Website making for photography?

[mrerico]

Where should I go to start my own website for photography?

I was checking out www.godaddy.com (http://www.godaddy.com) but am not sure if its good or not for photography.


Umm...any comments/ suggestions welcome!


BTW. While making a website name should I label it:

1) www.ericothephotographer.com (http://www.ericothephotographer.com)
2) www.ericomoriphotography.com (http://www.ericomoriphotography.com)



Thanks!

[trantz]

are you talking about hosting? or just buying domain name there? Considering the file-size of the photos as part of the design of your site, I don't see any problems.
as for your name, I vote for the 2nd.

[bugdog]

I came across these people looks good for the price.
Just a link for you to look at.
Maybe someone on her uses them

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

I think the second name sounds more proffesional.
BTW love your firework shots.

Regards Phill

[mrerico]

I want to upload photos (weekly) to my site without a problem of bandwidth error. I want to buy the domain and whatever else I need but I need to know where to start off at. Is www.godaddy.com a website alot of POTN users use?

1 vote for second domain name :]

[rhys]

The problem is that most ISPs will limit either bandwidth or webspace. It's an artificial limitation that they can use in order to upsell you on packages. It is possible to become your own ISP. I believe the requirement is a dual processor server (could be a dual CPU PC running Linux).

[mrerico]

What is an ISP?

[Familiaphoto]

If you just want to host your images somewhere then something like Zenfolio is a great option. You might want to look at the thread below it talks about hosting photos.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=163796

If you want to sell prints through the site I might consider Smug Mug, has some great options for selling prints, etc. that Zenfolio lacks. Although I use Zenfolio and love it, easy to use and a fantastic value.

Note, both Zenfolio and Smug Mug, with the right type of account, will let you point a domain name to your galleries. Nice plus.

Now if you want to market yourself you are talking about more than a gallery then you are talking about a website, etc. For that you will need an ISP (Internet Service Provider) to host the web site and its content about your business, etc. GoDaddy is a good place to buy a domain name, but not sure how their hosting is.

Best of luck.

[mrerico]

Pgiancola- I am going with godaddy's site but what package should I buy? So many to choose from.

[tracknut]

Godaddy's "Economy Plan" for $4/month gives you 5GB of disk space and 250GB of bandwidth per month. Unless you have tens of thousands of images and thousands of customers using the site, this is probably enough!

You'll also have to decide on Windows vs. Linux. If you have any server side requirements, you need to know what server applications you're going to use, and what operating system they run on. If you have no idea, chose Linux for now. You can always switch later.

I've used them for years, they are really good.

Dave

[mrerico]

is that what your website in your sig if from? godaddy?

Well I mostly work on PC...should I still choose Linux?

[tracknut]

Yes, www.pixf.com is on godaddy. The OS of your client PC really doesn't matter in the choice of the server operating system. If your site is just going to be HTML and CSS, then you don't care what OS on the server. But if you plan on a particular photo gallery managed from the server (maybe with a database), you want to verify what server OS that gallery and database need. Or forum software, as another example. Like I say, if you're just getting started, get Linux. The Godaddy control panel will let you switch operating systems if you got it wrong the first time.

Dave

[mrerico]

thanks!

but can you explain to me what a particular photo gallery managed from the server might be? Is that like iPhoto?

Because I am taking a class with macs and I am learning how to do graphic design, would that apply there?

[liza]

Big Folio is supposed to be excellent in terms of overall looks and in customer service. I'll probably switch to them in the spring.

[mrerico]

big folio is $750 to setup tho!

[Karl C]

The problem is that most ISPs will limit either bandwidth or webspace. It's an artificial limitation that they can use in order to upsell you on packages.

Do you really know what you're talking about? Seriously. Stop being conspiracy-minded.

What is an ISP?

Internet Service Provider.

I'm using GoDaddy's Linux-based webhosting and they provide Coppermine Gallery for free. I pay $6.99/month (my choice) for their Deluxe Plan and that provides 100 GB space and 1000 GB transfer. I highly doubt you'll exceed these parameters unless you upload 8 MB photos, which I don't recommend.

You could use FileZilla FTP program to handle the uploading to your website on GoDaddy's servers. FileZilla is free.

Unless you're extremely IT savvy, I wouldn't recommend becoming "your own ISP". You don't want the headaches of being an ISP - let someone else, who's business is being an ISP, handle that function. You focus on photography (no pun intended).

Good luck

[mrerico]

Thanks! Yeah I do use FillaZilla. So I think I will go with godaddy.com :]

Thank you all so very much! You made my decision clear :D

[jdevito]

The problem is that most ISPs will limit either bandwidth or webspace. It's an artificial limitation that they can use in order to upsell you on packages. It is possible to become your own ISP. I believe the requirement is a dual processor server (could be a dual CPU PC running Linux).

