Working the Web.(Products & Services)

Working the Web

Boost your online presence (and your bottom line) with blogs, videos, slideshows, and more

COMPILED BY JENNIFER GIDMAN

When photographers first started jumping onto the internet and setting up their own websites for business purposes, sites were usually nothing more than landing pages for customers to view a company logo, address, phone number, and email address. Today, however, more and more professional photographers are leveraging the power of the web to put their sites to work for them in creative and industry-savvy ways.

Services are available to help you upload your portfolios or create interactive slideshows for prospective clients to see, establish an online brand presence, or blog about what you see going on in the photographic industry. Website services range from preset, drag-and-drop templates for those who might be intimidated by the process to customized sites for those who already have their own site and want to integrate their own aesthetics with additional powerful features. Following are some of the companies that can assist you in entering (or enhancing your presence) in the online arena.

BIG Folio

BIG Folio specializes in web design for professional photographers, designers, and artists. There are multiple designs to choose from, as well as custom web design suited to fit a photographer's exact needs. BIG Folio also offers website hosting, online proofing and sales, blogs, and slideshows.

BluDomain

BluDomain offers fully editable Flash websites, with certain templates featuring: video add-ons, front-end shopping carts, featured galleries, client proofing, color shifting per image, multiple images per frame, music, watermarks, background upload functionality, and a calendar.

Collages.net

Collages.net offers workflow solutions that enable professional photographers to offer clients customized ecommerce websites and commercial DVD slideshow presentations for events such as weddings, portraits, and other special events. The company's platform allows photographers to sell photographs online and market their studios to guests, associates, friends, and family members who previously had no access to the professional photographs. In 2006, Collages.net launched collagesDesktop, a client-side software designed to simplify and expedite the online posting process. Coinciding with this software launch, collagesColor Pro Photo lab was also introduced, where Collages.net formed a private partnership with a professional color lab.

efotolab.com

efotolab.com is a web-based professional photographic lab and e-commerce solution focused on providing a one-stop online sales and ordering tool for professional photographers. There are two distinct products the company provides via the internet: an online sales system for photographers so they may market their images directly to the public, and online print ordering for the photographer via EfotoPRO ROES (Remote Order Entry System). The high-resolution files are processed and sent directly to the company's print server for professional photographic prints.

eWareness

eWareness offers a full spectrum of web marketing, design, and communications services for individual photographers, as well as for photography studios and galleries. The company's design services typically integrate each photographer's images with his or her website from both a design perspective as well as a branding effort.

ExpressDigital

ExpressDigital designs products that cater to digital photographers and labs. The company's primary business is a total workflow solution that allows photographers of all types and genres to automate their processes, organize billing and marketing operations, integrate an infinite number of product offerings, and sell and fulfill orders locally and/or online. All Darkroom software versions (Web, Core, Professional, and Assembly) offer photography businesses free internet storefronts with a feature called PhotoReflect, which publishes the commissioned photography that can be purchased by clients as digital files, photos, and other products. The photographer can use the storefront by hosting it on their own website or they can use one of more than 80 free templates that are hosted at PhotoReflect.com and managed by the Darkroom software.

FolioLink

FolioLink allows photographers to create Flash and HTML websites that are easy to update. The service offers a comprehensive set of website designs and special features that appeal to professional photographers. When a photographer signs up for a FolioLink website account, they're presented with an array of website design choices and multiple color schemes. Commonly supported website features include audio, slideshows, Flash intros, PayPal integration, support for Google Analytics, and more. Other features of the service include: Flash design customization; a stand-alone image archive with each Pro Account; portfolio Flash websites with search-engine visibility; the ability to be used as iPhone- and iPod touch-compatible websites; and new large-file video support.

