What software / website do you use for your proofs? [Archive]

Mctrician

8th of February 2009 (Sun), 11:51

I've been looking into what is the best way for my clients (mostly friends right now I'm still growing) to view the proofs and order the pics they want. I've looked into Exposure Manager and similar sites. I've also looked at software that give me total control and total profits from my work like Light Box Photo. I'm curious as to what you use and what are the pros and cons of you website / software.

spuddevans

8th of February 2009 (Sun), 13:46

I use Smugmug, very customisable, great support and help. I can totally reccomend them.

Smugmug and most of the other ones will give you a 14day free trial to try and see if you like them, that's how I settled on smugmug. Why not try some of the free trials and see?

If you want to use smugmug, if you use this code 3MDk82MhINcPg we both will get a discount.

Tim

bildeb0rg

8th of February 2009 (Sun), 14:52

Plus 1 for the Smugsters. They refuse to laugh at my pathetic attempts to run/customise my site without so much as a "this is what happens when you give old people a pc..."

beepclick

8th of February 2009 (Sun), 22:48

Plus 1 for the Smugsters. They refuse to laugh at my pathetic attempts to run/customise my site without so much as a "this is what happens when you give old people a pc..."

ha ha..good one.

I also can recommend Smugmug - they're quick to respond when you have a question. They just seem like nice people.

blissonearth

8th of February 2009 (Sun), 22:59

anyone tried zenfolio vs smugmug ?

sodalis

9th of February 2009 (Mon), 06:10

Exposure Manager, SmugMug, and Zenfolio are probably the most popular. My site is on EM. I like the fact that it is highly customizable and you can remove all branding by the host site. With EM even the shopping cart is a seamless part of your site. It can take a bit of work to get everything looking the way you want though, but that would be true when trying to totally customize any of the sites. I recommend trying the free trials at each and deciding which you prefer. Here's a link for an EM trial and discount: http://www.exposuremanager.com/aff/shadowhillsphoto

g-money

9th of February 2009 (Mon), 07:02

Take a look at instaproofs.com (http://www.instaproofs.com)Not sure why it doesn't get more love here but I have been using them for about a year and really like their service, plus its's free they take a commission off the sales.

Greg

packpe89

9th of February 2009 (Mon), 07:09

I still use and like photoreflect. You get to chose the lab you use, no up front cost or monthly cost (they do take a percentage of sales). Works through express digital software, which I am now using as well for team sports and any packaged event. I create my packages, and input becomes quite simple.

Peacefield

9th of February 2009 (Mon), 19:57

I'm very happy with Zenfolio and like the lab it hooks me into on the backend. It's very customizable, too.

MDteX

10th of February 2009 (Tue), 08:10

Zenfolio for me too. They recently added digital downloads along with a few other enhancments. Great product and great support when you need it.

HaroldC3

10th of February 2009 (Tue), 09:56

I also use Zenfolio. Seems like they are getting their act together now to compete with SmugMug by adding some additional features. We'll see where they are at in 6 months.

nwagirl

10th of February 2009 (Tue), 16:52

+1 for photoreflect

rickdog

10th of February 2009 (Tue), 19:01

+1 for EM, highly customizable, traffic monitoring tools are great, plus a whole bunch more features.

Karl Johnston

10th of February 2009 (Tue), 19:24

carbonmade

tim

11th of February 2009 (Wed), 05:07

Photographers Shopping Cart (google it)

Picture North Carolina

11th of February 2009 (Wed), 07:11

If you've considered having your site/cart hosted, consider Photo Cart (http://picturespro.com/pages/photography_shopping_cart/) by Pictures Pro. A new version has been released (or is about to be released) and it's very powerful stuff.

koppiwrite

11th of February 2009 (Wed), 09:35

I use MPO. They built my site (I can customize and change) and they build in framing and product galleries as well as slideshows etc. They host my account, but I have it directed from my own domain. I do my own fulfillment so that I can review the order before it is processed so that isn't a problem, but they do offer print fulfillment as well. It is reasonably priced (about like MPIX). I pay $25 a month a think, but it is worth it to me.

Sauk

11th of February 2009 (Wed), 19:58

what is MPO?

hypertech

11th of February 2009 (Wed), 20:05

gromeo

11th of February 2009 (Wed), 20:15

I have been using PhotoShelter for the last couple years and been very happy with it.

Megapixle

11th of February 2009 (Wed), 21:48

Photocart by Picturespro is very reasonably priced and works great for me. The new version is going to be a nice upgrade.

hapahaole

13th of February 2009 (Fri), 19:11

When I first started portfolio building I used simpleviewer to make a gallery and let my clients email me the filenames they wanted to order. Then I got a blu site and tried using that cart... used it a few times before I decided to upgrade to photocart. Blu's cart was very simplistic and could really only handle a la cart items (their newer one may be better, but I haven't heard anything good about it yet). So now I used photocart and it's great. There's just a one time fee and you're good. Tim (the creator) even supplies you with upgrades to the new versions for free.
www.picturespro.com/

heather

PhotosGuy

13th of February 2009 (Fri), 20:48

Links to most of the sites:
Online orders question (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=501332)

A lot of pros here use PrintRoom @ $99/year
Exposure Manager fee/features comparisons (http://www.exposuremanager.com/scripts/website.pl?rm=compare)

Not my opinion:
NEVER again will I use MPIX! (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=586418)

Gatorboy

14th of February 2009 (Sat), 05:52

I'm working on customizing a Gallery 2 install. Photo Cart would be lots easier, but since I am a software programmer, I just couldn't bring myself to pay for it. I've never done much web work before but I'm slowly figuring it out.

I'm a software engineer as well, and did not hesitate to purchase Photo Cart. For you to write anything close would take you over a year to develop. Hardly worth the effort when you can purchase it already done for $279.

hypertech

14th of February 2009 (Sat), 08:50

I'm a software engineer as well, and did not hesitate to purchase Photo Cart. For you to write anything close would take you over a year to develop. Hardly worth the effort when you can purchase it already done for $279.

You make your choice I'll make mine. It won't take me a year even just tinkering on the side and it will be exactly how I want it when I'm done. It'll take me a couple more weekends and it will be how I want.