Smugmug has some shoes to fill

ExposeTheMoment · March 13, 2006

http://www.exposuremanager.com/scripts/website.pl?rm=compare

Link above does a campare between a few companies to include smugmug.

Feature list
This page is meant to give you a quick overview of our functionality. The following list is merely a compilation of our most important features and is by no means comprehensive. For more information on certain features, please see the sidebar.

Unlimited storage space / Unlimited uploads / 20 GB per month download limit
Unlimited galleries and nesting of sub galleries
Web-based and FTP based uploading
Upload smaller 'pre-order' photos (full version to be uploaded after order)
Watermarking (even with your own logo!)
Password protection on galleries
Searchable galleries / keywording tool
Specify images sizes and image quality
Customizable header & footer and templates (see samples)
Your own subdomain (e.g. yourname.exposuremanager.com)
Domain mapping option (e.g. gallery.yourdomain.com)
Different pricing per galleries
Order from multiple galleries
Package pricing (for one or multiple photos)
Discount coupons
'Reprint' & Volume discounts
Pro Lab fulfillment, digital and self-fulfillment

DoctorIt · March 13, 2006

I'm just a happy smugmug customer... with that in mind, that feature list above in your post, is that yours or Exposure-Manager's? If it's theirs, could you please cite it and quote it better, because the way your post reads makes it sound like you own the company (or at least well-affiliated, I don't think you are, just sayin') and are touting your features. In other words, when I read your above post in my moderator hat, I want to delete it for sounding very, very spammish.

Now, to play devil's advocate: I usually have a hard time with comparo's that are written by one of the competitors in the comparo.

I found more than one feature that EM has not given Smugmug credit for having. Several in the "workflow" section are simply worded such that SM doesn't get a checkmark. for example, you can in fact manipulate images in SM after uploading them.

Anyway, any competition is good competition.

Malte · March 13, 2006

Wow! Really sounds too good to be true. Has anyone here tried it?

Malte

ExposeTheMoment · March 13, 2006

Malte wrote:

Wow! Really sounds too good to be true. Has anyone here tried it?

Malte

Im going to sign up as they offer a 40 off for coming from another service.

and they are offering

Package pricing (for one or multiple photos)
Discount coupons
'Reprint' & Volume discounts
Pro Lab fulfillment, digital and self-fulfillment
all that we have asked smugmug to offer and don't so far

Andy · March 13, 2006

Gary, they sure have some interesting features, and a search here on Dgrin will show that it's been brought up before - nothing new here. I have two questions for you:

1) if you have something specific to say, say it please, this is a laundry list of another company's service, meaning - are there some features that EM has that you want for your photography business on SmugMug? If so, we're all ears and you should please voice them in our FR thread, here:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=23482

2) I wonder, how much personalized web-help EM gives their customers.
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=27780

Good luck, in whatever your decision is!

ExposeTheMoment · March 13, 2006

Andy wrote:

Gary, they sure have some interesting features, and a search here on Dgrin will show that it's been brought up before - nothing new here. I have two questions for you:

1) if you have something specific to say, say it please, this is a laundry list of another company's service, meaning - are there some features that EM has that you want for your photography business on SmugMug? If so, we're all ears and you should please voice them in our FR thread, here:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=23482

2) I wonder, how much personalized web-help EM gives their customers.
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=27780

Good luck, in whatever your decision is!

I did say what specific thing

the services here
Package pricing (for one or multiple photos)
Discount coupons
'Reprint' & Volume discounts
Pro Lab fulfillment, digital and self-fulfillment

we have asked smugmug to offer, and so don't so far. With no time line in the future to add them, and there is no reason to add it to that thread you posted cause its been posted time and time again.

Gary

PS thanks for your concern.

Malte · March 13, 2006

Cool, keep us posted. I love Smugmug dearly so I'm not jumping ship but competition is healthy. About the switcharoo, are you not on Smugmug? They have a disclaimer on the sign-up discount: "* Qualifying services are: collages.net, eventpix, pictage, photoreflect, printroom and shutterfly."

What are these things: 'Reprint' Pro Lab fulfillment, digital and self-fulfillment?

Malte

ExposeTheMoment · March 13, 2006

Andy wrote:

Gary, they sure have some interesting features, and a search here on Dgrin will show that it's been brought up before - nothing new here. I have two questions for you:

1) if you have something specific to say, say it please, this is a laundry list of another company's service, meaning - are there some features that EM has that you want for your photography business on SmugMug? If so, we're all ears and you should please voice them in our FR thread, here:

http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=23482

2) I wonder, how much personalized web-help EM gives their customers.
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=27780

Good luck, in whatever you do, Gary...

BTW Andy,

I do love Smugmug and thw wonderful help I receive, but lets make sure we are on the same page, its not what the page looks like and cs, its will I sell more. Having the extra features as this one below

After the order has been placed, it remains a branded experience. All e-mail communications are addressed as coming from you. We offer the ability to have your logo printed on the index print going to customers, as well as have your company name on from address on the packaging. You can even have an insert automatically included that highlights your company.

