Smugmug or Photobiz

[richpaprocki]

I am revamping my website, from experience or other knowledge, which do you believe is the better route to go, Smugmug or photobiz?

Photobiz seems like everything is compacted into one site. Is smugmug the same way, or just does it need to be linked to your own site first?

I do wedding and portrait work.

Thanks for any input.

[SuzyView]

I like my Smugmug account. You can get a discount with a code someone here has who works for them. It's a great site, the images are well presented and my friends all tell me the prints are very nice. I'm glad I have it. It saves me printing and ordering issues. Worth the pro price.

[Peacefield]

I'm loving Zenfolio. They just had a major release that really allows for a lot of customization of the appearance and workings of your gallery site. Now, my on-line gallery looks a lot more like an extension of my regular site as opposed to a very generic appendage. I don't know if Smug or Photobiz do this, but I also like the way Zen supports my regular site which is html. I'm able to embed flash slideshows into my regular site that are hosted in one of my Zen galleries.

I'm not stumping, but have been extremely happy with them, but use refer code X9Z-9PQ-Q2Y and we both save a couple of $'s.

[richpaprocki]

I dont really have the time or knowledge to build my own website with html or what not to connect my site to zenfolio or smugmug, is there an easy way or another site that works well for this?

So say I want to go with zenfolio or Smugmug from the start and need to make my site work around their layouts and options, where would I start?

I have qufoto right now, which is basically just a portfolio site, without any selling options.

Thanks

[bnlearle]

Neither are great website options, imo. Smugmug is invaluable for the fact that you get unlimited full res JPEG/video file backup for $150 a year. That's amazing. Then the fact that you can use them as a legit printing/proofing gallery and they have incredible customer service... Smugmug is the way to go for back up/showing galleries to clients/purchasing prints.

For a website, if you don't know much about html code and such, just download Showit Sites (http://showitfast.com/#/showit-sites/) and try it free. It's what I use and I freaking love it.

Bobby

[richpaprocki]

Bobby -
I think i looked at Showit Sites last night for a minute. So pretty much, Showit plus smugmug will do what photobiz does?

[jjaenagle]

smugmug :) -- i dont know about making it your primary website though... for $200, you can get a good flash website done for you and then use smugmug to store / sell photos

[LedZepp]

SmugMug for me. With their latest option of presenting coupons and great customer support, it's a steal for $150/year. But go with BayPhoto as your print lab selection.

[dmbpettit]

I use smugmug, but my website is done in Square Space with links connecting to my smugmug galleries.

[angryhampster]

I'm loving Zenfolio. They just had a major release that really allows for a lot of customization of the appearance and workings of your gallery site. Now, my on-line gallery looks a lot more like an extension of my regular site as opposed to a very generic appendage. I don't know if Smug or Photobiz do this, but I also like the way Zen supports my regular site which is html. I'm able to embed flash slideshows into my regular site that are hosted in one of my Zen galleries.

I'm not stumping, but have been extremely happy with them, but use refer code X9Z-9PQ-Q2Y and we both save a couple of $'s.


I also use Zen. Very satisfied, and my clients love how easy it is to order prints. I've got a premium account (roughly ~$100 per year), but I can set pricing so the account pays for itself. Will be renewing my contract in August for sure.

[Peacefield]

Neither are great website options, imo. Smugmug is invaluable for the fact that you get unlimited full res JPEG/video file backup for $150 a year. That's amazing. Then the fact that you can use them as a legit printing/proofing gallery and they have incredible customer service... Smugmug is the way to go for back up/showing galleries to clients/purchasing prints.

For a website, if you don't know much about html code and such, just download Showit Sites (http://showitfast.com/#/showit-sites/) and try it free. It's what I use and I freaking love it.

Bobby

Not sure about back-up, though I suspect it's like Prego and just in there, but all of the same things can be said about Zen. And with Mpix hooked into the back end for fullfillment, there's lots to like. And now with their customizability, I think Zen blows Smug away. I know less about some of the other options like Exposure Mgr and others, but for $100/year, I couldn't ask for more for proof presentation and print ordering and fullfillment.

And you don't need to know HTML to build a great wesite. I know only barely enough HTML to insert an image or two in this forum. That said, I use Homestead for my primary site and the provide a drag and drop application for building the look and mechanics. I'm not stumping for Homestead and I'm sure there are many similar offerings, but no code understanding is required as long as your working with someone who offers that kind of tool. Likewise, all of the Zen's customizations are drag and drop easy. It might be new to you, and it was completely new to me only one year ago, but it's simply that easy.

