Author Topic: Do you own a Website or a Blog? (Read 11920 times)

Artist · « **on:** April 09, 2012, 00:43 »

yes, do you own any website or blog?

If yes then do share & comment here and at which topic is it dedicated too
and let everyone here know about you site.

btw I am not owning any of them but planning to make one

Microstock Posts · « **Reply #1 on:** April 09, 2012, 01:19 »

I have a blog. The link is in the signature. It has its fair share of traffic and also financial benefits, but I just keep the blog mainly because it's fun to write. It's a great platform to be able to express yourself. I know that there are those who get great financial benefits from blogging which is great, but at the same time they often can't really say what they think and have to neutralise their blog posts to a large extent. I don't think I could keep blogging if I had to do that though.

edit: I just realised signature links only appear for logged in members. So here's the link http://www.microstockposts.com

steheap · « **Reply #2 on:** April 09, 2012, 04:12 »

Me too, and ditto about the site URL. I sometimes question why I do it, as I don't often have comments or discussions on the posts, but I enjoy keeping it up to date, adding my earnings, latest stock photos etc. It has also helped me sell my book as well, but if you ask - do you get any real financial return from a blog or website, I think the answer would be no.

Steve

S. · « **Reply #3 on:** April 09, 2012, 04:26 »

Yup!

I have a couple of websites right now:
my personal website www.stefanoginella.com (but it's really "minimal")
and an italian blog about stock photography www.stockphotoitalia.net

I've got a few others in the past, but they were projects that never really started

etienjones · « **Reply #4 on:** April 09, 2012, 04:47 »

I recently set up a site using Viewbook for my paintings and am happy with the $90/year plan. That plan doesn't offer a real text page so I used links to Google Doc for all the propaganda that I needed.

steheap · « **Reply #5 on:** April 09, 2012, 05:37 »

Hi Etien

I hadn't heard of ViewBook - but the design of your site looks very clean and modern. Is is a sort of blogger platform for images, or something more like Smugmug?

Steve

etienjones · « **Reply #6 on:** April 09, 2012, 06:00 »

Quote from: steheap on April 09, 2012, 05:37

Hi Etien

I hadn't heard of ViewBook - but the design of your site looks very clean and modern. Is is a sort of blogger platform for images, or something more like Smugmug?

Steve

Viewbook is a Netherlands based company. Its primarily for Photographer Web Sites with an option for Fotomoto if you are interested in selling, I didn't activate this option. Have a look at examples of other Viewbook web sites:

http://www.viewbook.com/portfolio-examples/

I was looking for something as clean and simple as possible and Viewbook gives that look for a good price.

PinnacleAnimates · « **Reply #7 on:** April 09, 2012, 07:26 »

Even I have got a personal blog dedicated to designers and developers. You can check it here www.DezineGuide.com

I do share lot of freebies and inspiration and many many things in the blog....

Why do I do it?? Even I dont know

Its fun... and I love doing it

cathyslife · « **Reply #8 on:** April 09, 2012, 09:03 »

I have both a personal website:
www.cathyslife.com

and a blog, but I made two entries in the blog a long time ago and that's it. Just not my thing. Mostly got it going to prove that I could do it. Looks good on the resumé.

Sjo · « **Reply #9 on:** April 09, 2012, 09:43 »

I have a site for my stockphotography and video: www.stocksjo.com. This includes a photoblog with some info on my newest stock work. Besides this stock photography site I have a site for my commercial photography (in Dutch), one for my nature photography and one for my car photography. But my site for stock photography gets most attention.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #10 on:** April 09, 2012, 10:35 »

Quote from: cgartist on April 09, 2012, 00:43

btw I am not owning any of them but planning to make one

Welcome to 2012!

grp_photo · « **Reply #11 on:** April 09, 2012, 14:34 »

mtilghma · « **Reply #12 on:** April 09, 2012, 15:52 »

Yes! It's where I link to my photos as art. Hopefully I'll make more money off them as art than I do as stock. It's moving in that direction but still a long ways off. Check it out! www.tilghman.smugmug.com -- I'd switch it to a more unique name but am having trouble coming up with something that doesn't sound pretentious (not that my name plastered across the front ISNT pretentious...)

