Which host to replace Zenfolio?

pooley

pooley

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Mike
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I've had a zenfolio site for years and been happy enough with it. I only use it for a gallery to show friends and family, no interest in selling shots etc.

However, they have now started hiding your galleries that you've not updated for a while - I'm not about to go and re-edit photos from trips from a few years ago, so it seems a bit daft to me. You have to request they re-instate the gallery and for what I use if for I can't be bothered with it all.

Anyone have any ideas on something that can replace it? Not to keen on Flickr as I feel they change your image with their algorithms. All I need is somewhere simple to host with a relatively pleasing layout, easy to upload and a similar cost to Zenfolio - in the region of £60 per year

cheers

Mike
 
I looked at this a few months ago when my Zen account was up for renewal. I pay $40/pa -£35 ish and it has never increased for at least 10 years for unlimited storage.
I agree that the archive is a PITA as it takes a time to retrieve but I could not find anything giving unlimited storage for anywhere near the same price so I stayed.
 
to be fair you could very quickly and easily throw something in similar using wordpress, particularly since you don't have too many images on yours at the moment.

I was with them a long time ago until they started messing up every single customer order with their Coventry based lab!
 
Pixieset do a free account, it's excellent and very easy to use / share images with people.
 
I’ve been testing them all - I had to scrap Zenfolio straightaway because of the black background to viewing photos, and almost everything I shoot has a black background, which makes it impossible to distinguish between photo and background.

I ruled out The Image File as it has a horrible interface when compared with 90s sites.

PhotoShelter - I’ve been with them for nearly 15 years, and the only two things they’ve changed in that time has been SSL for custom domains, and their pricing. The only positive thing they do is allowing clients to select specific photos to download, but password-protecting client galleries usually backfires. Also, crappy SEO.

PhotoDeck does not have a nice layout, so that one didn’t last long.

That leaves Pixieset and Shootproof, which I’m currently choosing between; aesthetically, Pixieset is better, but Shootproof’s mobile apps are better for scrolling than Pixieset’s. Also, after dealing with the gibberish of Photoshelter’s URLs for years, I prefer P’s usage of gallery names in the URLs.

I’m also testing Wordpress, as a key priority for me is SEO. Annoyingly, the main photo plugins are pricey - I think USD$239, half-price for the first year - so I’m only using the free versions for now; so far, I’ve ruled out Sunshine as it has file names or titles, and navigation icons as overlays. I’m testing four other plugins, but NextGen seems to meet our (TP’s) needs the best.
 
Ah, I reread your post just now; I’ve put my iPad away, but Pixieset is probably cheapest in price, but still more than you’re currently paying. Both it and Shootproof offer free plans, though.

Oh - Photodeck’s popup windows for uploads annoyed me, and Sytist seemed very reluctant to allow free downloads, however it (and Photoshelter, sigh) was the only one to display IPTC.

Edit: I can share details of my test sites if you’d like to see their interface and how they look.

Another edit: I didn’t look into Smugmug, what do people think of it?
 
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pooley said:
Not to keen on Flickr as I feel they change your image with their algorithms.
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Have you got any more detail on this? It is the first that I have heard of it...
 
harpistic said:
Ah, I reread your post just now; I’ve put my iPad away, but Pixieset is probably cheapest in price, but still more than you’re currently paying. Both it and Shootproof offer free plans, though.

Oh - Photodeck’s popup windows for uploads annoyed me, and Sytist seemed very reluctant to allow free downloads, however it (and Photoshelter, sigh) was the only one to display IPTC.

Edit: I can share details of my test sites if you’d like to see their interface and how they look.

Another edit: I didn’t look into Smugmug, what do people think of it?
Click to expand...
Thanks for all that info - a lot to look at but really useful
 
Phil V said:
Adobe give you a portfolio site for free with the photographer package
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I changed my photography website to adobe portfolio and dropped zenfolio several years back. It’s one of the reasons I could justify the lightroom photography plan subscription model.

They actually allow you to have a total of four websites. I’ve got two websites running off it at present (one photography website and one non photography website)
 
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rob-nikon said:
I changed my photography website to adobe portfolio and dropped zenfolio several years back. It’s one of the reasons I could justify the lightroom photography plan subscription model.

They actually allow you to have a total of four websites. I’ve got two websites running off it at present (one photography website and one non photography website)
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Nice one Rob, cheers
 
harpistic said:
I’ve been testing them all - I had to scrap Zenfolio straightaway because of the black background to viewing photos, and almost everything I shoot has a black background, which makes it impossible to distinguish between photo and background.

I ruled out The Image File as it has a horrible interface when compared with 90s sites.

PhotoShelter - I’ve been with them for nearly 15 years, and the only two things they’ve changed in that time has been SSL for custom domains, and their pricing. The only positive thing they do is allowing clients to select specific photos to download, but password-protecting client galleries usually backfires. Also, crappy SEO.

PhotoDeck does not have a nice layout, so that one didn’t last long.

That leaves Pixieset and Shootproof, which I’m currently choosing between; aesthetically, Pixieset is better, but Shootproof’s mobile apps are better for scrolling than Pixieset’s. Also, after dealing with the gibberish of Photoshelter’s URLs for years, I prefer P’s usage of gallery names in the URLs.

I’m also testing Wordpress, as a key priority for me is SEO. Annoyingly, the main photo plugins are pricey - I think USD$239, half-price for the first year - so I’m only using the free versions for now; so far, I’ve ruled out Sunshine as it has file names or titles, and navigation icons as overlays. I’m testing four other plugins, but NextGen seems to meet our (TP’s) needs the best.
Click to expand...
I've used Pixieset to deliver client galleries for many years, it's flawless, no issues at all, would 100% recommend it.
 
I have no experience of these suppliers, but I found them when looking for options at one time All UK based

www.theimagefile.com

Websites for photographers | online photo sales and proofing

Photographers websites with online proofing, online sales and e-commerce with no commission. Print and product fulfilment via our partner labs or self fulfil your orders.
www.theimagefile.com www.theimagefile.com

Create your own photography website : 30 day free trial - Photium

www.photium.com www.photium.com


There is also Glass (not UK based), which is newish and seems interesting. Works a bit like Flikr, but albums are private to members unless made public.

glass.photo

Glass — Photography Community

Photography is better shared. Glass is a paid, global community platform for photographers. With no ads or manipulative algorithms, Glass is your home for photography.
glass.photo glass.photo
 
myotis said:
I have no experience of these suppliers, but I found them when looking for options at one time All UK based

www.theimagefile.com

Websites for photographers | online photo sales and proofing

Photographers websites with online proofing, online sales and e-commerce with no commission. Print and product fulfilment via our partner labs or self fulfil your orders.
www.theimagefile.com www.theimagefile.com

Create your own photography website : 30 day free trial - Photium

www.photium.com www.photium.com


There is also Glass (not UK based), which is newish and seems interesting. Works a bit like Flikr, but albums are private to members unless made public.

glass.photo

Glass — Photography Community

Photography is better shared. Glass is a paid, global community platform for photographers. With no ads or manipulative algorithms, Glass is your home for photography.
glass.photo glass.photo
Click to expand...
Noooooo, not TIF! Their interface is absolutely hideous - by mid-90s standards - plus the front end was horrible. Thank you for the others, though, I’ll check them out!
 
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