Do I Need a Site? Insight Needed

[Visible Metaphor]

I am a hobbyist photographer who has developed a love for glamour photography. I am conducting 2 or 3 photo shoots per month with models that I find from various sources.

Now, I want to show off my work to the world. What are my options? I already have a domain name and I believe my requirements are the following:


Galleries - one devoted to each shoot or type of shoot

Password Protected Area - where I can post the images from the shoot for feedback from a select group of people prior to posting in the main galleries

Informational Area - so I can introduce myself and my photography
Eventually, I see a need for a shopping cart for prints and such, but I am a few months away from that.

Should I go the website route even if I won't use the site to gather new business? I know I could use Flickr or Photobucket for image hosting, but I want the site to have as much elegance as my photos.

If I go with a site, is Bludomain or CreativeMotionsDesign the way to go for this type of site, since SEO will not be a huge concern?

I know this post sounds like a rambling self-therapy session, but I am hoping to find someone who was in my situation and has some advice.

Also, money is not an issue. I just want a means of conveying my photos as classy and professional as possible without any salesmanship.

[JohnnyEgo]

I should advise you that I am a rank novice at photography, but I've had my own website for hosting my own photos for many years now. These are a few of the reasons why:


Control: I keep my pictures up as long as I want. They can be as large or as small as I want. I have full editorial control over them. I don't relinquish any of my rights to them. [/*]
Convenience: Pictures are easier to access. I can FTP them to the site quickly and conveniently. I remember the address to them, and can make it as long or as short as I'd like. It's easier to tell my friends to just go to "JohnnyEgo.com" then "www.geocities.com/johnnyego13795/img0007t74y767823774.jpg" or any other such nonsense.[/*]
Price: I'm not certain, but I believe it costs me $8.95 a month to have my website hosted. I have yet to run out of bandwidth or space, and if I do, it's relatively easy to upgrade. Definitely worth it to have all the good things your own domain has to offer.[/*]


I highly recommend it, particularly if you have aspirations towards forming a business or using it as a professional reference.

[tonybear007]

I should advise you that I am a rank novice at photography, but I've had my own website for hosting my own photos for many years now. These are a few of the reasons why:
Control: I keep my pictures up as long as I want. They can be as large or as small as I want. I have full editorial control over them. I don't relinquish any of my rights to them. [/*]
Convenience: Pictures are easier to access. I can FTP them to the site quickly and conveniently. I remember the address to them, and can make it as long or as short as I'd like. It's easier to tell my friends to just go to "JohnnyEgo.com" then "www.geocities.com/johnnyego13795/img0007t74y767823774.jpg" or any other such nonsense.[/*]
Price: I'm not certain, but I believe it costs me $8.95 a month to have my website hosted. I have yet to run out of bandwidth or space, and if I do, it's relatively easy to upgrade. Definitely worth it to have all the good things your own domain has to offer.[/*]I highly recommend it, particularly if you have aspirations towards forming a business or using it as a professional reference.

Great post JohnnyEgo.

Another reason for using your own domain name: BRANDING.

If your personal name or business name is part of the domain name this will be beneficial in the long run.

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EOS 3 (35mm film), EOS 40D, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L, 70-200 f/4L, TAMRON SP AF17-50mm f/2.8
I Share my EOS 40D Experience Here (http://mycanoneos40d.com)

[Visible Metaphor]

You both have me convinced to create my own site. Do you have a preference as to customized template providers?

[AdamC]

You might want to consider smugmug or zenfolio. Both (afaik) allow you to use your own domain name instead of theirs and fully support online shopping etc.

[Dchemist]

I use smugmug and pay the "PRO level fee which allows me to use my own domain name without having smugmug in the link. I think its $150/year and you can do the things you want pretty easily. It also seems to be a robust site. You can allow print ordering through them although I have never done that. Good luck, Dennis

[clarkent1]

Usually I never write only read daily here.

I use pixelpost.org...its a photoblog you install once you sign up for a domain and hosting. And I pay 60 bucks a year for hosting and domain. Godaddy.com

go check out pixelpost.org for a better understanding

my website template, www.brankomarinic.com

[Visible Metaphor]

Usually I never write only read daily here.

I use pixelpost.org...its a photoblog you install once you sign up for a domain and hosting. And I pay 60 bucks a year for hosting and domain. Godaddy.com

go check out pixelpost.org for a better understanding

my website template, www.brankomarinic.com (http://www.brankomarinic.com)

Thanks, Clark!

I actually started a free trial with Zenfolio to try that out. So far, I'm impressed and think the professional version will do the trick.

[clarkent1]

Thanks, Clark!

I actually started a free trial with Zenfolio to try that out. So far, I'm impressed and think the professional version will do the trick.

hey, glad to hear that!

[HirePhotographer]

Great post JohnnyEgo.

Another reason for using your own domain name: BRANDING.

If your personal name or business name is part of the domain name this will be beneficial in the long run.
. . .



Completely agree . . . buy your name as a domain first and foremost . . . it will make many things easier and if your name is not very common it is probably availble . . .

[Visible Metaphor]

Completely agree . . . buy your name as a domain first and foremost . . . it will make many things easier and if your name is not very common it is probably availble . . .

Thank you! I just followed your advice.