lisafx · « **Reply #13 on:** April 09, 2012, 16:37 »

Mine is at the bottom of my signature too. I sell a few pics a month through my own site. Keep meaning to start a blog to drive traffic to the site, but not sure I have enough relevant to say to keep a blog going.

helix7 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 09, 2012, 20:06 »

My site http://www.emberstock.com

I sell my images through the site in a more "packaged" format, as opposed to single image sales. I figured this was a good way to differentiate my site from the agencies. I don't hide the fact that my work can be bought on an individual basis from agencies, but I also make it obvious that the packaged price people pay on my site is a bargain compared to buying those same images individually.

cthoman · « **Reply #15 on:** April 09, 2012, 20:22 »

I have a few...

Stock Art
http://mystockvectors.com/

Portfolio
http://900foot.com/

Blog
http://illustrationinfo.com/

Also, anybody with a site interested in an affiliate program for monetizing their own site, I have one for my stock site...

http://mystockvectors.com/affiliate/index.php

cascoly · « **Reply #16 on:** April 09, 2012, 20:48 »

i've had a website snce 1995 for my photography, online computer games, travel and history/science/philosopy reviews - cascoly.com - site is over 1500 pages

i'i also created a separate site, pix-now.com that concentrates on my photography.

Artist · « **Reply #18 on:** April 09, 2012, 22:14 »

wow... thats great... thanks for sharing, you guys have got really some nice blogs..

mtkang · « **Reply #19 on:** April 09, 2012, 22:38 »

I am using service of photodeck, mostly because it got a e-commerce system for RM price system..

If you are working with some existing customers, it is a good site for them to download and pay.. It is kind of tough to get sales from usual internet visitors..

I got a promo code will get u 50% discount for first month.. YG@UNMKGW

Szakaly · « **Reply #20 on:** April 10, 2012, 01:23 »

Just a website with some samples

http://www.food-pictures.co.uk

nicemonkey · « **Reply #21 on:** April 10, 2012, 03:04 »

I wave a website to promote my work (but I not sure how successful it is) but I have also produced a few tutorials for fellow microstockers.

www.nicemonkey.co.uk

john_woodcock · « **Reply #22 on:** April 10, 2012, 05:50 »

I have a website and associated blog and Twitter link...
http://www.johnwoodcockillustration.co.uk/

OM · « **Reply #23 on:** April 10, 2012, 06:04 »

Quote from: etienjones on April 09, 2012, 04:47

I recently set up a site using Viewbook for my paintings and am happy with the $90/year plan. That plan doesn't offer a real text page so I used links to Google Doc for all the propaganda that I needed.

Thanks for the tip about Google docs, Etien. I too have a $90 Viewbook sub and wondered if there was a workaround for the limited text availability of that subscription. I think Viewbook is pretty good. Can upload 2,500 photo's and create instant album pages for clients to show only them what you want them to see and it's definitely a better presentation than eg Picasa.

leaf · « **Reply #24 on:** April 10, 2012, 06:11 »

yeah, a lot of busy people here!

Here are mine
TogTech.com - Cool Photo Gear Blog
TutorVid.com - Free Photoshop Tutorials
SimpleFoto.com - Stock Photography

Phillip Minnis · « **Reply #25 on:** April 10, 2012, 06:26 »

I have a website and a blog, however, about a year ago I deleted all of the posts on my blog, as I just couldn't be bothered writing posts anymore. :-) I now only use it as a referral links page to the sites that I sell my photos on.

When I decided to get a website up and running over two years ago, I got all enthusiastic, and spent hours and hours getting it how I wanted to look, and I uploaded a heap of photos. However, since then, I've hardly added any photos, and it just sits there, costing me over $200.00 per year. :-) Since purchasing the website, the website's designer has enabled large images to be displayed. I now need to reload all of my images in a larger size, so they can be viewed in the new format. One cold winter's day, when I have nothing else to do, I'll probably get in the mood, and sit here for hours and do it!

