Websites - where to begin!?

[PrettyKitty]

I'm not sure if this is the exact right place for this question, but here goes!

I'm pretty tech saavy - but i've never gone so far as to set up my own webpage. I have a zenfolio account, but it's a zenfolio address since I never did a "pro" version of smugmug or zenfolio. I'm considering it though! I just don't know if I need to set up a regular website first? How does it work? hehehe...

Basically i want a webpage of my own choosing, that starts off with a selection of my photos and a link to my blog. I don't mind if the links redirect people to zenfolio or smugmug (whichever I continue with) to see particular galleries, but I want a nice little slideshow to play to showcase my work. I've seen many versions of this - many very similar - so I'm guessing there's some template out there already started?

So where do I begin? Buy an internet domain and space on a server? Then create a page there that links to zenfolio/smugmug? Or is there a place that creates the domain and starts the template all in one? I'm totally lost as to how to begin. Are there any online tutorials or pre-written posts I can read? I just don't even know what to search for exactly without getting a million links to things that aren't completely relevant.

here's a few examples of sites I like that are similar in structure:
http://www.athenakalindiphotography.com/
http://www.carlosavelasco.com/#

Maybe there's a simpler version - but that's approximately what i'm interested in creating. Any info or references would help! Thanks!

[Art Scott]

If you buy your domain at GoDaddy then you get a FREE web page.......You have to code it from start to finish or
you can use the C-name to take you directly to your Smug pro site........There are tutes on here to do all that......
might take a bit of searching to find them but they are here.

[daylightimages]

Just about everything you want you can do with a SmugMug site. All you'd need to do is buy a domain name and a SmugMug pro account. An opening page can be done using a SmugMug all-HTML page and a slide show (such as mine at www.railroadphotographer.com (http://www.railroadphotographer.com)) can be done using the stretchy slide show tutorial. No need to have hosting anywhere else.

[Stella7d]

Just about everything you want you can do with a SmugMug site. All you'd need to do is buy a domain name and a SmugMug pro account. An opening page can be done using a SmugMug all-HTML page and a slide show (such as mine at www.railroadphotographer.com (http://www.railroadphotographer.com)) can be done using the stretchy slide show tutorial. No need to have hosting anywhere else.

Wow! Your steam engine shots are awesome!!! :thumb

[daylightimages]

Wow! Your steam engine shots are awesome!!! :thumb

Thanks!!!