SmugMug Facebook integration issues and PhotoShelter

Nicci

There are numerous threads (including several of my own) in regards to Facebook integration with SmugMug.

And there have been replies from SmugMug about them not having full control over the Facebook integration because of what Facebook does and does not allow you to control.

However, it came to my attention today that there is another photo hosting site that has no issues with Facebook and Twitter integration - PhotoShelter.

I played around on one of their user's sites, and all the Facebook stuff works wonderfully.

You can post links to galleries with thumbnail choices, and it is not necessary to approve an app in order to do so.

You can post links to individual photos WITH A THUMBNAIL FOR THE SINGLE PHOTO!!!! (:::gasp:::) And again, no app is needed.

It seems like they've been able to do it this way for almost a year (Oct. 2009). Earlier this year they also launched a feature that allows slideshow integration on Facebook fan pages.

So my question is: if they've found a way to successfully integrate with Facebook, why can't SmugMug?

Forgive my naivete, but from my understanding, you can see what code a site uses, correct? So, in theory, couldn't SmugMug look to see what PhotoShelter is doing and simply rectify Facebook integration from there?

cpagility

Tecnicole wrote: »

There are numerous threads (including several of my own) in regards to Facebook integration with SmugMug.

And there have been replies from SmugMug about them not having full control over the Facebook integration because of what Facebook does and does not allow you to control.

However, it came to my attention today that there is another photo hosting site that has no issues with Facebook and Twitter integration - PhotoShelter.

I played around on one of their user's sites, and all the Facebook stuff works wonderfully.

You can post links to galleries with thumbnail choices, and it is not necessary to approve an app in order to do so.

You can post links to individual photos WITH A THUMBNAIL FOR THE SINGLE PHOTO!!!! (:::gasp:::) And again, no app is needed.

It seems like they've been able to do it this way for almost a year (Oct. 2009). Earlier this year they also launched a feature that allows slideshow integration on Facebook fan pages.

So my question is: if they've found a way to successfully integrate with Facebook, why can't SmugMug?

Forgive my naivete, but from my understanding, you can see what code a site uses, correct? So, in theory, couldn't SmugMug look to see what PhotoShelter is doing and simply rectify Facebook integration from there?

I just posted a shot from a photographers site on Zenfolio and it worked great. Wish I could post from Smugmug.

Andy

cpagility wrote: »

I just posted a shot from a photographers site on Zenfolio and it worked great. Wish I could post from Smugmug.

Karen, I'm going to have Sean from our Pro Concierge team call you today. Something is wonky with your SmugMug & Facebook setup. In a prior thread, I showed how I could post just fine from your site to Facebook. We'll figure it out with you - it's something local and we just have to nail it.

Andy

Hi Nicole, thanks for posting.

We're looking at a few things based on all your posts:
1- when posting a lightbox link directly to your wall in fb, you get two different links on the wall post - one to the lb link and one to the gallery. Looking into what can be done here

2- direct pasting of a link to a right-click protected photo onto your fb wall does not give a thumbnail. But if you use Share>Be Social with an RCP link, you'll get the thumbnail. Looking into what can be done here.

3- making sure the authorization process to grant SmugMug permission to post stuff to user's wall is completely free of any bugs or issues.

Thanks and we'll keep you posted!

Nicci

Andy wrote: »

Hi Nicole, thanks for posting.

We're looking at a few things based on all your posts:
1- when posting a lightbox link directly to your wall in fb, you get two different links on the wall post - one to the lb link and one to the gallery. Looking into what can be done here

2- direct pasting of a link to a right-click protected photo onto your fb wall does not give a thumbnail. But if you use Share>Be Social with an RCP link, you'll get the thumbnail. Looking into what can be done here.

3- making sure the authorization process to grant SmugMug permission to post stuff to user's wall is completely free of any bugs or issues.

Thanks and we'll keep you posted!

I don't think this is correct.

If I directly paste this link:
http://photos.humansafterall.com/Nightlife-and-Music/WMC2010/11710314_PrbwM#826381819_zcDDs-A-LB
(gallery is not RCP)
into Facebook I not only do not get the thumbnail of the photo I am linking to, but the thumbnail options are not photos in the gallery

Additionally, I only get one link on my Facebook wall, and that link does not take me to the photo I am attempting to link to. The link it takes me to is:
http://photos.humansafterall.com/Nightlife-and-Music/WMC2010/11710314_PrbwM#826381828_zJc2o

(please let me know if you need screen shots, but I assure you this is exactly what is occurring)

Nicci

I would like to know if it is at least in the SmugMug works to have clean and simple Facebook integration such as that on PhotoShelter.

Why the need for an app that will likely scare many away from sharing? There is obviously a way to share on Facebook with thumbnails in a way that doesn't involve installing a third party app.

Why can't we share a link directly to an individual photo and have that photo as the thumbnail on our wall and/or in the Facebook news feed?

Can't you all look at PhotoShelter as a model for what most users are looking for as far as Facebook integration?

Facebook is a HUGE tool for marketing when it comes to photos, and it seems like you all are putting a lot of work into integrating with Facebook and are possibly still going to miss the boat.

If you don't believe me, here is some reading from PhotoShelter that really hits the nail on the head and in my opinion is a wonderful example of photo sites and Facebook integration:

http://blog.photoshelter.com/2009/10/photoshelter-friended-facebook.html
http://blog.photoshelter.com/2010/03/customize-your-facebook-fan-page.html

And this was the quickest PhotosShelter user site I could find so you can see for yourself just how easy it is to share a photo on Facebook (no muss, no fuss):
http://calvert.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/083110-Reno-Aces-v-Portland-Beavers/G0000QakBD34DUtM/I0000NII6SbyjTmI

Nicci

I would simply like to be able to cut and paste links from SmugMug into Facebook and have them work correctly and show thumbnails.

