Since just about everything is being discussed, a questiaon I have is this...how much total storage is used in video (0.1%, 1%, 10%)? Yes its a nice feature to have but if I had to choose it would be "optional" to me if a cost was assoicated with it. Meaning does hosting/selling video currently cover the cost of storing it? This is a photo site, not youtube.

Originally Posted by GRBlizz Ah, thank you. So you are saying the option to set a Favicon will not be active in the customization screen for Power users? Or that it can be set, but SM code will override it? It's a minor thing, but since we have SmugMug integrated as the photo section of our nonprofit website, it would be nice to have it consistent. Thanks for clarifying.

I think Ann's referring to the SmugMug logo in the header. For Basic and Power users, there's a different logo than for Portfolio and Business users. You can hide the SmugMug header on Power account and higher. That would also hide the SmugMug logo.

I don't think there's any difference in the favicon customizations between Power, Portfolio and Business level. It's not supported on all browsers, so depending on the browser you use, you may see different results.

Originally Posted by GRBlizz Ah, thank you. So you are saying the option to set a Favicon will not be active in the customization screen for Power users? Or that it can be set, but SM code will override it? It's a minor thing, but since we have SmugMug integrated as the photo section of our nonprofit website, it would be nice to have it consistent. Thanks for clarifying.

I'm actually referring to the text within the browser tab, like this:

https://skitch.com/aemphoto/euner/windermere-studios

I did not create a favicon, so Smuggy shows on my tab. If you have a Power account, the the text in the tab included SmugMug.

Hope that is clearer.

ann

It would be nice if they at least gave pros the option to remove ALL of the smugmug branding (even in the shopping cart) after the price hike.

Originally Posted by ThreeGuysPhotography It would be nice if they at least gave pros the option to remove ALL of the smugmug branding (even in the shopping cart) after the price hike.

Why?

It's still going to show up on the customer's credit card statement as a SmugMug charge, so in the end you're not really fooling anybody.

Originally Posted by mbellot Why? It's still going to show up on the customer's credit card statement as a SmugMug charge, so in the end you're not really fooling anybody.

"I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around me
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
And I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again"

So, are the prices for each level rising? Or, just the "pro" levels...

Originally Posted by vince_ross So, are the prices for each level rising? Or, just the "pro" levels...

The answer is all throughout this thread.

Originally Posted by vince_ross So, are the prices for each level rising? Or, just the "pro" levels...

Prices for basic and power are unchanged. See http://www.smugmug.com/photos/photo-sharing-features/ for prices and feature comparison for each level.

--- Denise

Originally Posted by denisegoldberg Prices for basic and power are unchanged. See http://www.smugmug.com/photos/photo-sharing-features/ for prices and feature comparison for each level. --- Denise

Thank you for answering.

That's what I thought, just wanted to verify.


If it really is about storage costs, why are the to basic and power levels not going up? They use the same servers as everyone else, correct? Still unlimited storage and smugmug won't make any commission off of them for not selling prints. The basic and power will still have the benefits of unlimited storage, the portfolio user loses the ability to make profits, along with other features (or is forced to business level) while the business level gets to cover the cost for everyone else...

If the prices are going to increase, why not make it an "across the board" increase so it won't be as much?

I understand the need for an occasional price increase due to various things, but this just isn't cool guys...really

Originally Posted by vince_ross Thank you for answering. That's what I thought, just wanted to verify. If it really is about storage costs, why are the to basic and power levels not going up? They use the same servers as everyone else, correct? Still unlimited storage and smugmug won't make any commission off of them for not selling prints. The basic and power will still have the benefits of unlimited storage, the portfolio user loses the ability to make profits, along with other features (or is forced to business level) while the business level gets to cover the cost for everyone else... If the prices are going to increase, why not make it an "across the board" increase so it won't be as much? I understand the need for an occasional price increase due to various things, but this just isn't cool guys...really

Don answered this in the recent video they made about the price increase.

http://news.smugmug.com/2012/09/07/c...rice-increase/

Your question is addressed at 4:23 and answered at 5:00 :).

Originally Posted by vince_ross If it really is about storage costs, why are the to basic and power levels not going up?

They say it's because they have data to show Basic/Power users consume much less storage than Pro users.

I have a suspicion that will change as many Pros flee the Business account @ $250-$300 for a Power account @ $60, watermark images before uploading and implement some type of self fulfillment cart system for taking orders.

Don't be too surprised when customization at the Power level gets neutered to limit/eliminate that option, similar to how they "fixed" the watermark issue when downgrading from Pro to Power.

[QUOTE=vince_ross;1818389]Thank you for answering.

That's what I thought, just wanted to verify.


If it really is about storage costs, why are the to basic and power levels not going up? They use the same servers as everyone else, correct? Still unlimited storage and smugmug won't make any commission off of them for not selling prints. The basic and power will still have the benefits of unlimited storage, the portfolio user loses the ability to make profits, along with other features (or is forced to business level) while the business level gets to cover the cost for everyone else...

