Creating a do it yourself photo gallery website

[ryee3]

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Any suggestions on a do it yourself photo website? Is there anything very user friendly for those of us who are not computer literate. Someone suggested Dreamweaver. I am still wondering if there are easier options.

 

Thanks:)

[Michael Hiles]

Any suggestions on a do it yourself photo website? Is there anything very user friendly for those of us who are not computer literate. Someone suggested Dreamweaver. I am still wondering if there are easier options.

 

Thanks:)

 

Look at Zenfolio.com or Clikpic.com. No need to be computer literate - they do the backroom work for you. And there are others I can't think of at the moment.

 

I think Dreamweaver is a bad idea - it is a powerhouse for website developers, and likely way more than you need or bargained for.

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[MPerson]

You have can either use an online service, as Michael said, or do-it-yourself. For do-it-yourself it depends on whether you are running a Mac or Windows system.

 

I use Dreamweaver but it would be over the top for just an online portfolio/gallery.

 

If you are running Mac check out RapidWeaver very simple, cheap and produces some nice results. I don't know what is available for Windows but others will.

 

Probably safer for your sanity and time to use an online host where you can just upload the images, add and format text without worrying about the code and html rules.

[spylaw4]

I'll put a word in here for Photium who host my site. Very easy to use and set up and with quite superb and fast response to questions and requests for individual tailoring. Not free but well worth the money.

[Marquinius]

The biggest issue is, IMHO, NOT building the website, but maintaining it. I'd opt for an online solution, with an easy content management system. Otherwise you have to update your website everytime you want to post something new.

 

I don't know Photium (but know the idea), but that would be regular websites. That's a very good option. Another way of showcasing is a blog. Pro for a blog is easy content management, against is that (most) put posts after another ISO in a nice first page on which you can click different directories.

[Overgaard]

Dreamvewer is the standard if you want to "program" it your self. It runs both Mac and PC and create compatible code for Firefox, Safari, IE, Opera, etc.

 

But it require that you can create a website from scratch - or can take one and redesign it to your needs. The good thing is you're in control of everything, whereas online portfolios and such require the company providing it to stay in business and developing the things you happen to want.

 

I've noticed that many god pages are done within the .Mac system which is fair priced and run by Apple (whom I don't expect to close down business any day soon ;-)

[wda]

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I'll put a word in here for Photium who host my site. Very easy to use and set up and with quite superb and fast response to questions and requests for individual tailoring. Not free but well worth the money.

Naturally I will endorse Brian's recommendation. After a lot of research I settled on a free trial with Photium and found the potential, flexibility and support truly outstanding. The link is on my website.

 

I also agree with Marquinius. A dated website is worse than no website. It calls for self-discipline to refresh the content fairly frequently, but it is worthwhile. PM me if you have any specific questions regarding Photium.

[earleygallery]

I've used Clikpic but not been entirely happy with it. It seemed cumbersome to use and deterred me from updating it. The photos display rather small and there's a lot of 'wasted' screen space. I've let my subscription lapse whilst I decide what to do.

 

Flickr is free and a good way of giving people web access to view your images, if you don't need the additional features that your own website could offer.

 

As others have said you need to keep a website fresh and up to date - it becomes time consuming!

 

I'm on windows so interested to see what other suggestions come up.

[wda]

Naturally I will endorse Brian's recommendation. After a lot of research I settled on a free trial with Photium and found the potential, flexibility and support truly outstanding. The link is on my website.

 

I also agree with Marquinius. A dated website is worse than no website. It calls for self-discipline to refresh the content fairly frequently, but it is worthwhile. PM me if you have any specific questions regarding Photium.

 

Later: I should have added that I use a Windows computer operating system. However, I don't think Photium is platform specific.

Edited September 30, 2009 by wda

[iShutterbug]

First a disclaimer: I am in partnership with, and a reseller of, Go Daddy Inc, the world's largest domain name registrar, and we handle everything pertaining to web sites, hosting, ecommerce, blogs, you name it. My business name is DotCom Junction--Low cost domain names, domain transfers, web hosting, email accounts, and so much more. .

 

I've been working in the internet essentially since it started, programming and designing web sites and all that. Since I do a lot of photo work--graphic images--for the sites, and I love photography in general, I've been interested in good photo gallery programs that are inexpensive and easy to use. I can't say I've tried them all but I do try to check out the ones I hear of, to see how they work, etc.

 

The bottom line for me is that the one I use the most is not one that I've programmed, or even sell, but is Photoblog - Your Life in Photos . To me it's straightforward and easy to use and kind of fun. It's not a "gallery" per se but more kind of a "photo a day" blog kind of thing because it's based on a calendar and I can put up events and vacations based on when they happened. I know this won't be the format that everyone is interested in, but it's a good place to start and "get your feet wet" with a hosted photo-type site.

 

I've tried programming my own (Windows-based) sites with FrontPage, Expression Studio, Xtivity, and then hosted plans with pBase, Flickr, Yahoo!, Smugmug and others, but I've just been using Photoblog because I can take some pictures and then batch upload all the jpegs *without having to use any other program to resize or edit them*. Once they're uploaded they're automatically resized and they look fine to me, all I have to is put them in the order I want, and then put comments under those I want. Again, it's probably not as "de lux" as most would want but it's quick and easy.

 

Right now I'm working on putting up my European vacation in my spare time and it's not finished, but you can see what I did on it with my trip to the local "Tea Party" in my town, at

 

Tampa Tea Party - ishutterbug - Photoblog.com .

 

DotCom Junction--Low cost domain names, domain transfers, web hosting, email accounts, and so much more. offers free blogs with hosting, and when I get time I'm going to add a WordPress blog to a test site and then put a photo gallery module on it. I will post here when that's done, because I know that will be a pretty nice looking one, but I don't know how easy it will be to use and maintain yet, that's what I want to find out.

[msweeney]

I use the free Wordpress.org software, and added a custom photoblogging theme for it. Very easy to maintain, and you can send email postings with pictures if you want. I used to spend WAY too many hours crafting hand-built websites... no more with Wordpress! It's so easy, and with all the free themes available you're sure to find one you like. I just put up my new photo site at www.MikeSweeneyPhotography.com if you want to see an example.

 

best regards, Mike

[iShutterbug]

That's totally excellent, Mike. That's just what I want to do. Thanks for sharing.

[rob_x2004]

If you are looking to play around to learn something about creating websites outside set formats of flicker zenfolio and all the rest of them which are not do it yourself but strict templates, unfortunatly they have canned geocities, homestead is now pay I think and tripod/lycos. For the fine of a small side banner and download limits in the free stuff, you used to be able to upload your own coding or use their pagebuilding.

[Guest stnami]

god pages are done within the .Mac system

God switched to a PC .........

[jpattison]

but He soon realised his mistake.

[Guest stnami]

no mistake................beta testing death