Andy · March 13, 2006

ExposeTheMoment wrote:

BTW Andy,

I do love Smugmug and thw wonderful help I receive, but lets make sure we are on the same page, its not what the page looks like and cs, its will I sell more. Having the extra features as this one below

After the order has been placed, it remains a branded experience. All e-mail communications are addressed as coming from you. We offer the ability to have your logo printed on the index print going to customers, as well as have your company name on from address on the packaging. You can even have an insert automatically included that highlights your company.

that's great feedback, Gary. Thanks. These, amongst other features (custom watermarks, back printing, digital downloads) are some things that we're in active discussions about.

Malte · March 13, 2006

Andy wrote:

2) I wonder, how much personalized web-help EM gives their customers.
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=27780

This is a good point but I guess he'll never know until he gives it a go.

Smugmugs featurelist is impressive and apparently so are other services featureslists. What I am convinced I won't find anywhere else is the "feel" of this place. (The fact that I spontaneously called it a place says it all) It feels like home doesn't it? My site is my house and dgrin is my family, they help me build it. How's that for deep?

Alright I'm back now. :thwak

Malte

ivar · March 13, 2006

ExposeTheMoment wrote:

Im going to sign up as they offer a 40 off for coming from another service.

Looks like you won't be able to get that discount

Competitive Upgrade
We are currently offering a competitive upgrade from several photo services. This promotion gives you a $40.00 discount on the first subscription payment of a one year event account. To qualify all you have to do is, on the next page, select your service*, and enter your current gallery URL**. This offer is valid till March 21st, 2006. Not valid in combination with other promotional offers, except referrals.

* Qualifying services are: collages.net, eventpix, pictage, photoreflect, printroom and shutterfly.

Mitchell · March 13, 2006

ExposeTheMoment wrote:

Im going to sign up as they offer a 40 off for coming from another service.

and they are offering

Package pricing (for one or multiple photos)
Discount coupons
'Reprint' & Volume discounts
Pro Lab fulfillment, digital and self-fulfillment
all that we have asked smugmug to offer and don't so far

Gary,
Thanks for the tip. Are you an owner of this company? You speak like you have had a good experience with them, but you also comment that you are going to sign up with them. Know anyone who is using them and is happy with their service?

Mike Lane · March 13, 2006

have fun styling the tables!

mercphoto · March 13, 2006

I've given Exposure Manager a try for about two weeks now. I looked into them for a few reasons:

Custom watermarking, proof uploading, ditigal downloads and photographer branding versus Smugmug branding were the biggies. Coupons and photo packages were icing on the cake.

A few of those have been asked for on Smugmug for quite sometime, in particular toning down the obtrusive watermark we have here and digital downloads. And the photographer branding I've seen mentioned a lot as well.

My take so far is that Smugmug is much easier to get a classier look on than Exposure Manager, mostly due to Themes. It appears I'd have to learn CSS to get my Exposure Manager site to look nice (mercphoto.exposuremanager.com). I'm sure I could get my EM site to look much nicer if I only knew how to do it, or paid someone to code it for me.

EM and SM keyword differently, and its a tough call to say whose is better. SM has the very cool feature that you can actually code a search result as a URL (for example, mercphoto.smgumug.com/keyword/2006mar05-Group3). EM, however, allows you group keywords into related groups (for example, a group describing numbers on a kart, another group of keywords for race group, etc.). EM requires the user to actually type in a keyword value to do a search, however. Pros and cons to both approaches. One thing I wish was EM would supply the user with a list of defined keywords for each group that can be searched.

I haven't switched from SM to EM yet, nor have I decided whether I will or not either. Both sites have their strengths.

DavidTO · March 13, 2006

Malte wrote:

Smugmugs featurelist is impressive and apparently so are other services featureslists.

It is. Maybe Exposure Manager has big shoes to fill, maybe the two companies provide different services that each fill a niche. Smugmug is fantastic in customer support and the service they provide.

DavidTO · March 13, 2006

Gary, I took a look at your site, and found it a tad confusing...not sure that adding flash really helps, I don't see why I would need the option.

But really, take this in the best and most constructive manner: change your bio pic. You look like the saddest of sad-sacks. When you put up a photo of yourself that doesn't make YOU look good, I wonder if you could make my wedding look good.

Just my two cents.

Bodley · March 13, 2006

If only Smugmug had these (in order of preference):

Package pricing/volume discounts (for one or multiple photos)
digital downloads
Customized Watermarking
Discount coupons

wxwax · March 13, 2006

Hey Gary, you have a typo on your HTML wedding packages page, at the bottom, copie instead of copy.

DodgeV83 · March 13, 2006

Bodley wrote:

If only Smugmug had these (in order of preference):
Package pricing/volume discounts (for one or multiple photos)

digital downloads

Customized Watermarking

Discount coupons

PLEASE ADD THESE FEATURES!! I WANT to stay with Smugmug, but it seems like these issues have been around for years with no solution , "we are talking about it" and "Thanks for letting us know" can only go so far!