ImageQuix

ImageQuix offers high-quality, elegant websites designed to enhance the professional photographer's presence online. The company not only offers the tools necessary to create an entire website in minutes, but also free live tutorial sessions that range from website creation and online search-engine optimization to marketing and business management. The company has committed itself to making the photographer fully aware of his or her potential and shows them how to maximize it.

liveBooks

liveBooks is a leading provider of professional websites that help photographers get more work. Its website solutions offer a way to share images online, as well as business tools to help grow a photographer's business. The liveBooks website solution contains two parts:

The first is a unique and customized Flash website that allows the photographers to truly capture their brands and business aesthetics in a way that delivers differentiation for their business. In addition to still photographs, all liveBooks websites also include the ability to upload multimedia files (e.g., slideshows, videos, or SWF or PDF files). The second part of the solution revolves around tools to help the photographer easily grow their business, including the online editSuite, which enables photographers to update, arrange, and rearrange their portfolios of images whenever they want and as often as they want in a simple drag-and-drop environment. The online tools also supply client-protected areas; streamlined FTP; a shopping cart for selling their work; and search-engine-optimized content to increase photographer's rankings with search engines.

[Editor's note: for more on the benefits of adding video to your website, see the accompanying article in this issue.].

Parade

Parade offers portfolio websites and an image-uploading and organizing admin system. The company says that their sites are more search-engine-friendly than the average template because they're made with standards-compliant CSS/XHTML (without sacrificing animation and transitions).

PhotoShelter

PhotoShelter offers a complete solution for pros, including sales capabilities and opportunities and a workflow infrastructure designed around pro needs. Flexible and easy-to-use templates for portfolio websites can be created in less than five minutes, and the photographer has full control of such design elements as background color, image size, and theme choice. PhotoShelter's templates provide photographers with many powerful features, including an ecommerce shopping cart; print sales (automated or self-fulfilled; keyword search; security; client login; lightboxes for editing selections with clients; viral marketing tools; multiple options for high-res online image delivery; and bulletproof archiving. For photographers who already have a website but want to incorporate the company's powerful features, the Seamless Customization capability lets photographers keep their look and feel yet weave in PhotoShelter "behind the scenes."

PickPic

PickPic aims to offer photographers' clients exactly what they want--all while the photographer maintains total control over virtually every aspect of the proofing process. Easy-to-use features include: seamless design that can blend with an existing site; full album and product support; toning and border previews for clients; third-party slideshow support; statistics and reports; magnification; and email capture when your visitors log in. Plus, there are no recurring fees (installations are a one-time flat fee).

Pictage

Pictage provides photographers with an all-in-one online solution for managing their businesses. Clients benefit from a password-protected studio website for their business, which includes full-service online proofing (unlimited number of images), a complete ecommerce engine, access to Pictage's full product and services suite (albums, prints, proof books, canvas gallery wraps, greeting cards, etc), product ordering and fulfillment, and online account statements and financial business reports. The Pictage website also features a Community section, which provides clients access to exclusive online forums, the Pictage Blog and Podcast, exclusive member discounts, Pictage TV, Pictage user groups info, and other community-related resources.

Printroom

Printroom is a leading provider of online storefronts, professional lab services, and workflow software for professional photographers. The service features thousands of professional photographers' online storefronts, and more than 25,000 photographers rely on Printroom's color-managed printing capabilities to deliver high-quality prints to their customers.

PhotoFront

PhotoFront is an online marketing tool for photographers. It helps photographers sell prints of their photos by being easy to use, presenting the photos attractively, and offering photographers the right tools to increase their bottom line.

SiteWelder

SiteWelder allows photographers to easily create websites with its server-based system: Just log onto SiteWelder from any computer (Mac or PC), upload images, and move them into your galleries. Photographers can easily create informational text pages for information about you and your work with the company's exclusive PageEditor (you can edit with a WYSIWYG viewer without having to learn HTML coding). Including photos, PDF files, or video files into your site is also simple. Photographers can update their sites from anywhere 24/7; integrate current site design in SiteWelder or modify an existing SiteWelder layout; and receive personalized tech support from creation to everyday use. Other features include email service and site stats; easy search-engine indexing and optimization; and Flash-based slideshow galleries.

SpitfirePro

SpitfirePro's sales tools provide flexibility for photographers in defining their products, pricing, and branding. Choose the fulfillment option that best suits your needs, whether it's complete automation through the company's professional print lab, selling and fulfilling through your own lab, or selling digital downloaded files, delivered instantly to your customer. SpitfirePro's sales reporting and notification system ensures you know as soon as new orders arrive. Other features include time-saving uploading tools; lightboxes that allow your customers to select their favorite images; and an FTP feature to transfer groups of images to remote servers.

