What’s Your Preference?

laurie millar · #1 (**permalink**) 11-13-2009, 05:41 PM

This is kind of a hard question to ask, and it might be hard for some to answer but should I have a website? I've been doing the blog thing because it's free and I wanted to work my way up and feel like a good enough photographer before I did the whole website thing. I've had a couple of graphic designer friends tell me I should have one, but I'm not sure. It's a big step to me...

So here are my questions...

-Take a look at my blog... www.lauriemillarphotography.blogspot.com and tell me honestly if you think I have enough good work on there to start a site. I haven't been converting my images to be web-ready so they are not as clear...obviously I would change if I had a site.

-For those of you who have sites...has it been an advantage? How has business changed for you? Any recommendations on companies to get the site started?

Any help or advice you have is great! I don't know if it's weird that I'm so apprehensive about it...I just wanted to hear what you guys have to say. I'm still so relatively new to the whole photography thing, especially the business end.

Thank you in advance!!!

acedrew · #2 (**permalink**) 11-13-2009, 08:20 PM

I use smugmug for my photo site, it really can be leveraged to optimize and simplify your business model. Having the ability to offer prints online really frees you up, simplifying the proof process substantially. I'm not sure what I would do without my SmugMug!

Andrew Rodgers
Perfected Perspectives -- Photography by Andrew Rodgers | Andrew Rodgers (acedrew) on Twitter | Login | Facebook

OsmosisStudios · #3 (**permalink**) 11-13-2009, 08:22 PM

It really depends what you want your site to be.

In my case, it's a portfolio before all else: a portal I can send people to so that they can view my work. I usually get sales in person then refer them to the site, not vice versa.

If you want it to be purely sales, then a smugmug account or something similar can be more valuable.

Looking at your portfolio, I do have to say that your work is quite good: there's no such as being "good enough for a site" it just depends on what YOU want.

k8et · #4 (**permalink**) 11-13-2009, 08:36 PM

Personally, I say buy a domain, about $10 a year or so, and point it to your blog. Now.

When the time comes that you want a more professional looking site, and have the time/money, set it up and repoint the domain there.

That way, any customers or fans you gain before then won't be "lost" when you switch, and links on other sites won't be broken - just promote/use the domain name and not the blogspot one.

Blogs are cheap and easy to update. Some allow significant "galleries" or "pages" that make it less bloggy looking. (I use wordpress.com the hosting site, and can have as many pages as I like, they could be used for galleries and contact information so that it's easier to find. You could just do all this on your about page and link elsewhere (like smugmug) for galleries if blogspot only allows the one page.)

I think you are talented enough to get a site, but figure out the cost/effort. if you are hesitant, just do the domain for now!!

sarahgirl777 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-14-2009, 03:27 AM

Just wanted to show you my "blog" that I have set up as my website. It is also done through blogger but I feel it serves my purposes as both a blog and website and I really don't feel I need to pay for any more. It's, www.pictureyouphotography.net oh and congrats on the up coming baby, when are you due? I'm pregnant also and due in May 2010 (Have my last photos in April when I shoot a wedding... ).

laurie millar · #6 (**permalink**) 11-14-2009, 07:17 PM

Thanks everyone! I SO appreciate you taking the time to give me your thoughts and advice.

Sarahgirl, I'm due on Dec. 6! It's coming too fast! I'm way excited though, so thank you. Congratulations to you!

harvey3 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-15-2009, 12:43 PM

if you're serious about marketing your work then my answer is YES!
website these days are cheap, I have my site up and running for less than $100.00. I got good friend who designed it btw hehehe!

photo.mom · #8 (**permalink**) 11-18-2009, 08:22 PM

I say go for it. It's made my business so much better - and I've only had my site up and running for about 2 months now. It's SO much more professional and a lot easier for potential clients to look through.

I bought my template through www.bludomain.com and I host with them as well. Totally reasonable prices, great customer service, and easy to do.

redcargurl · #9 (**permalink**) 11-19-2009, 04:12 PM

Hi,
I would recommend Smugmug. you can have a professional site inexpensively; I believe you can link your blog to the site, and you can set prices for your clients to purchase prints thru the site. if you feel you need something bigger after that, you can always purchase domain etc. Personally, the photography is a hobby for now, but my site is clean, organized and there are no ads. I pay $40/year. I think the pro site it $150/year.

Good luck with the baby!