Author Topic: own website/gallery for a greenhorn (Read 11981 times)

niserin · « **on:** February 08, 2011, 07:02 »

First of all I apologize if this is not a proper subforum to ask this question but could not find a better one.

So, eventually I've decided to set up my own website featuring my stock portfolio. I do not want to sell through that site, just a gallery and a reference for my clients and models.
Unfortunetaly my skills and knowledge in this topic are close to zero so I need kind of a website/gallery generator, preferably the online one. My website should be neat, simple, but original and stylish with Flash elements allowed (a gallery). I will need to upload let's say about 1000 miniatures which a representative part of my stock portfolio, successively adding more.

Could you recommend any companies/websites that offer such a service ?

Thank you,
Michal

jm · « **Reply #1 on:** February 08, 2011, 07:29 »

I think that Apple's iWeb is good enough for simple site with galleries, links, videos etc.. And very quick to make.
Negative is that there are not too many templates available, so you won't be too original.

Tempusfugit · « **Reply #2 on:** February 08, 2011, 13:25 »

niserin · « **Reply #3 on:** February 08, 2011, 16:05 »

Not essentially for free. I would be able to pay for a bit of originality and no ads.
Waiting for suggestions...

borg · « **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2011, 16:34 »

Smugmug is the best!!!

Here is my referral with bonus coupon for you (-5$):

https://secure.smugmug.com/signup.mg?Coupon=zo8YzXTVbsBLk

You can chose between several models ( only PRO allows selling)...

Here is my website:

http://botastockimages.smugmug.com/

P.S. Veeery easy to set everything, excellent support also!

luissantos84 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 08, 2011, 16:47 »

Quote from: borg on February 08, 2011, 16:34

Smugmug is the best!!!

Here is my referral with bonus coupon for you (-5$):

https://secure.smugmug.com/signup.mg?Coupon=zo8YzXTVbsBLk

You can chose between several models ( only PRO allows selling)...

Here is my website:

http://botastockimages.smugmug.com/

P.S. Veeery easy to set everything, excellent support also!

Do you have any sales? 10.50$ for 1Mpix (personal use) seems a lot..

borg · « **Reply #6 on:** February 08, 2011, 16:52 »

No I haven't!

But this is campaign, will see for a year...

I opened account before 10 days, I am still uploading there...

These 10 bucks for 1Mpx is my mistake, yesterday I changed my prices....
Thanks!

P.S. Bonus coupon on referral link is for everyone!

luissantos84 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 08, 2011, 19:12 »

Quote from: borg on February 08, 2011, 16:52

No I haven't! But this is campaign, will see for a year...

I opened account before 10 days, I am still uploading there...

These 10 bucks for 1Mpx is my mistake, yesterday I changed my prices....
Thanks!

P.S. Bonus coupon on referral link is for everyone!

I am using Fotomoto in my blog for a few days, it looks good, quite expensive prices also and I have set all to the min but it is easy, check it out

Tempusfugit · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2011, 12:28 »

RacePhoto · « **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2011, 14:49 »

Quote from: niserin on February 08, 2011, 07:02

First of all I apologize if this is not a proper subforum to ask this question but could not find a better one.

So, eventually I've decided to set up my own website featuring my stock portfolio. I do not want to sell through that site, just a gallery and a reference for my clients and models.
Unfortunetaly my skills and knowledge in this topic are close to zero so I need kind of a website/gallery generator, preferably the online one. My website should be neat, simple, but original and stylish with Flash elements allowed (a gallery). I will need to upload let's say about 1000 miniatures which a representative part of my stock portfolio, successively adding more.

Could you recommend any companies/websites that offer such a service ?

Thank you,
Michal

I use MSN which has a free photo gallery option (this is one of mine) http://cid-ff848ce38eaf1196.photos.live.com/browse.aspx/Iowa%20Corn%20Indycar%20road%20trip%202010
I like this one... http://photos.live.com/ FREE

Mostphoto, free hosting, free backup and even though it says they sell, you probably won't have to worry about that happening?

