Zenfolio vs. Photoshelter

[u_loco_local]

I'm on the fence between Zenfolio and Photoshelter. I'm moving from photoreflect, and need something that's easy to use, and easy to enter my own prices.

Zenfolio is 250 for the business and PS is around 300 for the standard package.

I understand it can be a matter of preference, but does anyone have any opinions about either one to help me make my decision?

Here's what I'm looking for:



simple to make my own prices for prints
can use for image licensing
easy and quick to create galleries.
able to separate commercial and portrait work for easy organization
These are just a few things I'm looking for.

I'm just wondering if I should splurge and go with photoshelter.

Any opinions are appreciated.

[cameraperson]

will smugmug work for you?

[u_loco_local]

Hi Cameraperson, I am using the trial on smugmug right now, but I'm not sold on it yet. It seems to take a while configuring the galleries and the controls are a little complicated. Maybe they are more simpler after using them for a while.

[jbjet45]

loco - I use Zenfolio and I love it. I really wonder if you could get along with the Premium plan. I already had the Premium when they offered the other but I did not see any need to upgrade. I only pay $100 a year and that includes alot for the money. It is very, very easy to make galleries and share on facebook and all kinds of neat things. They have a trial for the premium package. If you decide to try it I have a code u can use to save $10 or something like that. It also credits me something but not sure what.

[u_loco_local]

What I like about PS is that it automatically determines the cost for licensing.

Does either smugmug or zenfolio do that?

Then I like the idea of zenfolio using mpix for prints since I use mpixpro now and am happy with how my prints look.

100 bucks isn't that bad for pricing either.

[jbjet45]

I guess I don't know what kind of licensing you are talking about - I am not a pro - LOL

[Dan-o]

Loco, I'm currently using the trial of PS and there are two things that will probably be a deal breaker. One is you can only have galleries within a collection and that is it.

Like for instance with my current service, Exposure Manager, I can put as many galleries within galleries. I'm shooting a three day cycling event this weekend with 10 or more categories each day. With EM I can organize this very well putting each category, into each day, into the race gallery, into my 2011 Cycling gallery, into my main gallery. With PS you only have two tiers. Not the end of the world but I like the endless tiers that EM provides.

The other thing is PayPal check out. This is the major deal breaker for me and see lots of complaints about it on their forums. They say they are working on going to a new cart system but until they do I'm sticking with EM.

Never used Zen so can't help you there.

[Ryan Marko]

I have zenfolio, and it's really easy to use and way cheaper. I wanted to like Smugmug (they try so hard to get your business) but designing the site was just so darn complicated. With photoshelter you need to use your credit card just to try out the trial.

I've had a lot of compliments on my site, check it out if you like. I have a referral code on one of the pages, which give you a 10% off. For the business premium if would be 225$ with the discount. When you sign up, you get a referral code. If you refer other clients who then sign up, you get a credit towards next years membership. You can easily get next year's membership free if you do this.

www.ryanmarko.zenfolio.com

[DanThoman]

I looked at most of the hosting sites and decided on zenfolio. I'm using the premium package at $100 per year. Been very pleased with everything including ease of use for me and my customers.

[banquetbear]

...as a New Zealand user I settled on Photoshelter after a year searching for the right proofing system. I have been looking for a system that was easy to set up, could deal with NZ currency, low capital investment, could manage licences, and was a stable long-term company. Eventually I will be moving to my own hosting system using a system such as photocart, but I don't have the cashflow or the time to set it up right now.

One of the things that "pushed me over the top" with photoshelter was that one of the top local print labs was in the printer network. I contacted them and although they were not being inundated with photoshelter orders, they were set up and things seemed to be working fine. None of the other proofing options (zenfolio, smugmug, fotomoto, instaproofs, etc) were anywhere as close to being "international friendly", so photoshelter got the vote from me.

[CanonDad]

I have been with Photoshelter for a couple of months now and am always on the lookout for an alternative (not because of PS, just becasue im like that), and am currently trialling Zenfolio.
TBH im going to stick with PS. The look of it is just superb and the design trounces Zenfolio in every department.
Small things such as not having a watermark on the homepage images and having separate galleries on the homepage is something that makes PS better.
1 thing i have an issue with is that i can only have 2 custom pages, when i really need 1 more, but thats the only issue.
Zenfolio is extremely customisable, but doesnt look as good as PS (IMO)

[twolittlestarfish]

Banquetbear...I am also in NZ. Which local print lab do you use for New Zealand through photoshelter?

[FlyingPhotog]

Unfortunately, Zenfolio does not offer anything like photo quote on PS.

Beyond that, I've been very happy with Zen. My site is linked below.

[Staszek]

Photoshelter has been awesome to me and does everything the OP desired (I recognize this is an old thread). The built in Photo Quote is great because it allows me to license editorial photos without ever having to be in contact with the magazine or newspaper editor.

You can save up to $30 off Photoshelter if you sign up here! (http://www.photoshelter.com/referral/ST5XL3Q534)

[banquetbear]

Banquetbear...I am also in NZ. Which local print lab do you use for New Zealand through photoshelter?

...Imagelab. Wellington based, and a very simple process when I've used it. The prints are more expensive though, so you have to think about your pricing carefully, and make sure you account for all the other costs like paypal and GST etc, when you work out your sell cost. You can also self fulfill: which also works very well.

Just a quick note on Photoshelter: on the 24th of March they are starting the first of what is planned to be a year long upgrade of the entire photoshelter site: the changes include a simplified image inter face system (yeah!) and nested galleries.

[flapsmcgee]

I use Photoshelter and I love it for the main reason that I can have my own front end which needs to be quick to load and easy to navigate also search is great and best of all you can customize rights manged prices and personal use prices
Clicl link...http://www.procarlos.com/gallery-list

[facedodge]

I am in the trial period with smugmug and zenfolio. So far, I like smugmug's usibility and organization. I feel like zenfolio is not intuitive and has hard to find editing options. However, I like how zenfolio allows you to add a dollar amount and then a percentage. With smugmug, you can only use percentage, so if you pick 200% or something, you only get a few pennies for a 5x7 vs sixty dollars for a canvas print. I end up having to change the percentages to each of their hundred or so print options.

[Ahtz]

I am in the trial period with smugmug and zenfolio. So far, I like smugmug's usibility and organization. I feel like zenfolio is not intuitive and has hard to find editing options. However, I like how zenfolio allows you to add a dollar amount and then a percentage. With smugmug, you can only use percentage, so if you pick 200% or something, you only get a few pennies for a 5x7 vs sixty dollars for a canvas print. I end up having to change the percentages to each of their hundred or so print options.

Quit spreading false information. You can set the price of each individual print separate from each other if you want.

[facedodge]

Quit spreading false information. You can set the price of each individual print separate from each other if you want.

That's exactly what I said. I am not spreading false information like some jerk with a agenda. You have two options; use one percentage or many different ones. I would rather add 5 bucks then a smaller percentage to the price. That way, I'm not selling the small prints too cheep and the large prints too expensively. Does it make sense to charge 50 cents for a 4x6 then 150 bucks for a 8 x 10 canvas print? I'd rather charge 5 bucks for a 4x6 and 20 bucks for a canvas print. With Zenfolio, I can do that with two clicks and all the prices in between just fall in line. With Smugmug, I have to spend half the day adjusting every line item manually.