Win a Custom Designed Smugmug Website
** I Need a New Web Site Contest **
Contest: I need a new web site for my photography business – help!
How to enter: Simply enter answer the following question in the comment section of this blog posting:
“Why do you feel you need a new web site for your photography business ?”
Please answer that question in the comment section of this post on the MCP Blog. Do not post your comment via Facebook if you want your entry to count. Provide your name, company name, and current photography web site address (if one exists).
Winner: One year free subscription to smugmug – pro account
Basic customization of your new smugmug site by jR Customization.
jR Customization specializes in implementing Smugmug customizations and WordPress blog customizations that will bring your web site to life!
A total value worth over $750
Entry Deadline: ** Saturday 14th, midnight eastern time **
Winner will determined by:
- Top 10 entries: The selection will be conducted by jR Customization and will be based upon your current web site structure and “why you feel you need a new web site for your photography business?” The selection will NOT be determined by your photography, quality of photography or your photography subject matter.
- After the top 10 are selected, MCP fans and readers will vote for the comment/site that is most deserving of a new web site. The chosen 10 entries will be posted on Sunday the 15th, and voting will begin. By entering you are giving us permission to do a screen capture of your current site and to publish your comment to use for the voting if you make it into the top 10.
- The entry with the most votes on the 21st will win the jR customization and smugmug pro account.
Here are a few of the many smugmug features:
- Ability to right-click protect, unlist and password protect your galleries
- Unlimited storage of pictures, video, including amazing HD
- Nine different photos sizes
- Automatic back-up of your galleries
- Social networking capability for your galleries – share on facebook, twitter and several other social networking platforms
- SEO as well as the ability to view specific statistics on your photos,
- EXIF data on your pictures, assign captions and keywords to your pictures
- Availability of custom themes designed by smugmug (holidays, colors, sports, events, etc..)
- Ability to print and create products for your customers such as cards, calendars, books and videos
- Ability for you to customize your smugmug site to match your business need/market branding
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Here are some examples of customize smugmug sites by jR Customization:
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| Moments Photography – www.louisianamoments.com Smugmug/Wordpress Customization |
Dakota Cuvee Events – www.dceventsnola.com Smugmug/Wordpress Customization |
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| Galt Wedding Photography – www.galtweddingphotography.com Smugmug/Wordpress Customization |
Get the Picture – www.triciahackney.info Smugmug/Wordpress Customization |
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| Seven Gables Photography – www.sevengablesphotography.com Smugmug Customization |
Studio KykPhotography – www.studiokyk.com Smugmug Customization |
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| John Harrison Photography – www.jharrisonphoto.com Smugmug Customization |
Kirit VoraPhotography – www.voraphoto.com Smugmug Customization |
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| Janet Masterson Photography – www.janetmasterson.com Smugmug Customization |
Cathy Hartman Photography – www.cathyhartmanphotography.com Smugmug Customization |
(to see more examples visit jR Customization)
Good luck to all entries – Jodi and Jerry
Next Post: Making Holiday Cards In Photoshop {Brush Style}
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the main reason i need a new website is because the one i have now hasn’t been updated since i started it 2 years ago. terrible i know, but my blog has served as my main website displaying current work and i never have enough hours in the day to really customize what i want my website to be.. im frustrated by the limitations and annoyed its not personalized since i know tons of other photographers have the same site with different info. i keep holding off to decide which product and company im going to go with but i just cant decide without really exploring. smugmug has been at the top of my list since i began my search and now its just a matter of time before i actually do it — to have a customized website and the opportunity to have it start as what i want would be amazing. Because I want my website to be very much ME and not just another photographers website displaying images- customizing it is a necessity. Here we go smugmug.. let’s rock this site!
Thanks Jodi!!
You guys are totally amazing offering up this opportunity to someone. What a fantastic value! With so many expenses to doing business the best way a break is always appreciated.
Do I ever need a new site! My husband has been laboring to try and learn flash & great web design to no avail. Right now we have a freebie template he has been unsuccessful in getting to work properly. The galleries do not show correctly and definitely do not give the impression of our business that is needed. We are also waiting for our new logo to be done so this would be the perfect time to launch a new site along with it… I also want to be able to add online proofing, a shopping cart and a seamless transition to the photo blog at some point.
I have been working on making my website for 2 years now. I never seem to get to it! I am always editing photos and I never seem to have the time! I do have a pro smugmug account. I list client galleries for 3 weeks … but it’s all mixed in with family & friend galleries. I need to separate the two and get serious. I have invested so much in lenses, computers, software, actions … the list is endless. This would be what I need to make it a real business! Thanks Jodi!! Your last post about branding really hit home … I have a homemade logo as well. You are motivating me to get moving!
I NEED a new website because the only one I have is from blogger and I think it takes the POP away from my pictures. I think it will be better for me to market myself as a photographer with a more professional website!
