Move without the pain

How to switch photography software without losing data

Switching tools feels risky, but done in the right order it barely touches your clients. Here's the migration plan.

Run old and new side by side until you're ready

Switching photography software rarely needs a hard cut-over. The safe approach is to set up the new platform, move new work onto it first, migrate your data in the background, and let the old tool wind down naturally, so no client experiences a disruption.

The plan

Switching in five steps

1
Set up the new platform
Create your account, connect your calendar and payment processor, and rebuild your contract and email templates before moving any live work.
2
Deliver new work on the new tool
Start using the new platform for fresh enquiries and shoots, so you learn it on low-stakes jobs before migrating everything.
3
Import your data
Bring across contacts, projects and, where supported, past galleries. Most platforms accept a contact export from your old tool.
4
Run both side by side
Keep old galleries live for current clients while new deliveries happen on the new platform, so nobody loses access mid-project.
5
Wind down the old tool
Once active clients are served and data is moved, let old galleries expire and cancel the old subscription.

What moves

What transfers, and what doesn't

Pros

Contacts and client details (via export/import)
Your contract and email templates (rebuilt)
Your image library (re-uploaded or re-published)
New bookings, galleries and invoices going forward

Cons

Old gallery links usually change, so reshare current ones
Historic analytics rarely transfer between platforms
Some setup, like automations, is rebuilt rather than moved

The verdict

The safe way to switch

Move gradually, not all at once. Set up the new tool, run new work on it, migrate data in the background, and keep the old tool live until current clients are served. lemon.gallery is free to start, so you can set it up and trial the switch before committing.

Set up and trial the switch free

Switch on your own schedule

Set up free, move new work first, migrate the rest in the background.

Create your free account

Frequently asked questions

Will I lose data switching photography software?

Not if you migrate gradually. Export contacts and client details, rebuild templates, re-upload your library, and run both tools side by side until current clients are served, so nothing is lost.

How long does switching take?

It varies, but a gradual switch spread over a few weeks, moving new work first and migrating data in the background, is far less disruptive than a single hard cut-over.

Do old gallery links keep working after switching?

Usually the links change on the new platform, so reshare active galleries with current clients. Old links can stay live on the previous tool until they naturally expire.

Can I try the new tool before fully committing?

Yes. lemon.gallery is free to start, so you can set it up and run new work on it before migrating everything and cancelling your old subscription.