Can it be THAT comlicated to set up a website?
Mar 8, 2016 08:06:29 #
I've been asked to shoot a dance recital in the next 2 weeks. I've accepted, since, its my niece's dance school, I have enough ability, (hopefully) to capture the dance shots and the posed individual shots that I've been asked to get.
HOWEVER if I want to make any $$ at all, it will be based on the sales of the photos taken.
MY problem: I've been trying to come up with a system/method that will allow for me to make something for my efforts. I've been trying to set up a smugmug/photodeck/wix website so I can display the shots and generate some sales.
***BUT I can't seem to figure out how to set up the sites.
Is setting up a site like this really THAT complicated??? I don't assume to be the sharpest knife in the drawer...but wow! I feel stupid.
Any suggestions on how to set up a site, OR ANY OTHER ideas as to how I can break even make a little $$ on this little endeavor, would be GREATLY appreciated!
Paul.
HOWEVER if I want to make any $$ at all, it will be based on the sales of the photos taken.
MY problem: I've been trying to come up with a system/method that will allow for me to make something for my efforts. I've been trying to set up a smugmug/photodeck/wix website so I can display the shots and generate some sales.
***BUT I can't seem to figure out how to set up the sites.
Is setting up a site like this really THAT complicated??? I don't assume to be the sharpest knife in the drawer...but wow! I feel stupid.
Any suggestions on how to set up a site, OR ANY OTHER ideas as to how I can break even make a little $$ on this little endeavor, would be GREATLY appreciated!
Paul.
Mar 8, 2016 08:10:53 #
I have used wix and find it fairly user friendly.
Try these
http://www.wix.com/blog/2014/05/tutorials-for-wix-newbies/
Try these
http://www.wix.com/blog/2014/05/tutorials-for-wix-newbies/
Mar 8, 2016 08:12:43 #
ggttc wrote:
I have used wix and find it fairly user friendly.
Try these
http://www.wix.com/blog/2014/05/tutorials-for-wix-newbies/
Try these
http://www.wix.com/blog/2014/05/tutorials-for-wix-newbies/
Thank you. I'll look them up tonight when I get home. :)
Mar 8, 2016 08:17:27 #
ptcanon3ti wrote:
I've been asked to shoot a dance recital in the ne... (show quote)
It can be. especially if you are hoping to sell photographs from the site. You'll need a way to keep folks from just downloading the photos you post for sale. You'll also need a method of paying, which will require an outside vendor, or setting up an SSL account. Depending on the method used, people who are skittish about paying on line can be dissuaded by the change of URL when it's payment time.
It's not complicated, but as Dilbert said, "Technology isn't for wimps."
--Bob
Mar 8, 2016 08:19:00 #
The site doesn't mention cost, I assume there is a cost associated with building this site.
ggttc wrote:
I have used wix and find it fairly user friendly.
Try these
http://www.wix.com/blog/2014/05/tutorials-for-wix-newbies/
Try these
http://www.wix.com/blog/2014/05/tutorials-for-wix-newbies/
Mar 8, 2016 08:22:26 #
rmalarz wrote:
It can be. especially if you are hoping to sell ph... (show quote)
lol...Dilbert got that right!
I thought sites like smugmug etc. prevented unauthorized downloading.
There must be some way of doing this.
:?
Mar 8, 2016 08:26:53 #
No it is not. I have 5 Shutterfly sites. I do not sell any of my photos, but that would be easy to arrange, should I desire that feature. Shutterfly has a chat to offer help as well as a help phone line. I suspect Smugmug has similar.
Let me know if I can help.
Mark
Let me know if I can help.
Mark
Mar 8, 2016 08:27:12 #
Brucej67 wrote:
The site doesn't mention cost, I assume there is a cost associated with building this site.
If you are willing to put up with ads on your site...wix is free...ad free starts at about $12 a month
Mar 8, 2016 08:28:44 #
ptcanon3ti wrote:
lol...Dilbert got that right!
I thought sites like smugmug etc. prevented unauthorized downloading.
There must be some way of doing this.
:?
I thought sites like smugmug etc. prevented unauthorized downloading.
There must be some way of doing this.
:?
There is, but it will probably take longer than the two weeks you have to properly design, debug, and go live with almost any site.
Additionally, setting up a payment method can be another bit of time to decide and implement. I definitely caution against going with the first thing that looks good. It may appear good on the surface, but there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes.
--Bob
Mar 8, 2016 08:34:24 #
I use SmugMug -- not too complicated to set up. But in order to sell photos (and make a profit) you need to have a paid account.
I believe the free account lets you post photos, and people can order prints, but you do not make any money off your photography.
Just be aware, unless your photos are AWESOME and AMAZING, people will just look on-line for free, and never want a print. We live a Social Media world, where photos are everywhere, and people expect to look at a photo once or twice before moving on. (Never to go back and look at that photo again.)
I believe the free account lets you post photos, and people can order prints, but you do not make any money off your photography.
Just be aware, unless your photos are AWESOME and AMAZING, people will just look on-line for free, and never want a print. We live a Social Media world, where photos are everywhere, and people expect to look at a photo once or twice before moving on. (Never to go back and look at that photo again.)
Mar 8, 2016 08:38:25 #
ptcanon3ti wrote:
I've been asked to shoot a dance recital in the ne... (show quote)
Setting up a site to display photos is easy. You need a website/domain and probably a plugin. I use GoDaddy to host my domain and site. On my site I installed Wordpress and the PhotoCrati plugin. GoDaddy can do this for you. All this takes time and if you want to Monetize the site I would recommend you use a site like Zenfolio, or SmugMug. Both will help you set up the site, or they have tutorials. But this won't happen overnight. You might be better to bring a 4x6 printer and print out on-site and take orders for 8x10, 11x14 or such things. Get a Square and take Credit cards on your phone, give them the free 4x6 with a paid order for the enlargement.
Setting up a website has varying degrees of difficulty, it gets much more difficult if you monetize the site. After initial setup, it take maintenance to keep it running, SEO optimization to get it noticed, a FB page to drive people towards your website, etc.
Mar 8, 2016 08:40:43 #
Mar 8, 2016 08:41:27 #
I don't know the cost per year but web.com has been sending me a bunch of email about how they will make a professional web site for you, for free.
Mar 8, 2016 09:03:51 #
You can always watermark your pics for viewing but then do not on anyone who wish's to buy from you. You will still have those who try and get by but put the watermark where it cannot be cropped out and go from there.
Good luck on your shoot.
Good luck on your shoot.
Mar 8, 2016 09:15:01 #
ptcanon3ti wrote:
I've been asked to shoot a dance recital in the ne... (show quote)
Use any ISP service that is made for photographers. These site abound and will act as the 'bank' and 'protection'. You will need a paypal account and end up paying for the ISP (a least a year) and paypal, a % per sale. Your sale price need to reflect this cost.
Sumgmug is one of the best around, I do not know where the setup difficulty is. I just tried to setup a '14 days trial' and I am stuck in creating the account endlessly. I get a 'server error'.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.