I currently do NOT have one and that’s why I need a *NEW* one! A fellow photographer and I did research on all the photo websites and smugmug was our top choice! I’m locked into another site for another year and don’t want to put out the extra money yet. If I win, this would be GREAT! I’m a stay-at-home mom and have ambitions of making my love for photography to give our family additional income. Having a new website would definitely help me achieve this goal. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY!
SMUG MUG–Where have you been all my life!!!!!!!!! I am in need of an extreme site makeover. HELP ME PLEASE!!!!! I am the busy mom of three little girls under the age of three (yes…all in diapers still *sigh*) Who knew that in the midst of the chaos, I would be launching a photography business! It all started with the standard blogger template to keep the family posted, than the photography bug bit hard. (Taking pictures of kids and newborns will do it to you) I changed my template to one styled after a more traditional photography blog and increased the size of my photographs. But that is where it’s ended-as far as a blog/website. I have loads of people who lurk my blog and am getting calls and referrals, but don’t know how to get that WOW factor. I would LOVE YOU TO GIVE ME THE WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW factor!!!
I currently do NOT have one and that’s why I need a *NEW* one! I have only a site I use, http://www.laynieharris.wordpress.com. And I’m not officially a registered business – yet. I guess I’m working backwards. If/when business picks up and starts making money, then I’ll make it all official. Currently, I advertise myself as Laynie Harris Photography (Yes Jodi, I read your blog about investing in branding yourself, but I just don’t have that kind of money.)
A fellow photographer and I did research on all the photo websites and smugmug was our top choice! I’m locked into another site for another year and don’t want to put out the extra money yet. If I win, this would be GREAT! I’m a stay-at-home mom and have ambitions of making my love for photography a way to give our family additional income. Having a new website would definitely help me achieve this goal. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY!
Well, first off a new website, would be awesome to say the least. I am currently utilizing the wonderful world of Yahoo!, but I am ultimately frustrated with the lack of creativity it allows me. Am I web designer? Not by a long shot, but I have a vision and I want to be able to put it into action. However, being that I am just starting out I needed to get my info out there for the most cost effective way I could come up with and this is where we are…
As with a lot of folks on here I think that our two biggest challenges is having the money to do it right the first time and confidence that we are good enough to make it worth it. I feel these go hand in hand, so thanks for offering this up! Of course, I hope to win, but if I don’t I know it’s going to another worthy partcipant to get that much closer to their own vision
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Firstly, I do not necessarily “need” a new website for my photography business, but I really really want one. As a mother of two, soon to be three, I am short on the time needed to create and maintain a one of kind, inspirational and fun site. It has most definitely been a huge desire of mine since I began the journey to creating a photography business for myself, but the time or money has yet to be found. I have always been one who enjoys creativity, uniqueness, as well as perfection….with this being said, imagine the difficulty of trying to create the above mentioned paired with a hefty bout of indecisiveness =) Photography has been a lifelong passion that has just recently flourished into a potential career, my dream career. With the aid of a nifty new site to advertise my blossoming desire to be an amazing photographer, my dream could potentially come true! Displaying my passion to the rest of the world in a fun and stylish way would be the icing on the cake for an already magical time in my life!
I have always wished I knew how to design my own website, since money isn’t in the bag for one. I feel when a photographer has their own website it seals them as an official photographer. I would love to say I had a website, and be proud of it! It is so important to veiwers also to see that you take yourself seriously! What a great opportunity! Thank you for the amazing giveaway!
Wow! This is an incredible opportunity! I have been in business for almost a year and feel like most of my year has been spent more on trying to figure out website stuff and blog stuff than on photography :-0 I have settled on a “cookie cutter” blog and website simply because I was in over my head. I would love the chance to work with some experts would could create what I envision. Currently, I feel like I have a hodge podge of things. For my site, blog and order fulfillment to all be cohesive and tied together- Wow! Please, pick me
Signed,
A Web Challenged Photographer
I would love a new website that was not cookie cutter and stood out more
This is a great opportunity for someone!
I am just about to move cross country in less than 2 weeks. I am in the process of branding and getting a new logo. I am taking advantage of the move to rebrand myself, restructure my business to include pricing, marketing techniques, and focus. My goal is to customize my new look and offerings to stand out from the crowd. I feel that my current site is just too similar to what everyone else is doing. It doesn’t define who I am and what I am about.
what perfect timing. i am in the middle of rebranding and trying to find a way to build a new website and i am completely overwhelmed! when i started branching out my photography from ‘hobby’ to ‘business’ about 2 years ago i never knew if it would take off. so i just signed up for free web-hosting, not even getting the domain name that i wanted (so settling for .info which is a huge mistake!), and made my website myself using front page. it served it’s purpose at the time but is a very amature attempt and looks it (i didn’t even use a free template – i just tried to do it myself using my stellar microsoft office skills! ack!) now that i am really making a go of this business i absolutely have to have something professional – i don’t think i will be regarded as a professional when my image looks completely ‘home-made’. on top of that, i don’t even have front page anymore, so everytime i try to make a change to my website via the html on the server i make it look even worse. oh, i also have a quickie, freebie ‘blogspot’ blog site (which actually looks better than my website) so a new website that incorporated a professional blog would be such a bonus!
