OT: Web Hosting

I've had several people asking me where they can see my photos so I guess I need to set up a website. I've been looking at SmugMug Professional site but I'm concerned about their commissions for pricing and what the prints would look like. The hosting seems easy and I have a coupon for half off the first year. I think I would like a little more control over how I get paid so anybody got a good solution and a place where I can do an easy setup, maybe using Paypal? Or is SmugMug a good solution? I'm on a shoestring budget here!!!

Thanks!

Smugmug is perfect for the shoestring budget, in my opinion. It's a good starter solution, and I know plenty of people who use it as a professional solution as well. It's gonna be hard to avoid the typical fees/commissions ... without buying a website package (like Jack B's) or setting up something yourself. I recommend that you sign up and do a test print. I was pleasantly surprised by their print quality. Can't hurt to try ... it's cheap and easy.

You can always just ask people to email you directly to order prints (even with Smugmug). And then rely on the simplicity of the PayPal invoicing system ... certainly a more personable solution.

If you have Lightroom, take a look at what Chris Rice did with his site.

I use Host Gator, which Jesse recommended to me. On their site, I use Gallery 2, which can be installed easily through their web app. Its an easy way to make photos available to friends and link to them in forums.

Hey Jack...I shot you a long winded answer to your email about Smugmug in case you haven't seen it yet.

Bottom line is that I think its a great way to inexpensively get started at selling prints. Especially, if you have a half off coupon for that first year! Just sign up for a free account to begin with and do some test prints, like Jesse said earlier.

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm gonna give SmugMug a shot.

Smugmug is the way to go Jack, you're going to pay money somewhere and their commission isn't unreasonable; it's still extra revenue that you wouldn't normally have. By the way, their prints look amazing and they let you choose whom to fulfill from; you can even fulfill them yourself. http://www.smugmug.com/help/choice-of-printing-labs

This is an interesting thread. Do many of you have your own website, AND Smugmug? For those with Smugmug, are sales significant compared to sales from your website?

With just a Smugmug account and no physical way of people looking at your work to tease them online I'm skeptical whether Smugmug would work that well (?)

I use Smugmug as my main site and actually have it associated with my URL, www.shoot2capture.com. I have completely customized it and only left the bottom Smugmug bar to inform people they're on smugmug.