Websites, Blogs, Galleries oh my!

[nutsnbolts]

Ok, I consider myself proficient in developing sites, intergrating galleries, etc, etc, etc. However, I'm going crazeeee!

On the side, I do web designing and out of all my years of designing websites, I'm going crazy on my own.

I have 2 Zenfolio accounts (One personal, one to build a portfolio) and I'm thinking of at least upgrading one for (probably the portfolio account). In addition, I have my own personal blog and website about me which I have integrated Gallery2 by (gallery.menalto.com).

Essentially, in my Gallery2 were a bunch of organized P&S pictures which I took before my DSLR days. Now that I think of it, I should technically have never bought the Zenfolio accounts because it will just be too much to maintain and which pictures will go which and where.

Travel Blogs? Wow, I travel a lot and now I'm thinking of doing this as well! Oh wait, I have to create a photography site as well!

Anyone went through this?

[Herbo]

I've recently been through this and got to the point where I had designed and uploaded my entire website only to sleep on it and hate it.

What do you want this (these) website(s) for?

[nutsnbolts]

Well for starters, I figured I'd attain a Zenfolio account to showcase my DSLR pictures. I'd figure I'd just create a link from my site to point to this. However, what goes into zenfolio what doesn't just confuses the crap out of me.

In addition, I created another Zenfolio account to keep and showcase a "portfolio" for instance. Things if I start to make money of, I'd have already created.

Now, I figured the following, I need to create a photography site as well that will tie my zenfolio "professional" site.

Travel blogs, I love the idea of it. I have seen some and I love how you it tells a story w/ Pictures!

[EnronRocks]

I personally would have just invested in a nice software galley software for your website, instead of running dual Zenfolio accounts. That not only is too much for me to even keep track of updating, passwords, hits and all of that great stuff.

Gallery2 would have in theory have done what you wanted. If you were wanting dual areas, you could of just installed two instances of Gallery2. There are also many other programs like Gallery2 that cost money that have many advanced feature.

I personally just take my pictures that I have edited and chosen, and throw them in a Simple Viewer gallery through the web tab in LightRoom, then I upload them in exact folders via FTP.

Maintaining any site can be stressful, but once you get in the habit of doing it, its not that difficult.

[nutsnbolts]

Definately a pain to keep track of everything. I was probably sucked in on the hype of Zenfolio/Smugmug/etc.

Either way, I'm looking to expire one of the zenfolio account and perhaps upgrade the Zenfolio.

One of the biggest misconceptions I read here is that when people want to build a website they are always saying, get Smugmug or Zenfolio. They are technically not websites, per say but galleries. Although Smugmug I see have been giving more custom capabilities it is still not a full form hosted website.

With all that, I think in the end, I will have to design a photography site, linked to a photo blog with galleries attached to it and be done with it.