Need help/advice for setting up photography website/store

[msommers]

After trying to deal with the fiasco of setting up my own website, it being hacked and now it's just sitting there, I just don't have the desire or patience to do this efficiently or accurately.

Is anyone able to do this here on Beyond, or suggest someone that can?

The setup I have visualized is easy enough but to get from point A -> B I don't know and honestly, don't care. Unless this is going to cost thousands to setup, I'll just let someone else handle it.

Essentially I want it to consist of various subject galleries, where each photo can be selected in a specific size and type of print with a price, including a cart/basket with easy and secure checkout systems. Again here, there are so many options to choose from I don't know what works, what integrates, what's too expensive, way too many features, not enough etc etc.

[UndrgroundRider]

Originally posted by msommers
Unless this is going to cost thousands to setup, I'll just let someone else handle it.

Essentially I want it to consist of various subject galleries, where each photo can be selected in a specific size and type of print with a price, including a cart/basket with easy and secure checkout systems. Again here, there are so many options to choose from I don't know what works, what integrates, what's too expensive, way too many features, not enough etc etc.

Why even pay $1000 for it? It's not like you want anything crazy, just e-commerce, gallery, customized checkout system, custom look & feel, and presumably a custom fulfillment system.

[seer_claw]

Originally posted by msommers
After trying to deal with the fiasco of setting up my own website, it being hacked and now it's just sitting there, I just don't have the desire or patience to do this efficiently or accurately.

Is anyone able to do this here on Beyond, or suggest someone that can?

The setup I have visualized is easy enough but to get from point A -> B I don't know and honestly, don't care. Unless this is going to cost thousands to setup, I'll just let someone else handle it.

Essentially I want it to consist of various subject galleries, where each photo can be selected in a specific size and type of print with a price, including a cart/basket with easy and secure checkout systems. Again here, there are so many options to choose from I don't know what works, what integrates, what's too expensive, way too many features, not enough etc etc.

Smugmug or Zenfolio, you can set up a pro gallery including pricing. Also you can code your own setups if required.

[msommers]

Originally posted by UndrgroundRider


Why even pay $1000 for it? It's not like you want anything crazy, just e-commerce, gallery, customized checkout system, custom look & feel, and presumably a custom fulfillment system.

What would one expect to pay for something like that?


Originally posted by seer_claw


Smugmug or Zenfolio, you can set up a pro gallery including pricing. Also you can code your own setups if required.

How do you integrate either of those into a website? Or does Smugmug/Zenfolio allow you to make a website through them?

Shopify looks promising actually and has an assortment of themes that seem to work well. Has anyone used this before? How does the transaction/payment setup work?

[seer_claw]

Originally posted by msommers



How do you integrate either of those into a website? Or does Smugmug/Zenfolio allow you to make a website through them?


Not sure about Zenfolio other than its the main competitor to Smugmug. I've got the $60 plan but I'm not able to see photos and put down prices. I can though make my own website (ie www.seer_clawphotos.com) and completely customize the galleries.

If you pay more you can set the prices that you want for the photos at the different resolutions. I haven't looked into it because I'm not into selling my photos. I would suggest looking at the link below and seeing if it is a fit for what you are looking for.

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

[eblend]

Smugmug will do all you want, and will cost you a ton less then making your own.

I use their account just for unlimited photo posting (over 300gb on there now!) as do my friends, but I know they have the whole ecommerce thing there as well. Works very well, also can upload videos up to 20 min, in any file format and it will be visible online in flash.

[msommers]

Can you post their websites so I can get an idea of what it is capable of?

[eblend]

They have samples right on their site

http://www.smugmug.com/pro/branding/

[blitz]

Hmmm, smug mug can integrate with Lightroom...

Once you figure this out, let me know. I'm horrible with web stuff, so I'd be interested in something simple and turnkey too.

[seer_claw]

Originally posted by blitz
Hmmm, smug mug can integrate with Lightroom...

Once you figure this out, let me know. I'm horrible with web stuff, so I'd be interested in something simple and turnkey too.

http://help.smugmug.com/customer/portal/articles/93281

[tch7]

Originally posted by msommers
Essentially I want it to consist of various subject galleries, where each photo can be selected in a specific size and type of print with a price, including a cart/basket with easy and secure checkout systems.
Do you really need this?

Unless you're regularly doing weddings & portraits with a solid client base, you probably won't see much of a return on investment from that sort of setup. From my own experience with my nature/travel photography website, and others I know, I can make the following generalizations.
1. Most sales will be to people you have met in person. Few, if any, random people will just show up and order photos out of the blue.
2. Online sales are very, very weak.
3. People that do order photos/artwork online like having a personal touch with the photographer/artist. Makes the product more special to them, rather than filling out a form and getting something that seems mass-produced in the mail 2 weeks later.

My advice is to keep it simple.

I have one page that outlines the generic pricing for various sizes/products. If a person is interested, they then use the contact form or email me with what they want, and I get back to them with a final size, price and timeframe. Since most orders are in the Calgary area, I typically accept cash on delivery. For non-local orders, I use PayPal.

It's a pretty painless system with no real overhead costs.

[eblend]

Originally posted by tch7

Do you really need this?

Unless you're regularly doing weddings & portraits with a solid client base, you probably won't see much of a return on investment from that sort of setup. From my own experience with my nature/travel photography website, and others I know, I can make the following generalizations.
1. Most sales will be to people you have met in person. Few, if any, random people will just show up and order photos out of the blue.
2. Online sales are very, very weak.
3. People that do order photos/artwork online like having a personal touch with the photographer/artist. Makes the product more special to them, rather than filling out a form and getting something that seems mass-produced in the mail 2 weeks later.

