Custom Domain Setup Guide

Make your galleries shine with your own branded domain!

Instead of username.smarterphoto.gallery, use your own domain like photos.johndoe.com

✨ Why Use a Custom Domain?

✅ Professional Branding - Clients see YOUR domain, not ours
✅ SEO Benefits - Your domain gets credit for all gallery traffic
✅ Client Trust - More professional, builds confidence
✅ One-Time Payment - $49 once, use forever (no monthly fees)

📋 What You Need

Before you start, make sure you have:
- ✅ A domain you own (like johndoe.com)
- ✅ Access to your domain's DNS settings
- ✅ A subdomain in mind (like photos, gallery, or clients)
- ✅ $49 for the one-time setup fee

🚀 Setup Steps (Takes 10 Minutes)

Step 1: Purchase Custom Domain Feature

  1. Log in to your SmarterPhoto Gallery account
  2. Go to Settings → Click "Custom Domain" in the left sidebar
  3. Enter your desired domain:
  4. Format: subdomain.yourdomain.com
  5. Examples: photos.johndoe.com, gallery.johndoe.com, clients.johndoe.com
  6. ❌ Don't use: johndoe.com (must be a subdomain)
  7. Click "Purchase Custom Domain" - $49 one-time fee
  8. Complete payment via Stripe checkout
  9. ✅ Feature activated! You can now configure DNS

Step 2: Configure DNS (Choose Your Registrar)

You need to add a CNAME record pointing your subdomain to smarterphoto.gallery

Choose your domain registrar below for specific instructions:

🌐 Registrar-Specific Instructions

GoDaddy

  1. Log in to your GoDaddy account at godaddy.com
  2. Go to My Products → Click DNS next to your domain
  3. Scroll to DNS Records section
  4. Click "Add" button
  5. Fill in the form:
  6. Type: Select CNAME
  7. Name: Enter your subdomain (e.g., photos)
  8. Value: Enter smarterphoto.gallery
  9. TTL: Select 1 Hour (or leave default)
  10. Click "Save"
  11. ⏰ Wait 10-60 minutes for DNS to propagate

Example:

Type:   CNAME
Name:   photos
Value:  smarterphoto.gallery
TTL:    1 Hour

Namecheap

  1. Log in to Namecheap at namecheap.com
  2. Go to Domain List → Click Manage next to your domain
  3. Click "Advanced DNS" tab
  4. Click "Add New Record"
  5. Fill in the form:
  6. Type: Select CNAME Record
  7. Host: Enter your subdomain (e.g., photos)
  8. Value: Enter smarterphoto.gallery
  9. TTL: Select Automatic or 1 hour
  10. Click the green checkmark to save
  11. ⏰ Wait 10-60 minutes for DNS to propagate

Example:

Type:   CNAME Record
Host:   photos
Value:  smarterphoto.gallery
TTL:    Automatic

Google Domains

  1. Log in to Google Domains at domains.google.com
  2. Click your domain from the list
  3. Go to DNS in the left menu
  4. Scroll to Custom Resource Records
  5. Fill in the form:
  6. Name: Enter your subdomain (e.g., photos)
  7. Type: Select CNAME
  8. TTL: Leave as 1H (1 hour)
  9. Data: Enter smarterphoto.gallery
  10. Click "Add"
  11. ⏰ Wait 10-60 minutes for DNS to propagate

Example:

Name:   photos
Type:   CNAME
TTL:    1H
Data:   smarterphoto.gallery

Cloudflare

  1. Log in to Cloudflare at cloudflare.com
  2. Select your domain from the dashboard
  3. Click "DNS" in the top menu
  4. Click "Add Record"
  5. Fill in the form:
  6. Type: Select CNAME
  7. Name: Enter your subdomain (e.g., photos)
  8. Target: Enter smarterphoto.gallery
  9. Proxy status: Click to turn OFF (gray cloud, not orange)
  10. TTL: Select Auto
  11. Click "Save"
  12. ⏰ Wait 5-30 minutes (Cloudflare is usually faster)

Important: Make sure the Proxy status is OFF (gray cloud). If it's orange, click it to turn off proxying.

