> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pixdeliver.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Creating a selection
> Learn how to create photo selection forms for your clients
## Overview
Selection forms let your clients pick their favorite photos directly from a gallery. This is the perfect solution when a client needs to choose a specific number of photos (for example, for an album, frames, or printing) or point out their favorite shots.
**Key features:**
* Clients pick photos with a simple selection (a click)
* You can set the form's title and description
* An optional selection expiration date
* Collect the client's name and email
* Instant notification of a new submission
* A full preview of the selected photos
***
## When should you use photo selections?
### Ideal use cases:
**Choosing for an album:**
* The client has 300 wedding photos, but the album only fits 80
* "Choose your 80 favorite photos for the wedding album"
**Choosing for printing:**
* A family session — the client wants to pick 10 photos for frames
* "Choose 10 photos to print at 30×40 cm"
**The client's favorites:**
* You want to know which photos the client liked most
* "Choose your 20 favorite photos from the session"
**Photos for retouching:**
* You offer advanced retouching of a few photos
* "Choose 5 photos for professional retouching"
**Portfolio publication:**
* You ask the client for consent to publish specific photos
* "Mark the photos I may publish in my portfolio"
***
## Step by step
### 1. Open the gallery
**Instructions:**
1. Sign in to PixDeliver
2. Go to the **Dashboard**
3. Open the gallery you want to create a selection request for
4. The gallery must be active (paid)
**Result:** You're in the gallery view.
***
### 2. Go to the Selection requests section
**Instructions:**
1. In the gallery menu, find the **Selection requests** tab
2. Click it to go to the list of selection requests
3. You'll see a list of existing selection requests (if there are any) or a button to create a new one
**Result:** You're in the selection request management section.
***
### 3. Create a new selection request
**Instructions:**
1. Click the **Create selection request** or **New selection request** button
2. The selection request creation form opens
**Result:** You see a form with fields to fill in.
***
### 4. Fill in the selection request details
**Instructions:**
1. **Selection title** - Enter a descriptive name
* Example: "Choosing photos for the wedding album"
* Example: "Your favorite 10 photos"
* It will be visible to the client
2. **Description** - Add instructions for the client
* Example: "Choose up to 80 photos you'd like to have in the wedding album"
* Example: "Mark 10 photos that I'll print at 30×40 cm"
* Explain what the client should do
3. **Expiration date** (optional)
* Set a deadline by which the client should choose their photos
* Example: 2 weeks from today
* Leave it blank if there's no deadline
4. **Status** - Mark it as **Active**
* Active = clients can fill in the form
* Inactive = the form is disabled (used later)
5. Click **Create selection request**
**Result:** The selection request is created and you get a unique link to it.
**A good selection description:**
* Clearly state the number of photos (for example, "Choose up to 10 photos")
* Explain the purpose (for an album, printing, retouching)
* Add a deadline (if it matters): "Please choose by June 15"
* Use a friendly tone: "Choose your favorite photos 💕"
***
## Selection examples
### Example 1: Wedding album
```
Title: Choosing photos for the wedding album
Description:
Hello dear Anna and Tomek!
It's time to choose photos for your wedding album 💍
The album fits 80 photos. Pick your favorite moments from this special day!
Selection deadline: May 31, 2024
Once you've marked your photos, fill in your names and click "Send selection".
Expiration date: 2024-05-31
Status: Active
```
### Example 2: Choosing for retouching
```
Title: Photos for advanced retouching
Description:
Hi Kasia!
Choose 5 photos that we'll give a professional retouch (skin smoothing, color correction, removing blemishes).
Mark your favorites and submit the form.
You'll receive the retouched photos within 5 business days.
Expiration date: None
Status: Active
```
### Example 3: Consent to publish
```
Title: Consent to publish in portfolio
Description:
Hello!
I really enjoyed working with you and I'm proud of the photos we created.
Could I publish some of them in my portfolio? Mark the photos you consent to having published.
Of course, if you'd rather keep all the photos completely private, simply don't mark any — I fully understand!
Thank you!
