Photo hosting site for selling prints.

[ranthony]

Anyone with suggestions on which sites are good and why? Just scratching the surface of a possible venture. TIA

 

[alloyd1170]

I'm interested too. I use Smug Mug professional. I was able to change up the design a bit using their toos and some online research on how to do CSS (not fun). The first year was a lot less thanks to a promo offer, but I'm due to renew at the end of next month and it's $150. Not sure I want to go this route as none of my photos sold. There is a non-prof version for a lot less, but you don't get the huge storage, and you can't set you print prices to earn a profit.

Looking for other options too. I'm curious as to how much it would cost to have someone design a page that I really want, and the annual cost to keep it up and running (ie is it cheaper than Smug Mug). The nice thing about Smug Mug is that people can order prints right from your site so you really don't have to do anything.

 

[alloyd1170]

FYI just found this online: http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/default.asp?newsID=4450

Another added bonus to Smug Mug is that you can protect your photos (ie with watermarks, and not allowing screen downloads-right clicking and saving them). You own your photos. Other sites like Flicker, Photobucket and Shutterfly are free to use your photos any way they see fit. I do have a Shutterfly site that is for family only, and is password protected. In this day and age though, any one could probably break into it. I only put our family photos on it-not my sell-worthy shots.

 

[ranthony]

Thanks for posting the link to that article.

Where can one find a discount code for smugmug?

 

[MICKEY88]

Zenfolio is another great site, similar to smugmug,
I chose them over smugmug because they use mpix as their lab, and I have used mpix for years and have always been happy with them..

zenfolio is only 100 per year,

here is a link to their pricing and feature page

http://secure.zenfolio.com/zf/all-features.aspx

 

[alloyd1170]

Google SmugMug coupons and you'll find lots. Also, right from their website you can do a trial for the first year (think it's 20% off). I got my first year for $75. To renew at the Professional level is $150.....think I will drop to the middle level (Power) for $60. The only disadvantage is that I can't watermark my photos (not a big deal since I can block downloading) and I can't set prices to sell my prints. Again, not a major deal since I have yet to sell any. I will make it so people can contact me if they want to buy and do it myself. You can upgrade at any time too.

 

[DizzyV6P]

I've been using Zenfolio for the past two years and have been very satisfied with it. It's $100 per year and it does let u watermark. Mpix is a great vendor on there as well.

 

[photo_chick]

Are you selling prints to a client, or selling art prints?

Smugmug is great for client prints. Many people sell art prints through deviantart.com, and they have a free account option. If you're selling art prints it takes a lot of marketing to get them sold.

 

[DaveFoto]

I've used zenfolio in the past and liked it, but switched over to photoshelter and I've sold many more images this way - photoshelter.com

 

[Master Mason]

Google SmugMug coupons and you'll find lots. Also, right from their website you can do a trial for the first year (think it's 20% off). I got my first year for $75. To renew at the Professional level is $150.....think I will drop to the middle level (Power) for $60. The only disadvantage is that I can't watermark my photos (not a big deal since I can block downloading) and I can't set prices to sell my prints. Again, not a major deal since I have yet to sell any. I will make it so people can contact me if they want to buy and do it myself. You can upgrade at any time too.

All blocking downloading does is slow folks down, it only takes a second to print screen and then copy and paste it somehwhere if someone really wants the shot.

The only way to prevent someone from taking your shot if you don't want them to, is to not post it online.

As to the OP, I have had smugmug for about 5 years now, I'm very happy and will keep it.

Smugmug also has the option of Mpix now as well.

 

[Experiment_626]

I've used zenfolio in the past and liked it, but switched over to photoshelter and I've sold many more images this way - photoshelter.com

I've also been with Zenfolio for a couple of years and liked it, but I've also heard lots of good things about Photoshelter of late and am intrigued. Why do you think you've had more success with them -- especially considering they are more expensive? What kinds of photos do you offer? Do you shoot portraits, landscapes, or something else?

I really wonder if making the switch would be cost-effective for me. I mostly shoot landscapes and cityscapes ...

Scott

 

[JoeDif]

All blocking downloading does is slow folks down, it only takes a second to print screen and then copy and paste it somehwhere if someone really wants the shot.

