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Author Topic: Smugmug  (Read 6717 times)

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« on: April 02, 2008, 14:00 »
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I just wanted to show off my smugmug account :) :

http://freezingpictures.smugmug.com/

I trying out a pro account and probably will go with it. I am starting to belief that this will be a good alternative to send customers to, if they want to buy images from me. You can set your own price and receive 85% royalty.
Does anybody here has some experience with it?

Smugmug really seems to be a convenient tool. I just put images of a wedding I shoot on there as well and the bride and groom really seem to like it. In this way they can show their relatives and friends their images.

BTW it seems Smugmug is working on implementing something so it can work as a stock agency. But no one knows when this will happen.


« Reply #1 on: April 02, 2008, 14:20 »
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Wow... maybe I should start selling there too :)

It looks really nice!

By the way, you might appreciate this page - on the page is audio broadcast from the antarctic (beneath the ice) - and for some reason, i've been listening off and on all day today - hearing whales and other creatures... and in the last hour or so there seems to be a thunderstorm - with rain and loud thunder crashes. At least it sure seems like thunder - i didn't realize there would be thunder down there... i've heard underwater recordings of whales breaching and this doesn't sound like that at all - sounds exactly like thunder.

anyway, thought it might interest you

« Reply #2 on: April 02, 2008, 14:21 »
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I think you will really like smugmug. They've got great features, and the site looks polished and professional. They also provide excellent support, and have a very active forum.

I've been there for over 4 years myself. Started with a standard account and then upgraded to the mid-grade account. I can customize the layout, etc, but I can't set my own prices. I don't allow anyone to order prints there for that reason.  I have sold from there through private emailed requests, though.

I shot my sister's wedding last year, and I've also put her wedding images there in a private gallery, as you have done. They loved being able to easily access their photos and print them at will. (I included unlimited free access as part of the deal, she being my sister and all :))

I hadn't heard about the possible stock thing until now.. sounds intriguiging! Be sure to let us know if/when they decide to do it. I, for one, would definitely be interested.


« Reply #3 on: April 02, 2008, 14:34 »
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I remember Sharply recommending Smugmug.  I have no experience, but your gallery looks nice and clean. Should serve you well.  (Looks quite professional).

You really need to raise your prices before you go public, is that the default?   I only looked at the nature prints, but presumably for the merchandise as well?  

Also, aren't they based in the U.S.?  Did you check out how much they charge to ship to Germany?  Shipping could be a hot issue for your clients.   If they are sent by FedEx/UPS, etc., the couples may be charged brokerage fees on top of  the shipping charges and duties.

« Reply #4 on: April 02, 2008, 14:55 »
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BTW it seems Smugmug is working on implementing something so it can work as a stock agency. But no one knows when this will happen.

I'm with Smugmug and have a Pro Account which I recommend highly. They announced last year that they are working on offering stock photos but  offered no timeline. In my opinion it could be a long time before they implement it. To do it right seems like it would take a lot of work.

If anyone is going to sign up with them and needs there discount code you can use mine   ihjJWx5ZivAO2    it will  save you $5 when you sign up and I get a small bit too.

« Reply #5 on: April 02, 2008, 15:17 »
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I remember Sharply recommending Smugmug.
...
Nope, it wasn't me. The only thing I know about smugmug is that it's getting quite popular with bloggers.

« Reply #6 on: April 02, 2008, 15:21 »
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I remember Sharply recommending Smugmug.
...
Nope, it wasn't me. The only thing I know about smugmug is that it's getting quite popular with bloggers.

you mean with buying or stealing photos?

« Reply #7 on: April 02, 2008, 15:54 »
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Hey Sharply, apologies for misquoting you....  Must be my age... can't keep things straight anymore.  Didn't you recommend some kind of gallery hosting service that sold prints?  I'd like to find one in Canada that is more reasonably priced than the hosting service my pro-lab has.

« Reply #8 on: April 02, 2008, 17:28 »
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Nope, again not me - I've only sold prints in galleries.

« Reply #9 on: April 03, 2008, 01:38 »
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@ Mauger thanks for the link to the audio broadcast, I should implement that in my gallery so people can hear it, when they are looking at my Antarctic images :D

@ Pixart actually I am quite unsure which prices I should take. I increased them 100% from the base price. What would you suggest? 400%? I never was in the printing business.