Expiration date: None
Status: Active
```
***
## Selection settings
### Selection title
* **Length:** 5-100 characters
* **Content:** A descriptive name, visible to the client
* **Examples:** "Choosing for the album", "Your top 10", "Photos to print"
### Selection description
* **Length:** Up to 1000 characters
* **Content:** Detailed instructions, the purpose, the deadline
* **Formatting:** Use blank lines for readability (Enter = a new line)
* **Tone:** Friendly, encouraging, clear
### Expiration date
**An optional feature - when to use it:**
* ✅ When you have a deadline for producing the album
* ✅ When you want to motivate the client to decide faster
* ✅ When the service is time-limited
**When not to set it:**
* ❌ When the client needs more time to think it over
* ❌ When there's no specific deadline
* ❌ For archival galleries
**What happens after it expires:**
* The form becomes unavailable
* The client sees the message: "This selection has expired"
* You can extend the expiration date in the settings
### Active/inactive status
**Active:**
* Clients can fill in the form
* The selection link works
* New submissions are collected
**Inactive:**
* The form is disabled
* The link leads to the message "Selection inactive"
* No new selection can be submitted
* Useful once you've collected all the submissions you need
***
## Editing a selection request
You can edit a selection request at any time.
**Instructions:**
1. Go to the **Selection requests** section in the gallery
2. Find the selection request in the list
3. Click **Edit** or the pencil icon
4. Update the fields you want:
* Title
* Description
* Expiration date
* Status
5. Click **Save changes**
**Result:** Changes take effect immediately. Clients will see the updated information.
**Note:** If you change the description after some clients have already filled in the form, they won't be automatically notified of the changes.
***
## Deleting a selection request
You can delete a selection request along with all of its submissions.
**Instructions:**
1. Go to the **Selection requests** section
2. Find the selection request to delete
3. Click **Delete** or the trash icon
4. Confirm the deletion
**Result:** The selection request and all submissions are permanently deleted.
**This action is irreversible!** Before deleting, download the submissions or take a screenshot if you need to keep the data.
***
## Multiple selection requests for one gallery
You can create multiple selection requests for the same gallery.
**Example scenarios:**
**A wedding - different purposes:**
1. "Choosing for the album" - 80 photos
2. "Photos for the parents" - 20 photos for the bride's parents
3. "Anniversary slideshow" - 30 photos for the presentation
**A family session - different people:**
1. "Mom's selection" - mom chooses her favorites
2. "Dad's selection" - dad chooses independently
3. "Joint selection" - the final selection after discussion
**Different stages:**
1. "First selection - broad" - choose 100 photos out of 500
2. "Second selection - narrow" - choose the final 50 out of those 100
***
## Tips and best practices
✅ **Recommended:**
* Use clear, specific instructions ("Choose 10 photos", not "Choose a few")
* Explain the purpose of the selection (what the chosen photos will be used for)
* Add a deadline if it matters
* Use emotional, encouraging language
* Test the form yourself before sending it to the client
* Set the expiration date with a buffer (the client may need time)
* Create separate selection requests for different purposes
* Only activate a selection request once the gallery is ready
❌ **Avoid:**
* Vague instructions ("Choose the photos you like")
* Deadlines that are too short (the client may not make it in time)
* Creating selection requests before all the photos are uploaded
* Changing the rules after sending the link to clients
* Descriptions that are too long (the client won't read them)
* Using technical or jargon-heavy language
***
## Troubleshooting
**Problem:** I don't see the "Create selection request" button
**Solution:**
* Check whether the gallery is active (paid)
* Selection requests only work for active galleries
* Pay for the gallery to unlock selection requests
**Problem:** The client says they can't submit their selection
**Solution:**
1. Check the selection status - is it active?
2. Check the expiration date - has it passed?
3. Ask the client for a screenshot of the error
4. Check whether the client marked any photos
5. Make sure the client filled in their name and email
**Problem:** I created a selection request but don't know how to send the link
**Solution:**
* See the next section: [Sharing a selection](/en/selections/share-selection)
* The selection link is generated automatically once you create it
**Problem:** I want to change the description after sending the link to clients
**Solution:**
* You can edit the description at any time
* Changes take effect immediately
* Clients who haven't filled in the form yet will see the new description
* Those who already submitted won't be notified of the change
***
## Frequently asked questions
**Can I limit the number of photos selected?**
There's currently no technical limit. You have to ask the client in the description (for example, "Choose up to 10 photos").
**Can a client fill in the form multiple times?**
Yes, a single client can send several submissions. You'll see all of them in the submission management section.
**Does a selection request work for a password-protected gallery?**
Yes! The client first enters the gallery password and can then open the selection form.
**Can I see the client's selection before they officially submit it?**
No. The client has to click "Send selection" for their selection to reach you.
**How long is the data stored?**
Submissions are stored for the entire validity period of the gallery (1 year) or until the selection/gallery is deleted.
***
## Related topics
* [Sharing a selection](/en/selections/share-selection) - How to send the selection link to clients
* [Managing submissions](/en/selections/manage-submissions) - How to review your clients' selections
* [Creating a gallery](/en/managing-galleries/create-gallery) - First create and pay for a gallery