JRD3 Loc: Richmond, VA

Interested in specific answers to a couple of questions regarding this service:

Website - is the creation of a website easy to do and does not require technical knowledge?

Commerce - if you are using this site to sell your images, how is the ease of business? What problems have you encountered, if any?

Would very much appreciate specific knowledge of these two points. I am aware that some of its terms and conditions have changed, but I am ok with that.
Thanks.

HardwareGuy

Although I can't answer your specific question, I researched smugmug but settled on zenfolio because it does all these things well.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

It’s a lot easier than it used to be...that said, smugmug has great support techs that can help you out.

If you do decide to go with smugmug (I’ve been using them since 2007), here’s a coupon for 20% off your first year. I also receive the same discount for my next year subscription

https://secure.smugmug.com/signup?Coupon=KxZ9FVYs09Y0A

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

When I checked things out a couple of years ago I settled on Fine Art America, not going crazy with sales but it pays for itself and it'e super easy on my end. YMMV, Bob.

louparker Loc: Scottsdale, AZ

Be sure to check out Zenfolio before you decide.

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

Used Zenfolio for organization I volunteered and relatively easy because they all use templates today vs the raw HTML code of yore.

As for commerce, like any type of business, the most difficult is getting your link out there & advertised to drive traffic.

Bipod

Be sure you know what you are taking on. Web pages all start out simple, but usually
grow in complexity over time, and can be a lot of work to administer. The number of
different technologies is very large, and standardization is poor. Similarly, e-commerce
is still commerce.

If you have owned a store, collected sales tax, done bookkeeping, dealt with customers,
accepted credit cards and administrered POS software, then you should have no trouble
with e-commerce. Provided you also speak Spanish.

Similarly, if you have prepared documents for publication, dealt with copyrights and clearances,
done page layout and commercial graphics, and done system administration, then you should
have no problem putting up a web page -- provided somebody you trust designs, implements
and tests it. Brower compatibility is still an issue -- a site has to be tested with all the popular
browsers.

Otherwise, steer clear.

A lot of people in the past have been burned by bad scripting and insecure frameworks such as
ActiveX, Adobe Flash and Java. Others had Java working fine, only to have Apple ban it and
Google fork off its own version for Android. There are soooo many ways to get stuck.

The safe and efficient way to implement a web site is as static pages built under the control
of the "make" utility (just like any other program), and to avoid scripting. Use a macro
language to make it easy to change things. But almost nobody does that.

Instead, the Internet is a zoo of competing prorietary technologies, most requiring plug-ins
in the browser. Even HTML itsent really standardized -- the standard is a "everything and
the kitchen sink" hodge-podge.

Anybody who claims to remove the need for you to understand your own web site or
on-line business is leading you down the primrose path. Read the agreement: you
take all the risks and indefmnify them.

When your hosting service goes out of business, or you get a "cease and desist" letter, or
somebody files a complaint with the FTC, or Russian hackers uploading cracked games
to your site, you're on your own.

picsman Loc: Scotland

I have had smugmug for a few years and find it a very easy solution to displaying and selling images. They have some standard formats to choose and you need to add your personalisation but you don't need to code anything just add and move around "boxes" that contain your images, text, messages, info etc. The ecommerce part is very good as they handle the complete sales process and they remit your funds once minimums are achieved or on request, where a minimum has not been met. You can protect your images with watermarks or not. Set up folders and galleries very easily. Link to google analytics, monitor smugmugs own statistics and get help quickly. You can select the lab to print your images and I like the 20% discount on peak design products. It depends on whether you have the sales to pay the annual subscription which for ecommerce included makes it a bit expensive but not more than others I think. You need to investigate that part for yourself.

TommiRulz Loc: Corpus Christi, TX

I have used Smugmug and Zenfolio - I found Smugmug to be very difficult to navigate and at the time they did not offer any type of technical support. So after the most frustrating 2 weeks of my life I tried Zenfolio and it was AWESOME! So much help, support, and ease of use. Building the website at first seems hard at first, but then I signed up for their one or one tutorial and they guided me through it in a 40 minute session. I am selling digital and print images, and it is super easy and the money just appears in my account $$$$ Woo HOO -- I would try Zenfolio

rond-photography Loc: Connecticut

Easy peasy setup - you are not creating a website. You just choose a template and upload photos.
Selling is easy, but no one has ever bought a photo on my site! The setup for sales is straight forward though. My site: www.rond-photography.smugmug.com

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

You can't just point and click to make a web site. It takes planning and knowledge. It can also be expensive after the initial sign-up has expired.

Gitchigumi Loc: Wake Forest, NC

I have used SmugMug for about five years. My experience has been excellent. Everything, from the hosting to the tech support (heroes) to account management, is top-notch. Because I sell some photos, I have the Portfolio plan. If you don't sell photos, there are plans to cover that, too, at lesser cost. Love it!👍😎👍.

rstrick2 Loc: Beverly Hills, FL

I use zenfolio as well
www.robertstricklandphotography.com

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

I have found Smugmug very simple to setup and navigate. Their support is quite good too.

Russ

Novots Loc: Grand Forks, ND

Unlimited full resolution storage - great off-site backup. Pick a template and go. Easy pricing set-up, easy links and sharing, it's been great for me. Good luck.