Custom domains

A custom domain puts your client surface on your branding — the gallery links you email, the booking page, and the client portal all move to a hostname like gallery.yourstudio.com. Add one under Settings → Domains and paste two DNS records at your provider; every common provider is walked through below.

What you get

Every client link you send can live on your own hostname instead of the standard address:

Subdomains only. You point a hostname like gallery.yourstudio.com or photos.yourstudio.com — not yourstudio.com itself. The root of your domain can't be a CNAME (it's how DNS works — apex records must be IP addresses), and your website lives there anyway. gallery., photos., clients. or book. are the popular choices.

The three steps

1. 1
   Add the domain in Settings → Domains. Snap immediately shows the DNS records it needs — a CNAME pointing your hostname at domains.snaphq.app, and a TXT record on _snap-verify.gallery.yourstudio.com holding your personal snap-verify= token (a third TXT for certificate validation appears when Cloudflare requires one — copy whatever the settings page shows).
2. 2
   Add the records at your DNS provider — provider-specific walkthroughs below. Use the copy buttons in Settings so nothing gets mistyped.
3. 3
   Come back and press "Check status". DNS usually updates in minutes but can take 24–48 hours. The page re-checks automatically every 10 seconds while a domain is pending, and we email you if a previously-working domain ever breaks.

Provider walkthroughs

The screens differ slightly per provider, but every one has the same three fields: type (CNAME or TXT), name, and value. Your Settings → Domains page shows the exact values — these guides are about finding the right screen.

Cloudflare — one critical step

1. Dashboard → your domain → DNS → Records → Add record. Type CNAME, Name gallery (just the part before your domain), Target domains.snaphq.app, TTL Auto.
2. Add the TXT record the same way: Type TXT, Name _snap-verify.gallery, paste the token value.

GoDaddy

1. My Products → your domain → DNS → Manage Zones (or "Manage DNS").
2. Add record: Type CNAME, Name gallery, Value domains.snaphq.app, TTL 1 Hour.
3. Add again: Type TXT, Name _snap-verify.gallery, Value the token from Settings.
4. Save both — GoDaddy applies them within minutes.

Namecheap

1. Domain List → Manage → Advanced DNS → Add New Record.
2. Type CNAME Record, Host gallery, Value domains.snaphq.app, TTL Automatic.
3. Add the TXT: Type TXT Record, Host _snap-verify.gallery, Value the token.

Squarespace

1. Settings → Domains → your domain → DNS → Custom Records → Add Record. (Move the domain to Squarespace DNS first if it's only parked there.)
2. Type CNAME, Host gallery, Data domains.snaphq.app.
3. Add the TXT record with Host _snap-verify.gallery and the token as Data.

Wix

1. Domain Settings → DNS Records → Add Record (under "Manage DNS").
2. Type CNAME, Host Name gallery, Value domains.snaphq.app, TTL 1 Hour.
3. Add the TXT with Host Name _snap-verify.gallery and the token as Value.

WordPress.com

1. Domains → your domain → DNS Records → New DNS Record. Custom DNS requires a paid plan on the domain.
2. Type CNAME, Name gallery, Alias To domains.snaphq.app.
3. Add the TXT with Name _snap-verify.gallery and the token as Text.

Any other provider

1. Find the DNS / zone-file / records section of your domain's control panel.
2. Create a CNAME with the full hostname gallery.yourstudio.com pointing at domains.snaphq.app.
3. Create a TXT record on _snap-verify.gallery.yourstudio.com with the token as its value.
4. If your provider asks for "just the name", enter the part before your domain (gallery and _snap-verify.gallery).

What the statuses mean

• Pending verification — we can't see your DNS records yet. They're usually live within minutes; press Check status after adding them.
• Certificate issuing — ownership proven; the HTTPS certificate for your hostname is being issued. Typically minutes.
• Active — live. Your gallery emails, booking page and client portal now use this hostname.
• Action needed / Degraded — the DNS stopped pointing at Snap (or the certificate can't renew). The exact fix is shown in Settings and emailed to you.

FAQ

Can I use my root domain (yourstudio.com)? No — subdomains only (gallery.yourstudio.com). Apex domains can't CNAME, and your website lives at the root anyway. Pick a prefix: gallery., photos., clients., book.

What happens to links I already sent? They keep working forever — the standard snaphq.app links never go away. New links you send simply use your domain.

I'm moving from Pixieset — can I reuse the same subdomain? Yes. Delete the old provider's CNAME, point yours at Snap, verify — usually done in minutes with zero client-visible downtime.

Is HTTPS included? Yes — the certificate issues automatically as part of activation. Nothing to buy or renew.

I run multiple studios — one domain each? Each studio in your family configures its own domains in its own Settings → Domains.

What does it cost? On Studio, a custom domain is the +$5/mo add-on for one — billed on your existing subscription. Need several domains? Talk to us.

Troubleshooting

• Verification won't pass: the TXT value must match exactly — including the snap-verify= prefix — with no extra quotes or spaces. Re-copy it from Settings.
• On Cloudflare: the CNAME must be grey-cloud (DNS only). Orange clouds hide it from verification.
• CAA records: if your domain has CAA records listing only certain certificate authorities, the HTTPS certificate can't issue. Allow Google Trust Services (and Let's Encrypt) in your CAA records, or remove them.
• Certificate stuck for over 30 minutes: double-check the CNAME resolves (dig/nslookup), then press Check status again. Still stuck? hello@snaphq.app.