Replace 3 Photography Tools with 1 — Without Losing Functionality

A common setup among working photographers: one tool for delivering galleries to clients, another for the portfolio website, and a third (often just Google Docs or Notion) for shoot briefings and project notes. Each tool made sense when added individually. Together, they create fragmentation — three places to check, three monthly charges, three login credentials, and three different systems that don't talk to each other.

The Typical 3-Tool Stack

The most common combination looks something like this:

Picdrop or Pixieset for client gallery delivery (~€10–30/month). This handles the core delivery workflow: clients get a link, they browse and download, you manage access. It does the job, but it's a standalone tool — your portfolio isn't connected to it, your shoot notes aren't near it.

Squarespace or Wix for the portfolio website (~€16–49/month). You maintain a separate site with a curated selection of your work. When you do new sessions, you sometimes remember to update it. It's disconnected from your actual delivery workflow.

Google Docs or Notion for shoot briefings. You create a new doc for each shoot with the moodboard, shot list, location details, and prep questions. It works, but there's no connection between the briefing doc and the project it belongs to.

Total monthly cost: €26–79+/month across three separate subscriptions, each requiring separate management.

What Lumeny Replaces

Lumeny consolidates the core three functions into one platform:

Gallery delivery — sectioned, PIN-protected, branded galleries for client delivery. Clients get a clean, mobile-optimized gallery experience. You manage all galleries from one dashboard.

Auto-portfolio — your portfolio is automatically generated from your delivered galleries. When you deliver a new session, you choose which images appear in your portfolio. No separate site to maintain, no copy-paste from gallery to portfolio.

Shoot briefings — each project in Lumeny has a built-in briefing: moodboard (reference images), shot list, location details, and prep questions for the client. All of this is connected to the specific project it belongs to, not floating in a separate doc.

Project tracking — the booking overview shows every project's status from booked to delivered. No separate spreadsheet needed.

Lumeny Solo is €9/month (25 galleries). Pro is €19/month (100 galleries + custom domain). The consolidation saves €17–60+/month depending on your current stack.

What Stays Separate

Lumeny is intentionally not a full business suite. You will still need:

Editing software. Lightroom, Capture One, or your preferred tool. This is non-negotiable — no web platform replaces your editing environment.

Invoicing and accounting. If you're running a business, you need a compliant invoicing tool. Lumeny does not handle payments, contracts, or invoices. For solo photographers in Germany, tools like Lexoffice or Fastbill handle this separately and integrate with DATEV.

Calendar and booking links. Tools like Calendly or a simple shared Google Calendar for client scheduling are outside Lumeny's scope.

The goal isn't to replace everything — it's to eliminate the tools that overlap with Lumeny's core functions and focus each remaining tool on something it does uniquely well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does consolidating tools mean I lose features? You lose features you weren't using. Most photographers using Picdrop or Pixieset don't use their print store, advanced proofing tools, or email marketing. If you do use those features actively, factor that into your evaluation.

Can I migrate my existing galleries to Lumeny? Yes. You can upload photos to Lumeny galleries from your existing storage. The migration work is creating galleries and uploading content — links and client access need to be re-issued.

Is the auto-portfolio actually useful as a public portfolio? Yes, if your delivered work reflects your portfolio-quality output. The portfolio pulls from your gallery content, so the images your clients see are the same ones your potential clients see.

What if I need a print store? Lumeny does not include a print store and doesn't plan to add one. If print sales are a significant revenue stream, factor that into your tooling decision. For photographers where prints are occasional rather than core, separate fulfillment services handle this on demand.

Written by Christian Bauer, founder of Lumeny and photographer with 10+ years of experience.