Should I SmugMug or not?

Whiskers is my catWhiskers is my cat Registered Users Posts: 3 Beginner grinner
edited May 19, 2009 in SmugMug Support
What's the advantage of using SmugMug rather than building a photosharing site from ground up? I'm not very familiar with SmugMug--I viewed a couple of sites earlier and I like what I saw. I already have a website that I designed using Windows Live and I also have a couple of the Live Spaces sites where I post photos for viewing and downloading for free. I am ready to move away from giving away free photos and want a site where I can post photos for viewing and selling. Any advice? Here are the sites that I currently have.

www.dalbuvisualproductions.com
www.dalbuvisualproductions.spaces.live.com

Comments

  • darryldarryl Registered Users Posts: 997 Major grins
    edited May 16, 2009
    I don't sell photos, but if I did, I wouldn't want to deal with setting up my own shopping cart/credit card authorization stuff in conjunction with photo gallery software. I think Gallery 2 is one of the leading open source packages for hosting your own galleries, and it appears that e-commerce is a 3rd party add-on. Having set up e-commerce for a non-photography site, I can't say it was much fun.

    The other advantage of SmugMug is peace of mind that your photos are backed up in redundant data centers hosted by Amazon.
  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited May 16, 2009
    Hi! Well, for a few reasons, we've engineered stuff you'd need to build: backprinting, lab integration, shopping cart, image protection, proof delay, watermarking and more :)

    http://www.smugmug.com/pro

    holler with questions, we'll be here!
    Andy

    Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
  • gratefulsugareegratefulsugaree Registered Users Posts: 34 Big grins
    edited May 16, 2009
    ugggg...
    Andy wrote:
    Hi! Well, for a few reasons, we've engineered stuff you'd need to build: backprinting, lab integration, shopping cart, image protection, proof delay, watermarking and more :)

    http://www.smugmug.com/pro

    holler with questions, we'll be here!


    I'm smugmugging. I wish i would have held off, i mean i did for 5-6 months before i actually got the Pro account.
    Now i really can't figure out how to do anything on here. I feel as though i will never get a site up and running. Maybe i should hire someone to do it for me? bwhahahaa....oh man...back to my page to try to figure Something out!
  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited May 16, 2009
    gratefulsugaree wrote:
    I'm smugmugging. I wish i would have held off, i mean i did for 5-6 months before i actually got the Pro account.
    Now i really can't figure out how to do anything on here. I feel as though i will never get a site up and running. Maybe i should hire someone to do it for me? bwhahahaa....oh man...back to my page to try to figure Something out!
    Hi!

    Yknow, what works best? Ask questions. Don't beat your head on the wall.

    Ask Questions, and let the heroes and helpers help? Have you started with my erem, "Pro Start" page? :D
    http://www.smugmug.com/help/pro-start.mg


    ear.gif
    Andy

    Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
  • Whiskers is my catWhiskers is my cat Registered Users Posts: 3 Beginner grinner
    edited May 17, 2009
    Andy wrote:
    Hi! Well, for a few reasons, we've engineered stuff you'd need to build: backprinting, lab integration, shopping cart, image protection, proof delay, watermarking and more :)

    http://www.smugmug.com/pro

    holler with questions, we'll be here!

    Thanks Andy. I'll be doing lots of hollering! I want to give SmugMug a try, but will I be able to use my current domain name?
  • srikatsrikat Registered Users Posts: 6 Beginner grinner
    edited May 17, 2009
    Whiskers is my cat wrote:
    Thanks Andy. I'll be doing lots of hollering! I want to give SmugMug a try, but will I be able to use my current domain name?

    Check out http://www.smugmug.com/photos/photo-sharing-features/

    "Use your own custom hostname" is possible w/ Power and Pro accounts.
  • lennyteelennytee Registered Users Posts: 29 Big grins
    edited May 18, 2009
    priceless!
    GoDaddy domain - 15 bucks a year - SmugMug Power user account - 60 bucks a year - keeping me off the streets & away from porn sites -- priceless! rolleyes1.gif

    Len
    The Loblolly Galleries
  • srikatsrikat Registered Users Posts: 6 Beginner grinner
    edited May 18, 2009
    lennytee wrote:
    GoDaddy domain - 15 bucks a year - SmugMug Power user account - 60 bucks a year - keeping me off the streets & away from porn sites -- priceless! rolleyes1.gif

    A .com domain at GoDaddy should be around $7.49.

    Coupon code: Emo3
  • lennyteelennytee Registered Users Posts: 29 Big grins
    edited May 18, 2009
    GoDaddy...
    I did the .com .net .org thing... still a bargain!mwink.gif

    Len
    The Loblolly Galleries
  • paulbrockpaulbrock Registered Users Posts: 515 Major grins
    edited May 18, 2009
    To the OP:

    What I love about Smugmug:

    Unlimited storage/no bandwidth issues for my traffic volume (I guess there is a cap somewhere on bandwidth but I've never had to worry about it)

    Ability to customise site with my branding - most friends and customers don't realise it's a smug page, even with the small footer on each page. Fairly easy to do so,plenty of guides and help on hand if needed.

    Customisation also allows manual implementation of Paypal and Google Analytics code.

    Ability to have both my pro shots and personal shots on the same site, and select per gallery - available to all, password protected, available to some, or just me.

    Friendly service - the staff are very responsive both on the forum and via email and go out of their way to help; and other Smug users will step in for suggestions as well!

    What I'd change about Smugmug:
    The commerce features are very US-centric - though it looks like it's not an issue for you it makes me hesitant about using the default shopping cart/US-based printing.
    Be nice to have a BIT more control of page content, especially under the hood for Search Engine Optimisation.
    There doesn't seem to be as much in the way of networking in the same way as say Flickr groups,favourites - unfortunately my experience of the Smug Communities is that they are either cumbersome or inactive. Not a priority for me but would be nice.

    Would be happy to recommend SM to all and sundry :)
    London event photographer - www.paulbrockphotography.co.uk
  • Whiskers is my catWhiskers is my cat Registered Users Posts: 3 Beginner grinner
    edited May 19, 2009
    paulbrock wrote:
    To the OP:

    What I love about Smugmug:

    Unlimited storage/no bandwidth issues for my traffic volume (I guess there is a cap somewhere on bandwidth but I've never had to worry about it)

    Ability to customise site with my branding - most friends and customers don't realise it's a smug page, even with the small footer on each page. Fairly easy to do so,plenty of guides and help on hand if needed.

    Customisation also allows manual implementation of Paypal and Google Analytics code.

    Ability to have both my pro shots and personal shots on the same site, and select per gallery - available to all, password protected, available to some, or just me.

    Friendly service - the staff are very responsive both on the forum and via email and go out of their way to help; and other Smug users will step in for suggestions as well!

    What I'd change about Smugmug:
    The commerce features are very US-centric - though it looks like it's not an issue for you it makes me hesitant about using the default shopping cart/US-based printing.
    Be nice to have a BIT more control of page content, especially under the hood for Search Engine Optimisation.
    There doesn't seem to be as much in the way of networking in the same way as say Flickr groups,favourites - unfortunately my experience of the Smug Communities is that they are either cumbersome or inactive. Not a priority for me but would be nice.

    Would be happy to recommend SM to all and sundry :)

    Wow! Sounds like you're sold on SmugMug. Thanks to everyone for your comments. I signed up for the 14 day trial. I'm in the process of adding content. I still have 13 days left to decide. At this point, it looks like I'll keep the account!.

    Dale
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