Example:

Type:           CNAME
Name:           photos
Target:         smarterphoto.gallery
Proxy Status:   DNS only (gray cloud)
TTL:            Auto

Other Registrars

If your registrar isn't listed above, follow these general steps:

  1. Log in to your domain registrar's website
  2. Find DNS Settings (also called: DNS Management, Name Servers, DNS Records, Zone File)
  3. Add a new CNAME record:
  4. Name/Host/Alias: Your subdomain (e.g., photos)
  5. Value/Points to/Target: smarterphoto.gallery
  6. TTL: 3600 (1 hour) or leave default
  7. Save the record
  8. ⏰ Wait 10-60 minutes for changes to propagate

Need help? Search for: [Your registrar name] add CNAME record
- Example: "Hover add CNAME record"
- Example: "Squarespace add CNAME record"

Step 3: Verify DNS Configuration

After configuring DNS and waiting 10-60 minutes:

  1. Go back to SmarterPhoto Gallery → Settings → Custom Domain
  2. Click "Verify DNS Configuration" button
  3. Wait a few seconds while we check your DNS

Possible results:

✅ Success: "DNS verified! Your custom domain is now active"
- Your custom domain is working!
- Try visiting photos.yourdomain.com - it should show your galleries

❌ Not Yet: "DNS verification failed"
- Wait longer: DNS can take up to 60 minutes
- Double-check: Make sure CNAME points to smarterphoto.gallery (not www.smarterphoto.gallery or anything else)
- Try again: Click verify button again in 10-15 minutes

✅ You're Done!

Once verified, your custom domain is LIVE!

What works now:
- ✅ photos.yourdomain.com shows your photographer homepage
- ✅ All your galleries are accessible via your custom domain
- ✅ Clients can browse and purchase photos on YOUR domain
- ✅ username.smarterphoto.gallery still works too (backward compatible)

What to do next:
1. Test it: Visit photos.yourdomain.com and make sure it works
2. Share it: Give clients your new professional URL!
3. Update marketing: Add your custom domain to business cards, website, etc.

❓ Troubleshooting

"DNS verification failed" error

Possible causes:
1. Too soon: DNS can take 10-60 minutes to propagate. Wait longer and try again.
2. Wrong value: Make sure CNAME points to smarterphoto.gallery (exactly, no www, no http://)
3. Wrong record type: Must be CNAME, not A record, not URL redirect
4. Cloudflare proxy: If using Cloudflare, make sure proxy is OFF (gray cloud)

How to check:
1. Open command prompt/terminal
2. Run: nslookup photos.yourdomain.com (replace with your domain)
3. Should show: photos.yourdomain.com canonical name = smarterphoto.gallery

"Domain already in use" error

This domain is already set up by another photographer. Custom domains are unique - only one photographer can use each domain.

Solution: Choose a different subdomain or domain

"Invalid domain format" error

Common mistakes:
- ❌ Using root domain: johndoe.com (must be subdomain)
- ❌ Using smarterphoto.gallery: username.smarterphoto.gallery (reserved)
- ❌ Typos: photos.johdoe.com (check spelling)

Correct format: subdomain.yourdomain.tld
- ✅ photos.johndoe.com
- ✅ gallery.johndoe.photography
- ✅ clients.johndoe.co

Custom domain not loading

  1. Verify DNS is configured correctly (see troubleshooting above)
  2. Wait for propagation: Can take up to 24 hours in rare cases
  3. Clear browser cache: Try opening in incognito/private window
  4. Check verification: Make sure SmarterPhoto shows domain as "Verified"

Want to change custom domain?

  1. Remove current domain: Settings → Custom Domain → Click "Remove Domain"
  2. Set up new domain: Enter new domain and follow steps above
  3. Note: Removing doesn't refund the $49, but you can set up a different domain anytime

💡 Pro Tips

  1. Choose a memorable subdomain: photos and gallery are popular and professional
  2. Keep it short: photos.johndoe.com is better than photographygallery.johndoe.com
  3. Match your branding: Use the same domain as your website for consistency
  4. Test before sharing: Make sure everything works before giving URL to clients
  5. Update everywhere: Business cards, website, email signature, social media

🆘 Still Need Help?

Can't find DNS settings?
- Contact your domain registrar's support
- Search Google: "[Registrar name] how to add CNAME record"

DNS verification keeps failing?
- Wait 24 hours and try again (sometimes takes longer)
- Use online DNS checker: whatsmydns.net

Other issues?
- Contact SmarterPhoto support: support@smarterphoto.gallery
- Include: Your custom domain, error message, screenshots

📊 Technical Details (For Advanced Users)

What we're doing:
- Adding a CNAME (Canonical Name) record to your DNS
- Points your subdomain to smarterphoto.gallery
- When visitors access your custom domain, they're routed to our server
- Our server recognizes your domain and shows your galleries

SSL/HTTPS:
- Your custom domain is automatically covered by our SSL certificate
- All traffic is encrypted (HTTPS)
- No additional SSL setup needed

Propagation:
- DNS changes propagate worldwide over 10-60 minutes
- ISPs cache DNS records based on TTL (Time To Live)
- Lower TTL = faster propagation, higher TTL = better performance

Last Updated: February 23, 2026
Feature: Custom Domains
Version: 1.0

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