Tafota

Tafota offers Flash website templates that photographers can manage using any web browser, without the need to know HTML code or Flash. Tafota offers blogging capability through WordPress (which is integrated into the Tafota server), and all of Tafota's galleries function as slideshows.

Zenfolio

Zenfolio provides a photo hosting and order fulfillment service for photographers. Professional photographers can use the Zenfolio Premium service to present work to clients and offer products for sale using the best available online Web tools. Orders are fulfilled by Mpix, a division of Miller's Professional Imaging. Customers receive orders in unmarked boxes that look like they came directly from the photographer. Numerous professional tools include custom price lists, watermarking, the use of custom domain names, advanced protection options, a guestbook, reporting, and more.

Adding Video to Your Website

Video may have killed the radio star, but it's infused new life into photographers' websites. More and more are using the power of motion to convey their styles, personalities, and mission statement to both current customers and prospective clients. "Video is a powerful medium for photographers to reach beyond showing static images and to provide further context for prospective clients of who they are and what they do," says Matt Bailey, VP of Sales and Design for liveBooks. "People have become more accustomed to dealing with video on the internet; before YouTube, video was around, but it wasn't as ubiquitous as it is now."

liveBooks has taken a few steps to ensure its clients can benefit from the growing popularity of video. All of the company's sites offer the ability to upload video, whether in the form of QuickTime or Windows Media Player files or as files that are similar to video (such as animated slideshows with music). Photographers can also create Flash movies and upload them to their sites.

Toward that end, liveBooks offers a few ways to take advantage of this capability. "We create all sorts of custom video solutions for different needs," says Bailey. "We offer a range of features that are included with a package, but we also offer features that cost a little extra but are personal to an individual."

The company has partnered with a video production company that can produce the video for the photographer if need be. "A photographer may want to really showcase his or her personality or what's unique about them as an individual," says Bailey. "The videographer we've partnered with is excellent at what they do and really brings a lot to the table in making suggestions to steer that project so it's as successful as possible for that photographer."

Luminance is the tag name for liveBooks' partnership with Cinematic Studios, and there are two packages available: The $1,700 package offers an interview-style setup, where the photographer is asked a series of questions or makes his or her own statements, which are then edited together into a video. Then there's the $2,500 on-location version that follows the photographer around and either shows them in a particular environment ("maybe in a coffee shop if they want a folksy, approachable look," says Bailey) or on a shoot where things are happening at a fast, exciting pace, ("if that's how they want to be seen by their market," he adds).

Adding video to your site can have immediate impact. "One of our clients, Emilie Summer, posts video testimonials, so instead of her in front of the camera, it's her clients giving very convincing testimonials of how amazing she is to work with," explains Bailey. "You can imagine that has a lot of impact when customers are considering a photographer to capture an important time in their life."

Bailey also says that video is a great way to show off their studios or how they work on location. "We also have people who have ongoing video logs and podcasts where they put themselves out there as an expert in the field to produce ongoing video streams on different subjects," he adds.

And for those who might feel they don't have the technical savvy or know-how to get a high-end, polished video live on their site? "You don't have to have an elaborate production--it can be very low--of, guerrilla-style video done with a webcam," says Bailey. "I've seen a lot of cases of very raw, rough videos that have been effective. The nice thing about liveBooks is that you can quickly put a video up and try it out, and ultimately, if you think it's not working, you can take it down. But why not give it a shot and be really creative with it and see what works? Don't let perfectionism get in your way of benefiting from this technology. You can get something up there fast and easily; we and other services out there can help you produce a more polished video down the line."

It would be foolhardy to not at least consider what video can add to your web presence. "If you're the slightest bit uncomfortable with video, that's understandable, since it's a new medium for a lot of us as photographers," says Bailey. "But it's not going anywhere, so you might as well come to terms with it one way or another and start familiarizing yourself with it, whether it means developing a relationship with a videographer or getting comfortable speaking into a camera and developing it on your own. But you should start leveraging the technology to your benefit."

Go to imaginginfo.com to see how liveBooks photographers Chris Rainier, Chase Jarvis, and Emilie Sommer are implementing video into their websites.

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