LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Several questions to those who have/maintain their own web-sites. I'm primarily interested in feedback from those who don't operate a "brick and mortar" studio.

Did you hire a web-designer or did you create your own? If you created your own, what software did you use? Pitfalls?
How much time do you spend maintaining it?

If it's not a violation of UHH, please provide a web-link to your page. I'd love to see what you do! (PMs are fine.)

Do you also use one of the on-line services, such as 500px.com? Others?

Thanks, LRF

Bret Loc: Dayton Ohio

I had a friend build it with Microsoft Expressions web 4.0...and got my own domain. If you click on my name...you can see it from there. Takes a bit of learning...but adding/deleting photos is very easy. Its been up only a short time...but seems to work pretty good.

HEART Loc: God's Country - COLORADO

Contact fellow-Hog,robert-photos; he is in the process of completing his site (he says 90% completed). May have some tips to save you some grief. You can probably PM him. He's also an engineer. Good luck in getting the process going!

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

Here are 4 wordpress sites I built. I did most of the images on these sites.

1) PhotographybyVasati.com (My site)
2) DanceRebellionandFitness.com
3) Dutchmansdaughter.com
4) CodyElkins.net.

Wordpress is a content manager and is the way most people should go.. If you're tech Savy. You still have to be able to write CSS and some HTML and be familiar with JQUERY to make them really nice.

I don't like Flash sites and prefer JQUERY for photo displays.
Flash doesn't work on an IPAD/IPHONE, JQUERY does.

I am on 500px.com also.

Russ

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

My site is also created using Wordpress. I did not build it myself. Although somewhat computer savvy, the learning curve and time demand for building a full site from scratch by myself was not very efficient, so I hired a local web design company to do it at a reasonable cost and in way faster time than I could have. This was especially important when it came to the ecommerce components of the site; shopping cart, PayPal link, dashboard for editing prices, etc. Because it was constructed with Wordpress, maintenance, editing, and updating are pretty easy, and do not require the designers assistance.

DYI or hire a designer is up to you and best decided based on your knowledge base, time available, complexity of the site, and budget.

I heartily agree with PalePictures; avoid using a flash gallery, as you lose iPad users.

I do not use a site like 500px. Beside my site, I sell 95% of my work directly to the public via art festivals and occasionally, galleries.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

I do my own check the link at the base of my page

Building a site is childs play

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

mine was designed for me as part of my branding, I do maintain my website and blog itself. adding and removing pictures is easy, it was the having the look and feel i wanted and it took a pro to take it to the next level.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

Let me preface my comments. I looked at your site and I compliment you on doing a very nice job. Look is good, and it navigates just fine. You obviously have knowledge and skill which enabled you to do an effective job.

Having said that, I think the general statement that building a web site is "child's play" may hold truth for some, but is definitely not true for many. I would surmise that the vast majority of those interested in having a professional, ecommerce based website from which to sell their photography are not up to the task, even if they are fairly computer savvy. Building a site that contains a home page, a few galleries, and a contact link may be within reach, but a professional looking site which includes a full-on shopping cart with multiple purchase options, direct payment links, send invoice/receipts, the ability to edit both individual and global purchase options may be well beyond those who don't design websites regularly. From a personal standpoint, I was quite capable of building a website for my department when I was teaching, but found the ecommerce demands for my own photography/business site to be very time consuming, and ultimately beyond my skill and knowledge levels. I might have gotten there eventually, but it became clear to me that hiring a pro was the way to go. I was up and running in way less time than had I done it myself, and I was assured a full site that worked well.

Just because it costs money, doesn't mean hiring a pro is not an economical choice. And depending on the complexity of your needs, it may be the only headache free option.

magicunicorn Loc: Melbourne Australia

This is a great topic i also am having to look into a website as i grow bigger I've been putting it off because i don't know which way to go.

Thanks for posting this

GWR100 Loc: England

Nice site, where did you get it?

Stanley Fleming Loc: Maine/Florida

I have used Weebly to build several sites and am very impressed with its ease of use and the fact I do not have to use any HTML, CSS etc even though I can. It lets you use HTML if you want to for special purposes.

www.acadiavacationsmaine.com is my personal site
www.mainetourismtravel.com is a site I maintain for a client

acadiamaine@gmail.com is my email

Note: I have no financial interest in Weebly
www.weebly.com

sportyman140 Loc: Juliette, GA

this is what I got when I clicked on your site:
The requested resource (/BECPhotography.com) is not available.

Stanley Fleming Loc: Maine/Florida

Me too .....

Stanley Fleming Loc: Maine/Florida

Bret, you might want to check the link or the actual web site - i did not try to go directly to your site so not sure....

bunuweld Loc: Arizona

I am a do-it-yourself fanatic, and regretted it more than once while building my graphics art site (not photos). I built it using the program "Site Grinder" (not a free program) and to upload it to Godaddy I used Filezilla.
I am sure there easier ways, and I will be watching with interest the replies in this thread to what probably are simpler approaches.

My website is:
www.luis@luisgbunuel.com