Receiving a shared album

Written By Nick

Last updated 3 days ago

When another vendor shares an album with you, you'll get an invitation email with a link to a preview of the album. From there, what you do next depends on whether you already have a Social Valet account.

What's in the invitation email

  • The sender's name and business

  • The album title and date

  • The number of photos in the album

  • A link to view the album preview

  • A note that the link expires in 14 days

Reviewing the album preview

Before you decide what to do with the album, you can browse it in the preview. The shared album list view shows each photo with its moment label, description, and tags — so you can understand what you're looking at without opening each image individually. Sort and filter controls are available to help you narrow down the photos you want to review first. Portrait and landscape images display more fully so you can get a clear read on the shot before importing.

If you already have a Social Valet account

  1. Click the link in the invitation email.

  2. If you're not already logged in, sign in. If you are, you'll go straight to the album preview.

  3. Review the album using the sort and filter controls to find the photos you want.

  4. When you're ready to bring it into your account, click Add to Account.

  5. On the import screen, select the photos you want to keep and deselect any you don't.

  6. Edit album details — name, date, venue, vendors, and other metadata — to fit how you want the album organized in your account.

  7. Click Save and Add to Account.

The album is added to your account as an independent copy. Your edits, scheduled posts, and any future changes stay separate from the sender's original.

If you just need the photos without adding the album to your account, click Download Photos from the preview. You can select the shots you want and download the originals without importing the album or starting a trial.

If you don't have a Social Valet account yet

The link takes you to a Create Account page. After you set up your email and password and verify your email, you'll land on the album preview with two options:

  • Start Free Trial — set up a full Social Valet account and import the album

  • Download Photos — download the original photos without activating a trial

Start Free Trial

  1. Click Start Free Trial.

  2. Complete onboarding — brand voice, Instagram connection, WordPress, and the rest.

  3. After onboarding, you'll return to the album preview.

  4. Click Add to Account, choose your photos, edit album details, and click Save and Add to Account.

Your trial is active and the album is in your account, ready for content creation.

Download Photos

  1. Click Download Photos.

  2. Select the photos you want.

  3. Download the full-resolution originals.

Your account stays in a limited state — no trial, no album imported. The next time you log in, you'll be directed to onboarding if you want to activate your trial.

Things to know

  • Imported albums are completely independent copies. Nothing syncs back to the sender, and their edits won't affect yours.

  • Only the photos you select at import are copied into your account.

  • AI-generated descriptions and vendor tags carry over for the photos you import. Scheduled posts do not.

  • Share links expire 14 days after they're sent. If yours has expired, ask the sender to re-share the album.

  • If the sender deleted the original album, the link will no longer work.

If something goes wrong

  • The link shows an error or expired message. The 14-day window has passed, or the sender deleted the album. Reach out to the sender for a fresh link.

  • You don't see Add to Account. You may not be logged in, or you may be a new user who hasn't chosen Start Free Trial yet. Log in or pick a path from the album preview.

  • You only need the photos. Choose Download Photos from the preview — you don't need to add the album to your account or start a trial.

Next steps