You really don't need the dual processor, although it is helpful. I know people running their own Linux servers on PIII 700Mhz machines. A good high speed connection is very important.

I built my own server running Gentoo Linux as the OS, Apache as the web server, and Gallery2 as my photo gallery. I purchased my domain name from Yahoo, 1st year cost me $4.99. If you are comfortable, setting up Apache was pretty easy, I even have my server running multiple sites as vhosts. Apache and Gallery2 can be installed on a Windows box, but from my frustrating experience I would not recommend it. The greatest thing about running Linux is I didn't have to pay for it, every software package I use supports public license.

[rhys]

Do you really know what you're talking about? Seriously. Stop being conspiracy-minded.

My webspace provider has the following scale of charges:

WebSpace bandwidth
150mb 500mb
2,048mb 10,240mb
4,096mb 20,480mb
8,192mb 102,400mb


Actually, I'm on an older plan so I might be getting a bit shafted. I get 2GB bandwidth plus 500mb webspace.

[jdevito]

rhys,

That bites, in the US ISP's do not impose such limitations on their customers. I noticed ISP's doing this when I was looking into moving to AUS.

[rhys]

You really don't need the dual processor, although it is helpful. I know people running their own Linux servers on PIII 700Mhz machines. A good high speed connection is very important.

I built my own server running Gentoo Linux as the OS, Apache as the web server, and Gallery2 as my photo gallery. I purchased my domain name from Yahoo, 1st year cost me $4.99. If you are comfortable, setting up Apache was pretty easy, I even have my server running multiple sites as vhosts. Apache and Gallery2 can be installed on a Windows box, but from my frustrating experience I would not recommend it. The greatest thing about running Linux is I didn't have to pay for it, every software package I use supports public license.

Last time I read the regulations they required dual CPUs and backups of this
and that. My file server in Britain ran SME Linux and worked pretty well. I'd have loved to put it online.

Keeping domain, webspace and ISP separate is something I alwasy recommend and it has worked for me well for years.

[tracknut]

Actually, I'm on an older plan so I might be getting a bit shafted. I get 2GB bandwidth plus 500mb webspace.
Holy cow. If you're paying more than about $1/month for this, you're getting shafted.

To the OP, take a look at the various galleries the GoDaddy offers on their hosting plans. I know Coppermine is one of them, that might be useful. I don't use them, but I do know there are some good tools that come for free with the hosting.

Dave

[Oneslowz28]

I have my site hosted on bizland.com I have 300 gigs of storage and 300 gigs of bandwidth for 8 bucks a month. The setup fee including the first month and 1 year domain was only a total of 17.99

[Oneslowz28]

I forgot to add that if you decide to go with bizland mention my name and my url. I get a 20 buck credit to my account for every referal. That would give me free hosting for almost 3 months.

[S.Horton]

Big Folio is supposed to be excellent in terms of overall looks and in customer service. I'll probably switch to them in the spring.

Thx - good tip.

[mrerico]

ONE MORE question!!!

When buying a go-daddy website should I buy an email account from them too? Is it really necessary for photogs?

[tracknut]

No, you should not. Resist the temptation to buy anything other than the standard $4 hosting package. You get email with the hosting package already, if you want to use it.

Dave

[Oneslowz28]

Bizland gives me unlimited email accounts with my 8 buck a month package. I think the limit is like 999,999 so its not realy unlimited but who is going to have that many email accounts? My email is cgantt@cjganttphotography.com

[snedigity]

Photo biz is where I am going next

[rhys]

Holy cow. If you're paying more than about $1/month for this, you're getting shafted.


I think I'm paying about 25GBP per year.

[PhotosGuy]

Free JAlbum.net - Will build excellent galleries & now has free hosting, too
http://jalbum.net/hosting/

Example skins - JAlbum
http://jalbum.erica59.com/jalbum.html

OTOH, I built my site in comcast, & linked to a JAlbum gallery & the Printroom site:
I combined three into one. (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=379495)

[element94_2007]

Some thoughts:

1.When purchasing a domain name,i'd go with a reliable company such as GoDaddy. You can't use small thirt world registrar and risk losing your domain name as some point in the future.
2.As for hosting i can recommend byohosting.com
3.For those of you who are thinking seriously about getting their names and talent out to the world wide web , i recommend you to either :
a. learn html/php/flash and build your own site
b.hire someone to build it for you.
You want to brand yourself.You don't want a page with some pics on it and some links to other sites where you host your pictures. You want to be able to show your pics, sell them, post information about yourself and your work, and a lot of other stuff from ONE site.

