Smugmug

[NostalgicDad]

I definitely agree that it should be an option rather than the default. I hadn't noticed this since you mentioned it so I checked a new gallery I created yesterday. The thumbnails aren't square. Since I use a quick settings template when creating new galleries, I guess that is one way to get around it. But again, you shouldn't have to get around something you weren't doing in the first place. For my personal preference, I won't be using square thumbnails.

 

[Master Mason]

Here is another heads up. On March 30 they will be changing out the Paper they print on. http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=88699

It doesn't overly effect me because I haven't delved into custom color settings, but if you have, you might want to take a look.

 

[maccagerl]

Hi!
I'm trying to decide which photohost to use- Pbase is a little cheaper than Smugmug, but they both have nice looking galleries.
I'd love to hear from anyone using either of these services - how easy are they to use? Do they work ok with Mac Leopard? Any pros or cons to either service?
TIA for any opinions!

 

[Master Mason]

I don't know anything about pbase, but I have smugmug and am very happy with them. I know you can set up an account for free to try it out, I imagine you can at pbase as well. Set up the trial, load a few photos and see what you think.

When you set up the smugmug trial if you use the code HJwjORAaIC4PY you can save yourself a few bucks as well should you decide to go with them.

 

[11290]

Kind of depends on what you want the site for. By that I mean, are you planning on archiving your pix to the site for storage or just wanting to upload them so that others may look at them.

If you want "full size" photo storage, zenfolio.com is a good location. Pretty reasonable ($40 per year for unlimited full size storage) , fast site, easy upload (drag n drop) and nice customizable layouts.

I've been on PBase for 5 or 6 years now and really like it. Has always been a "fast" site (until the last few days - they are working on it), used to be free but is still reasonable and I just like the way it is set up. No ads, just pictures and no nags for buying pictures. I don't use it for storage just for others to view so I make a reduced size copy of my images and load those to the site and keep the full size in my own archives.

Just my $.02

 

[Master Mason]

Kind of depends on what you want the site for. By that I mean, are you planning on archiving your pix to the site for storage or just wanting to upload them so that others may look at them.

If you want "full size" photo storage, zenfolio.com is a good location. Pretty reasonable ($40 per year for unlimited full size storage) , fast site, easy upload (drag n drop) and nice customizable layouts.

I've been on PBase for 5 or 6 years now and really like it. Has always been a "fast" site (until the last few days - they are working on it), used to be free but is still reasonable and I just like the way it is set up. No ads, just pictures and no nags for buying pictures. I don't use it for storage just for others to view so I make a reduced size copy of my images and load those to the site and keep the full size in my own archives.

Just my $.02

I load full sized images onto smugmug everyday the single image size limit is 48 MB, so I am not sure what your talking about.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I used PBase several years ago (from 2002 to about 2004 or so). It was great for the time. Just about every photographer I knew back then used it. It's problem was that it was free (donation supported) and so it didn't get the investment it needed to keep up with the market. I haven't used it in years, so I don't know if it has improved.

At the time I switched to Smugmug, I did so for several reasons. First and foremost, PBase had a 100 meg limit. Even at reduced size, that wasn't enough to hold all of the pictures I wanted to post. I hated having to remove stuff to make room for new stuff. It also didn't have the ability to order prints, which many relatives and friends wanted to do.

Smugmug to me was a better balance. It allowed me more control, gave my users the ability to print images without being annoying about it, and put more effort into improving itself over time.

Now, Smugmug has great competition from Zenfolio. They are very comparable but distinctly different. I still prefer Smugmug, but I can definitely see why some people prefer Zenfolio. PBase just doesn't seem to have kept up.

I've been spending more time on Smugmug's forums (www.dgrin.com), which are interesting even for non-smugmug users. They've got some great tutorials on shooting and post processing as well as tutorials on improving your Smugmug site. It's an interesting community.

 

[11290]

I load full sized images onto smugmug everyday the single image size limit is 48 MB, so I am not sure what your talking about.

Just making a comment that I thought zenfolio was a good site for loading full size images. Did NOT run down smugmug in any way shape or form. If you are happy with smugmug, that's OK with me.

 

[MICKEY88]

smugmug and zenfolio seem to be the 2 favorites here on the boards,,

I use zenfolio,,

the deciding factor for me was..

smugmug allows you to order prints from ezprints

zenfolio allows you to order prints from ezprints and mpix..