I do not know if they ship to Germany, it would be nice, if they would work together with German labs. I have to check that out.. For the wedding I disabled the printing for now and people can download the images (Was a wedding for friends.) In this way my smugmug account will be a very good advertism tool. I get lots of publicity if the wedding guests will look at my images.
If any of you want to give me a honest critique of the images or want to have a look at them let me know by PM and I will send you the password. I already know I have done some things wrong in the wedding and it is allways good to get feedback from other photographers. (I am a wedding noob :-) ).

@Mauger. You can protect your images quite well. For now my images are right click protected. Try it out :-). But probably there is a way arround. Through screenshots? Maybe one can enlighten me. But watermarks are also possible. But Smugmug is far better in protecting images than Flickr.

BTW you can do a whole lot of custumization. I have not done significantly changes. But some site I have seen look totally different.

« Reply #10 on: April 03, 2008, 10:41 »
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@ Pixart actually I am quite unsure which prices I should take. I increased them 100% from the base price. What would you suggest? 400%? I never was in the printing business.

To make it even more difficult, you will find it necessary to have different prices for art, portraits and weddings - with weddings being much higher - or a much higher session fee.

I had read about 400% then I did determine that the other sports photographers in my area were marking up about 400% (team sports portraits).  And more for portrait work.    But, if Smugmug is charging you 18 cents for a 4x6, obviously 400%, or $.72 is too low - I'd say at least $5 for a 4x6 (or way more).  Then the uniqueness of your nature photos is something to consider as well.  Factor in the commissions you pay to Smugmug and Paypal as well.  You will likely find that placing an individual price on your art and then a fixed rate for your weddings.  Also, is this enough American $ compared to what others are charging in Germany? 

One of the negative things about a service like this:  all of the photos have to be ready to print.   Shooting 1500 photos at a wedding and then inspecting each one for colour and cake on the chin is a lot of work so hopefully your session fees factor the time.  Unless... like you said, they use it strictly as a proofing gallery and order corrected prints from you.

Maybe take the best 10 from each of the weddings that you have done and open up a new public gallery for a promotional tool?

« Reply #11 on: April 03, 2008, 11:39 »
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[quote author=Freezingpictures link=topic=4131.msg40582#msg40582 date=1207204685One of the negative things about a service like this:  all of the photos have to be ready to print.   Shooting 1500 photos at a wedding and then inspecting each one for colour and cake on the chin is a lot of work so hopefully your session fees factor the time. 

The photos don't have to be ready to print. On Smugmug you can set it so when they order there is a delay before shipping giving you time to only correct the photos that they order. I usually set my delay to 2 or 3 days but it could be set longer.

« Reply #12 on: April 03, 2008, 16:31 »
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Freeze,

Did you opt not to have a watermark or is there no choice for watermarks there?

Even if right click is disabled, images are large enough for a printscreen.

Regards,
Adelaide

« Reply #13 on: April 03, 2008, 18:00 »
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I use it for my portfolio. My domain name takes you right to it.

http://www.dannysmythe.com

« Reply #14 on: April 03, 2008, 22:16 »
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I use it for my portfolio. My domain name takes you right to it.

http://www.dannysmythe.com



Wow, they look very yummy, especially the raspberries and the banana split :P

« Reply #15 on: April 05, 2008, 03:11 »
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@ Pixart actually I am quite unsure which prices I should take. I increased them 100% from the base price. What would you suggest? 400%? I never was in the printing business.

To make it even more difficult, you will find it necessary to have different prices for art, portraits and weddings - with weddings being much higher - or a much higher session fee.

I had read about 400% then I did determine that the other sports photographers in my area were marking up about 400% (team sports portraits).  And more for portrait work.    But, if Smugmug is charging you 18 cents for a 4x6, obviously 400%, or $.72 is too low - I'd say at least $5 for a 4x6 (or way more).  Then the uniqueness of your nature photos is something to consider as well.  Factor in the commissions you pay to Smugmug and Paypal as well.  You will likely find that placing an individual price on your art and then a fixed rate for your weddings.  Also, is this enough American $ compared to what others are charging in Germany? 

One of the negative things about a service like this:  all of the photos have to be ready to print.   Shooting 1500 photos at a wedding and then inspecting each one for colour and cake on the chin is a lot of work so hopefully your session fees factor the time.  Unless... like you said, they use it strictly as a proofing gallery and order corrected prints from you.

Maybe take the best 10 from each of the weddings that you have done and open up a new public gallery for a promotional tool?


Thanks for the info about the prints.
I have to check how to edit images that they will be the best possible print. I certainly will open up a public gallery with a few selected wedding images.


 

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