If the prices are going to increase, why not make it an "across the board" increase so it won't be as much?

I understand the need for an occasional price increase due to various things, but this just isn't cool guys...really

I have to agree with Vince, just not cool. I would suggest that since the price increase you spend some of the windfall paying the photographer in real time - like at the time of purchase instead of the current ridiculous system where you (Smugmug) sit on the money and send it out after it accumulates to a certain amount. I for one don't sell that many at once - it would just be nice to be paid upon purchase.

I've been a Power User for 4 years (today is the anniversary, actually, just renewed).

I never needed any of the Pro features. I wanted my custom domain name though, and that's pretty much the big thing (or else I would have chosen Basic). Heck, I even watermark my own images before uploading (using my automated Photoshop Actions when sizing). To my surprise, I'd been contracted a few times to do some paid photo work and got published based only on what people have seen on my site, even though I wasn't even looking for work. That did help pay for my hobby and a bit more. That's the extent of it in regards to earnings for me on this. I'm a Hobbyist. My site is basically a place to display my images to share my photography passion and growth with others, not to sell downloads or prints.


Regarding the storage issue:

I'm one of the "low storage" Power account users. Even though I could have milked it and taken advantage of the "unlimited" storage, I don't even upload hi-res images either, as you can see from my Storage stats:
FILES UPLOADED: 2425
TOTAL STORAGE USED: 348.28 MB

Yes, that's MEGabytes, not Gigabytes or Terabytes.


For those who suggested/mentioned the possibility of spreading the increase across all accounts, is it even more fair for a user like me to bear such price increases, to subsidize those who use far, far more resources than I do?

Is my usage taxing SmugMug's resources that much? I think that I'm paying the right amount for what I'm doing.

Whether there's a mass downgrading by the Pros or not -- as a low resource-user here, I certainly do NOT wish to have a price increase on my back in order to subsidize others. For that reason I'm glad SmugMug didn't increase the Power level. Not all of us use high-storage resources or other higher-level features.

I believe, like others have said, fees should be based on what individuals use over a certain amount the account allows, not spread out to hit lower-level users harder. It may need some tweaking, but Having that other account tier for Pro user migrants is a better idea too.

I just wanted to put my 2 pennies in, just in case this "spreading the increase across all accounts" suggestion is even being entertained now or in the future.

Thanks for reading.

Originally Posted by clenny Been a smugmug pro user since 2004 and was grandfathered in at $99 until now :(. I'm not a "professional" at all but at $99/year back then I thought it was a good deal for my hobby.

I'm in the same boat. I've been a Pro subscriber since 2004, have used SmugMug to post studio portraits I've taken at 1 or 2 events (school dances, music recitals, etc). But even at $99/yr it cost me more for the subscription than I made in a year from those photos. I've eaten the difference until now, but ... tripling the price to $300?! At the new rates, I'll have to kiss the Pro subscription good-bye next Spring (renewal time), and possibly drop off of SmugMug altogether :-(.

I don't store that many photos in my account (and could delete old galleries if needed), so storage can't possibly be an issue. Nor can bandwidth. I wish SmugMug had a tiered structure so the basic Pro subscription was even lower than $99, but offered limited storage and bandwidth, with higher tiers that offered more storage/bandwidth, up to the "new" subscription which is Unlimited storage and bandwidth. ...Or, at least allowed me to set a simple mark-up for galleries with a Power account.

Originally Posted by photobug I'm in the same boat. I've been a Pro subscriber since 2004, have used SmugMug to post studio portraits I've taken at 1 or 2 events (school dances, music recitals, etc). But even at $99/yr it cost me more for the subscription than I made in a year from those photos. I've eaten the difference until now, but ... tripling the price to $300?!

Your new rate would be $200/year, not $300. The $300/year is for brand new signups. Just wanted to let you know :).

Originally Posted by zacHer0 Your new rate would be $200/year, not $300. The $300/year is for brand new signups. Just wanted to let you know :).

Ah, thanks. That helps ... but is still way out of the ballpark for me. Even $99/yr has been a stretch. Wish there was a "Pro Lite", or *some* way to sell photos at a mild markup, allowing me to recover some of the costs of the subscription. Sigh.

BTW, SmugMug support has always been incredibly good, truly "Nordstrom's" level service, probably the best I've ever seen for a web-based business. I know that kind of service can't come for free.

I say if you smugmug clients can find your email that stated your are permanently grandfathered in at 99 that should give you a leg to stand on to say at 99.....I am still looking for mine, it was not a PM thru the DGRIN message system it was an email to the official email used for my account... without that email I just it a whole lot easier to move my account.

Originally Posted by zacHer0 Your new rate would be $200/year, not $300. The $300/year is for brand new signups. Just wanted to let you know :).

Would you mind posting a link to where it says that current Pro Account holders will only pay $200/year instead of $300/year?

Originally Posted by McQ Would you mind posting a link to where it says that current Pro Account holders will only pay $200/year instead of $300/year?

this also came to me in an email from Baldy....