(funny but true)
http://www.mostphotos.com/?ref=2382

Google has a free Picassa albums - http://picasa.google.com/ 1024 MB free
Made this connection in under 10 minutes, (do not have Picassa installed) you don't need Picassa, but it makes things easier.
https://picasaweb.google.com/peter.porro.klinger
picture data, links a bunch of slick features.

You can store pictures for free on Walgreen's photo pages and allow people access, you need to buy one photo a year for the account to stay active - http://photo.walgreens.com/walgreens/welcome

Don't Know, never used these or won't use them:

Flickr? (I don't use it but others do) Free hosting and some control. I have one photo as a name holder.

Keepandshare has a free account option. Don't know how big, offers private and public folders. http://www.keepandshare.com/htm/free_photo_sharing.php

Picture Digger - 15MB free - http://picturedigger.com/

Is that what you are looking for?

Hey, anyone reading this, I cut this line from the original message. I thought it was clear, but why am I the only one to reply with FREE and galleries that don't sell images? Am I blind?

"I do not want to sell through that site, just a gallery and a reference for my clients and models."

Pixart · « **Reply #10 on:** February 09, 2011, 15:42 »

Free sites exist for basicallly one reason; to sell prints and photo gifts and they don't have to pay you a cent when your friends and family order something. You can't disable this feature on any of the free sites that I have looked into, but, if you can't afford $5 per month for a Smugmug or Zenfolio account you don't have much choice.

Kone · « **Reply #11 on:** February 09, 2011, 17:28 »

Quote from: borg on February 08, 2011, 16:34

Smugmug is the best!!!

Here is my referral with bonus coupon for you (-5$):

https://secure.smugmug.com/signup.mg?Coupon=zo8YzXTVbsBLk

You can chose between several models ( only PRO allows selling)...

Here is my website:

http://botastockimages.smugmug.com/

P.S. Veeery easy to set everything, excellent support also!

Hey Borg,
Very nice portfolio

borg · « **Reply #12 on:** February 09, 2011, 17:44 »

Quote from: Kone on February 09, 2011, 17:28

Hey Borg,
Very nice portfolio

Thanks my friend!

lisafx · « **Reply #13 on:** February 09, 2011, 18:35 »

If you just want to display images, and not sell them, Pbase.com is a very inexpensive option. Only $23/year, and a very attractive user interface.

I have my church's image galleries hosted there, and my image galleries from my pre-stock days.

bobbigmac · « **Reply #14 on:** February 09, 2011, 18:43 »

I'm adding a free portfolio-site feature to picWorkflow in a few days which lets you create a fully searchable portal to all of your microstock portfolios. It sounds pretty much like what you're after.

ukjerry · « **Reply #15 on:** February 09, 2011, 19:25 »

Don't know if I'm allowed to self-promote here, but here goes anyway...

We've been working on precisely this. It plugs right into your PayPal account & we take no part in your sales - ergo, no commission:)

Starting with a forever-free x100 high-rez images account level, you can host all the way to 20,000+ if you've got 'em!

Take a peek at newbielink:http://www.avidimages.com/ [nonactive]

niserin · « **Reply #16 on:** February 10, 2011, 10:16 »

Thank you guys for your help. I feel I need to clarify it - I do not want to sell through that site. I has to be a neat, pro-looking photographer's website with flash elements (gallery). That's why all free services like flickr, picasa rule out. I also do not need a huge storage limit, since after some consideration I decided to select about 200 the best pictures. What is more, they will be about 600x900px, so not a full size.
It is all for beautiful, PRO preview purposes plus information for my clients and models and about me section.
I can spend up to 300$ for a new design or original/unique template + the ability to update gallery with pictures' miniatures whenever I want AND be able to change some info about projects/news. Host and domain costs not included.

Sandralise · « **Reply #17 on:** February 10, 2011, 11:22 »

I also like Smugmug the best!