My advice is to keep it simple.

I have one page that outlines the generic pricing for various sizes/products. If a person is interested, they then use the contact form or email me with what they want, and I get back to them with a final size, price and timeframe. Since most orders are in the Calgary area, I typically accept cash on delivery. For non-local orders, I use PayPal.

It's a pretty painless system with no real overhead costs.


Although I agree to most everything you said here, the "painless" part I disagree with. If I was looking to purchase something online, I would most likely go elsewhere if I couldn't just make the purchase myself. Anytime I see a site selling anything via e-mail, the following things pop into my head:

1. Is this place even still in business...there is no ordering system just a link to some e-mail.

2. If this place is indeed still in business, how long do I have for a reply? Why can't I just order something RIGHT NOW because I am on the page ready to order.

3. Doesn't look very professional. Anyone can setup a simple webpage with a link to an e-mail. When a page has some ecommerce built in, the place looks more legit. I like a place that has ecommerce + e-mail system for special orders ect.

With Smugmug (don't know about others, no experience) you can get a Business account at $300 per year, which gives you access to every single feature of their site, watermarking, right click disable, multiple currencies ect ect ect, all you need to do is customize it a little to your liking if you don't like any of the included themes. You can customize all the code at the code level if you like.

I pay $60 per year for the power account and have to date backed up 300gb of pictures and videos to my account. It's unlimited uploads, so one could use the site for all of their e-commerce related stuff, and still dump all of their personal photos into an unlisted gallery for backup.

To top if off I have a wifi picture frame that syncs with smugmug...so I just upload pictures to there and they show up on my wifi picture frames (one at home, one at my parents and one in Japan at my inlaws :D)

[msommers]

Originally posted by tch7

Do you really need this?

Unless you're regularly doing weddings & portraits with a solid client base, you probably won't see much of a return on investment from that sort of setup. From my own experience with my nature/travel photography website, and others I know, I can make the following generalizations.
1. Most sales will be to people you have met in person. Few, if any, random people will just show up and order photos out of the blue.
2. Online sales are very, very weak.
3. People that do order photos/artwork online like having a personal touch with the photographer/artist. Makes the product more special to them, rather than filling out a form and getting something that seems mass-produced in the mail 2 weeks later.

My advice is to keep it simple.

I have one page that outlines the generic pricing for various sizes/products. If a person is interested, they then use the contact form or email me with what they want, and I get back to them with a final size, price and timeframe. Since most orders are in the Calgary area, I typically accept cash on delivery. For non-local orders, I use PayPal.

It's a pretty painless system with no real overhead costs.

I'm not expecting to make money on it. It's out of interest that I want to have it done.

[tch7]

Originally posted by eblend
Although I agree to most everything you said here, the "painless" part I disagree with...
I agree with your points. Ultimately it comes down to your target clientele and what you want to offer.
In my case, the points you raise don't really carry much weight as practically all of my sales leads initially come from more traditional methods. For now the benefits of going to a more automated system just aren't there for me to devote the time/money to it. If I were going to make photography more of a full-time thing and a much larger sales volume, then I'd absolutely look into a cart system.


Originally posted by msommers
...I just don't have the desire or patience to do this efficiently or accurately.
...
I'm not expecting to make money on it. It's out of interest that I want to have it done.
Then go with smugmug.

[msommers]

Smugmug seems easy to organize and price things out for various sizes/formats; still need to look into how printing works. What I was thinking of previously was to use Posterjack as my printing company and have the shipping address to whoever bought it.

The only problem with Smugmug is that it is boring to look at. Sure there are "70+ themes" but they're the exact same layout with different colours - whoopy do. Unless I'm missing something, that seems stupid. That's why I was wanting eBlend to post his friends' website so I can see how they look without the dumb Smugmug logo all over the place.

Unless there is a site where I can buy different themes that integrate with Smugmug, then I'm leaning towards the Shopify route. Provided the themes aren't hard to setup and it will just take some time, which either I can do or have someone else do.

[eblend]

Originally posted by msommers
Smugmug seems easy to organize and price things out for various sizes/formats; still need to look into how printing works. What I was thinking of previously was to use Posterjack as my printing company and have the shipping address to whoever bought it.

The only problem with Smugmug is that it is boring to look at. Sure there are "70+ themes" but they're the exact same layout with different colours - whoopy do. Unless I'm missing something, that seems stupid. That's why I was wanting eBlend to post his friends' website so I can see how they look without the dumb Smugmug logo all over the place.

Unless there is a site where I can buy different themes that integrate with Smugmug, then I'm leaning towards the Shopify route. Provided the themes aren't hard to setup and it will just take some time, which either I can do or have someone else do.

Hey,

Both my friend and I use a default theme and aren't crazy into the design aspect of it, but you can design it any way you like if you have coding skills, as you have access to all of the code.

The smug mug logo is hidden with a single button checkmark by the way.

You can always just sign up for a 14 day no commitment trial and play with it and see if it fits your needs. If you make something out of it and want to keep it, you can convert your trial page into a paid subscription.

[seer_claw]

If you decide to go with Smugmug, use this referral. ;)

https://secure.smugmug.com/signup.mg?Coupon=47jaqNeazivQ2

You save $5 and I get $10 back. lol, since I was the first one to suggest it. :poosie: