We take a look at Smugmug's answer to professional and sleek websites, Smugmug Pro.
| Web / Internet
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Features
Performance
Verdict
SmugMug's flagship product, SmugMug Pro, enables photographers to both display their portfolios, and gives them the tools to sell and market their work effectively. It is a personalised website with a difference, in that everything you need is in one place and easy to navigate and access. It destroys the need for a separate portfolio site and selling page.
It is also unique, because it enables you to place your brand on the sales correspondence, so when customers receive their order, they know it was from you. It also enables you to use your own domain name, or use one of SmugMug's own.
Then, you will be asked to create your first gallery. You can give it a name and choose a category of photography that it will contain. Here you also choose the theme of your site. SmugMug has a wide variety of different and varied themes. Click on them and you can see what they look like in the window to the right. When you're happy, click 'onwards!'
You'll then be asked to upload your photos. This has been made really easy by SmugMug, as you simply drag and drop your individual photos or file folders onto the target, and there they are, in your folder that you created earlier. Once you've run through the start up, you can of course add more picture folders and upload unlimited photos.
There are several packages that you can have with SmugMug Pro, as seen below. They range from the basic package, at $35 dollars per year, to the Pro package, that is $145 per year. You can also pay in two and three yearly chunks for a discounted price.
Now you've gone through the initial set up, you are left to your own devices to get your site set up. If you need help, there is plenty of support offered simply by clicking on the 'Help' tab. If you have a look around, you can see the page as your customers would see it. You can also change the layout of your homepage so it suits you.
In your galleries, people have the option to buy prints or gifts with your photo on, or even buy the whole gallery of photos. SmugMug uses Loxley printing, one of the best pro labs in the UK, to print their goods, so you can gurantee great quality products. It is very simple to work your way around, and the shopping cart is right next to the buy tab, so it is very easy to see your purchases.
Quick and easy
Neat and professional
Simple to navigate
Expensive for pro packages
Some key features, like selling photos, only available to pro package
FEATURES:
PERFORMANCE:
VALUE FOR MONEY:
OVERALL:
Performance
Verdict
SmugMug's flagship product, SmugMug Pro, enables photographers to both display their portfolios, and gives them the tools to sell and market their work effectively. It is a personalised website with a difference, in that everything you need is in one place and easy to navigate and access. It destroys the need for a separate portfolio site and selling page.
It is also unique, because it enables you to place your brand on the sales correspondence, so when customers receive their order, they know it was from you. It also enables you to use your own domain name, or use one of SmugMug's own.
SmugMug Pro Features:
- Everything is in one place
- Full online e-commerce website
- Customise your site
- Upload unlimited photos
- Sell your work
- Transactions have your company/ business name on, not SmugMug's
- Copyright protection technology protects your pictures from right clicking and pasting.
- No Ads
- Watermarks on photos
- Optional gallery, site and section passwords for security
- Upload up to 20 mins of 1080p video
- Choose from over 600 products to sell with your photos on
- Set your own prices for merchandise
- Share with all the top social networking sites
Then, you will be asked to create your first gallery. You can give it a name and choose a category of photography that it will contain. Here you also choose the theme of your site. SmugMug has a wide variety of different and varied themes. Click on them and you can see what they look like in the window to the right. When you're happy, click 'onwards!'
You'll then be asked to upload your photos. This has been made really easy by SmugMug, as you simply drag and drop your individual photos or file folders onto the target, and there they are, in your folder that you created earlier. Once you've run through the start up, you can of course add more picture folders and upload unlimited photos.
There are several packages that you can have with SmugMug Pro, as seen below. They range from the basic package, at $35 dollars per year, to the Pro package, that is $145 per year. You can also pay in two and three yearly chunks for a discounted price.
Now you've gone through the initial set up, you are left to your own devices to get your site set up. If you need help, there is plenty of support offered simply by clicking on the 'Help' tab. If you have a look around, you can see the page as your customers would see it. You can also change the layout of your homepage so it suits you.
In your galleries, people have the option to buy prints or gifts with your photo on, or even buy the whole gallery of photos. SmugMug uses Loxley printing, one of the best pro labs in the UK, to print their goods, so you can gurantee great quality products. It is very simple to work your way around, and the shopping cart is right next to the buy tab, so it is very easy to see your purchases.
SmugMug Pro Performance
The website was extremely quick to set up, and easy to get around. It is well set out for both the customer and the web maker, and settings are easily changeable in just a few clicks. Even changing your theme or customising your own is very simple.SmugMug Pro Verdict
The website is minimalistic, and allows your photos to be the centre of attention, as they should be. The many themes and the option to have your own domain name give the site a real feel of ownership and professionalism. It is very easy to get your site looking and feeling unique. The different sections for photos enable visitors to quickly find what they are looking for and enable you to keep the site tidy. Smugmug Pro is no doubt a good tool to use if you are planning on creating your own website and intend to sell your photos and products. Visit the SmugMug site here.SmugMug Pro Pros:
Quick and easy Neat and professional Simple to navigate SmugMug Pro Cons:
Expensive for pro packages Some key features, like selling photos, only available to pro packageFEATURES:
PERFORMANCE:
VALUE FOR MONEY:
OVERALL:
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5 Jul 2013 8:59PMCheers in advance, Mark Woods.
markwoods.daportfolio.com
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