Setting up a photography website (Page 2): we are working on the shifting issue as we speak. Thanks for the input.

jjadeco25 Loc: Alma, AR

we are working on the shifting issue as we speak. Thanks for the input.

Photobuff96 Loc: Connecticut

Thanks for the feedback, I understand the fade speed you talked about but I don't understand the 2nd one, my drop down menu with the gallerys??? Each title is with the correct corresponding gallery? Is it something else you are referring to?

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

Lets get back to the topic.
I'm thinking about doing the samething so I would have control of the domain name if I decide to leave Smugmug.

Any of these "pre-built" sites limits your options but they are fairly easy to set up.

I have a couple of friends who are leaving smugmug because they think they can get more hits somewhere else. However, you still have to market yourself. How? I'm not sure. Be creative.

I'm probably not going to buy the pro version because I'm using it as a portfolio. That could change.

I'm very interested in other's experiences with smugmug and even other sites.

jpintn wrote:

I am considering setting up a new photography website using Smugmug and a domain name through GoDaddy. I am looking at the Smugmug Pro account at $150 per year and $9.95 per year for the domain name. I am curious if any UHH members are using Smugmug Pro and how successful have you been. Pros and cons? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help.

RonH Loc: Shoreview MN

Check out BigBlackBag.com
They host several thousand (10,000 or so) photographers and it's a very easy site to use along with the hundreds of custom templates etc. You can get a 30 day no obligation trial if you like. It may seem a bit over whelming at first but once you get into it it is really easy.
Ron H

jjadeco25 Loc: Alma, AR

I think they were talking about my website. CyAnPortraits.com.
Still in process of getting the bugs out.

Cadugand Loc: Houston, Texas

I've built about 8 web sites in the last five years, all using Joomla as a Content Management System - its free shareware and easily installs on most servers. Joomla comes with hundreds of "extensions" that can do a lot for photography sites (see: http://extensions.joomla.org/). For hosting I use Bluehost. Joomla is easy to learn and use (similar to Wordpress...also a great product).

brokeweb Loc: Philadelphia

I think you can a lot of money by doing it yourself. On you Go-Daddy account install Wordpress and use one of the many free templates for photography. You can even purchase a template for $50 or $60 and you will get a bunch of Customer support. I did my own using a free template. All I pay is the hosting fees. My link is on my signature.

jjadeco25 Loc: Alma, AR

Problem solved with the line-up of drop downs and selection. Now dealing with the time issue of home page, although alot of people that have seen it would like to have the cat longer. LOL!

brokeweb Loc: Philadelphia

Cadugand, I like the way you use HDR toning in your photos on your web site http://500px.com/chico_d. Vey Nice work.

krgatlgm Loc: Las Vegas, Nv

MWAC wrote:

I am in the middle of building mine, I'm going more with a blog/website as to help with the SEO part a little easier and i'm forgoing any flash as it won't work on Apple products. Mine is still in the rough set up stage and I haven't started the blogging part yet or finished the galleries either.

Feel free to check out what I have so far ......

www.sweetdixiestudios.com

Very professional looking site. I really like the simplicity. When put into a search engine nothing came up. I typed it directly into the title line and you popped up. I don't know enough about the web to know if that is a problem or? Best of luck with the business. If I were still in Texas, I would certainly recommend you.

BrandyVSOP Loc: Oregon USA

jpintn wrote:

I am considering setting up a new photography website using Smugmug and a domain name through GoDaddy. I am looking at the Smugmug Pro account at $150 per year and $9.95 per year for the domain name. I am curious if any UHH members are using Smugmug Pro and how successful have you been. Pros and cons? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help.

GoDaddy~ Great Company. I've been using them for 5-6 years.
Excellent 5 star company. Great Customer Service if or when you need them...
A lot of my photo friends use Smugmug and have for some time. They all seem to be quite happy.

Iduno Loc: Near Tampa Florida

Use RICKSMUG20 for a 20% discount your first year. (Thanks Rick Sammons.) I've come away with two thoughts after reading the posts. 1) It's probably worth the money given the difficulty writing your own code. 2) Not one post that I read mentioned if they were making any money from their site.

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

Is anyone making any money from their site?
I was told that you have to out and market your site but I still don't know if anyone is making even a small amount of money.

Iduno wrote:

Use RICKSMUG20 for a 20% discount your first year. (Thanks Rick Sammons.) I've come away with two thoughts after reading the posts. 1) It's probably worth the money given the difficulty writing your own code. 2) Not one post that I read mentioned if they were making any money from their site.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I put up my own site, simple as it may be, way before any of the Smugmugs, Picasas, Flickrs, and even Facebook were around. I felt it counter productive to start splattering the same photos over several sites. Having my own allowed me to format the pages with my owns templates, etc. which makes for faster addition of new work. If one knows how to code, or knows someone that is willing to help, knowledgeable spouses are great for that, having one's own site is a bit better route to go.

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

krgatlgm wrote:

quote=MWAC I am in the middle of building mine, I... (show quote)

Thanks, it hasn't been optimized for SEO yet as I'm still in the building stages. After I get everything looking the way I want and all the links working correctly, I'll be working on the SEO part.