guest downloads on → once approved, guests can save
This gives you upstream filtering (quality control) plus downstream access (everyone gets the good stuff). A reasonable default for high-stakes events.
What guests see right now
If you are unsure whether downloads are on or off, open the gallery URL in an incognito/private window (to see it as a guest, not as the owner). If each photo has a download icon, downloads are on. If not, they are off.
The event dashboard also shows the current state in the Settings menu, the label reads "Guest downloads ON" or "Guest downloads OFF" right next to the toggle.