Paid Hosting Question

[themadman]

Hey Folks

I am considering getting a paid hosting site, but there seem to be a lot out there.
Flickr, Zenfolio, and Smugmug seem to be the big ones. My problem comes in that both Zenfolio and Smugmug have different plans.

Flickr just has "Pro" at $25 a year
Zenfolio has Basic ($25), Unlimited ($40), and Premium ($100)
Smugmug has Standard ($40), Power ($60), and Pro ($150)

I want to spend as little as possible so I was pretty much wondering is there anything wrong with the bottom tier plans? Also, since both Zenfolio and Flickr both offer plans at $25 a year, has any used both of these and have specific comments they could spare about them with me?

[jacuff]

Flickr Pro at $25/year is great if you are only interested in hosting photos. If you want to sell them for profit... that's a whole 'nother topic.

[spuddevans]

You do get what you pay for, but having said that there is nothing wrong with using the basic package at any of those providers you listed.

I use smugmug myself, but before paying out for anything, why not try some out? Most providers will offer a 14-28day free trial at the "tier" that you want.

If you decide to go with smugmug you can use this code 3MDk82MhINcPg to get $5.00 off the price.


Tim

[blackshadow]

Hey Folks

I am considering getting a paid hosting site, but there seem to be a lot out there.
Flickr, Zenfolio, and Smugmug seem to be the big ones. My problem comes in that both Zenfolio and Smugmug have different plans.

Flickr just has "Pro" at $25 a year
Zenfolio has Basic ($25), Unlimited ($40), and Premium ($100)
Smugmug has Standard ($40), Power ($60), and Pro ($150)

I want to spend as little as possible so I was pretty much wondering is there anything wrong with the bottom tier plans? Also, since both Zenfolio and Flickr both offer plans at $25 a year, has any used both of these and have specific comments they could spare about them with me?

What do you actually want from paid hosting - what features are important to you? Answering those questions should go a long way towards determining which is the right way for you to go.

I'm a bit of a flickholic - but that is more due to the groups there - there is no way I would have it as my main online repository. I use SmugMug which is very good on most aspects (and poor on a couple if you are using the pro package and live outside the US).

If you're wanting to have a site you can customise either SmugMug or Zenfolio are better bets. If you want a site with your own domain name you can do that with both of these but you are looking at plans that are more expensive than the base plan. If you're wanting to sell prints online through either you are then looking at their top of the range plans.

My SmugMug code for a discount is sNEQjVK0ghMFv if you feel like using it.

[themadman]

I currently do not intend to sell anything. I just want hosting. I am really new to photography so I don't think anyone would want to buy my stuff anyways =P

I may, in the future, want to do some selling so I may choose Zenfolio or Smugmug so I can upgrade my service once I feel like I want to sell?

(thanks for all the replies!)

[Mike R]

Exposure Manager also offers a plan for display only

[jacuff]

Exposure Manager also offers a plan for display only

Yup. But even their "Art" level is probably too much for the OP when it costs $65/year. I use EM at the Event level and it is great. My referral link: http://www.exposuremanager.com/aff/jacuff. You also used to be able to use the coupon code PHOTOGRAPHYBLOG and get 25% off. Don't know if that code still works though.

However, I still think Flickr Pro account is probably the way to go for the OP. Mainly for their groups, tagging, and sheer audience that visit flickr. More likely the OP will be found without having to drive traffic to their site.

[Mike R]

Yup. But even their "Art" level is probably too much for the OP when it costs $65/year. I use EM at the Event level and it is great. My referral link: http://www.exposuremanager.com/aff/jacuff. You also used to be able to use the coupon code PHOTOGRAPHYBLOG and get 25% off. Don't know if that code still works though.

However, I still think Flickr Pro account is probably the way to go for the OP. Mainly for their groups, tagging, and sheer audience that visit flickr. More likely the OP will be found without having to drive traffic to their site.

Agree

But you still cannot beat the service and quality from EM

[unrlmth]

Also I think if you enter the coupon code "flickr" you'll get 50% off of the first year. (At smugmug)

[maximus96]

tried the flickr code and got "expired" error, smug30 worked for 30% off, way better than $5 off...

[spuddevans]

tried the flickr code and got "expired" error, smug30 worked for 30% off, way better than $5 off...

You used to be able to use Both a $5 code and a %off code, might be worth trying one of the $5 codes after the bigger one.


Tim