downloads pricing and licensing

kmtenorkmtenor Registered Users Posts: 3 Big grins
edited May 14, 2010 in SmugMug Support
I am a dad (photographer) in a small town, and have just begun experimenting with charging for prints on my SmugMug site. I mostly shoot sporting events that my kids are involved in, and want to offer a low-cost way for other parents to get high-quality pictures of their kids participating in the same events. My goal is to earn a little bit of "Gear Money" to offset the costs of what started out long ago a profession, but is now a "hobby". Up until now, I have used SmugMug as a way to provide the pictures to everyone as free downloads and at-cost prints. I just upgraded to a pro account, and have set print prices, but I'm having issues getting my "master plan" for downloads to work out right.

1. I want to offer free low-res downloads for people to use for posting to Facebook or to their own websites, etc.

2. I want to offer free medium-res downloads that people can use to make their own prints at home, or take to the local drugstore to get prints for $.19 (or whatever).

3. I want to offer the full resolution downloads at a cost (I set it, rather arbitrarily, at $3 for now).

4. I want to be clear with the people using the site that all downloads are subject to a "personal use" license, and that I retain rights if they wish to do something commercial with the pictures.

5. I (think I) would prefer to use a "Creative Commons" license, as it is seemingly more specific than the SmugMug "Personal Use" license, but I cannot see any way to override the SmugMug license.

Thus far, the best I can do is to allow downloads the same way as I always have, by allowing "Original" as a size in the gallery, so that they can hover over and download the image directly. This begs the question why anyone would ever PAY to download the same thing, but then, I've seen people do crazier things.

If anyone can help with what I am attempting to do (even if it's just to say it can't be done, or to suggest another way to make digital downloads make sense as a for-sale item), please chime in.

Thanks.

-Kevin

http://kmtenor.smugmug.com

Comments

  • VertigoVertigo Registered Users Posts: 27 Big grins
    edited May 10, 2010
    I am looking for the same answer. I have several galleries that I would like to provide FREE 1mpx downloads, but when I put 0.00$ on the Low Res option, it does not show on the option to download.????
  • denisegoldbergdenisegoldberg Administrators Posts: 14,404 moderator
    edited May 10, 2010
    I'm not aware of a way to allow paid for downloads of some photo sizes and free downloads of others within the same gallery.

    If you price something at 0 dollars, that item is not available for purchase.

    You could use coupons - but I don't know how that would work with downloads.

    If you want to allow free downloads, upload the selected photos into a gallery with originals enabled. That will activate the save photos option.

    You will need to resize the photo before uploading since there will be no resizing by smug prior to download.

    --- Denise
    https://www.denisegoldberg.com ... https://denise.smugmug.com

    Musings & ramblings at https://denisegoldberg.blogspot.com
  • mbellotmbellot Registered Users Posts: 465 Major grins
    edited May 10, 2010
    kmtenor wrote: »
    1. I want to offer free low-res downloads for people to use for posting to Facebook or to their own websites, etc.

    2. I want to offer free medium-res downloads that people can use to make their own prints at home, or take to the local drugstore to get prints for $.19 (or whatever).

    Turn off watermarking and right click protection. Set the "Largest Size" (in album settings) to whichever matches your biggest "free" download.

    Users can now right-click and save any picture up to "Largest size" at no cost.
    kmtenor wrote: »
    3. I want to offer the full resolution downloads at a cost (I set it, rather arbitrarily, at $3 for now).

    Set the price for "original" in the personal license digital downloads section, make the others $0.00 to disable.
    kmtenor wrote: »
    4. I want to be clear with the people using the site that all downloads are subject to a "personal use" license, and that I retain rights if they wish to do something commercial with the pictures.

    5. I (think I) would prefer to use a "Creative Commons" license, as it is seemingly more specific than the SmugMug "Personal Use" license, but I cannot see any way to override the SmugMug license.

    Put your license terms (or a link to them) in the footer section.

    That is about the "easiest" work-around to the shortcomings you have identified that I can think of right now.
  • kmtenorkmtenor Registered Users Posts: 3 Big grins
    edited May 14, 2010
    mbellot wrote: »
    Turn off watermarking and right click protection. Set the "Largest Size" (in album settings) to whichever matches your biggest "free" download.

    Users can now right-click and save any picture up to "Largest size" at no cost.

    Thank you! I hadn't thought of having them use right-click to save. It certainly makes sense.

    mbellot wrote: »
    Put your license terms (or a link to them) in the footer section.

    This sounds like it goes with customizing the site - which I will be getting to in short order. Right now, pricing and making sure the pictures have a place to land is most important.

    Thanks very much for your suggestions. This goes a long way towards getting things set where I wan them.

    -Kevin
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