MicrostockGroup
Microstock Photography Forum - General => Microstock Services => Topic started by: madelaide on January 12, 2010, 18:45
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I am not sure this is the right place.
I am not advertising anything, I only happened to follow a link and found this site:
http://www.photographershots.com/ (http://www.photographershots.com/)
It looks a lot like some software we used to see a couple of sites based on (K-something), and maybe this is behind it. Perhaps this is useful for someone, as it seems to have the features we need to sell photos and prints (only taking orders) online.
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240$ per year seems rather expensive. There are several cheaper alternatives if you want to go that route.
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I have been looking into something like this but think I need to hire a programmer.
I had bookmarked Ktools - look at the body of this page and see their sample website. Isn't their sample exactly the same as the one Madelaide pointed out? I am under the impression that Ktools is the original owner of this software and you purchase it outright and pay for necessary upgrades. Hmmm.....
http://www.ktools.net/photostore/index.php (http://www.ktools.net/photostore/index.php)
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I have been looking into something like this but think I need to hire a programmer.
What type of site are you creating just for you or for a number of contributors, these tools are overkill for a single user, and not up to the job for a virtual agency?
I looked at loads of these last year and non were really was good enough, I have gone back to looking at ecommerce tools for a simple portfolio site with downloads.
David
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I have been looking into something like this but think I need to hire a programmer.
What type of site are you creating just for you or for a number of contributors, these tools are overkill for a single user, and not up to the job for a virtual agency?
I looked at loads of these last year and non were really was good enough, I have gone back to looking at ecommerce tools for a simple portfolio site with downloads.
David
LOL, the real answer to your question is No, I don't want to start a stock photo agency!
My most basic needs right now are for a a proper proofing system for clients if I stay in the photography biz. Most of the hosts or software sites are expensive to start with and then they charge a commission on top of that or they funnel to a printing company in another country (the U.S.). I just don't want to be busy enough to justify $600/year for studio proofing software plus commission. So, in this case a one time fee of $295 (or whatever it is) sounds acceptable.
Well, when I started my business a few years ago I thought I was doing one thing, then I got so much work in sports and school photography that I lost my way. Now I'm trying to get back to where I had inteneded to go and part of that was digital delivery. I will eventually need a zazzle-ish interface where customers can upload to me and customize to some degree.
If I remember correctly, I think the K-tools software works with all kinds of file formats like PDF's etc. I've looked at throwing some stuff up someplace like e-junkie but you are quite limited with the size of storage you are permitted with digital items. e-books I think would be no issue on e-junkie, but a couple big photoshop templates and you would be way over quota on size.
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it appears to be a managed version of ktools photostore
you definitely know something is over priced when you compare it to and find smugmug pro is $90 dollars cheaper.
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@pixart,
If your hosting is asp and microsoft sql, then look at nopCommerce, demo store (http://demo.nopcommerce.com/)
The website is http://www.nopcommerce.com/ (http://www.nopcommerce.com/)
You have categories, variants, attributes, digital downloads, payment gateways, blog, latest news etc:
The best part is the price $0.00, all you need to be able to do is create a SQL database an upload the files.
I am playing with WordPress templates and the moment and using nopCommerce for the free downloads.
It is just my new hobby website and it is digital Raindrops: (http://www.digitalraindrops.net), a lot of functions for nothing.
You can even have options for a product, like add mount, add frame etc:
David ;)
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Thanks for this info Adeptris, I think you may have pointed me in the best direction.
MicrostockInsider - I agree that Smugmug pro is a wonderful product, but I need to think locally. I would also prefer to host everything where I control the transaction and don't have to wait for a cheque to arrive from Smugmug or hope that they don't go out of business.
I think if someone purchases the product Madelaide pointed us to at K-Tools instead, it is not an annual fee, but a license isn't it? 2 years at Smugmug is about the same, but you also give them commissions every time you sell something.
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If your hosting is asp and microsoft sql
That might be a problem. On any hoster I saw (I'm currently with Hostgator) you have to chose upfront what server you want: Linux/Mysql or the other thing. I'm not sure you can mix both, although I saw asp in the control panel.
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My ISP is Red Fox Hosting in the UK, I have a resellers account, the entry level would be a shared hosting (https://www.redfoxhosting.com/products/webhosting/shared/) acoount which give two SQL 2005 databases, asp, mysql, php, ftp, email accounts etc:, enough for any photographers website, blog etc:, at £10.00 a month, £99.00 a year.
For some payment gateways you may need a dedicated SLL, you would buy this on top, it is not required for PayPal but it helps if your customers see the https, I have it installed on my cart, even though it is a free download website, at the moment.
https://www.digitalraindrops.net/ShoppingCart.aspx (https://www.digitalraindrops.net/ShoppingCart.aspx)
Note: google checkout requires a full trust environment and will not work with most shared hosting plans that run in medium trust.
David ;D
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i use 1&1 for hosting: http://www.1and1.com/?k_id=7246734 (http://www.1and1.com/?k_id=7246734) they've got a promotion going now with free hosting for 6 months!
plans start at $5 per month - i have several accounts - one is MS asp the other linux -- i use this in several online games that use google maps where i run part on linux, part on MS. [the google stuff requires linux, but i didnt want to convert all my established asp db routines ].
steve