Photography website?

As i am currently a student studying photography, i need a website to host my images.
I was thinking of just using flickr or something like that for now un till i can afford to pay for web hostings. Which website is the best for that? So would it be a good idea to buy a domain name and redirect it to a flickr or facebook (or whatever other site) account?
Also would a gmail/outlook account suffice for business?

Thanks.

If you are serious about starting up a business, I would buy a domain name and use Wordpress to showcase your work. If you are serious about starting up a business, I wouldn't not use flickr, Facebook etc as a website. Nothing wrong with having both a flickr and FB account, but not using it as a website.

No matter what, start somewhere. You will get to right track.

Short term, I think Facebook would be good, maybe even duplicate it over to google+. Those are free. Get people to like it and maybe if your work is good it will grow socially through WOM.

Long term you'll want a website with a memorable name that people can find and something you have full control over. Hosting is like $10-20/month. And you can set up your mail to forward to gmail or wherever. Have your mail as name@yourwebsite.com and not name@gmail.com Keep the brand consistent.

IMHO, Facebook is not very good for showcasing photography. But then again, hundreds of photographers have flash based websites which are terrible for navigation. I like to peruse various photographers' websites, but many of them are just too slow for me.

Hi Nathan

My opinion is to start with a flickr and facebook account. Build a portfolio of quality work before building a professional website offering paid services. Fans don't necessarily translate into customers, but the more people that see your work, the more chances you'll be seen by someone wanting your services. Social networks (Facebook) are fantastic tools for photographers if used right.

What kind of photography are you planning to shoot, professionally?

rjx wrote in post #15670597
Hi Nathan

My opinion is to start with a flickr and facebook account. Build a portfolio of quality work before building a professional website offering paid services. Fans don't necessarily translate into customers, but the more people that see your work, the more chances you'll be seen by someone wanting your services. Social networks (Facebook) are fantastic tools for photographers if used right.

What kind of photography are you planning to shoot, professionally?

Professionally atm i would like to be shooting weddings and portraiture.
i think as everyone said it will be easier to start with flickr and facebook and build up a bigger portfolio before i move onto my own site.

Thanks for everyones opinions

It's a good idea to have a flickr, and Facebook presence, but neither are professional by themselves.

I'm pretty sure you can get a free site from Cargo Collective.

These sites have clean design and are easy to navigate, which are two very important components of a website. If you don't have a strong idea of what you're doing with website design, make it as simple as possible.

Best of luck!

mltn wrote in post #15685307
It's a good idea to have a flickr, and Facebook presence, but neither are professional by themselves.

I'm pretty sure you can get a free site from Cargo Collective.

These sites have clean design and are easy to navigate, which are two very important components of a website. If you don't have a strong idea of what you're doing with website design, make it as simple as possible.

Best of luck!

Free websites are not very professional either. I have never heard of Cargo Collective, but like wix or vistaprint or anywhere else where sites are "free", you get what you pay for.

OP has the right idea: build a portfolio first.

brett201 wrote in post #15685443
Free websites are not very professional either. I have never heard of Cargo Collective, but like wix or vistaprint or anywhere else where sites are "free", you get what you pay for.

OP has the right idea: build a portfolio first.

Maybe look at the site before you burn it then?

Cargo sites look many times better than wix, smugmug, zenfolio, and a whole host of other canned portfolio sites. Also you have to submit your work to be approved for a site, so not every joe blow can just sign up for one.

This is a random site, featured on the front page of Cargo. Looks real bad I'll say...

Anyways, my main point was not to preach, but to show that there are options for free sites, that don't look like garbage, and that aren't covered in the branding of the host site.

Having a website is definitely a must these days. You can still post photos on FB in order to gain more audience. But always refer them back to your website or your blog.

Try 500px.com

Sorry to steal your thread but I have a similar question. I currently have a 500px "awesome" membership which I like but I was looking into Smugmug recently. Do you guys think it is smart to just get my own domain name and use the 500px hosting/template or do something like smugmug instead.

I have a facebook fan page and have been referring people to my 500px as my "Main" page but although the portfolio on 500px is nice, I've heard people are having trouble navigating the normal page and finding my photos.

...

I'm looking for a site where I can directly sell prints, I guess Smugmug/Zenfolio is my only option...I wish 500px had a better website, I like the look of the one I just made here but not being able to sell prints is annoying...

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