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DPChallenge Forums >> Business of Photography >> Online Photo Proofing, what do you use?
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Showing posts 1 - 25 of 36, descending (reverse)
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 03/04/2016 03:17:04 PM · #1
Have you tried Format's new proofing tool? I was in a similar boat as you and just started using Format and really, really like it. I\'d suggest at least giving it a try with their free trial to see if it fits your needs.
 12/16/2010 03:48:55 PM · #2
In home presentations can be great sales tools, but there is certainly a practical application for online photo proofing. Out of town family, grandparents, wedding guests, etc may not have ordered prints otherwise, but now with simply sharing a link, your number of customers has grown. Not to mention that the more people share your photos with friends and family online, the more word of mouth marketing you are getting for free! There is a new online photo proofing service called ShootProof on the market that is very affordable, just a flat monthly fee rather than a commission structure.

Also, ShootProof doesn\'t limit you to a particular photo lab. This was a big point for me because I order regular prints from one lab and specialty products (gallery wraps, etc), from a different lab based on price and quality. They do however allow customers to pay you online (or by check later), so that makes the checkout process so quick. These days people are much looser with online purchases than with writing a check or feeling the sting of seeing their cash go to you!
 10/21/2009 07:37:35 PM · #3
why not do in house presentations? My average portrait sale went from around $150 to over $1,700 when I did.
10/19/2009 10:28:24 AM · #4
Not even an international site with multiple languages?
 10/19/2009 07:30:14 AM · #5
I'm looking for a site for online proofing in Brazil, but don't seem to find until now. I can use Photoshelter or Smugsmug and customize the site, but for selling or printing, I suppose the site will not be customizable to my language and it will be in English. Also, even if all of them could undertand English, it will be a pain in the ass for them to pay and wait for an international shipment.

I just found a site, but it is very poor if compared to those that I mentioned above.

Does anybody know a good online proofing site in Brazil?
 10/12/2009 05:22:59 PM · #6
You going to send us a link to your smugmug galleries when they are ready? There is a lot you can do to customize with the higher level accounts and even those are a bargained to a lot of other hosting options.
 10/05/2009 03:51:33 PM · #7
Originally posted by david_c:
Originally posted by lovethelight:
I can't get it to setup on my server because I don't have the right php.

Where is your site hosted? I have mine with GoDaddy, and I'm pretty sure ZP only requires php4.4 (although 5.2 is recommended) and mySQL 4 or higher. GoDaddy meets those requirements, for sure.


I am using GoDaddy, but I have no idea why it didn't work. It turned out that SmugMug's simplest account type was a better deal than most of the other sites I looked at, and while a free program would be nice, I have been having a lot of technical difficulties since I am not experienced with that type of thing. I am on a trial of SmugMug and am still open to suggestions. Thanks for all the feedback!
 10/03/2009 10:17:45 AM · #8
Originally posted by lovethelight:
Originally posted by david_c:
If all you need is some sort of gallery software, and you already have your domain hosted somewhere, I'd say the following might fit the bill

coppermine
gallery
ZenPhoto (<-- awesome)

...unless web-based "proofing" means something different than what I assume??


Zenphoto looks so awesome but I have had every form of issue trying to use it. I can't get it to setup on my server because I don't have the right php. I asked about that on the forums and was led to Mamp and I tried using that and only came up with more errors. Sadness. I just don't know enough about coding I guess.


I'll be around next week and might be able to help if you would like. I've not worked with zenphoto, but php and web hosting are both very familiar to me.
 10/01/2009 05:52:45 PM · #9
I have looked at a number of proofing options and will probably just build my own when I find time for it. But, both smugmug and zenfolio offer very nice sites at very reasonable prices. Both are pretty good about hiding their branding if you get a 'pro' level account. I don't sell through the site though, I take the order via email or over the phone so I can make recommendations and up sell where appropriate.

I think online proofing is kind of a mixed bag at this point in time. I could drive more sales by proofing face-to-face, but I've also had some families tell me the sale was larger because distant family members could look online and that bumped up the order. The biggest challenge is getting a big enough bump in sales to cover the cost of a space to host customers for the proofing. I really don't want to be running clients through my home on a regular basis... that would put a lot of strain on my family.
 10/01/2009 05:30:33 PM · #10
I have proofing through my actual website, linked to a shopping cart and paypal etc. There is a client login section on the home page, they click on that, put in their password and their pics are there to see/buy.

