Imagestation going out of business - SUGGESTIONS??

[ehagerty]

I just got notice that they are going out of business (after taking my $50 annual fee a month ago). They are offering to transfer the photos to Shutterfly - but I'd be willing to reload if others have a recommendation.

Who do you use, and why?

 

[MICKEY88]

I use zenfolio

they are similar to smugmug which a lot of people on here use, but the one deciding factor for me was the fact that I can order my pics direct from mpix.com, which is the lab I normally use,

smugmug allows you to order from ezprints..

zenfolio uses mpix and ezprints so you have a choice..

you can save 5 bucks using this code with zenfolio

XE1-C1X-2JF

 

[Master Mason]

Love smugmug here if you want to try it you can save a few bucks with this code HJwjORAaIC4PY they have a free trial....

 

[Khokhonutt]

x2 for SmugMug. It's a pay service, but the backup piece of it is what sold it for me. With our ever growing collection of digital images, the fact that SmugMug touts themselves as a backup solution with no upload limits, I was sold.

Jeff

 

[steery1]

Smugmug for me too.

I find smugmug great for hosting my pics. Im still uploading all my digital ones from right back to 2004 when I got my first digital camera. (Still use it today)
It means they will always be saved in full resolution incase I lose them somehow. (Although they are all saved on an external hard disk and also on my laptop.)

There are options to have galleries for public or private viewing or password protected.

It also makes posting them here so much easier - just pick the photo you want to post, click "share photo" and it gives you several different links to enter. Each one a different size of the same photo. From avatar size right up to 800x600.
No more having to resize first then upload to photobucket or Image Shack and then post.

I started off with the free version too then got the standard membership but upgraded because I could then customize the site and make it look/feel how I want. Im currently looking into adding a music option. (Although this is not everyones cup of tea)

The DGrin forums are a great resource. Very informative, friendly and helpful.
Smugmug customer support is second to none. I emailed them once and got a reply almost instantly.
I highly recommend them.

If you go to my home page and click the link at the bottom then enter the code in the "sign up" page you'll receive a discount and I'll receive a discount from my next years membership.

 

[ehagerty]

When this many DISBOARDers agree, it must be so!! I've never seen such consensus and no dissenting votes. I will definitely be checking it. Thank you again!!

 

[MICKEY88]

When this many DISBOARDers agree, it must be so!! I've never seen such consensus and no dissenting votes. I will definitely be checking it. Thank you again!!

check again I recommended zenfolio....LOL

 

[Master Mason]

check again I recommended zenfolio....LOL

Yes but you do agree that smugmug is good, you just like ordering your prints from some place other than where smugmug allows correct?

 

[MICKEY88]

Yes but you do agree that smugmug is good, you just like ordering your prints from some place other than where smugmug allows correct?

true.. because mpix is a better lab than ezprints..

and quite honestly I think smugmug offers more themes etc, for page layout, however since I want basic black because it makes the pictures stand out better I don't need those extra options..

smugmug also offers watermarking and price setting, which zenfolio customer service tells me will be added in the next few months..

watermarking I'm not overly concerned with , price setting would be nice..

 

[gruZ]

Another vote for Smugmug!!

 

[ehagerty]

Just getting back to this - I will look into both. Not sure I followed the pros/cons of each. If someone knows this (and has the time to record it), that would save me time. If not, thanks again for helping me at least limit my investigation to two choices.

 

[Master Mason]

basically for the entry level account the biggest difference is where you can order your prints from, zenfolio gives you two choices smugmug gives you one.

if you want to go to a higher level account, smugmug offers currently quite a bit more features and functionality.

 

[ehagerty]

OK - I am getting very close to sony IMAGESTATIONs shutdown, and I will definitely need to relocate my pictures (or they won't display here on the disboards anymore)....

Some of you mentioned that smugmug was more feature-rich - but zenfolio has more printing options (with features to be added "in the next few months" - which have probably lapsed at this point).

