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03/22/2011 01:30:02 AM · #1 |
I'm close to my Smugmug Pro annual date, and I'm considering other options. My main complaint about Smugmug is the cart feature; it's fine for event or portrait photography, but not really for fine art. It would work if I could set it so that users only saw products with the right aspect ratio. But there's no such option.
I created another custom website, using FineArtAmerica, which isn't as flexible, but it's ok and I love the cart. Actually, it has some really good features, including a blog and news/press releases. The thing I really love is the framing and matting options, which allows the customer to design a complete ready to hang product. I already had a framed ordr there, but I haven't seen how good their prints or frames are myself. The problem with them is mainly that you can create a custom site, but you can't really use your own URL...you have to redirect. That limits you in terms of getting "found" in google, at least your custom site. (My example: here's my custom site: //www.neilrshapiro.com, the real URL //neilshapiro.artistwebsites.com and the parallel universe version without branding: //neilshapiro.fineartamerica.com). By the way, check out the cart.
So before I decide how to replace Smugmug Pro (one option is just to downgrade to Power), I thought I'd consider my other options.
One factor is that I actually have a number of virtual hosts I pay for, and my latest one (hosted by site5) has unlimited storage, unlimted websites/URLs, and unlimited bandwidth. So I could potentially host my own if I found the right software.
I've read through the threads here, and already researched a number of options. I'm considering:
- Gallery (easy to install, just haven't tried spending the time configuring it to look like my custom website);
- Coppermine
- Zenphoto
- Wordpress Blog / Plugins (Just started looking at all those gallery plugins!)
Also looking at other Smugmug like services...
- Zenfolio - just started a trial of this.
- Exposure Manager - thinking about a trial, but they do require a credit card, and I don't like having to remember to cancel.
I'm thinking that if I could find a good software solution to hosting my own site, I could either point each photo to the fineartamerica site as a "custom cart" (since I can go to the photo page), and take advantage of the cart. This would also give me the advantage of a search engine optimized site (hopefully).
One thing I don't like in custom software so far is the "page refreshes" when you go photo to photo. The Flash based stuff seems better in that regard, though with it's own set of problems. Or perhaps there's other AJAX based photo galleries out there.
Anyway, I'm looking for your insights...software or service suggestions...and examples if you have them! I'd be particularly curious to see if anyone is using Wordpress in a non-blog mode gallery. Wordpress is very nice software, and seems pretty easy to maintain.
Message edited by author 2011-03-22 01:31:53. |
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03/22/2011 01:43:08 AM · #2 |
| I host my own portfolio and use zenfolio along with it. Currently, the site is www.Adammathiasphotography.com and ordering.adammathiasphotography.com. the combo of the hosting my own but having a good storefront is great and I love zenfolio- no problems yet. As far as my site goes, its html and flash, but within the next week, I am switching to html/javascript to allow for better phone/ipad accessibility. I'm really happy with it overall. Also, I do have a referral code for zenfolio that could save us both a few bucks if your interested. |
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03/22/2011 02:22:25 AM · #3 |
| Neil, have a look at Photoshelter. They offer a wordpress option with some of their website templates (which are customisable depending on your subscription level), they also offer the selling features and have a number of suppliers (including European printing options, which is a big pull for me). I'm toying with this at the moment. They use Adorama prints, ez prints, exposure manager and a UK based printer, Spectrum. I think it's quite a nice option. |
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03/24/2011 09:09:52 PM · #4 |
Just thought I'd add thoughts to this as I move forward.
I have a 15 day trial of ZenFolio...trying it as an alternative to Smugmug Pro. It's actually a bit cheaper...$99. I haven't compared product prices (ZenFolio uses MPix and Smugmug uses Bayphoto for the pro lab). I've actually never ordered anything myself from my Smugmug account (I use WHCC and love them.) but I presume they are both very good. Probably similar in price, but maybe I'll compare in a bit.
My main progress, as I move my galleries over...first...it's EASY to transition your stuff. Both services have a Lightroom plugin, so that's one option if you start from scratch.
But there's also Upload Junction...right now it's moving all my Smugmug photos over to Zenfolio! We'll see how long that takes!
