mitchell Posted October 15, 2009 Share #1 Posted October 15, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I want to launch a website for showing my photos and selling prints. I use LightRoom and I think I can figure out the Web Module OK, but I would like to get advice on a number of things. 1. Does using a Flash template protect you much more than HTLM from image theft? I don't really care about animation, etc., and think HTML could be adequate for my purposes, but don't want my images stolen. I want a simple appearance with a dark background that loads fast. The standard "Midnight" LR template might be all I need. 2. Are there menu/homepage templates available that work with LR content pages? I have looked at The Turning Gate, but find it difficult to figure out basic questions from their website. 3. Does using PayPal really result in that much more sales than just having people send checks for prints? 4. How does one go about getting a domain name and website? 5. Or is there a place on the web that will answer all these questions? I'd be grateful for any answers to these, or any other advice from people who have websites or websites and sell prints. Best, Mitchell Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 15, 2009 Posted October 15, 2009 Hi mitchell, Take a look here Web Site Using LightRoom, Advice Needed. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Guest Bernd Banken Posted October 15, 2009 Share #2 Posted October 15, 2009 Hi Mitchell, here is a link to a german photographer who sells his prints. He is a member of this forum too, but very very seldom here. I think he will not refuse some answers for you. Stephan Frnrohr: TIME FOR INSPIRATION - FOTOGRAFIE PS: N D3X..... Cheers Bernd Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfgang Esslinger Posted October 15, 2009 Share #3 Posted October 15, 2009 I am not an expert but my experience with LR/web is the following: 1.With Print Screen you can copy any image. 2 and 3. and 5. don't know 4. There are low cost or free providers. I am with web.de who check availability of name and provide two options for your web site: You either do everything yourself, eg using LR. Or you use their system of pre-produced web sites which you can alter to a limited extent. My photo web site was done with LR, my business site using a pre-produced site. Restrictions: - LR is very limited - I did not find a decent possibility to put some comments; it's just the headline where you can't change letter type. And you can not add or exchange individual photos, you have to upload the whole stuff every time you change something. - Web.de is also limited - no flash possible as I found out rather late. It is a point to keep in mind when selecting the provider. Good luck & have fun Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericperlberg Posted October 16, 2009 Share #4 Posted October 16, 2009 (edited) Hi Mitchell Sorry for the brevity of my answers but I'm short on time. You do have a bit of a learning curve if you don't use an all in one photography web site as mentioned below. 1. Does using a Flash template protect you much more than HTLM from image theft? With images embedded in HTML anyone can download the image by right clicking and selecting "save" for any image on the web. When images are embedded in flash its a bit harder to copy but still not difficult. As mentioned above, someone only needs to do a screen grab. If its on the net, it can be copied but at resolutions that would not allow for a very large print. Because the web shows images at low resolution compared to print, its not likely that someone will copy your images and print them and sell them (for example). Personally I think its not such a big deal but you may feel differently. Flash definitely slows things down depending on the speed of the internet connection. 2. Are there menu/homepage templates available that work with LR content pages? I'm not aware of any but you could always get a web designer locally or through the interenet to build a home page for you and sort things out so that you only have to ftp the folder that lightroom generates to your online site. You'll need to learn how to do this (it sounds like you're a total beginner in regards to web sites). Also, you can buy software that lets you work WYSIWYG (like Freeway) or use an online photogallery service ranging from Flickr to Zenfolio. Many others too. I don't use these so don't know much about them. Or try using blogging software like Typepad or Wordpress. Making a basic html page is not so hard. There are endless books on beginning html. FWIW: If you go to my site (link below) you can see a very simple home page and if you click on Gimbels in the Wabe you can see a flash site of images with small images and a very large version of those same images and if you click on curiouslyincongruous you can see the use of typepad. 3. Does using PayPal really result in that much more sales than just having people send checks for prints? Paypal is an easy way to take money over the internet. You pay a fee (about 3% from memory). Some people don't like Paypal and don't trust it. But if you're going to deal with any volume, it works well in my experience and keeps all your records for you and its fast compared to someone posting a check and waiting for it to clear. But either will work. 4. How does one go about getting a domain name and website? There are any number of companies. google web hosting; buy domain names. There are thousands of these companies. 5. Or is there a place on the web that will answer all these questions? Are you familiar with Google? Search for setting up a web site. Alternatively, go to Amazon.com and type in the same and you'll find plenty of books with reader reviews designed to help people at your level. No matter how you cut it, you have some learning to do. But this isn't rocket science, it just takes some persistence. Edited October 16, 2009 by ericperlberg clarified quite 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrice Posted October 16, 2009 Share #5 Posted October 16, 2009 I use fotoplayer pro as a lightroom plugin for my website. Was moderately priced and has some great features and easy customisation but a lot of fiddling with the html/xml after to get it just how I wanted it. It is a flash site which is nice for some things but I get annoyed that "back" doesn't just take you to the previous image and I actually want people to be able to save the pictures, at the small resolution previews provided all they can serve as is free advertising if people print them... honestly they could only get about an A5 print of an x*600 pixel image. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted October 19, 2009 Share #6 Posted October 19, 2009 Mitchell, - The Turning Gate plug-ins work very well, if you take the time to try them and find the one(s) you like. Some are easier to get a grip on and use effectively than others. The instructions are a bit opaque but if read carefully and followed some very good sites can be constructed - well worth the effort but it does take some time however. I've gone on from TTG now to use a paid site (Photium) which has proved well worth the outlay - they're great! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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