Here is my site:

http://www.sandralisephotography.com

I have a pro account. I haven't set it up to sell my images yet but plan to this year.
You can also get the power account which is cheaper not to sell images and I think is perfect for what you're looking for.

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/photo-sharing-features

http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/1801307#478342429_x7pKu

Great forum to get more customization if you want to do that.

http://www.dgrin.com

vlad_the_imp · « **Reply #18 on:** February 10, 2011, 12:00 »

I just went to see a top design consultancy to talk about doing a site, I've looked at all the free and cheap options but realise I need to make it look great and work well and have my own domain and generally stand out from the crowd and personally I feel this is the route to go down. Not cheap but hoping for a great result.

borg · « **Reply #19 on:** February 18, 2011, 07:12 »

For now I have almost 5000 views ( in two weeks) on my website and not a single sale... Probably classic stock photography is not "sale niche" for own website...
Website is more tool to promote yourself as a regional photographer or weeding photographer etc.
Also, who will leave his/her credit card number on some private site, with limited number of photos... That is main reason why buyers like stock big stock sites....
Millions stock photos and without fear for their money on account

Maybe sites like Smugmug can make their part of promotion about their safe payment system, but....

RedScarlet · « **Reply #20 on:** February 18, 2011, 09:44 »

All you need is a WordPress Blog with any of the free Gallery plugins. Easy to operate and maintain, plus WordPress has built in SEO.

cathyslife · « **Reply #21 on:** February 18, 2011, 10:21 »

Quote from: niserin on February 10, 2011, 10:16

Thank you guys for your help. I feel I need to clarify it - I do not want to sell through that site. I has to be a neat, pro-looking photographer's website with flash elements (gallery). That's why all free services like flickr, picasa rule out. I also do not need a huge storage limit, since after some consideration I decided to select about 200 the best pictures. What is more, they will be about 600x900px, so not a full size.
It is all for beautiful, PRO preview purposes plus information for my clients and models and about me section.
I can spend up to 300$ for a new design or original/unique template + the ability to update gallery with pictures' miniatures whenever I want AND be able to change some info about projects/news. Host and domain costs not included.

If you can find someone to do a custom design website using flash, CMS, etc. for $300, you should jump on it. That's dirt cheap.

niserin · « **Reply #22 on:** February 25, 2011, 08:24 »

Quote from: RedScarlet on February 18, 2011, 09:44

All you need is a WordPress Blog with any of the free Gallery plugins. Easy to operate and maintain, plus WordPress has built in SEO.

Easier said than done.
Still struggling to find the most suitable option. Smugmug seems nice and I am closest to choose it. 300$ for not too a sophisticated customization is rather a lot, though.

RacePhoto · « **Reply #23 on:** February 25, 2011, 22:58 »

I'll try again?

"I do not want to sell through that site, just a gallery and a reference for my clients and models."

Both are FREE, both have controls on who sees what.

Google has a free Picassa albums - http://picasa.google.com/ 1024 MB free

MSN http://photos.live.com/

niserin · « **Reply #24 on:** February 26, 2011, 06:42 »

Quote from: RacePhoto on February 25, 2011, 22:58

I'll try again?

"I do not want to sell through that site, just a gallery and a reference for my clients and models."

Both are FREE, both have controls on who sees what.

Google has a free Picassa albums - http://picasa.google.com/ 1024 MB free

MSN http://photos.live.com/

Yes, it would be perfect in that sense. BUT, I do not want ads, references to google or msn. It's got to be a pro looking site, however simple and neat. My potential models and clients will be reading info about me and viewing my sample pictures, so a nice flash gallery is needed.
Sorry for ambiguity from my side.

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Author Topic: own website/gallery for a greenhorn (Read 11981 times)

niserin

jm

Tempusfugit

niserin

borg

luissantos84

borg

luissantos84

Tempusfugit

RacePhoto

Pixart

Kone

borg

lisafx

bobbigmac

ukjerry

niserin

Sandralise

vlad_the_imp

borg

RedScarlet

cathyslife

niserin

RacePhoto

niserin

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