ShootProof is a widely used client gallery platform that enables photographers to deliver and sell their photos. It allows photographers to create customized, professional online galleries that clients can access directly through a browser without needing to download an app. Photographers have control over the sizes in which images can be viewed and downloaded.
In contrast to file-sharing services like Dropbox or Google Drive, which lack visually appealing galleries and control over download sizes, ShootProof is specifically designed to provide a seamless experience for photographers delivering images after a shoot.
However, we believe there is a better ShootProof alternative for delivering photos, especially for events, weddings, and high-volume headshot sessions.
There are a couple of limitations to how we deliver photos today:
- It’s too slow. People are the most excited to receive their photos while the event or wedding is happening, not days or weeks after it’s over. By delivering your photos slowly, you miss the most important time window.
- It’s too much work for guests to find their own photos, because they have to scroll through the whole gallery to pick them out. It’s also too much work for photographers or clients to send only the right photos to each guest.
As photographers ourselves, we felt strongly that there has to be a better alternative to deliver photos. Hence, we built Honcho to address these two limitations.
- Honcho helps you deliver the photos instantly, during the shoot. This is done by uploading photos from camera to cloud (by tethering the camera to your phone), while you shoot.
- Honcho helps you share the right photos with the right people, with AI-powered face recognition. Your guests can easily find their own photos by uploading a selfie. Honcho then matches the right photos with the selfie and delivers them in a personal gallery for each guest.
In this article, we explain how you can use Honcho as a ShootProof alternative to enhance your photography services. You can also create a free account and start right away.
Upload Photos Instantly, From Camera to Cloud
Honcho allows you to upload photos in real-time as you take them, instantly generating an online gallery that can be shared with clients and guests.
This is achieved by tethering your camera to your smartphone via the Honcho app, which automatically detects the camera. As you capture photos, they are transferred to the app and uploaded to the cloud.
Once in the cloud, the photos can be accessed from any device, whether it’s another smartphone or a laptop, through the mobile or web app.
Honcho uses wired tethering for fast, reliable performance and works with any standard data cable. High-resolution images are typically transferred and uploaded within five seconds.
You also have the option to select the upload resolution, ranging from full-quality images to compressed versions at 640px on the long edge. Smaller files, such as the 640px versions, upload almost instantly.
What makes Honcho stand out is that it requires no extra equipment. Unlike other tethering solutions, such as CamRanger, which often need additional hardware to extend the connection range, Honcho only requires your camera and phone, and offers virtually unlimited range. This allows you to move freely around a venue without worrying about losing your connection.
As a photographer, you’ve likely experienced the frustration of your photos not reaching the guests.
We understand that our primary responsibility is to the client—whether that’s an event planner or a wedding couple—and it’s ultimately up to them how and when the photos are shared.
However, it’s common for clients to either delay sharing photos or not share them at all, leading to guests reaching out directly to request their images after the event.
We believe the photos we capture hold value for everyone attending the event, not just the client. These moments are meaningful to guests as well, and they deserve access to those memories.
This isn’t about blaming the clients—they’re often busy with many other priorities, and distributing photos may not be at the top of their list.
The real challenge has been the lack of a simple, efficient way to distribute photos. Honcho solves that.
With Honcho, guests can instantly view and download event photos through an online gallery. Because the images are uploaded in real-time as you shoot, guests can access them while the event is still fresh in their minds.
Though guests appreciate seeing all the event photos, they also want a simple way to find their own. In the past, this meant sifting through the entire gallery, which could be tedious and time-consuming.
Honcho offers an elegant solution: guests can upload a selfie, and with facial recognition, the app finds their photos and delivers them in a personalized gallery. Each guest receives their own gallery featuring only the images they appear in.
One of the main reasons clients hesitate to share photos with guests is due to privacy concerns. For example, wedding couples may want to keep their most intimate moments private, while event planners often avoid publicly sharing guests’ images out of respect for their privacy.
As a result, photos often remain undistributed, losing their value over time.
Honcho solves this problem by offering advanced privacy controls.
The first option is to password-protect the online gallery, allowing access only to specific individuals. This feature, similar to what platforms like ShootProof provide, is ideal for sharing photos with a small, select group.
However, this method has its drawbacks, as the goal is to distribute the photos to all guests, not just a limited few.
Honcho offers a more innovative and user-friendly solution: blurring all the photos in the online gallery. Only images identified through facial recognition are unblurred, so each guest can see only their own photos.
This approach allows you to share the entire gallery with everyone, ensuring each guest receives their own images while maintaining privacy. It’s a unique solution offered exclusively by Honcho, enabling both widespread photo sharing and privacy protection at the same time.
Play Live Slideshows to Engage the Audience
We believe photography can be more than just documenting an event or wedding—it can be an immersive experience. Every feature we’ve discussed is aimed at enhancing your photography service, turning it into something more than just capturing moments.
Live slideshows are another powerful tool for creating an engaging, interactive experience. There’s something magical about displaying stunning photos on a large screen; people love seeing themselves in the images, and it instantly energizes the room, sparks conversations, and elevates the atmosphere.
It’s also an excellent way to showcase your work to a captivated audience. And when they need a photographer in the future, guess who they’ll think of?
Honcho makes setting up a live slideshow incredibly easy. Simply open the online gallery in any browser, click the “More” button, and choose “Slideshow.” No additional software is required—it works instantly.
You can moderate the photos through the mobile app or any other device. For example, you can have an assistant moderate the slideshow from a laptop, viewing your photos in real-time without any need to transfer files manually. Depending on your workflow, you can choose whether new photos are set as published or unpublished by default.
Print On-Site Without Manually Transferring Files
The features we’ve covered not only elevate your photography services but also open up opportunities for upselling, allowing you to charge higher rates and boost your earnings per booking. Offering on-site instant prints is another popular option with clients that helps boost revenue.
There’s something special about holding a physical print, and many clients appreciate the opportunity to provide personalized keepsakes for their guests. These prints can serve as thoughtful, customized alternatives to traditional party or wedding favors.
Traditionally, on-site printing requires the tedious task of manually transferring files from your camera to a laptop, which can be inconvenient during a busy event. Honcho streamlines this process by enabling wireless printing from any device, eliminating the need for manual file transfers.
It also provides flexibility in how you handle printing. You can print directly from the mobile app, or have an assistant manage the printing from a laptop. Since your photos are uploaded to the cloud in real-time, your assistant can access and print them instantly.
Conclusion
There are many untapped opportunities in the way we currently deliver photos. While services like ShootProof are effective for post-event delivery, we believe sharing your photos instantly during the event creates a far greater impact.
Honcho provides a compelling ShootProof alternative, allowing you to do just that—and more. With features like facial recognition, you can ensure guests receive their photos while maintaining privacy. You can also run live slideshows and wirelessly print on-site, enhancing the overall experience.
As photographers, we must look beyond simply documenting an event. Events are about creating memorable experiences. If we limit ourselves to just capturing moments, we risk becoming irrelevant—especially in an age where everyone has a high-quality camera on their phone.
It’s time to reimagine how photography can elevate the event or wedding experience. By offering added value to your clients, you’ll not only grow your business but also set yourself up for greater success.
Start by signing up for a free Honcho account and discover how it can transform your photography business.
