Well i made the jump to Zenfolio even though the ability to customize is different they have so many of the features i had been waiting on smugmug to impliment. I am just going to let my smug mug account expire. I do. Have to thank smug for the push.

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I have to wonder... how long have SmugMug's competitors had features we've requested a long time ago? How is it possible that other competitors can have features we want and SM can't implement them or even give us a timeline?

I understand not wanting to put your foot in your mouth, but for the mom & pop image SM is trying to portray... I think we're all used to relatives putting their best foot forward on estimated timelines and failing. So why not tell us something more SM or are you really just getting ready to go public and sell out?

Or are you really afraid to admit that the feature(s) we really want aren't on your front-burner or back-burner... and most likely may only be a blip on the outer reaches of your radar... you know, ideas for where you see yourselves in 10 years.

So, how about it SM? Got something to share on your immediate goals, 2-year, 3-year, 5-year plans, etc.? How about we start seeing the ranking of feature requests being worked on? Is the number one request even in the top 10?

Hahaha, this thing is still going on.


Anywho, I just noticed that Smugmug also slashed the prizes for their dgrin challenge. I'm gonna double down on my financial troubles guess :)

I guess I'll be on the list of people downgrading from Pro to one of the lesser plans. After reading about the watermark issue (it being the only meaningful upgrade over Power vs. Portfolio), I may drop down two levels to Power....or switch to a new hosting site. I don't know. I don't want the hassle of changing, but since I never really sell anything here, it doesn't make a lot of sense for me to pay more than I need to just for photo hosting.

Speaking of watermarks...I've tried to remove then in the recent past and can't get them to go away. I set a gallery to no watermarking and they won't remove. I went to the tools to manually mark the photos for watermark removal and over an hour later, still watermarked. I wanted to update them to a new watermark but I couldn't get it to work. I've always had weird issues with watermarks - anytime I needed to change them. Anyway...I'm not one for conspiracy theories, but after reading about Andy leaving and all the other stuff people have mentioned, I do wonder what's going on. It certainly has been a long time since there have been any meaningful cosmetic changes to the site, which is what me and many other 'hobby' photographers are very interested in. I guess it's not as bad as flickr's slow changes though.

Originally Posted by kygarden I guess I'll be on the list of people downgrading from Pro to one of the lesser plans. After reading about the watermark issue (it being the only meaningful upgrade over Power vs. Portfolio), I may drop down two levels to Power....or switch to a new hosting site. I don't know. I don't want the hassle of changing, but since I never really sell anything here, it doesn't make a lot of sense for me to pay more than I need to just for photo hosting.

That used to be my reason too until Zenfolio pointed me to http://www.uploadjunction.com/ it automatically moves all of your Photos free. As Far as I have found Zenfolio has more of the Features I have been waiting for but the customizing is not as wide open but still a lot of choices.

Dennis
Zenfolio site realphotoman.net
Smug site realphotoman.com

Originally Posted by dbveto That used to be my reason too until Zenfolio pointed me to http://www.uploadjunction.com/ it automatically moves all of your Photos free. As Far as I have found Zenfolio has more of the Features I have been waiting for but the customizing is not as wide open but still a lot of choices.

I have a year to decide. My account renewed at the old pro rate right before the increase.

Originally Posted by caroline Tomasz Nowicki SEP 08, 2012 | 10:50PM PDT Caroline, Yes, you will need to remove the watermarking from your galleries prior the change to Power account. Otherwise you will see watermarked photos.

Perhaps he was just unaware of how the new automated system worked?

Originally Posted by mbrady Perhaps he was just unaware of how the new automated system worked?

Perhaps he was - like so many things at the moment I doubt we'll know, I've no doubt the Heroes find themselves in a difficult situation and as individuals each does their best:)

Originally Posted by kygarden Speaking of watermarks...I've tried to remove then in the recent past and can't get them to go away. I set a gallery to no watermarking and they won't remove. I went to the tools to manually mark the photos for watermark removal and over an hour later, still watermarked. I wanted to update them to a new watermark but I couldn't get it to work. I've always had weird issues with watermarks - anytime I needed to change them.

Hi KyG - sorry to hear you have ongoing issues with watermarks - I did check, the feature is functioning perfectly at our end - there are several reasons / possibilities for local issues, usually based in browser communication or cookies and cache -

Straight off, I'd suggest testing application and removal using an alternate web browser - and be sure to clear the cache to avoid loading old versions of the marked images - and send an email to the heroes outlining the issue - they'll help ID where the problem is... Be sure to include a link to one of the galleries you are having trouble with, as well as the name of the custom mark you wish applied...

Originally Posted by caroline Perhaps he was - like so many things at the moment I doubt we'll know, I've no doubt the Heroes find themselves in a difficult situation and as individuals each does their best:)

Hi Caroline - that is exactly what the issue was - I'm the hero that assisted you previously (Sean) - there was quite a bit going on, and it looks like Tom was not aware that we'd built a tool to automatically remove the marks for you, rather than asking you to do it manually as I'd outlined in the email I sent you.

Originally Posted by Rogue 1 Hi Caroline - that is exactly what the issue was - I'm the hero that assisted you previously (Sean) - there was quite a bit going on, and it looks like Tom was not aware that we'd built a tool to automatically remove the marks for you, rather than asking you to do it manually as I'd outlined in the email I sent you.

Sean - it's late here but if my memory serves me correctly, I was informed back then that if I didn't remove the watermarks manually they would remain on my images - which is of course what I would prefer now as would many others by the sound of things.
Are you now saying that if we chose not to use this new tool to remove watermarks when downgrading they will remain on our images?

