Flickr vs. SmugMug vs. Zenfolio vs. ------ ?

[DeutschBag]

I did search. Perhaps my search skills are not strong, but I did not find anything on this specific topic.

I have a Flickr account that I've been using for five or six years now. It's good. I like it. I've been using Flickr to post ALL of my pictures (well, the ones I like). It's great for linking pictures to other websites, blogs and serves as a good backup in case a tornado hits my house and takes out my CPU and two external hard drives. My beef with Flickr - the whole social aspect of it. It seems that you could take a blury picture of a dog's ass and as long as you have 500 contacts and submit the picture to 150 groups, you'll get 200 comments. Some people just have too much time on their hands.

Anyway, I just curious about other's opinions regarding sites that offer up a more professional look and feel for posting the best of the best of your photography. What are the pros and cons? Why?

I did just sign up for a trial SmugMug account and found it very easy to use and build. I like how I can mess with the CSS code too. However, I've had a few people tell me Zenpholio is the way to go. I haven't checked that out yet.

Any opinions are appreciated!

[outabounds]

I haven't checked it out, but someone told me that Fred Miranda is better than flickr for meaningful feedback.

[rdennhs]

I really like my shutterfly and vimeo accts.

[Damon]

I use flickr for hosting, exclusively. I'm not interested in hearing feedback from other users - and like you said, it's usually a popularity thing vs. image thing.

For professionalism, having your own domain is a must. I wouldn't want to link clients to flickr. Smugmug is a bit better - here's a plug for another user here: http://lightofthewild.smugmug.com/ - while it's still smugmug, you're still able to make adjustments. Plus the backend is all taken care of. You'll pay for it though....

For critiques, fredmiranda.com or newschoolofphotography.com

[smmokan]

I use Smugmug, and have been since October last year. With the 50% off coupons floating around, plus the referral codes (PM me, I can give you one for $5 or $10 off), it only costs around $70 for a full year of the Pro account. I've made three times that in sales thus far with little to no effort.

I spent about 10 hours customizing mine- but I like the cleanliness and ease of use for the Smugmug template. Check my site- www.SteveMokanPhotography.com - to see what I've done thus far. You can take it quite a bit farther in terms of customization with Smugmug if you'd like.... and that's one of the things I didn't like with Zenfolio- the fact that all their sites look the same.

Selling prints is easy on Smugmug too- you set the prices and pick the printing company. You can also give out online coupon codes.... really, you can do just about anything with the customization. If you want more detail on something specific, check out their support and user forum, dgrin.com.

[Lev]

I use Smugmug, and have been since October last year. With the 50% off coupons floating around, plus the referral codes (PM me, I can give you one for $5 or $10 off), it only costs around $70 for a full year of the Pro account. I've made three times that in sales thus far with little to no effort.

I spent about 10 hours customizing mine- but I like the cleanliness and ease of use for the Smugmug template. Check my site- www.SteveMokanPhotography.com - to see what I've done thus far. You can take it quite a bit farther in terms of customization with Smugmug if you'd like.... and that's one of the things I didn't like with Zenfolio- the fact that all their sites look the same.

Selling prints is easy on Smugmug too- you set the prices and pick the printing company. You can also give out online coupon codes.... really, you can do just about anything with the customization. If you want more detail on something specific, check out their support and user forum, dgrin.com.

Steve, you got some nice stuff up there man. Well done

Just curious, what do you see as the advantage of smugmug over say... creating your own website with something like iWeb? You also mentioned that the buyer can select the printing company. Can you go with Mpix for example?

[smmokan]

The buyer can't select the printing company- you do that. The two companies they offer are BayPhoto and EZPrints. I have all my options set to BayPhoto- they have gotten some solid reviews most places I've looked. Since I don't sell a ton of stuff from my website I'm not too concerned over that, but the feedback I've received from the people who did order photos is positive thus far.

I created my own website a few years ago using NetObjects Fusion, and compared to Smugmug it was a pain in the ass. SmugMug is SO much easier with the way everything works behind the scenes (their CMS is super easy to use) and I didn't want to take the time to build my own site since I'm a newb when it comes to CSS and HTML. Smugmug is perfect for what I wanted, and the cost is right in-line too. I even set up a FeedBurner email subscription where family/friends can subscribe to get an email when I post new pictures... not bad, methinks. I wish the email communication was a little cleaner, but it is what it is.

[DeutschBag]

very nice looking site smmokan! Great pictures.

I'll have to look around for the coupons. I'll PM you tonight about the referral coupon. I still have 12 days left on the trial, so any money saved is a good thing. With the work I put in on the site this past weekend, I think I'll stick with SmugMug for now. I talked with a friend in the States last night about his switch from SmugMug to Zenfolio. He said it was easier for him and his clients to order pictures through Zenfolio and that he liked the photolab better. I can't speak on that at all, though. I have no idea. I think I will order a couple large-format prints using BayPhoto and see what I think. I need to test out and see what the final product is looking like before asking others (family, friends) to drop cash on one of my photos. I've had BAD luck with the photo labs here in Germany so far.

Thanks for all of the advice and feedback! Here is the site I've put together so far: http://nateatwoodphotography.smugmug.com/

I'm going to change the name and mess with the banner a bit more. I also need to add a few more photos to the travel section from Alaska and Japan.

Off to work - another drive to the office in the snow. It's been non-stop here in Germany all winter!

[outabounds]

Great shot:
http://www.stevemokanphotography.com...723_3NbbD-L-LB

[smmokan]

Great shot:
http://www.stevemokanphotography.com...723_3NbbD-L-LB

Thanks man, that's one of my favorites. Its of TGR mag, Homi, last season.