Just my 2 cents.

[Tareq]

Thank you very much.
I was looking long time go for a good webhosting service and i decided finally to go with GoDaddy, but i stuck with Windows/Linux Option.
I am too leaning to Linux than windows regardless what OS i use so what do you think? i was going to ask on separate thread i will create but good i found this thread to ask and no need for many threads to ask about same points mostly, so hope i can find an answer here.

[mtd]

Where should I go to start my own website for photography?

I was checking out www.godaddy.com (http://www.godaddy.com) but am not sure if its good or not for photography.


Umm...any comments/ suggestions welcome!


BTW. While making a website name should I label it:

1) www.ericothephotographer.com (http://www.ericothephotographer.com)
2) www.ericomoriphotography.com (http://www.ericomoriphotography.com)



Thanks!

As far as registering the domain name, I'd recommend GoDaddy. I have had all of my domains registered with them for years and have never hand an issue.

If both of the domain names listed above are still available, you could register them both just to get them. It's only about $9/year for a domain name, and you could set one of them to forward to the other, so if somebody typed in either one, they'd still get to your site. That way you have control over both names in case you decide later to use one over the other.

Also, if you decided to host your site with somebody else in the future, you still have both domain names and all you have to do is go back to GoDaddy and change the registration to point to the new webhost.

[mtd]

ONE MORE question!!!

When buying a go-daddy website should I buy an email account from them too? Is it really necessary for photogs?

I wouldn't recommend buying more than you need, especially to begin with. You can always add services as you need them.

I will say, however, that if I were a customer and I got business cards from 2 people with MyName@MyBusiness.com on one and MyName@Subdomain.SomebodyElsesWebsite.com on the other, I'm already thinking the first guy is the professional. :^) Just like somebody posted earlier, you're branding yourself, and your email address is part of your brand. I often wonder about businesses that have their own website, but use a comcast or hotmail email address....

[superdiver]

Have you looked at the hosting sites, like Smugmug and Pbase and fliker?

[jdevito]

Google also offers a free service to use your domain name with gmail. This will allow you to have MyName@MyBusiness.com but in a gmail interface. The free service allows up to 50 users, each with a 2GB email box, calendar, and it is even blackberry compatible.

https://www.google.com/a/

[mrerico]

my 2 websites are-

www.ericomori.com
and
www.ericomoriphotography.com

And they both dont work...someone please help!!!

[tracknut]

my 2 websites are-

www.ericomori.com (http://www.ericomori.com)
and
www.ericomoriphotography.com (http://www.ericomoriphotography.com)

And they both dont work...someone please help!!!

The domain ericomori.com doesn't appear to be registered to anyone. Did you spell that right? And ericomoriphotography.com looks like it doesn't have a home page.

Dave

[EnronRocks]

Upon looking at GoDaddy take a look at DreamHost (www.DreamHost.com (http://www.dreamhost.com)). They have amazing support, uptime, pricing, and load speeds. My sites (all of them) are hosted by DreamHost. I also have a coupon (that is not affiliated to me AT all) that will get you $97.00 off of your first year of hosting. So your first year at DreamHost is around $22.00, and $119.40 a year after that. You also get a free domain and such with your plan, which I do not recommend doing with most hosts, but just because of DreamHost being amazingly good at what they do, I would recommend them and get the domain for free through them. Also, another cool feature is that you can host as many domains on a account as you want, and with 500 gigs of space and 5 terabytes (5,120 gigs) of bandwidth, no worries at all.

I have seriously contemplated buying 10 years of hosting in advance from them, I do not see myself leaving any time soon at all.

If you want to check out load speeds, my sites are as follows;
www.BrinkerPhoto.com (http://www.BrinkerPhoto.com)
www.GarrettReardon.com (http://www.GarrettReardon.com)
www.RagnarokBattle.com (http://www.RagnarokBattle.com)
www.UnstoppableSoldiers.us (http://www.UnstoppableSoldiers.us)
www.BrizzleFoMizzleSports.com (http://www.brizzlefomizzlesports.com)
www.MurphyRec.org (http://www.MurphyRec.org)

[blakis08]

Go to bluehost.com

/thread

[bungee]

I have a godaddy hosting account and it seems trouble free with filezilla to upload files. I did try coppermine and gallery (free apps) but found them both too clunky and branded. I also tried jalbum but found this just too complex with bits and pieces of 'userware' needed to get an integrated look. In the end I used good old iWeb on the Mac with just a blank template. It's straightforward to use and works for want I wanted, which is primarily a gallery rather than a sales point (I sell through a stock site). OK it's not flash either and I'm sure I can do better but for now I just wanted something 'up there'.

Judge for yourself at www.image29.com