Anybody use Exposure manager?

[troutbowl]

I am using Exposure Manager and the site looks kind of Dull I am looking for some input or suggestions on from anybody who is using EM on how I can make it look a little nicer. CC are welcome from all
Link is below

[SonyaL]

I have not used EM but can you change the white background to black?


Sonya

[troutbowl]

Yes, I was using black but changed to white

[jeffk20]

I just spit my apple juice out i laughed so hard!

[Photo and video Guy]

One thing I would recommend is converting your header into an image. Mine is far from perfect, and most of it is password protected but you are welcome to check it out. http://store.thevideoprofessional.com.

[Dan-o]

I find it very plain also. I know some like me just link to it for sales and fulfillment but use another site for the main page. I use Squarespace and Exposure Manager for my site.

[TXLEBER]

I agree, Exposure Manager can look pretty bland. I an embedded slide show using Showit to spice it up a little.

Check it out: http://galleries.darklightimaging.com/g/sheree_18th_birthday

[asysin2leads]

I've used ExpMan for a few years now and I like it. I created custom headers and footers to "spruce" things up a bit. Here are my galleries.

http://photos.7mphotography.com/

[SoccerRef]

I too have used EM for on line sales. Nothing Fancy, but fancier than just some type. I am about to re-invent my online presence and will be creating all new footers and headers.

The headers and footers can be customized using HTML. There are some very easy to use HTML editors out there that will create the HTML part for you while you work on a WYSIWYG type of layout.

There are even a few free ones out there. I used one and right now I can't for the life of me remember the name of it. I'll check when I get home. But, I simply created what I wanted my header to look like in one file and then created my footer in another file. It was much like working in MS Word. Then I simply clicked on a button that showed me the HTML language and I copied and pasted it.

You will need to create a "Private Gallery" on your EM site to store any images you use in your header, and then you'll need to change your directory links in the HTML, but that is not too difficult.

[ErikM]

I started with EM but then moved to Zenfolio... wayyyyy prettier and they support Canadian currency :)

[blackshadow]

How does EM handle orders from outside the US?

Also is EM SEO friendly?

[Photo and video Guy]

Black Shadow,
As to your first question, they do ship internationally using Global Priority Mail. (http://help.exposuremanager.com/kb/entry/120/) I have been unable to find any data on processing international currency and have never come across this issue myself but they have very good support, even if you are not a customer, so I would recommend emailing them to find this out.

SEO is not an issue for me because I have an independent content site and use EM strictly as a subdomain store. That said, EM allows html and css coding so if you know how to do it you can customize just about everything. I import my flash header and google analytics code from my content site and customized to a compatible style.


I compared EM and Zenfolio many times and for me EM was the best choice and it mainly boils down to these points.

Zenfolio won’t…

-Let you design your own themes (though the site does indicate this feature is “planned”)
-Use your own logo (though for premium users this feature is “coming soon”)
-Add html to customize your store
-allow you to create packages of products (though this feature is “planned” but it is mandatory for one of my major clients)

Zenfolio has…

-Higher lab-fulfillment commission 12% gross vs 10% gross at EM
-File size limitations, though 24GB at the premium level is pretty good unless you want to use TIFF files
-A significantly more complicated ordering interface

Pros for Zenfolio vs EM

-Better image display options
. o Larger previews
. o Dim the lights
. o Thumbnail navigation next to display image.
-Multiple formats accepted for file uploads
-Nice built in themes, cleaner interface for previewing
-Direct deposit of payments via PayPal account without minimum
-Ability to sell stock photos with custom licensing terms (EM only has 2 different types of Licensing but I don’t know much about this.)
-Scaled gross commission 12% for lab fulfillment, 8% for digital downloads and 4% for self-fulfillment orders (EM is 10% for all items, plus additional $.50 for self-fulfillment, and additional $.75 for digital downloads.)
-Upload directly from Lightroom (using 3rd party application)

So I guess it really comes down to what you need and how it will best integrate with your clientele and goals for an online system.

[bkburns]

Black Shadow,
Zenfolio won’t…

-Let you design your own themes (though the site does indicate this feature is “planned”)
-Use your own logo (though for premium users this feature is “coming soon”)


Check out the update they launched this last week. Those three are addressed. I am trialing it now for my order fulfillment / proofing site.

[Photo and video Guy]

Thanks for the follow-up. I will look into it. About the logo issue, EM lets you create a custom header for logo integration and full branding control. This allows me to import my nav header from my content site and allows me to fully customize how my logo is displayed via html. Is the Zen feature "use your own logo" similar to the "branding" feature in that it just allows the addition of an icon in the top left corner versus full branding control?

[bkburns]

More than adding a graphic, but way less than EM's complete control at the code level.