The only way to prevent someone from taking your shot if you don't want them to, is to not post it online.

As to the OP, I have had smugmug for about 5 years now, I'm very happy and will keep it.

Smugmug also has the option of Mpix now as well.

When did this happen? I've been using Bay Photo exclusively but Mpix would be a nice option.

 

[DaveFoto]

I've also been with Zenfolio for a couple of years and liked it, but I've also heard lots of good things about Photoshelter of late and am intrigued. Why do you think you've had more success with them -- especially considering they are more expensive? What kinds of photos do you offer? Do you shoot portraits, landscapes, or something else?

I really wonder if making the switch would be cost-effective for me. I mostly shoot landscapes and cityscapes ...

Scott

Photoshelter allowed me to create my own site and using the SEO tools people found my images much easier than than with zenfolio. With Zenfolio, you literally have to point people to your images for them to know they exist. I shoot commercial and glam on the side. Just a few of each months sales pay for the $50. per month fee for the pro plan.

 

[MICKEY88]

When did this happen? I've been using Bay Photo exclusively but Mpix would be a nice option.

I was looking for that info on the smugmug site, early this morning, when I stumbled upon this, which I find kind of alarming

Notice for Professional Account holders:
Uploading more than 500 photographs of participants in a single
sporting event may require a License from PhotoCrazy, Inc.
To avoid patent infringement, please contact:

PhotoCrazy, Inc.
Attn: Peter Wolf
509 Raindance Street
Thousand Oaks, California 91360-1219
Email: peter@photocrazy.com


further research found that this company has a patent on event photography, and it seems anyone doing events, must license thru them...

a little more reseaarch{ i googled patent for posting portraits online) showed that another company has a patent on the entire concept of putting photos online, for people to order them, if what i found is accurate, that means smugmug, zenfolio, etc are all facing possible lawsuits for patent violation,

the info I found also indicated that the patents shouldn't have been issued because other companies were already doing this, when the patents were applied for, hopefully someone will succeed in having these patents voided

 

[JoeDif]

I was looking for that info on the smugmug site, early this morning, when I stumbled upon this, which I find kind of alarming

Notice for Professional Account holders:
Uploading more than 500 photographs of participants in a single
sporting event may require a License from PhotoCrazy, Inc.
To avoid patent infringement, please contact:

PhotoCrazy, Inc.
Attn: Peter Wolf
509 Raindance Street
Thousand Oaks, California 91360-1219
Email: peter@photocrazy.com


further research found that this company has a patent on event photography, and it seems anyone doing events, must license thru them...

a little more reseaarch{ i googled patent for posting portraits online) showed that another company has a patent on the entire concept of putting photos online, for people to order them, if what i found is accurate, that means smugmug, zenfolio, etc are all facing possible lawsuits for patent violation,

the info I found also indicated that the patents shouldn't have been issued because other companies were already doing this, when the patents were applied for, hopefully someone will succeed in having these patents voided

That is a bit disturbing news

So does this mean that if we only load 499 images from any event we are ok

 

[MICKEY88]

That is a bit disturbing news

So does this mean that if we only load 499 images from any event we are ok

that's what I wondered..

I found a discussion on this and someone said they contacted the guy and he told them non sports events were OK.

on the other hand the other companies patent would come into play regardless of number of photos...

supposedly the other company has been actively defending their patent and collecting millions from other companies..

 

[Experiment_626]

Photoshelter allowed me to create my own site and using the SEO tools people found my images much easier than than with zenfolio. With Zenfolio, you literally have to point people to your images for them to know they exist. I shoot commercial and glam on the side. Just a few of each months sales pay for the $50. per month fee for the pro plan.

Okay, I'll have to give that careful consideration. SEO has been the main problem I've had with Zenfolio -- one I don't believe is exclusive to them. Other than that, I've been very happy with them. Does Photoshelter provide the templates and printing options of the sort that Zenfolio does? I don't want to have to build my own site. While I'm sure I could learn to do it -- just as I could learn to play the piano -- there aren't enough hours in the day as it is, and I don't want to devote much time to that.

Scott