My website is through CMD websites.
 09/30/2009 10:29:51 PM · #11
Originally posted by lovethelight:
I can't get it to setup on my server because I don't have the right php.

Where is your site hosted? I have mine with GoDaddy, and I'm pretty sure ZP only requires php4.4 (although 5.2 is recommended) and mySQL 4 or higher. GoDaddy meets those requirements, for sure.
 09/30/2009 07:14:48 PM · #12
Originally posted by lovethelight:
I don't have the right php. I asked about that on the forums and was led to Mamp


I don't understand why you need Mamp. Are you trying to install ZenPhoto on your own computer? If so, are you using your computer as a web server or are you just trying to test ZenPhoto locally?
 09/30/2009 06:30:50 PM · #13
Originally posted by david_c:
If all you need is some sort of gallery software, and you already have your domain hosted somewhere, I'd say the following might fit the bill

coppermine
gallery
ZenPhoto (<-- awesome)

...unless web-based "proofing" means something different than what I assume??


Zenphoto looks so awesome but I have had every form of issue trying to use it. I can't get it to setup on my server because I don't have the right php. I asked about that on the forums and was led to Mamp and I tried using that and only came up with more errors. Sadness. I just don't know enough about coding I guess.
 09/28/2009 10:56:42 PM · #14
What do you consider affordable? Smugmug is less than $50 / yr (you do not need the pro level) and offers password protected albums, you can turn off printin and shows at decent quality. I used to have Pbase but gavve it up some time ago because of down time and slow access complaints. And it was not that much cheaper at the time.

Message edited by author 2009-09-28 22:56:54.
 09/28/2009 03:32:46 PM · #15
pBase is back up. At last!
 09/28/2009 09:39:38 AM · #16
Is pbase gone forever? or will it manage to come back?
 09/28/2009 09:34:49 AM · #17
Wow this is some great stuff! Thanks everyone!
 09/28/2009 08:19:51 AM · #18
Wish I did have some other thoughts as to what could replace pBase. I am a bit stuck. I do quite a lot of freeby photos for a school and an Origami group and use pBase to serve up free images for the participants to download. None of the others do what I want and all have too much advertising - Flickr, Deviantart... I looked into Photoshelter and I think that does what I want it to do in a fairly elegant manner. I'm not sure I like the price though - $329 / year for a "standard" package. But, unlike pBase, it does allow you to extend into selling prints... and some e-commerce.
 09/27/2009 08:59:22 PM · #19
my flash website costs pennys JayAphoto
 09/27/2009 07:57:39 PM · #20
If all you need is some sort of gallery software, and you already have your domain hosted somewhere, I'd say the following might fit the bill

coppermine
gallery
ZenPhoto (<-- awesome)

...unless web-based "proofing" means something different than what I assume??
 09/27/2009 06:39:23 PM · #21
I just started using instaproofs. So far I like it....but its my first experience....
 09/27/2009 05:14:15 PM · #22
I'm using the proofing system through bludomain and have also just set up photocart to do some of the bigger scale order handling. Neither are ideal but it's what I've got for now.

If you're looking for the cheapest route, maybe just generate galleries from Photoshop or Lightroom and upload those to your website?
 09/27/2009 05:04:52 PM · #23
Originally posted by pineapple:
pBase has been down for days as a result of (a) a complete data centre power failure, and (b) the Oracle server failed to come up when eventually they did get power. Prior to that event, the database server seemed to be underpowered and serve times were agonizingly slow. I would not, at the moment, recommend pBase though I have been a client for several years now.


:( Too bad, any other thoughts?
 09/27/2009 12:00:40 PM · #24
pBase has been down for days as a result of (a) a complete data centre power failure, and (b) the Oracle server failed to come up when eventually they did get power. Prior to that event, the database server seemed to be underpowered and serve times were agonizingly slow. I would not, at the moment, recommend pBase though I have been a client for several years now.
 09/27/2009 11:11:20 AM · #25
Originally posted by chromeydome:
Well, I use my mac mobile me account gallery for simple stuff: put em into iPhoto, publish them to a password protected gallery specifically for the event, person, etc. I have just started with a smugmug pro account for printing services, but have not actually used it yet so cannot say anything about the quality (it was free with a workshop I took)

Oh, and HEY There, Claire :-)


HEY! Mobile me that's a neat idea. I will look into it. I like doing lots of research before I make a move :).
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