diff --git a/.env.local.example b/.env.local.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ccf9dfe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.local.example
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# Immich Server Connection
+IMMICH_API_URL=http://your-immich-server:2283
+IMMICH_API_KEY=your-api-key-here
+
+# Optional: Site title and subtitle (default: "Gallery")
+SITE_TITLE=My Photography
+SITE_SUBTITLE=A visual journal
+
+# Optional: Cache TTL in seconds (default: 300 = 5 minutes)
+CACHE_TTL=300
+
+# Optional: Rate limit for image proxy (requests per minute per IP, default: 120)
+# RATE_LIMIT_RPM=120
+
+# ── Album configuration ──
+# Albums, subpages, hero image, and passwords are defined in content/gallery.yaml
+# See content/gallery.yaml.example for the full reference.
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 9db50f8..ff318e1 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ yarn-error.log*
 
 # env files (can opt-in for committing if needed)
 .env*
+!.env.local.example
 
 # vercel
 .vercel