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02/27/2015 09:22:58 PM · #1
I know this has been asked a million times before and I've probably even asked it but before I was just thinking about putting a website together now I am ready to get going on it. I finally got other projects I was working on finished up and now I have some time to spend on it. I am hoping to even start this weekend.

To help me decide what I should pick here is what I need it for:

I want to start my own product photography business. I need a website to professionally display my portfolio, and display info on pricing and how to get in touch with me. I also plan on setting up a facebook page that will link to this website I am creating. I don't necessarily plan on selling anything directly from the store front but I don't want to rule out that possibility. Right now I want something cheap maybe even free with the option of paying more in the future for more services as my business grows.

So who do you guys have your websites with. And what do you like or not like about them? Also list price since that is an important deciding factor to me.
02/27/2015 09:35:25 PM · #2
justhost.com is in my opinion the best there is, I tried many and I run for years many websites.
My big websites are running on it. (This one I have around 5000 visits a day on. Look at the speed (www.casio-calculator.com)
They also offer an incredible amount of tools for free.

Message edited by author 2015-02-27 21:36:36.
02/28/2015 11:24:48 AM · #3
Jen, i have gone through quite a few. I hosted my own, wordpress, smugmug, etc...

right now i'm using squarespace and i'm quite happy with it. its not free but it worth the price as its so easy to set up and for me, keep updated. when i hosted my own, keeping it updated was a chore, squarespace makes it easy and it loads pretty quick too.

www.michaelalestraphotography.com

the thing that i really like it that it makes a really nice mobile site for you too, i think my site looks better on my phone than the pc.

Message edited by author 2015-02-28 11:30:52.
03/01/2015 01:20:58 AM · #4
Thanks everyone I have spent a frustrating day trying both zenfolio and squarespace since they seemed to be more what I was looking for. I like squarespaces layouts better than zenfolio but I can't get it to do a slide show on my home page which is very important to me. I can get zenfolio to do a slide show but I hate the color schemes of all of their layouts. Either way they are very hard to work with. Usually I don't have this much trouble. I even made my own web page about 10 years ago with code. I've designed several blogs and even done some advanced stuff with code on those.
Somehow I thought this would easier than that. I feel like it should be as simple as clicking on a square where you wanted a photo or slide show uploading some photos personalizing links. But nope they are so frustrating. It's almost like they are making it hard on purpose so that you will have to pay to have someone help you with it.

Mike I really like your webpage. I signed up for square spaces free trial and have been going back between zenfolio and squarespace. I think I would go with squarespace if I could figure out how to do a slideshow for my home page. How did you get yours on there. Am I making it more difficult that it is?
03/01/2015 02:45:27 AM · #5
I had a play around with various site creator tools and chose Zenfolio mainly due to the fact it is hooked up to printers in the UK. However I did find it very easy to use. I will admit some things constantly take me a few moments to find but overall I quite like it. I am a web developer by trade but a lazy one otherwise I would roll my own system.

For your interest, you can edit the colour scheme of most themes.



I am no expert at Zenfolio but happy to offer any assistance if you do choose it and are struggling to get it to behave

My Zenfolio site doesn't seem great on my iPhone so perhaps this Squarespace has the advantage on this front or my particular theme isn't as responsive as others
03/01/2015 08:31:14 AM · #6
Don't use wordpress, you need a degree to work out how to use it...and just today they disabled the slider show, and I can't even work out how to re-install another one, really frustrating.
03/01/2015 08:57:11 AM · #7
I have been using godaddy with wordpress...all of my sites and client sites are in wordpress. One of such example is this one that I photoshoot few weeks back.

Sweet Sixteen!

All of my client I give them a dedicated website with subdomain included in the price.
03/01/2015 09:01:09 AM · #8
I have GoDaddy with Wordpress as well, Wordpress is insanely easy and user friendly with lots of user friendly themes and add-ons that you can customize without having to dig too deep on Google / YouTube.
03/01/2015 09:44:30 AM · #9
Jen, its been a while, but i think when you create a new page, make it a gallery. I used the "Ishimoto" template as a base and modified it from there.

Message edited by author 2015-03-01 09:46:19.
03/02/2015 08:35:40 AM · #10
Jen, after you set the template you go to, from the main toolbar on the left, Design | Style settings, and then scroll down to Gallery styles, that where you edit how the slideshow looks and behaves.
03/02/2015 08:43:07 AM · #11
Thanks Mike. I finally got things to work on zenfolio. I haven't given up on squarespace yet. I am going to try to figure things out on that one when I get a chance this week. Then make a decision on which one to keep.

Here is my portfolio on zenfolio so far:

//jennhulsproductphotography.zenfolio.com/
03/02/2015 09:11:03 AM · #12
Great site Jennifer. I started using Zenfolio about a month ago, but my setup is far less sophisticated. Then I got sidetracked and haven't gone back to make it better. But yours is beautiful - and I love the pictures you have up too.

03/02/2015 09:37:16 AM · #13
looks really good!
03/02/2015 12:19:47 PM · #14
Thanks :)
03/02/2015 12:50:35 PM · #15
DPC Zenfolio User's Group thread from last year ...
03/02/2015 03:05:51 PM · #16
I use Bluehost with Wordpress. Depending on what you want you can get buy with the basic Wordpress templates, but I really like the Photocrati stuff. I'm in the middle of a redesign and should hopefully be up this week. I'll post a link when I am.
03/02/2015 03:24:13 PM · #17
It does look good, and I think you could probably double your prices at least; not sure if you make it up in volume but they look great.
03/02/2015 04:10:43 PM · #18
Originally posted by MadMan2k:

It does look good, and I think you could probably double your prices at least; not sure if you make it up in volume but they look great.


I know I am debating it, I really haven't started advertising yet so I can change them, still thinking it through. I don't think I can ask much more. Not in this area anyway. I know some of the bigger places charge much more but I can't compete with them right now. Thought I would start a little cheaper and raise prices as I build things up.
03/02/2015 08:50:14 PM · #19
Be careful you don't pigeon hole yourself into lowball rates.

Message edited by author 2015-03-03 10:01:21.
03/02/2015 09:15:37 PM · #20
FWIW I use webnode for my business, though I don't know if I'd use for a photography business. Bare bones version (ie no images) cost about $35 USD per annum; of course you to upgrade, and naturally pay, *premium* rates for sites that allow you to post images.
03/24/2015 01:47:39 PM · #21
Does anyone have any experience with iPage?
03/24/2015 03:01:38 PM · #22
Dream hostBeen using them since 2004.
05/10/2015 08:08:06 AM · #23
nice looking site, great examples.

i'd suggest a minor tweak to your about:

"Hello and welcome! I am a product photography specialist and my creativity can help you create some one of a kind product shots that will make your products or web page stand out. I can do anything from fun and quirky (like my profile picture) to simple and straightforward (like your typical white background stock photo). Need to get your products on Amazon? I can help you with that too. Too busy to come to me?... I can come to you if you live in [wherever], or we can work out shipping options where you ship your product to me and I send you the photos."

cheers,
skip

Message edited by author 2015-05-10 08:09:27.
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