I also have many of my photos displayed on my Facebook page, however, when anybody asks to see my images, I usually send them to my website.....I think it appears a bit more professional. :-)

My website: www.phillipminnisphotography.com

My Blogsite: http://philminnis.blogspot.com.au/

My Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/people/Phillip-Minnis/1444590705

Anyka · « **Reply #26 on:** April 10, 2012, 10:25 »

My first website www.photowitch.net (a clikpic site) was meant to attract TFP models for stock photography. The site is in English, but all text about stock and modelling is in Dutch, as I don't expect overseas models to be interested.

Since January I'm a fulltime photographer, adding portraiture and other assignments to my work, so I needed a "local" website, aimed at local customers. www.anyka.be is now on-line (a Zenfolio site) and working really well, as most customers find me through Google.

A blog, yes, I have a blog (in Dutch), on the same anyka-site, but I think only my mother is reading it. I only post stories about shoots on it, with the best photos of these shoots, but with zero success. Oh well, it's only 6 weeks old.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #27 on:** April 10, 2012, 10:49 »

Quote from: Anyka on April 10, 2012, 10:25

My first website www.photowitch.net (a clikpic site) was meant to attract TFP models for stock photography. The site is in English, but all text about stock and modelling is in Dutch, as I don't expect overseas models to be interested.

Since January I'm a fulltime photographer, adding portraiture and other assignments to my work, so I needed a "local" website, aimed at local customers. www.anyka.be is now on-line (a Zenfolio site) and working really well, as most customers find me through Google.

A blog, yes, I have a blog (in Dutch), on the same anyka-site, but I think only my mother is reading it. I only post stories about shoots on it, with the best photos of these shoots, but with zero success. Oh well, it's only 6 weeks old.

LOL... I "bolded" the part that made me really laugh.

michealo · « **Reply #28 on:** April 10, 2012, 10:51 »

Quote from: Anyka on April 10, 2012, 10:25

My first website www.photowitch.net (a clikpic site) was meant to attract TFP models for stock photography. The site is in English, but all text about stock and modelling is in Dutch, as I don't expect overseas models to be interested.

Since January I'm a fulltime photographer, adding portraiture and other assignments to my work, so I needed a "local" website, aimed at local customers. www.anyka.be is now on-line (a Zenfolio site) and working really well, as most customers find me through Google.

A blog, yes, I have a blog (in Dutch), on the same anyka-site, but I think only my mother is reading it. I only post stories about shoots on it, with the best photos of these shoots, but with zero success. Oh well, it's only 6 weeks old.

You could install Google Analytics if you want to get more details of your user demographics

Anyka · « **Reply #29 on:** April 10, 2012, 10:59 »

Yes, I did install Google Analytics, which means I can see that Google Search is working well for my site - people find the site and they spend time on it, and I get bookings. But I don't see traffic on the blog page (or I'm doing something wrong and I don't know how to analyse the blog separately).
I'll keep writing for a few months (if only to entertain my mother

). I think blogging on the same website is always useful, even if no one is reading, because adding text on a regular basis keeps a site high-up on Google. At least that's what I've been reading on several SEO sites.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #30 on:** April 10, 2012, 11:15 »

Anyka,
Having others link to your site is another way to improve SEO standing. But, it should be links from "active, high-ranking" sites. Having a magazine and a race promoter link to mine did wonders.

They link to specific blog articles.
A link from MSG might work?

Anyka · « **Reply #31 on:** April 10, 2012, 11:25 »

Quote from: WarrenPrice on April 10, 2012, 11:15

Anyka,
Having others link to your site is another way to improve SEO standing. But, it should be links from "active, high-ranking" sites. Having a magazine and a race promoter link to mine did wonders.

They link to specific blog articles.
A link from MSG might work?

Well I just did, didn't I ?

On the other hand, with "only" 35 new website visitors per day (local people, so potential customers), I got more than enough work coming in.
Two weeks ago, I got a phone call from a Google representative, trying to sell me "better placement". I said no thanks, because better placement would mean even more work, much more than my camera and I can handle. I'm a small business, and I prefer to stay small (though a big studio like Yuri's would be nice

).

cybernesco · « **Reply #32 on:** April 12, 2012, 00:26 »

Here is my site:

http://www.denispepin.com

Sold for $20.00 in five months.