Zenfolio's price management is easier than Smugmug's in my opinion so far...that may be the deal clincher. You define price lists, name them, then apply them to galleries or photos. While you can do something "similar" on Smugmug, you would have to create a dummy gallery to achieve it and have it mnemonically named. Smugmug has your portfolio pricing (which is inherited by galleries), but that's basically the same as setting default pricing on ZenFolio.
Neither service has a "provider" option to only show aspect ratios that match--one of my key gripes. BUT: Zenfolio will automatically feature the top 12 prices that most closely fit the aspect ratio of the photo on the detail page. That's a nice option because it "somewhat" solves my problem, and also makes it very clear that the work is for sale. No little "buy" button (I've had people look at photos on my website and not even know they were for sale).
Here's an example: //dan4242.zenfolio.com/p501020355/h330ad025#h330ad025
(Actually, I note there it is showing ONLY products of the right aspect ratio, even in the more products box.)
I just found too, an option in the gallery setup/pricing where you can turn off the user's ability to crop. That's the ticket for fine art pics!
Ok, trying to wrap this "mini-comparison" up for now...another big plus for ZenFolio (ZF)... the file manager is a breath of fresh air for me. I've always felt a bit confused by the lack of a traditional structure on Smugmug. There's Galleries categories, Gallery Subcategories, and Galleries. You can't nest deeper than that, and the list of gallery names, and subgallery names is "shared" with the bigger list. ZF lets you have a regular folder hierarchy, and the file manager even has a folder tree. That, plus a big lightbox lets you see a whole lot more (especially on my big monitor), and it's going to make it easier to organize and reorganize. Which I can't do quite yet because my files are still importing from Smugmug using Upload Junction (I have about 19 GB of files). It's been a bit over 24 hours, but it's still slowly adding files to my tree.
Well I have a lot more to test and do before making my final decision. I just compared prices, and it seems Smugmug has more print sizes, and more "download" options for sale. But the prices, where common, are similar. I didn't see a trend where one is consistently higher than the other (but I suspect Zenfolio, which prints via MPix, will be a bit more, since Mpix is pretty expensive in my past experience (at least moreso than White House Custom Color).
But since ZenFolio is 99 for what seems to be the equivalent of Smugmug's 150 pro account, that with the above features, makes me start leaning towards ZF.
I have pretty much eliminated the idea of my own hosting...that's another story...I found out today, that my unlimited hosting is all but unlimited!
I still want to look at ExposureManager as an option as well. Later!
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03/24/2011 10:59:13 PM · #5 |
while i love exposure manager and have been using them successfully for year, i don't think it's is what you're looking for. it's really geared towards events and sports sales. it *can* do a lot of things, but it takes time and effort to figure out how to do it. if you're looking for something quick and easy, you might want to try something else.
on the other hand, i'm in the process of working with paypal to integrate a shopping cart system into my self-hosted site just to sell my non-sports/event/community stuff ;-)
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03/28/2011 01:21:06 PM · #6 |
I switched from Smugmup to Zenfolio a couple of years ago and have been very pleased with the service and the continued improvements to the site. My site is here if you want to take a look. Zenfolio also has a nice API that can make it fairly easy to use their service for managing images and sales and then host your own specialized portfolio with a completely custom look. I built this one as an experiment, just one page of HTML, a flash slideshow component I picked up for $19 and a little PHP to get the gallery info and image URLs from Zenfolio.
The only issue I have right now is that my entry slideshow doesn't work on iPhones or iPads, but I hear they have some new capabilities coming to fix that soon.
I've spent a fair amount of time digging around the site and would be glad to help if you have any questions. |
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03/28/2011 01:32:59 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by Skip:
while i love exposure manager and have been using them successfully for year, i don't think it's is what you're looking for. it's really geared towards events and sports sales. it *can* do a lot of things, but it takes time and effort to figure out how to do it. if you're looking for something quick and easy, you might want to try something else.
on the other hand, i'm in the process of working with paypal to integrate a shopping cart system into my self-hosted site just to sell my non-sports/event/community stuff ;-) |
But you can easily create your own list of available sizes for each print in the price list. You would just create a gallery for each print you put up there and it would show what sizes were available.
BTW I too use Exposuremanager and have for about 4 years now.
Matt |
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