I took a look at both back in Sept - learning what I could about each site. I signed up for smugmug's free trial - but didn't end up doing anything with it. The customer service guy emailed to see what my hesitations were - and I mentioned lack of reasonably priced printed products (such as imagestations' 9-12 cent prints, mugs, etc.). It helped me to frame what I appreciated about imagestation (it certainly had its limitations, not the least of which, was its business model).

I am willing to pay for a service (around $50/yr seems reasonable) - but I would like"
(a) easy/quick upload (folder at a time)
(b) easy/simple sharing (aesthetics would be nice, but simple will suffice)
(c) reasonably priced, printed products (I don't consider 19 cent prints "reasonable" with so many selling for a third to half - I know quality should be a factor in some, but how much better can they be?
(d) unlimited storage
(e) backup

Your thoughts? The forum is "open"

 

[Virgo10]

Interesting thread. I don't use any of these. I've been a member of PictureTrail for years and like most of the things about it. The one minus is the limit on the number of photos they'll host. I'm currently paying $29.95 for 1000 or 75mb. When I get close to that number, I transfer some over to PhotoBucket.

PT works for me as I'm not in to making prints or things like mugs, t-shirts or whatever. I've found the site easy to work with but I do think I'll check out SmugMug. My PT renewal is coming up in a few months.

 

[LMarge]

Since I missed this the first go round (lol) - here's my thoughts - smugmug offers everything you're looking for except the cheaper print price. I have spent the last few weeks uploading all my photos from my hard drive to smugmug. I love the option of folders or files -it allows me to pick and choose what I want to upload - either everything, or just the good stuff (i.e. not every snapshot my dd has taken!) All the other options you're looking for are there as well - simple sharing, unlimited storage, and backup. As for the price issue - I pay .17 at Costco so smugs price is not that off line, and I love the print size options that you get - can't get a 10x10 or an 8x8 at Costco (you have to print larger and cut down!) I also noticed that smugmug now offers an option that lets you pick out individual photos within a gallery to mark as private - this is great, as it allows me to share my Disney photos without have to make a seperate gallery for my kids photos that I don't want just anybody to have access to! These little extras are worth the few extra pennies I'll pay for my prints! Can you tell I love my smugmug!!! Good luck with your choice!

 

[ericamcl]

I've had a smugmug pro account for a couple of months now, and I find it really easy to use. I think the pro account is like $150.00 a year or something like that? When you break that down the monthly cost really isn't that bad and they're also very quick to respond to any emails you send them.

just my 2 cents.....

 

[MICKEY88]

zenfolios premium account is only 100 per year

the features are listed here..

http://www.zenfolio.com/zf/features.aspx

 

[Cyrano]

Need to look at this also as I'll be loosing my DIS photographs on imagestation.

As a UK customer printing is not really of any use but the backup and sharing are the biggest needs/desires

 

[campinggal]

I'll throw my 2 cents in here...

I use Phanfare. Check them out here...http://www.phanfare.com/

I've been a member over two years and have been happy with the service. Easy to upload and share photos. Easy for others to view your photos when you send them a link (even my 80 year old Aunt).

Annual fee is only $54.95.

Albums are 'clean' (no advertising) and you can set up different themes and layouts. It is easy to add music to your album too. Can also host videos too.

As for ordering prints- Phanfare has links to Snapfish, Kodak Gallery, Snapfish (USA, UK and other countries) so you select your photos from Phanfare, choose your printing sight and upload the photos to them and order prints.

I also appreciate that the CEO periodically sends out surveys to his customers requesting suggestions for future enhancements and any responses go directly to his e-mail box.

Good luck finding a new home for your photos.

 

[AndrewWG]

I have to second Zenfolio. They are great. I have had absolutely no problems with them. I don't have th eprofessional account but I think mine was $40 a year for unlimited pics and they also have advertisement free viewing. I have gotten beautiful prints from MPIX, ordered right from Zenfolio too. I uploaded all my WDW pics from WDW to Zenfolio in case my hard drive failed for some reason. My laptop can't write DVD's so this was a great option.