Denis

Pixart · « **Reply #33 on:** April 12, 2012, 15:41 »

I have had a new site on my to-do list for at least two years, and then Godaddy solved that problem - I had to start a new one from scratch when they decided they were no longer supporting the old hosting I've had since 2005. So, here I am making my first Wordpress site and sometimes a little bewildered at how to pull things together. Why is it so darn slow??? Still in the process of filling up the blank pages and hopefully it will be done sometime this lifetime ... www.pixartdesign.com

lisafx · « **Reply #34 on:** April 12, 2012, 16:41 »

Looks great so far Lorraine! BTW, I just love the action shot of the hockey player in the blue jersey. Really beautiful capture there!

Pixart · « **Reply #35 on:** April 12, 2012, 19:33 »

Thanks Lisa! I still have a few dozen from that shoot that are released but logos, logos, logos everywhere.

THP Creative · « **Reply #36 on:** April 12, 2012, 20:20 »

Hey pixart, yeah nice job! I was in the same boat 6 months ago just learning Wordpress (amazing piece of free software!). Have built two sites so far http://www.microstockman.com and http://www.microstockshop.com before getting around to doing my own website which is in dire need of an update - plus I want to be able to sell directly from it. Hoping to get to that in next 6 months.

You mention your site is slow, which I noticed too. I use a Wordpress cache plugin called WP Super Cache. I tried another one first but it nearly ruined my server with overloading temp files. But this plugin is great. Also, you probably already know this but be sure to use the Save For Web function in Photoshop as it cuts JPEG size enormously for your images.

Hope that helps a little

Pixart · « **Reply #37 on:** April 13, 2012, 13:46 »

Thanks THC, looks like you've put a lot of work into your sites. Looks great! Funny, last night when I was putting in my rare 10 minutes trying to update my site a bit it was very fast, like "instant" fast. Maybe the hosting traffic is a big part of the slowness.

I do admit that I have been resizing and saving at 120 dpi (72 looks so fuzzy) - so, I will definitely experiment with the "save for web".

Microstock Posts · « **Reply #38 on:** April 13, 2012, 14:50 »

I just spent a while clicking on all the links (ok not all) in this thread. Although there may be the occasional

disagreement that members have, it's nice sometimes to be reminded that we're actually pretty similar, creative, intelligent and passionate people. I'm talking to contributors not agencies, obviously!

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #39 on:** April 14, 2012, 01:46 »

I guess I might as well put my blog address here, even though it is rather esoteric. Maybe one day I'll get round to trying to earn something from it:

http://fotoblogzone.com/

There's also my gallery at FAA

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/paul-cowan.html?tab=artwork

everyone is very welcome to buy stuff there

ruchos · « **Reply #40 on:** April 23, 2012, 07:09 »

I recently setup my own website. Currently it is just showcasing my stock photos and videos. Will see where I take it in the future.

http://www.theruchos.com/

Greg Epperson · « **Reply #41 on:** April 23, 2012, 12:26 »

I have a few:

portfolio
http://www.gregepperson.com [nofollow]

stock
http://www.rock-climbingphotos.com [nofollow]

stock
http://www.women-on-the-rocks.com [nofollow]

stock
http://www.teamworkphotos.com [nofollow]

yuliang11 · « **Reply #42 on:** April 23, 2012, 12:40 »

i have > 20 sites.

anyway this would the best that represents me

wedding photographer
blog and photography
stock photos

rubyroo · « **Reply #43 on:** April 23, 2012, 14:12 »

Over 20?

My God, do you work a 72 hour day or something?

oboy · « **Reply #44 on:** April 23, 2012, 14:18 »

I have a few websites and blog. You can find a list at http://hlehnerer.blogspot.com/2011/03/links.html

The most important are:
http://stock.hlehnerer.com/
http://microstockinfos.blogspot.com/ (included in my iPhone app)
http://microblogs.hlehnerer.com
http://photoinfos.blogspot.com/ (included in my iPhone app)

I do it for fun and to generate referrals.

