Website questions

I am looking to get a website going mostly for clients to proof their pictures and as a portfolio. I am just starting out but as word of mouth spreads around I am having more and more people wanting shoots done. I have absolutely no clue where to start. I need something cheap. I have a family member that has built a few sites for local businesses and she is going to build it so I mostly need to know about hosting I guess. What do you guys recommend? Ive looked into godaddy and some others but want to know what others use. Im in the US, if that matters. Any advice or help you can give is very much appreciated!

One of the photo hosting/printing sites is probably going to be cheapest and easiest for you. A search will find threads with lists, I don't use them so I don't know.

My choice would be a good website from a template place (bludomain.com at the low end, bigfolio.com at the high end), then photographers shopping cart on your own website for ordering. That gives you the most control

If you search for "photographers shopping cart" in the body of posts in the business forum you'll find thread recommended display/print/sell places.

Thanks Tim, your always so helpful! I've seen bluedomain mentioned in some searches so I will check them out as well.

I purchased a bluedomain template and use it as my site---- but I sell photos/prints/proofs though smugmug.......which works great.

stathunter wrote in post #5967907
I purchased a bluedomain template and use it as my site---- but I sell photos/prints/proofs though smugmug.......which works great.

Ive looked at smugmug but I dont really have enough buisness yet to justify the money for smugmug. I can handle taking and placing the orders, I like to use MPIX anyway for prints. I can see where a professional would get great use from smugmug though. I just need some where that I can put my work thus far and put proofs for future clients..some where not cheesy like the shutterfly website Im using now lol!

I use Pixaria to sell my pictures. You can sell Right Managed pictures or print, your choice.