"Semi-Pro" website?

[sk66]

For a very long time I've been thinking I need to put up a "portfolio site". Just my best work; but not for any "real" reason. I'm not looking to "go pro" or anything. Not even looking to make it a real "side business".

I have web hosting and design skills as I used to do web design/maintenance etc and I currently have a small web-based side business....But I don't have much motivation for doing the work.

I've considered using a LR template and just loading a few pages on my current domain. Maybe make it a sub-domain with naming re-direct so it "looks" a bit more "professional". But I think that would likely be "lost" on the web if I don't do a lot of linking/SEO which I probably won't do....

I use Flickr Pro, but it's more just a hanging spot and so-so.

So, go the easy route and do a "half ass" job by just throwing up a LR portfolio on my server, or go with something like 500px? (what would you recommend?)

Or do I really need to put the time/effort into it or not bother?

I've always kind of felt like it's the last answer, and so far I haven't bothered....

[SwissJon]

I've just discovered 500px.. I'm going to use it for my "Best of the best" photos, I've set it up for sales.. No idea if I'll make any money, but hey, can't hurt to try... The fact that for $50 a year you get unlimited uploads, there's some decent portfolio settings etc. and can set your domain to point at it makes it worthwhile getting the pro account, as it's not far off what you'll pay a hosting company.. Adding in the link to Fotomoto for selling your images, and maybe it'll pay for itself, maybe it'll pay for some more equipment.. Who knows.. I'm going to see how it goes with the freebie.. If things work out in a week or two I'll move over to the paid version.

Here's me on there.. Take a look.

Jon Pertwee Photography

[sk66]

Jon, I like your layout on there quite a bit. Does it allow for more categories? What are the size limitations etc? I can't seem to find out any details from the front end.

[SwissJon]

The layout is just a standard template.. The categories are created in a similar way to Flickr, they call them collections, I couldn't see any limits on the size, their server resizes the previews to 900px because that prevents people from downloading something of a useable size, there's options to download the full file at a cost dictated by you on fotomoto.. I don't know how well that will work, but since I'm not intending to .. The max size is 30mb per picture, and with a standard account you're limited to uploading a maximum of 20 photos a week.

If you sign up for the "Pro" account, use the discount code "friends" to get $10 off.

Here's some more info with screenshots of the backend

500px.com Review and Promo Code | Ocala, Florida Photographer Eric Heikkinen

[Biomech]

I've used the LR galleries before when I want to quickly through up a collection for some random reason, but on the whole I get tired of them very quickly. I'd either opt for that 500px site or a wordpress install with umm... what's it called .... Photocrati with the nexgen gallery plugin. That's what I use as a bit of a showcase these days: http://www.jamieorourke.co.uk

[sk66]

Originally Posted by Biomech

I've used the LR galleries before when I want to quickly through up a collection for some random reason, but on the whole I get tired of them very quickly. I'd either opt for that 500px site or a wordpress install with umm... what's it called .... Photocrati with the nexgen gallery plugin. That's what I use as a bit of a showcase these days: http://www.jamierourke.co.uk

hmm, your link comes back as broken...
ahh, there shouldn't be a "www" in it.

[Biomech]

Or, of course, it could be that I just can't spell my own name :P