[DeutschBag]

smmokan - received a referal from a friend and found a 25% off coupon online. Not too bad. Now, I'm just busy setting up all the little nooks and cranies of the site. Kind of a pain, but it's almost done. I don't think I'll have much time to mess with the CSS for a while. Too many other things going on. Thanks for the help and the advice!

oh yeah - new site domain - http://www.frozenriverphotography.com

[Hong Jong Fuey]

DeutschBag - site looks great. You've got some phenomenal shots in there. Big fan of the alpenglow shot (section of pink sky sandwiched between blue). Quick heads up - you are missing the "i" in "time" in the first paragraph of your narrative on the opening page. Keep up the good work!

[DeutschBag]

Thanks for the words HJF. I really do appreciate them! With my real job that actually pays me, creating this photo site, running a ski club website and work I'm doing to create another website from scratch, I'm tuckered! It's good to get some encouragement I just hope the weather cooperates this weekend and I can get some time to go out and shoot a bit - maybe even ski and shoot if the knee is feeling up to it.

Thanks for the edit too. I figured I'd miss some small details like that.

I like that alpenglow shot too. I ordered a 15x20 canvas print of it. I need to check out the quality of the lab and figured I wouldn't mind having that hanging in the house

[hitek79]

I have Smugmug and love it, but those Zenfolio galleries are really nice as well.

http://tonystreks.smugmug.com/

[Schnappi]

FWIW, I'm happy enough w/ smugmug, but wouldn't know any better otherwise.

[jm2e]

Nate,
When I went to your site, the homepage banner is cut off on the right so that it says:
Frozen Riv
Photography by Nate Atw

Maybe it's just my shitty old Mac though?

[DeutschBag]

jm2e - thanks for the heads up on that. What size is your monitor?

how does it look now? http://www.frozenriverphotography.com

I shrunk the banner down to 900 pixels which is what I usuallly use for the other websites I do. I meant to do this last night and forgot.

thanks again for pointing that out. I appreciate it!

[Lane Meyer]

Maybe it's too late for DBag, but I use Photoshelter, which is pretty nice. Expensive, but worth it (still working on adding to it though).

http://photo.grantkaye.com

[Mathematics]

Think I'm about to jump into a full website with smugmug...anyone know where to find one of those 50% off coupons?

[smmokan]

When I signed up for mine, I found it by searching Google and trying a few different codes. I think I ended up getting 50% off using "Flickr" or something like that. I also have a referral code that will get you $10-15 off as well. I'll shoot you a PM with my personal referral code.

[Altmanator]

Think I'm about to jump into a full website with smugmug...anyone know where to find one of those 50% off coupons?

I'd just give smugmug a call. They are awesome and if you just ask them for 50% off b/c you know there are codes around, they may just give it to you.

When I switched over to the pro account I called up to find out how much the pro-rated year would be. They just upgraded me for free for 8 months or so and then this year I happily paid for the pro service. They rock.

[CDubz]

thought I would bump this up. I'm looking for a site to backup/share images. Currently I have images on my hard drive and occasionally backup to an external hard drive as well. I would like to use one of the hosting sites to backup and share images. I really dont think people would want to buy my stuff so not too worried about selling things mostly just backing up and sharing. Things I would like:

-I would prefer if they backed up my raw files not just my .jpeg. Do any of the sites let you backup your raw/dng files
-best for setting privacy controls
-integrates well with light room
-allows me to store high quality images in the event my house burned down and I lost my PC / backup hard drives
-provides some growth if I ever wanted to expand what I used the site for

smugmug seems like a pretty popular choice, but unless you use smugvault i don't think you can backup raw files. Any insight would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

edit: seems like file hosting might be best for raw files, that said still have people found its worth it on smugmug to go with the pro account vs. the basic?

[austriker]

I use a free flickr account and smugmug for my actual website (both links below). I agree flickr is a lot about whoring, grouping your photos and such.. Thus I use flickr more as a directional blog type tool.. "hey heres my latest shot go to my website for more"..

As far as your questions:
-RAW: not sure about smugmug hosting raw files directly but I have shot raw lately and imported them into lightroom then uploaded them after editing
-which transitions to.. there is a fine smugmug uploader tool you can use directly from lr3. I love it. I dont think its official but has worked fine. I will find a link when I return home. Integration is great.
-Smugmug has unlimited storage and no quality limits. It even has the option of adding a "smugmug" vault which is used more for backup purposes, although it costs more.
-growth potential is massive. My smugmug is basic, but there a ton of good examples out there what people can turn it into and use it professionally (I shoot as an amateur).


I have the professional level of smugmug (although I was grandfathered into their previous price schedule, i think its been updated since) mainly so I can name my prices.. Although sales have been lackluster (I was planing on shooting HS sports and selling pics but havent due to lack of time) which has been my fault as I havent really done anything to help sell... Its mostly just hosting at this point.

EDIT: Not sure if you saw smugmug's comparison chart, its pretty good. Once I have to renew I probably will at the portfolio level.

[austriker]

I'd just give smugmug a call. They are awesome and if you just ask them for 50% off b/c you know there are codes around, they may just give it to you.

When I switched over to the pro account I called up to find out how much the pro-rated year would be. They just upgraded me for free for 8 months or so and then this year I happily paid for the pro service. They rock.

Hey sweet site.. I was just looking around. Very nice editorial work too. I wish my hard drive hadnt crashed after I left my school paper.. Grrr

[CDubz]

Thanks for the feedback, I am doing a trial of smugmug and noticed Lightroom already had a plugin and used it to upload some photos extremely easy. If you create an account through your mobile app you get 50% off your first year membership.

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