I've used mpix for years so that was the deal maker for me

if you should decide to try zenfolio you can save a few bucks by using this discount code.. XE1-C1X-2JF

 

[wdwensel]

I currently use pbase and have been there for a couple of years. I don't know anything about how it compares to smugmug or any others so I'm not help for you there. But I can say the pbase does everything I currently need. Uploading pics has never been a problem. I really enjoy their forums and photo challenges that are on pbase. I can say that being on pbase and using their forums and challenges has very much allowed me to grow as a photographer and for that alone I am glad to be there.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Things I like about Smugmug over Zenfolio:

1) HD Video compared to no video (the decider for me)
2) Geotagging
3) More users - bigger communities, more traffic, more 3rd party tools
4) More customizable

Things Zenfolio has that I wish Smugmug would add:
1) Virtual Folders (why make me waste space duplicating pictures?)
2) Batch keyword editing

 

[maccagerl]

Thanks everyone, your comments are really helpful to me.
I would be using the site to display my photos - I'd like to organize my photos into galleries for easy viewing.
I'm also looking for something that is easy to set up and use as I can be a bit computer challenged at times.
Some of you have mentioned people being able to purchase photos directly from the site- is there some way to control this? Can you set the price you want to charge, or does it just default to something like 19 cents a print for a 4x6?
I've never heard of Zenfolio- gonna go check that out right now!

 

[Master Mason]

At smugmug you can turn it off so no one can purchase photos, however on the 1st 2 teirs if you allow it it is at the same price you would pay for them. Only the pro account allows you to set prices yourself.

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

I tried the trial versions of both smugmug and zenfolio. I liked both, but in the end smugmug seemed to be a better fit. I have been very happy with them. The support is great! The updates happen pretty regularly and the photo community is great!

My $0.02

 

[0bli0]

i've gone away from PBase, where i was a paid member for several years. i now prefer Flickr. they have a great community, good collection of groups, and you can control what sizes are available to different people.

 

[maccagerl]

i've gone away from PBase, where i was a paid member for several years. i now prefer Flickr. they have a great community, good collection of groups, and you can control what sizes are available to different people.

Doesn't Flickr have that "creative commons" license whereby anyone can take your photo and use it commerciallly without you granting them the license to do so? I'd like to retain the copyright and licensing to my photos.

 

[MICKEY88]

Some of you have mentioned people being able to purchase photos directly from the site- is there some way to control this? Can you set the price you want to charge, or does it just default to something like 19 cents a print for a 4x6?
I've never heard of Zenfolio- gonna go check that out right now!

with zenfolio. basic or unlimited accounts you can set it so people can or can not order from ezprints and mpix, at lab prices..

with the premium account you can set your own prices, you can set which labs can be ordered from, available print sizes etc.. you can even set it so you preview the order before it is printed, that way if you want to upload smaller size files for viewing you can, and then upload the full size file for printing.. etc...


any questions on zenfolio feel free to ask..

 

[MICKEY88]

Some of you have mentioned people being able to purchase photos directly from the site- is there some way to control this? Can you set the price you want to charge, or does it just default to something like 19 cents a print for a 4x6?
I've never heard of Zenfolio- gonna go check that out right now!

with zenfolio. basic or unlimited accounts you can set it so people can or can not order from ezprints and mpix, at lab prices..

with the premium account you can set your own prices, you can set which labs can be ordered from, available print sizes etc.. you can even set it so you preview the order before it is printed, that way if you want to upload smaller size files for viewing you can, and then upload the full size file for printing.. etc...


any questions on zenfolio feel free to ask..

 

[jann1033]

i have found zenfolio to be really great with customer service...they have a forum now and it's easy to get any question taken care of, they also try very hard imo to impliment ideas the customers have ie, they are working on slide shows, more themes, changing the folder format for groups( right now it is cheddar cheese orange background), and a bunch of other stuff people have suggested. they have a whole board where you can submit ideas to upgrade the site..i don't think i have ever seen a group that is so willing to listen to their customers...that might be the prime advantage with me to a smaller company..you have imput on what they are doing...don't know how smugmug is in that regard, just based on my dealings with other sites that are very much " take what we offer and don't complain"( ie microsoft office live , a couple other places) preforum they were very helpful one on one as well and still someone "official" from zenfolio has answered every ? i have ever had...
it doesn't get the traffic smugmug does which some who have sites there and were on smugmug say is a blessing..guess that depends...i'd like a little more traffic myself but part of that is just building up an internet business i think

there is a formula zenfolio lets you use to set prices or you can just set your own or just charge what the base price is for prints( which is kind of nice since i can get my prints for base price and have other prices set for others). you also can adjust each photo for who views it ie in my one gallery i have my husband's samples and have them open but i approve all my orders and sometime crop them differently etc if they want a different size and i can lock that stuff.
i think i am kind of a demanding pain in the neck when it comes to business stuff( ok no "kind of",,, just a demanding pain in the neck) and i love zenfolio. so glad it was recommended here to me by mickey88 and andy

 

[Master Mason]

Jann, smugmug has a similar forum it is called dgrin. The employees and owners of the company personally answer peoples questions and concerns on it.