It would be helpful if you could provide me with copies of all previous exchanges between us by email or pm and not here on the forum:) Can you do this please?

Caroline

Originally Posted by caroline Sean - it's late here but if my memory serves me correctly, I was informed back then that if I didn't remove the watermarks manually they would remain on my images - which is of course what I would prefer now as would many others by the sound of things. Are you now saying that if we chose not to use this new tool to remove watermarks when downgrading they will remain on our images? It would be helpful if you could provide me with copies of all previous exchanges between us by email or pm and not here on the forum:) Can you do this please? Caroline

I think it is earlier in this thread where it was stated by a smug mug support person that the water marks would not stay.

Originally Posted by caroline Sean - it's late here but if my memory serves me correctly, I was informed back then that if I didn't remove the watermarks manually they would remain on my images - which is of course what I would prefer now as would many others by the sound of things. Are you now saying that if we chose not to use this new tool to remove watermarks when downgrading they will remain on our images? It would be helpful if you could provide me with copies of all previous exchanges between us by email or pm and not here on the forum:) Can you do this please? Caroline

There is now a new feature of the Smugmug system that when you downgrade your account, all watermarks will be automatically removed (not instantaneously, but over the next few hours). It did not use to be that way, but is now.

Originally Posted by kygarden I have a year to decide. My account renewed at the old pro rate right before the increase.

I'm in the same boat, I've got another 9 months before my renewal date comes up. Even though it costs quite a bit more, I'm moving to Photo Shelter. It's never been about the money for me anyway, I just feel like I don't trust SmugMug anymore...

I have 4 months left and i still signed up at zenfolio.

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Originally Posted by Pure Energy I have to wonder... how long have SmugMug's competitors had features we've requested a long time ago? How is it possible that other competitors can have features we want and SM can't implement them or even give us a timeline?

I think this is a bit of a slanted point of view. I check out Zenfolio's feedback system (http://zenfolio.uservoice.com/forums...re-suggestions) and it has MANY outstanding wants that we've enjoyed here at SM for years. It's just a matter of two different types of fruit--apples and oranges. Both are sweet, both have a great texture, it's just about what fits best for you.

FTP uploading has been a request at Zen for years just like here on SM:
http://zenfolio.uservoice.com/forums...h-bulk-uploads

well Zen has paypal and SM won't for years... ... ... if ever...there is self fulfill thru Zen ...SM doesn't and doesn't seem to care......
Baldy said in one of his answers...we listen and while the competitors did all sorts of trendy upgrading we did not....that is a paraphrase but darn close
and I call totall BS....they came thru pounding their chests...we got Ipad this... ... ...we got Iphone that.....it was all crap and was not on user voice at all....but it was important
to the few apple buddies ... .... ....and onthumb and baldy and the cronies of the time ... ... ... ... ...

I got a kick out of reading this http://don.blogs.smugmug.com/2005/07...leave-smugmug/

All this talk about Zenfolio and the competition is like Deja Vu for me. I acutally started with Zenfolio first over SM when they were just starting out based on a better layout and more intuitive out-of-the-box experience. However they were *very rigid* initially, unwilling to change their basic format allowing very little in the way of customization, one's own logo, etc... Smugmug on the other hand was much more open to mods even though the themes and general look and feel was very dated even then. Fast foward to 2012 and now Zen along with a number of other up and comers are offering slicker options. Many of the recommendations I made which Zen was unwilling to consider back then they have now implemented.

I think SM now is at a crossroads of sorts and they realize it. Its time for *Major* change, some of which will not appeal to everyone. I think we all agree upon two overarching objectives:

1. The interface must change along with its underlying infrastucture. Nothing short of a long overdue rearchitecture will suffice. And this my friends takes major time and money.

2. We all agree that prices must go up for them to remain viable, competitive, profitable, etc... All this stuff takes money to run, build and maintain. Good will and happy times can only go so far.

For number one the problem for many is that they are tired of waiting. They want new functionality now. Well, the simple answer is it is not ready yet due to the scope and scale of the effort. That leaves many in a waiting mode they are uncomfortable with. And yes, for these folks it may be time to move to greener pastures for now anyway. Some businesses simply cannot wait for the promise of a better day.

Regarding prices going up, its inevitable. We know that. I guess the main gripe for some is the way the new price structure falls for certain groups of photographers (aspiring pros, amatuer enthusiasts), not that prices are increasing themselves. For me as a hobbiest enthusiast I don't have a problem with it. I don't use watermarks and am happy with the power account. I can see if I had the time to get serious about selling my work I would have to take a grand leap up in price. And for those just building a business and clientele that seems like quite a jump. But I'm not there so it really doesn't bother me at this point. To keep this market segment from moving to competitor sites SM could offer *some* ecommerce options at the portfolio level and just charge a higher fee per job like zenfolio does for their Premium $120/year plan.

If the new look and feel along with its functionality improves significantly new customers will come, bottom line. The business will grow. The new pricing structure may change the customer demographic in the future. But even the competition, hello Zenfolio, charges higher rates to be at the full business/ecommerce level. And for the power users SM still offers more in the way of customizations. So different hosts will appeal to different audiences. Its inevitable.

Originally Posted by dereksurfs To keep this market segment from moving to competitor sites SM could offer *some* ecommerce options at the portfolio level and just charge a higher fee per job like zenfolio does for their Premium $120/year plan.

The ZF Premium account not only costs less annually ($120 as you mentioned), but the ZF take of the remaining profit is less too (12% vs. SM 15%).