Does smugmug have competitors - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/01/2007 09:40:13 AM · #2

There are others, but IMHO smugmug is the best.

If you decide to signup with smugmug, use my personal coupon code (qzDagz7w1S78w) in the 'Referred by' field on the signup form and you will save $5 on your smugmug subscription.

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/01/2007 09:43:45 AM · #3

I use smugmug. But I know a lot of pros that use pictage.

youngnova

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

07/01/2007 10:59:58 AM · #4

Snake... I think you already know I use smugmug and I like it. I went to pictage and read around... seems like they have more options, but you could not see much.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/01/2007 12:45:25 PM · #5

I use pictage and smug mug. Pictage is expensive but they have lots of great products that are completely hands off for me.

zenfolio is one I remember liking when doing the research :0)

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

07/01/2007 12:51:08 PM · #6

Originally posted by oOWonderBreadOo:

I use pictage and smug mug. Pictage is expensive but they have lots of great products that are completely hands off for me.

I'd be interested in hearing further elaboration on this statement.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

07/01/2007 12:58:08 PM · #7

sure ask me anything you want! :0)

I pay $50 a month for up to 1000 uploaded images but I'm grandfathered in (lucky me) because now it's $100/mo unlimited. My customers can order coffee table books (and they do!) without any help from me. :0) They also design flushmount albums for free! It just depends on what you want!

But I have to say, my favorite part of Pictage is the user groups. It has been a big help to me to be a part of a community in my business beginnings. Sometimes a good start is the most important thing :0)

soup

Canon EOS-30D

07/01/2007 01:13:01 PM · #8

is there a return on your investment with those fees?

Originally posted by :

I pay $50 a month for up to 1000 uploaded images but I'm grandfathered in (lucky me) because now it's $100/mo unlimited. My customers can order coffee table books (and they do!) without any help from me. :0) They also design flushmount albums for free! It just depends on what you want!

But I have to say, my favorite part of Pictage is the user groups. It has been a big help to me to be a part of a community in my business beginnings. Sometimes a good start is the most important thing :0)

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

07/01/2007 01:23:33 PM · #9

Originally posted by soup:

is there a return on your investment with those fees?

I'm not quite sure what you're asking... but on top of those fees I have to pay 10% of my profit. So let's say I'm asking $10 for a print they charge me $1 for, I actually end up paying $2. (I think that's right...) I guess the ROI would be that I can spend my time elsewhere in my business or life. It's not for everyone to be sure :0)

rossbilly

Nikon D200

07/01/2007 04:27:24 PM · #10

Laura, I have to ask - which site hosts the homepage listed in your profile? Frankly, I love it! Clean, simple - gorgeous!!! (and that shot inside the cathedral is mesmerizing, btw!)

Care to share with us?

ETA - while looking into pictage, I've noticed a 'referring photographer' request - is there some code you'd like us to use that might benefit you?

Message edited by author 2007-07-01 16:35:02.

soup

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

07/01/2007 07:35:06 PM · #11

i guess i'm saying how many prints/books/posters do you need to sell before you break even as far as what it actually cost you to sell them...

Originally posted by :

fotomann_forever

07/01/2007 08:42:41 PM · #12

I don't know if I'd call them competition, but dotphoto.com allows you to upload photos and set custom prices for all sorts of prints and goods even with the free version.

07/01/2007 10:36:20 PM · #13

Thanks Billy, I got my site from winklet- their customer service has been outstanding and they've made a few customizations for me & are very inexpensive :0)

I was looking at Pictage and it says referring photg/studio. I guess you can put Laura Siivola in there put I'm not sure if I get anything anyhow

Tim, I have gotten covered for sure (and then some!) and I've only done I think six weddings this past year- where I was the main shooter. But you could do that with other companies too. Fill in the form for the free info packet here and see if you're interested. They send out these e-mails and market for you so I have gotten sales I never would have otherwise.

To tell the absolute truth I don't want to be with them forever unless their quality improves tenfold but they take suggestions seriously and have improved lots int he past six months I've been with them. Also, I love the photographers in the group- it has been great for me. I would sign up again just for the group, it's been very educational! :0)

07/23/2007 05:33:28 PM · #14

I have looked at Smugmug, photoreflect and Miller's. I have struggled with selecting any of them because they all charge a monthly rate plus a percentage of the revenue. The percentage doesn't seem that bad at first, but it really adds up in your sales are decent.

I was hoping for some more options and will now look at Pictage as well as Zenfolio.

07/23/2007 05:34:34 PM · #15

Originally posted by oOWonderBreadOo:

To tell the absolute truth I don't want to be with them forever unless their quality improves tenfold but they take suggestions seriously and have improved lots int he past six months I've been with them.

Is the quality concern related to their printing or their customer service?

Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S

07/26/2007 08:33:51 AM · #16

Found another one today, seeyourphotos.net. Not as expensive as Pictage and there are more lab options, including Millers.

tjbel05

Nikon Z9

07/26/2007 09:03:58 AM · #17

Has anyone tried or heard of IFP3 They offer a seven day free trial. Step by step on setting up your site with multiple templates and color combos. You add your paypal subscription for your customers, and then you choose your lab. easy simple a so far glitch free. They offer several different uploading and watermarking. After the free trial period you can pay $20-$25 per month. There is also the option of buying your domain name so it seems pretty good, so far. I am still in the trial and debating my options.

feedback on Tammy Belanger Would be helpful to guage the site...It is still being worked.

Tim

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G

07/26/2007 09:26:27 AM · #18

I've never really looked into these sites simply because I assumed that they wouldn't be worthwhile for me all the way down here in Australia. Am I right in my assumption?
If I am right (and it doesn't happen that often) are there any websites around here that cater to an aussie audience?

slide12345678

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/26/2007 09:48:17 AM · #19

smugmug is the best

fast loading, good looking, customizable, a lot of options for ordering, etc.

i would go with that

here's mine

digitalpins

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

07/26/2007 09:53:48 AM · #20

Same here I love smugmug especially the fully customizable and all the options for ordering your customers have. Plus their forums are awesome, lots of help, they give you the heads up by email and/or on forum if smugmug is down for maintenance. My smugmug site is //www.lamontphotography.com

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

07/26/2007 10:05:39 AM · #21

Originally posted by digitalpins:

I think that is the cleanest looking smug mug based site that I have ever scene! I spent a couple of days customizing my trial account, but never got it that good. Eventually I just feel back to a basic account and lost the customizations.

The one thing I don't like about smugmug is that even with a pro account their branding shows right through as soon as YOUR customer goes to their shopping cart, even with a pro account.

digitalpins

Canon EOS-60D

07/26/2007 10:10:45 AM · #22

thank you!!

Yes on some instances you cant get away from the smugmug branding..

Also look at this dgrin (smugmug) thread and in the second post their is a chart here that might be helpful to you dpcers

Message edited by author 2007-07-26 10:13:04.

tjbel05

Nikon Z9

Nikon NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S

07/26/2007 10:13:03 AM · #23

Ryan- Great site. I tried SmugMug on the free trial. If I was able to customize it the way you have, I would have gone that way. Great JOB!!!

digitalpins

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

07/26/2007 10:17:30 AM · #24

thanks

tjbel05 it was not easy lots of reading, copy and pasting and lol getting frustrated. I never did anything like web design before so it took me some time. But again thank you :-)

Again take a look at this dgrin (smugmug) thread and in the second post their is a chart here that might be helpful to you dpcers