Web Photo Solutions

[Matblack]

Hi Guys

I'm looking to put photos up on a website, I'd like to do this in the simplist way which I think it probably through LR3's Web module, which seems a pretty good solution.

However I am wondering what to use at the server end, LR will do a simple HTML or Flash (no keen on this) gallery, or there are more sophisticated solutions like Gallery or Zen butI am interested in other peoples experiences.

Thanks

MB

[leowyatt]

I think for photo solutions the two that spring to my mind are zenfolio and smug mug.

Do you have any webspace you can use?

[Matblack]

I most certainly do and a URL :)

I want something to look slick but be easy to administer

MB

[leowyatt]

hmm if you want something that looks slick and easy to administer I'd probably steer away from something like a wordpress blog with a photo theme.

Looking at the prices for both smug mug and zenfolio;

Smug Mug

Basic : $40 per year
Power : $60 per year
Pro : $150 per year

Zenfolio

Basic : $25 per year
Unlimited : $50 per year
Premium : $100 per year

You do get free trials with both sites so you could sign up for both and see which you like.

A quick comparison of the basic packages I think the smug mug looks better as it is unlimited space whereas zenfolio is 2Gb.

It seems you can use both to export from Lightroom.

As you probably aren't going to end up selling pictures at the moment I'd look at either the unlimited or power packages as you can then customise your layout.

[Matblack]

Those look great but I'm not sure that I actually need to pay anything, as I have a URL I bought and some space from a kind soul :)

http://www.monkeybumble.com/matblack/pram/

I've got this far without, this is using Lightroom's own publishing engine and it isn't too bad, I've just got to work out how to write an index page although I'm tempted to use soemthing like Blogger and link it that way with a list of galleries down the side :)

MB

[Matblack]

I think I've found a solution, I'm using Wordpress with a plugin called NextGen both of which are free \o/

Have a look www.monkeybumble.com (http://www.monkeybumble.com)

The photos are protected, the password (for the time being) is monkeybumble

:cool:

MB

[leowyatt]

Looking good MB :)

I found it difficult to find a decent gallery plugin. Will look at this NextGen :)

[Matblack]

NextGen seems to be very good and I like the default shutter gallery display so I won't be changing it, yuo can also add it as a widget. It's exclusive to Wordpress so if you are using that then it's a good solution. :)

MB

[Dymetrie]

Matt, that looks great!

How easy is it to upload images to that?

I've managed to set up a blogger account where I can email images (or anything, I guess) and it'll post them automagically, but it's not so simple to give easy access for family/friends whilst keeping it private...

[Desmo]

I use Next Gen on our work sites, it's very easy to set up and very configurable :)

[Feek]

How about Dropbox (https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTI1MzgyOQ?src=global0)? You just create a folder in the Photo directory and copy the link. Job done, an automatic gallery.

I just threw some random images into a folder, here's the link.

http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/25382/1/Demo?h=152a37

.. and yes, full disclosure, that's my referrer link above, anyone who signs up with it gets an extra 250Mb space and so do I.