Which site did you use to create and host your portfolio?

F

FlexiPack

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Name
Gaz
Edit My Images
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The majority of my photos just sit on a hard disk and no one ever sees them. For quite a while I've considered creating and online portfolio but it's the cost and lack of know how that's put me off. I'm only an amateur and I can't afford too much added expense per month. I know there are plenty of free options available but there are two features I'd really like which don't tend to come cheap. One is the ability to create password protected albums so only certain people can see them, the other is an integrated sales and print service (just on the off chance someone likes what they see!).

Are there any services which are easy to use and set up (i.e no web building knowledge required) and offer password protected galleries and sales options for a fairly low price? Ideally, I don't want to spend more than £8 per month. I know it's a tall ask for the money.
 
Check out SquareSpace, lots of templates to choose from and can be customised to suit..ecommerce, analytics, blog all included in a plan for less than £7.00 a month (you can view my site from my signature)

Robin
 
SquareSpace, Zenfolio and Smugmug are good and will give you everything you need.

Buying some hosting and using WordPress or Koken is also a good option, but you'll need some more technical understanding and the time to set that up. It can be a bit cheaper to go the self hosted route overall but the initial cost may be more once you add on a template.

Personally, I have a server so I use WordPress + a custom theme. But if I ditched the server or had the extra cash spare, I'd go with SquareSpace or Zenfolio just because most of the works done for me. I prefer managing it myself but times so limited.

Edit:

If you are a student or know someone who is a student, then you can get a 50% discount
http://www.squarespace.com/students
 
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I use zen folio for the same reasons you have said above. I currently don't use sales but if I wanted to add sales it would only take a few clicks. I also use my website as a type of cloud storage by having hidden storage folders where all processed hi res jpegs are stored. Saves not having additional cloud storage and if the worst happened and all of my backups failed I would still have the hi-res jpegs.

The only issue I have with zenfolio is their pricing, it's the same number of pounds as it is euros so effectively you pay more in the uk than those in the eu. I asked them about this but their reply didn't explain why it's like that. The easiest way around this is just choose the euro payment and take a hit with the currency charge your bank charge you, it's still cheaper. I just renewed this year and it was £48 including the bank charge so a £12 saving over the uk £60 price for exactly the same thing. It's probably cheaper now as you get more euros to the pound. A friend told me he does the same and printing labs etc are all the same. He sells prints in the uk so he wouldnt do it if it caused a problem.
 
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