THP Creative · « **Reply #46 on:** April 23, 2012, 18:57 »

Quote from: Pixart on April 13, 2012, 13:46

Thanks THC, looks like you've put a lot of work into your sites. Looks great! Funny, last night when I was putting in my rare 10 minutes trying to update my site a bit it was very fast, like "instant" fast. Maybe the hosting traffic is a big part of the slowness.

I do admit that I have been resizing and saving at 120 dpi (72 looks so fuzzy) - so, I will definitely experiment with the "save for web".

Hey pixart, yeah you will see a HUGE improvement using Save For Web versus just trying to optimize yourself using the standard Save dialog. It just takes a little getting used to, seeing the trade off between file size and clarity and determining what you can get away with.

ComfortEagle2095 · « **Reply #47 on:** April 23, 2012, 19:36 »

I was dissatisfied with my website for a couple of years (I created it from a template but never liked the look and it seemed too much like everyone else's). So, not being a web developer in any fashion I bought a book called "Teach Yourself HTML in 21 Days". I got to "Day 9" and decided I'd take a shot at it. The result:

www.azcaptured.com

I've had the same basic design now for a couple of years and added a Smug Mug database to sell with. It doesn't make enough money to cover the cost of a Smug Mug pro account but it's getting close. Maybe someday I'll spend some time and set up a blog or do something else to drive in more traffic.

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #48 on:** April 24, 2012, 04:35 »

Quote from: Pixart on April 13, 2012, 13:46

I do admit that I have been resizing and saving at 120 dpi (72 looks so fuzzy) - so, I will definitely experiment with the "save for web".

Have you tried applying unsharp mask after downsizing to view at 72dpi? Try a setting of something like 160/03/0, it makes an enormous difference.

ShadySue · « **Reply #49 on:** April 24, 2012, 04:58 »

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on April 24, 2012, 04:35

Quote from: Pixart on April 13, 2012, 13:46
I do admit that I have been resizing and saving at 120 dpi (72 looks so fuzzy) - so, I will definitely experiment with the "save for web".

Have you tried applying unsharp mask after downsizing to view at 72dpi? Try a setting of something like 160/03/0, it makes an enormous difference.

Yeah, I can't understand how the resolution makes any different on a monitor. It surely doesn't matter what resolution you set your image at: on a monitor, one pixel maps to one pixel ,so unless I'm missing something, a 600x400 image will display on a monitor at 600x400, whether the resolution is 600dpi or 1dpi. Dots are for printers, pixels are for monitors.

Added: but yes, after you've been submitting to agencies for a while, you forget to sharpen.

jareso · « **Reply #50 on:** April 25, 2012, 02:21 »

I am just hobbyist but I have a personal promotion website(s):

(As a kind of little self-promotion website experiment.)

Main English website: http://www.jareso.com

My website is still under development, but partially online and working...

Currently only Photography part is partially online.
(Catalogue listing of my photos is currently running without subdivision to various categories.)

So there is only simple catalogue listing of all images, such as:
http://www.jareso.com/photo/catalogue/page/10/

And large preview page for every image in catalogue, such as:
http://www.jareso.com/photo/269/famous-orava-castle-slovakia/

Stock Graphics / Renderings catalogue is currently turned off <- being redone / redesigned to support various categories and sub-categories, etc. for hundreds and by some time / years (hopefully) thousands and thousands of stock graphics / renderings I plan to create.
Currently I have only a few stock graphics / renderings. Example from my graphic portfolio at YAYMicro:
http://yaymicro.com/search.action?search.photographer=jareso
But plan much, much more.

To read more about this aim of mine please see this thread at MSG:
(I wrote something about it there, so if you are interested you can read it there, I will not repeat it here.)
Which notebook do you recommend for 3d graphics? Old damaged during rendering

(I finally purchased desktop instead notebook.)

Catalogue of 3D Models is also turned off <- being redone / redesigned to support promotion in better way. Such as to support preview page(s) for every 3d model with (rendered) previews from various sides, some info(s) about the model, keywords, descriptions, etc.
You can see some of my 3D Models here if you want:
http://www.turbosquid.com/Search/Artists/jareso

I am also writing, preparing and summarizing Blog / Articles / Tutorials parts for my website(s), but I am unsure when those features will finally get online.

