Sneak Peeks: When and How to Send Them

A sneak peek is a handful of finished images sent soon after a shoot, before the full gallery. It is worth sending when your delivery takes weeks, because it tells the client the shoot went well and that you are working on it. Three to ten images, sent within a few days, is a good default. Below is how to decide, what to send and what to write.

Why send one

Waiting is the hardest part for a client. After a wedding, a family session or a brand shoot, people want to know it worked. A sneak peek does three things:

• It calms nerves. The client sees the day came out well.
• It sets expectations. The style of the preview is the style of the final set.
• It gives them something to share, which helps you if they post it and tag you.

It also costs you time. Each preview needs culling, editing and exporting before you have begun on the full set. Offer it only if you can do it reliably, and say what you will do in your proposal, so it is a promise you can keep.

There are cases where it is better not to. If you deliver within a day or two, the preview adds a step with little value. And if the shoot was commercial, with legal sign-off needed on every image, a preview can create confusion about what is approved.

How many

Choose a number and use it every time.

These are examples. Your range may differ.

Choose the images with care. Include:

• One strong wide shot that shows the place.
• One portrait that shows each key person.
• One candid moment.
• One detail, such as rings or a table setting.

Avoid sending ten near-identical frames. Choose different moments so the client sees range. And do not send an image you would not put in the final gallery.

Timing

The timing should be written in your proposal and repeated in your thank-you message.

• Weddings and big events: a few days to a week is common, because you are working through a big set.
• Portrait sessions: often within 24 to 48 hours.
• Busy season: say so honestly. "In wedding season, previews take up to a week" is better than silence.

Whatever you promise, send on time. A preview that arrives two days late feels worse than a preview that was never promised. If you need longer, send a short message saying so.

Tell the client at the same time when the full gallery will be ready, and link it back to the date in your contract. The sneak peek is a step in the delivery, not a replacement.

Social use

Sneak peeks tend to end up online within minutes, so decide in advance how you want that to work.

• Say the client may share them, and ask for credit with a tag.
• Ask them not to crop or filter, because a heavy filter changes how your work looks.
• Make a web version with your name on a discreet corner if you wish, though many studios skip watermarks.
• Check permissions. If the images show other people, such as guests or children, be cautious about what you post yourself, and respect what the client has agreed to in the contract.
• Use previews in your own posts only if the contract lets you. Wait for the client's go-ahead if you are not sure.

Your own use is a separate matter from the client's. Cover it in the contract and in the post-shoot message.

Example message

This is an example you can adapt.

Hi Priya and Arjun, Thank you again for yesterday. It was a lovely day to photograph. Here are eight images to tide you over: [link]. These are a small first look. Your full gallery, about 400 images, will be ready by 28 November, and I will send you a link as soon as it is done. You are welcome to share these. If you post them, a tag would mean a lot, and please use them as they are, without filters, so the colours stay true. Take care, The studio

Short, specific and with a date. The date matters most.

Tracking the steps

Sneak peek, edit, review and final delivery are separate steps, and it is easy to lose one. In ClickBook, the edit queue moves from editing to studio review, client review and delivered, so you can see which previews and galleries are due. Galleries themselves live in your own gallery tool, such as Pixieset or Pic-Time. Look at the demo for the queue.

For related policies, see how to handle RAW file requests, how to keep a consistent look across a set in edit style consistency, and the message you send before the shoot in the day-before reminder.

Frequently asked questions

How many images should a sneak peek include?

Three to ten is common, depending on the job. Enough to feel generous and few enough that the full gallery still feels like an event.

How soon should I send a sneak peek?

Within a few days is common for weddings and events, and the same day or next for small sessions. State your timing in the proposal so no one is left guessing.

Can the client post sneak peeks?

Yes, if you say so. Add a line about credit and about not applying filters, and make sure the licence in your contract covers it.

Do I have to offer sneak peeks?

No. They are optional. If you offer them, say so in the proposal. If you do not, explain the delivery date so the wait feels fair.