DodgeV83 · March 13, 2006

Package pricing/volume discounts (for one or multiple photos)
digital downloads
Customized Watermarking
Discount coupons

Ok...after looking through some demo sites over at ExposureManager...Smugmug as a SITE is definitely better. But in terms of raw sales...the features mentioned above will = more sales. Smugmug, please, we are begging you here. Just give it to us!

DodgeV83 · March 13, 2006

Last thing...I'm really surprised that Smugmug is even letting this thread grow on their OWN support site. It seems more like an advertisement for ExposureManager than anything else...

That being said, ExposureManager support contacted me and confirmed that you can get the discount if you are coming over from Smugmug. Despite knowing this, however, it is doubtful that I will budge.

DavidTO · March 13, 2006

DodgeV83 wrote:

Last thing...I'm really surprised that Smugmug is even letting this thread grow on their OWN support site. It seems more like an advertisement for ExposureManager than anything else...

And that's to their credit. They're not afraid of competition or putting their service up against anyone else's.

Andy · March 13, 2006

DodgeV83 wrote:

Last thing...I'm really surprised that Smugmug is even letting this thread grow on their OWN support site. It seems more like an advertisement for ExposureManager than anything else...

That being said, ExposureManager support contacted me and confirmed that you can get the discount if you are coming over from Smugmug. Despite knowing this, however, it is doubtful that I will budge.

Hi Dodge, this is a free site, and as long as folks comply with the rules, they can post anything they like. Including what they like about our competitors.

We actually make it quite easy to leave SmugMug - because we believe that we should be delivering value, service - and if we're not, why we don't want you to be a victim of "lock in."

http://blogs.smugmug.com/onethumb/2005/07/06/vendor-lock-in-sucks-making-it-easy-to-leave-smugmug/

Mitchell · March 13, 2006

Mitchell wrote:

Gary,
Thanks for the tip. Are you an owner of this company? You speak like you have had a good experience with them, but you also comment that you are going to sign up with them. Know anyone who is using them and is happy with their service?

How come nobody answered my question?

mercphoto · March 13, 2006

Mitchell wrote:

How come nobody answered my question?

I did Mitch. Look, page 2, post 14.

Mitchell · March 13, 2006

mercphoto wrote:

I did Mitch. Look, page 2, post 14.

Thanks, Bill.

I was curious about Gary's relationship with EM.

Andy · March 13, 2006

Mitchell wrote:

How come nobody answered my question?

Mitchell, he's a SmugMug customer, not the owner of EM.
I hope this helps.

Cindy · March 14, 2006

This all looks fantastic when viewing the comparison chart at:
http://www.exposuremanager.com/scripts/website.pl?rm=compare

What I find lacking still yet is the ability to upload 1 photo that is print ready and have the customer order several sizes/prints/products from that one photo... allowing the customer to choose their crop area and freeing my time considerably.

Also their 4x6s are priced at 39 cents verses smugmugs 29 cents for luster 4x6s. With 4x6s being my most popular size ordered that 10 cent difference would add up fast.

I didn't compare other print/product sizes yet.

When time allows I might check into their services further but... who has time these days? I don't! I'm holding out hopfully confident smugmug will do their best to match their features & services. hmmmm... maybe will finally see some features we've been pleading for spring up soon

mercphoto · March 14, 2006

Cindy wrote:

What I find lacking still yet is the ability to upload 1 photo that is print ready and have the customer order several sizes/prints/products from that one photo... allowing the customer to choose their crop area and freeing my time considerably

I don't think they have customer cropping, only automatic cropping or photographer cropping.

Also their 4x6s are priced at 39 cents verses smugmugs 29 cents for luster 4x6s. With 4x6s being my most popular size ordered that 10 cent difference would add up fast.

All other print sizes are cheaper at EM. Also note their commission is 10%, not 15%. Consider a 4x6 sold for $6 at both services. Total photographer profit at Smugmug is $4.89. Exposure Manager is $5.05. Big deal that the print itself is more pricey, in the end you get more $$$ in your pocket.

Cindy · March 14, 2006

mercphoto wrote:

I don't think they have customer cropping, only automatic cropping or photographer cropping..

It appears their is no automatic cropping at all... I think you have to upload each size sold or for sale. If I'm wrong please show me

mercphoto wrote:

All other print sizes are cheaper at EM. Also note their commission is 10%, not 15%. Consider a 4x6 sold for $6 at both services. Total photographer profit at Smugmug is $4.89. Exposure Manager is $5.05. Big deal that the print itself is more pricey, in the end you get more $$$ in your pocket.

WOW... okay big difference. Hmmmmmmmm.....

What about their s/h fees? How do they compare?

mercphoto · March 14, 2006

Cindy wrote:

It appears their is no automatic cropping at all... I think you have to upload each size sold or for sale. If I'm wrong please show me

I've asked their tech support that question.

WOW... okay big difference. Hmmmmmmmm.....

Yes, you have to consider everything. Print cost, commission, even annual dues. I do not know how their s/h compares, I have not looked at that.

Smugmug has some shoes to fill

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