Same for catalogue of textures.

I also have some regional / local language specific versions of my website(s) to promote my portfolios to respective audiences:

Such as:
Slovak: http://www.jareso.sk
Czech: http://www.jareso.cz
Hungarian: http://www.jareso.hu
Polish: http://www.jareso.pl
Russian: http://www.jareso.ru
Danish: http://www.jareso.dk
Romanian: http://www.jareso.ro
Bulgarian: http://www.jareso.bg
Italian: http://www.jareso.it
Swedish: http://www.jareso.se
French: http://www.jareso.fr
German: http://www.jareso.de
Dutch: http://www.jareso.be
Spanish: http://www.jareso.es
Greek: http://www.jareso.gr

These language specific websites are still under development in various degrees for various languages.
(Not-yet translated parts of various languages are temporary running in English.)

The final aim is to have those regional / local language specific versions of my website 100% translated in respective native language. <- Including keywords of images, descriptions, titles, also paths in browser's address bar (mod_rewrite), etc.

Slovak http://www.jareso.sk and Czech http://www.jareso.cz versions are currently done and running online in this way, being 100% translated to respective language, including image keywords on large preview pages, etc.
Such as:
Royalty-Free Stock Fotografia | ID: 269 | Horná časť Oravského hradu

If you want to find more about the goals I plan to achieve with this - little self-promotion website experiment of mine - you can read this thread here at MSG, where I wrote something about it:
Uploading my stock images to my own website..good or bad ??

Btw. I am still looking for native speaker translators.
If you want to do translations for me (of course PAID) to your mother tongue please read this thread here at MSG and contact me:
[Paid] Looking for translators for my personal stock photo website.

yuliang11 · « **Reply #51 on:** May 02, 2012, 11:05 »

Quote from: rubyroo on April 23, 2012, 14:12

Over 20?

My God, do you work a 72 hour day or something?

i work hard..sigh. some sites are earning like 0.10 to 1 dollar daily. so u gotta have volume and things like that

Pixart · « **Reply #52 on:** May 02, 2012, 17:03 »

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on April 24, 2012, 04:35

Quote from: Pixart on April 13, 2012, 13:46
I do admit that I have been resizing and saving at 120 dpi (72 looks so fuzzy) - so, I will definitely experiment with the "save for web".

Have you tried applying unsharp mask after downsizing to view at 72dpi? Try a setting of something like 160/03/0, it makes an enormous difference.

Thanks BT, any and all tips appreciated! I think I have a big project end of June when current assignments complete to remove all photos and start again!

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #53 on:** May 02, 2012, 17:40 »

Quote from: MatHayward on April 23, 2012, 14:26

I've got two websites and a blog. An obsession with Facebook really took me off of a steady pace of blogging for a while. I'm slowly switching back though I'm still a bit behind (Go Kart Racing with bands Young the Giant and Grouplove made my FB page and some other sites but not mine).

www.haywardphoto.blogspot.com

www.MHWildlife.com

www.MatHaywardPhoto.com

None of these have anything to do with stock however. They do generate me a fair amount of business however. I will probably be dumping the wildlife site at some point in time and converting MatHaywardPhoto.com from flash but I don't see myself blogging much regarding stock. I've really made a point to keep the two realms of photography separate.

Why are you converting from Flash, Mat

A friend did mine with flash but I know absolutely nothing about building a site. Is there a problem with flash?

Microstock Posts · « **Reply #54 on:** May 02, 2012, 18:01 »

Quote from: WarrenPrice on May 02, 2012, 17:40

Quote from: MatHayward on April 23, 2012, 14:26
..and converting MatHaywardPhoto.com from flash but I don't see myself blogging much regarding stock. I've really made a point to keep the two realms of photography separate.

Why are you converting from Flash, Mat

A friend did mine with flash but I know absolutely nothing about building a site. Is there a problem with flash?

I'm interested to know too. If I'm not mistaken I think they're a disadvantage when it comes to search engines.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #55 on:** May 02, 2012, 18:08 »

^^^ @Microstock Post: I think my friend used FLASH to decrease the likelihood of copying the images?

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