[Fishbite]

I have not used Smugmug or zen so I can't comment to those. I currently use Photobiz. Its quick and easy, I did it myself using their templates and I know nothing about website building. Took me about a week to get it up and running but I wasn't dedicating time to it everyday. I may be able to give you a referral for a discount. I think they have that.

you can see my new website at www.2comfortsphotography.com. I launched it only a week ago so I am very familiar with how it all works. I still have a little work to do and I have a lot to learn with photography. :)

[bnlearle]

Not sure about back-up, though I suspect it's like Prego and just in there, but all of the same things can be said about Zen. And with Mpix hooked into the back end for fullfillment, there's lots to like. And now with their customizability, I think Zen blows Smug away. I know less about some of the other options like Exposure Mgr and others, but for $100/year, I couldn't ask for more for proof presentation and print ordering and fullfillment.

And you don't need to know HTML to build a great wesite. I know only barely enough HTML to insert an image or two in this forum. That said, I use Homestead for my primary site and the provide a drag and drop application for building the look and mechanics. I'm not stumping for Homestead and I'm sure there are many similar offerings, but no code understanding is required as long as your working with someone who offers that kind of tool. Likewise, all of the Zen's customizations are drag and drop easy. It might be new to you, and it was completely new to me only one year ago, but it's simply that easy.

The unlimited backup, however, is the main selling point for me with Smugmug. I even have all of my video backed up there now. It's insane for $150 a year considering that it's also a legit proofing/purchasing dealio ;)

Also, how come you don't have a link to your site?! POTN is looked on quite nicely by google (I think it's a PR 6?). You win by getting a nice link back to your site. We win by knowing what your site looks like when we're curious... like I am now! :p

[Peacefield]

The unlimited backup, however, is the main selling point for me with Smugmug. I even have all of my video backed up there now. It's insane for $150 a year considering that it's also a legit proofing/purchasing dealio ;)

Though I've never explicitly explored it, I'm certain Zen regularly backs up their (by which I mean our) data. For $100/year, storage size is unlimited. I've never dug into this as I take other approaches to manage data security, but I'm sure it's there.


Also, how come you don't have a link to your site?! POTN is looked on quite nicely by google (I think it's a PR 6?). You win by getting a nice link back to your site. We win by knowing what your site looks like when we're curious... like I am now! :p

Yeah, I know; I'm not big on sharing. And I've taken some grief about it in other threads :rolleyes:. You can see my Zen site here:

http://photos.robertwaynephotography.com/

I just find the SmugMug layouts very bland and generic. I know they give you templates as Zen also does, but it still always felt like trying to find the least bland of the bland. They all look very prepackaged and templatey. Whenever I'm on someone's Zen or SM gallery, even though the branding has been removed, it's always very obvious that I'm looking at one of their templated sites.

Zen's recent upgrade changes that and really allows for a lot more customization as well as tools to make it look and act more like a primary web site if you want it to. I've only started to play around with the options, but I've seen some Zen sites from other guys who use it as their primary site and the casual observer would be hard pressed to tell that what they're seeing was built from a Zen/SM grade of tool; sometimes complete with contact pages and other elements. I also like how I can take Flash slide shows from my Zen galleries and embed them into my primary HTML site. Maybe SM does this to, but not certain. And to an earlier question by the OP, I'm an idiot and I learned how to do this; it's that easy and non-technical.

I've been extremely pleased with their support and Mpix on the backend adds significantly to Zen's value proposition IMO. For me and my needs and the $100/year fee for their top level membership, Zen has been a no-brainer that pays for itself very many times.

All that said, while Zen is now in a place where it could argulably serve nicely as a primary site for a photographer, it's just not the same thing as Photobiz. I very much prefer an html site with flash elements over an all flash site, but that's a personal opinion/decision. For me, Photobiz holds no appeal and as much as I like Zen, I would only view it as a compliment and not replacement for my primary site.

[rgibbs]

Hi Have been using Photobiz for about a year now and love it.
Their customer service is great and they are always coming out with new templates if you like to change things up.

The best part about them is the ability to make the site your own by being able to upload your own backgrounds and logos ect.

Check out my photobiz site for an example of what you can do.

http://www.richardgibbsphotography.com

If you have any more questions feel free to message me.

Richard

[bnlearle]

That's the other ripping thing about Showit Sites -- it's all the benefits of flash but has a copy of every web page in HTML... making it very SEO friendly ;)

[richpaprocki]

Well all these responses doesnt help me decide which way to go! I guess they all work pretty well.
Thanks for all your input! I have some time to think about it some more before I decide which to pick.

[bnlearle]

Maybe this will help...

http://bobbyearle.blogspot.com/2010/02/contest-showit-sites-smugmug-giveaway.html

... I'm giving away a free year of Smugmug there ;)

Bobby

[sctbiggs]

I use photobiz... no complaints.