I don't know about other users, but I don't even care about the "Share" feature or the "Like" buttons. Most Facebook users know how to share on Facebook, but the links from SmugMug do not play well with Facebook.

Allen

Tecnicole wrote: »

I would simply like to be able to cut and paste links from SmugMug into Facebook and have them work correctly and show thumbnails.

I don't know about other users, but I don't even care about the "Share" feature or the "Like" buttons. Most Facebook users know how to share on Facebook, but the links from SmugMug do not play well with Facebook.

On my FB wall I typed some stuff in the top box then pasted in gallery link.
Box popped up with gallery and "no thumbs" for selection. I closed that and
clicked link icon and pasted in thumbnail photo link.

btw, when adding my blog link I can pick a thumb. Just added post for blog, gallery post down a little.

Nicci

Allen wrote: »

On my FB wall I typed some stuff in the top box then pasted in gallery link.
Box popped up with gallery and "no thumbs" for selection. I closed that and
clicked link icon and pasted in thumbnail photo link.

btw, when adding my blog link I can pick a thumb. Just added post for blog, gallery post down a little.

It (sometimes) works for the gallery but not for individual photos. Apologies, I should have been more specfic that I meant for galleries AND single photos. I can not get SmugMug to link to individual photos in that gallery. The photo links take you to the gallery and not the photo.

Andy

"We're looking at a few things based on all your posts"

Thanks! We'll have an update soon, I hope.

Nicci

I just noticed (and you likely have as well) that when it posts to Facebook, it cuts the link off at the "#" which is why it defaults to gallery view rather than lightbox view.

Nicci

Andy wrote: »

"We're looking at a few things based on all your posts"

Thanks! We'll have an update soon, I hope.

Gotcha. But just want to make sure that you saw that what you wrote:

1- when posting a lightbox link directly to your wall in fb, you get two different links on the wall post - one to the lb link and one to the gallery. Looking into what can be done here


is not how things are working in my gallery with my facebook. Not sure if there is an odd discrepancy here.

Titus213

From my PC - My 'Share' button to Facebook just locks up with nothing getting to Facebook. My 'Like' button stopped working too.
From my Mac I just get a message that there was an error and it's being worked on.

Titus213

All appears to be well with the Share on Facebook! Thanks for your persistence and the resolution. I've tried it with Firefox both with and without AdBloc and it works.

Nicci

I don't know if this helps you at all, but I found another site (Zenfolio) that plays well with the Facebook API and allows easy sharing of individual photos, galleries, and slideshows all with relevant thumbnails.

See an example here:
http://www.jskyphoto.com/p796256620/h2f2f8f8#h2f2f8f8

with the different share options available by clicking the "share" button

Andy

Tecnicole wrote: »

I don't know if this helps you at all, but I found another site (Zenfolio) that plays well with the Facebook API and allows easy sharing of individual photos, galleries, and slideshows all with relevant thumbnails.

See an example here:
http://www.jskyphoto.com/p796256620/h2f2f8f8#h2f2f8f8

with the different share options available by clicking the "share" button

Hi Nicole, no need to keep posting in several different threads I have replied to you that we're working on somethings that should help, if successful. Thanks so much!

Titus213

Well, it was fixed last night. Honest! It isn't now. I managed 3 posts to facebook form smugmug. Now I get the lockup again.

SamirD

I've noticed while working on a gallery that the 'like' button sometimes shows as 'facebook' instead with a link to facebook.com. Possibly a related issue?

Andy

SamirD wrote: »

I've noticed while working on a gallery that the 'like' button sometimes shows as 'facebook' instead with a link to facebook.com. Possibly a related issue?

What gallery, what browser, what OS?

Andy

Titus213 wrote: »

Well, it was fixed last night. Honest! It isn't now. I managed 3 posts to facebook form smugmug. Now I get the lockup again.

Can you elaborate and also a screenshot would help. As well as browser, OS.

pmbpro

Tecnicole wrote: »

I don't know about other users, but I don't even care about the "Share" feature or the "Like" buttons. Most Facebook users know how to share on Facebook, but the links from SmugMug do not play well with Facebook.

+1 Agreed.

Andy

pmbpro wrote: »

+1 Agreed.

Hi! Are you having specific issues you can tell me about? Leave nothing unsaid, please - I want to help!

SamirD

Andy wrote: »

Can you elaborate and also a screenshot would help. As well as browser, OS.

Andy wrote: »

What gallery, what browser, what OS?

I'm sorry I didn't include this information in the original post. I've been working on galleries, so I've been away from email. :cry But the good news is I haven't seen any issues with it since I've posted.

Titus213

I currently have no problems with the Share function and Facebook. The screen that was locking up (asking to authorize an app on FB) doesn't appear.

Last night it was fixed, today the Share function was locking up, tonight it appears to be working.

WinXP, Firefox 3.6.9.

cpagility

I'm happy to report that Sean, a Smugmug Hero, helped me today with my issues posting to Facebook. He went above and beyond to get my problem solved. The settings were in my browsers which needed updating and some tweaking. Thanks Smugmug heros!

Titus213

Dang - this is weird. Now I'm getting a 502 Bad Gateway when I click the 'Be Social' under Share.......