I have been with Zenfolio for 4 years. I was going to switch this time at renewal as SmugMug did a wonderful job updating their site. Fortunately for me a short time before renewal Zenfolio did the same. I like the changes they made so much that I decided to stay with them.
One thing I can really say that is positive is there Customer Service, I called them a couple of times and they fixed me right up.

Good Morning,
Raw contains all the info that was recorded when you clicked the shutter. Very good to have that but not in all cases.
When shooting something important where images have the possibility of being printed large then one should shoot in RAW. If one is shooting something that will ONLY be used for snap shot purposes one can easily get away with jpegs.
However one thing to think of is RAW conversion only takes a few minutes so it is easy to convert so why not let yourself to have one less thing to think about and shoot everything in RAW.
Someone stated that .dng files were proprietary to Adobe and that is wrong. Hundreds of applications use this file designation.
philb
benton, ky

As for myself I really do not think any method of getting an image is better than the next. If one is looking for the best quality barring nothing else then it is the image and nothing but the image that counts.
Now about manual, I strive to shoot manual not because I think it is better but because this is my main hobby and I want to have as much input and fun per click of the shutter as I can. I love to set things up then hopefully I did it correctly and click then a great image comes out. This is always done when I am doing it strictly for a hobby purpose.
At other times, say a child's Birthday Party, not a manual situation at all, as are many other types of situations.
What I really like to say is if this is your hobby and passion who am I to tell you or anyone how they should be doing thier hobby. Each of us controls the way we want to do it.
Heck even if I don't get as good of an image I love it because I am doing all of it ..... often that is the case.
Have fun taking images and don't sweat the small stuff.
phil b
benton, ky

John,
Look at all possibilities but in the end there is but one Photoshop Guru that comes with full sanctions with Adobe and that is Scott Kelby. Not the only one but simply the best. Go to kelbytraining.com, join for a month and look over what is possible to take courses on. Most then stay for a year as thetre is so much on there all done very professionally. Another sight from the same is NAPP, National Association of Photoshop Professionals. On this sight you can join for a year or more, most just wind up staying as there is ongoing training both full courses and snippets. I personally took Kelby training for one year and now I have been on NAPP for 2 years. Good thing is they focus on both Lightroom and Photoshop.If you can hang on a month or so usually in around the 1st week in December they will have a full days of specials where the prices are slashed pretty good. Current pricing for Kelby training is $25 per month a year for $199 and to join NAPP for one year $99.
Looking back over your question you have been using Photoshop for some time and in that case I would recumbent NAPP. In December you might be able to get a year for $79 or even lower.
Good luck and happy photoshopping!!
phil b

Joecosentino,
I feel for you. I was one of the lucky one as I got my D600 in Nov of last year along with 2 of my friends and have not had the first issue. I know have almost 10,000 shots on it and I would not give this one up for anything.
Dust, there isn't a camera out there that doesn't have some dust especially if one changes lenses outside and if they take pics at f22. I of course have had some of that, blow it away with a rocket blower and good as new.
I sure would hate to have to go through the trouble like you have.

jmarazzi,
Good Morning ..... Not sure I can tell you what are "Musts" but I can tell you what I have. I have a Nikon D600 with the following full frame lenses:
Sigma 12-24 f4.5-5.6
Sigma 24-70 f2.8
Nikon 50mm f1.8
Sigma 85 f1.8G
Sigma 70-200 f2.8

The Nikon 50mm,Sigma 24-70 & 70-200, I already had from my previous D90. I got lucky that they were full frame.
I have a close friend that does have the same set up in all Nikon and unless one really pixel peeps it would be hard to figure out who took what if they were all scrambled up.

Hope that this helps you, good luck with your new camera and have fun picking out your lenses.
phil b
benton, ky

Lenny, I can tell you this .... just go and get it and you will be happy. I have had it since it first came out and have had no issues at all except having to get used to such beautiful images. Such a problem to have.
When you properly hold the camera you will be no where near the buttons.
Just shoot and have fun

Go get it and you will LOVE them. I have 2 Alien Bees and 1 Einstein that I always used as the key light. it just works perfectly.
I used Paul Buff triggers for my lights and have no problem with them at all.
Don't really know what the advantage would be with mini flex as I will be on manual anyway. Why anyone would shoot on auto in a studio I don't know. Creativity comes when all is on manual.
Good luck,
phil b

Good Morning Wes, I just finished painting my studio and I used an off white. It still looks white to me but has a slight tint. I control the lighting so I am not worried that much about stray lights affecting anything.
One of the reasons I did it this was is because my studio is also my meet and greet room, my gallery room and I wanted it to look real clean and bright.
I do envy those that have the room for all separate spaces.
Another thought if you have the layout is to section off your walls and make each one a background itself. I have seen a couple that have done a sponge surface and made a real pretty BG.
It all depends on what you want to do.
Have fun as I am having a ball with my new studio, have a lot of fun building it as well.

Adorama and B&H are extremely photography and lighting specialists. Do not hesitate to you either one as they are very reliable. A return policy that is the best.
You need not look back with either one and any purchase made there is guaranteed.

As previously stated Practice, Practice, and more Practice. Now one neds to pay close attention with this practice as it just isn't shooting a 1000 frames it is practice with a purpose in mind and then looking at the images to you throw away very closely as that is where your trouble is.
phil b

I use a MAC also and just recently switched to using LR5. And I am glad and better for it. I did use just Photoshop CS6 but now I use it in conjunction with LR5.
If you intend to become serious about your photography why not make the plunge and go ahead and get what the pros use, LR. One really doesn't need more than Photoshop Elements to take your images further, only reason I have CS6 is because of being a Senior Student I got it real cheap. Of course that option will soon be disappearing.
I have used iPhoto, Aperture and a couple others before moving up.

@ DONRENT,
How about keeping your political opinions to yourself! This is a photography board not a political one.

Thank you,
phil b

If everyone just searched the archives or the web this site would be useless. What does it hurt if asked before as long as people are willing to come back with an answer.
Be easy and happy as it makes the day go faster. If you don't want to give an answer then just don't.

Always RAW. One never knows when "That Shot" comes along why not have the best copy to work with. Takes so little bit of time and effort to make them a jpg.