http://www.zoomdesigns.info
I need a new website because my picture load SO slowly AND I need something a little more professional
I’ve been seriously pursuing photography for the past 2 years. With the birth of my son 6 months ago, I’ve been turning my attention to portraiture from landscape work, as I have a lot of family who wants nice pictures of our little guy. A strange thing happened along the way….I really enjoyed it. I’ve now expanded by taking pictures of other kids of friends and family members. And now I have this crazy idea that I might actually want to do this for a living….which is really crazy when you consider that I am a Ph.D student in a major biomedical science program!!! This website would really help jumpstart me to transition from an amateur photographer to being able to market myself as a professional for hire. This website has always been a great source of info for people like me who know alot about taking technically sound pictures…but need help with the creative aspect of things…and maybe more importantly, how to turn this passion of photography into a business. Thanks for your consideration.
I’m just starting to turn my hobby into a business with the hope that I’ll never have to grace a cubicle again. My website is currently a basic portfolio in need of navigational improvement and customer friendly tools. A new website will help brand my business and change my website from a personal portfolio to a customer focus. Thanks for the chance!
Oh this is just what I need!!!! I am just getting a business going and need a website to show my work. I have a blog currently but is definitely a no frills site. I need something professional and polished and would love to be able to launch with a fancy new website. Great contest, thanks!
I need some help! My website is my own creation and I am NOT a webs designer! I’d love love love a custom designed smugmug site!
I have saved & saved for more than three years to finally launch my photography business, “Sweetie Pie Smiles.” I was having a confidence issue and just unsure of how I could do it with a full-time job; but this past month I just did it! I had a friend create a logo for me and I had another friend tell me about Smugmug so I just finally breathed a heavy sigh and said, “Now or Never!” I’m very excited about the opportunity to take photos of care-free and happy children with their families – I have done some professional shoots and my business has really sparked word around town with lots of positive response but I still feel like my website needs that Customized look – a look that will give the feel of my personality & that feeling of what I want my lil’ clients to feel all warm & fuzzy and yet, professional…I would be so grateful to win a new website design and to beat, I sure would appreciate a year extension on my smugmug site – it’s a great value but it took a chunk of money to start and I would love to be able to spend that $150 that I wouldn’t have to spend for next year on another piece of camera equipment! MCP Actions has really been a God send for making my proofs just pop! They’re beautiful and I have to extend the same Thank you to MCP that my clients have been giving me… “I couldn’t be happier with the photograph results!”
Oh, I would love a customized website from Smugmug/JR.
I am just starting out, I have had my logo designed, I have been portfolio building for free and the last step to get my business off and running is a way to display my photographs and market myself. I was looking at Smugmug, but don’t have any money at the moment to get launched.
Thank you for having this awesome giveaway
Why do I need a new website?
I just recently moved into the “paid” photographer catagory and so I decided to purchase a web domain and design a blog for myself. Who knew it would be SO overwhelming?! And because of that, I have yet to attempt and actual website with my portfolio and client galleries. I would love to have a professional website. Thankks for the amazing giveaway!
I am just starting out with a business even though I’ve been doing photography for years and years for free. I ended up going with a template website in order to just get my information up on the web and have a place to send clients. The problem is I’m not happy with it at all. I don’t like the fonts, I can’t chose picture sizes, and while the template site was easy to create, it does look like most of the other photographers in my area (even the same colors!). I’m a goofy person who is trying to edge her way into a creative profession and I need a website that shows ME. I would love to be able to pay for a custom site, but at this point I simply don’t have the funds to do so. Please help me get a new site!
I don’t yet have a website other than my small blogspot blog. Starting out is really hard because you don’t have a website to refer people to in order to build a client base but you also don’t have clients because they don’t have anything that’s *yours* to visit. I would love to have the opportunity to start strong and present the world with my brand from the very beginning.
I NEED a new website because…..well, I’ve never actually had one. I have a blog that I use for my business right now, but I think that there is just something about a good website, and how it represents your work. In my opinion, a beautiful website, full of helpful information, and easy to navigate, gives potential clients confidence in you and your business. No one wants to go to a messy site, that doesn’t answer their questions, and his not easy to get around. Since my family (and therefore, my biz) has been moving around recently, I have not been able to commit to a phone # to direct my clients to, so the first thing they are going to look for is my website. I need that website to reflect me, and represent my business in the classiest, most professional way possible. You really do only get one chance at a first impression, and I want mine to say “WOW”.
My current blog can be found at carribethphotography.blogspot.com
I would love the opportunity to win a SmugMug website! I have heard awesome things about the customized designs. I’ve been in the photography business for about 4-5 yrs but studying photography for 12 yrs. The last two designs for my website have been templates from a VERY popular site. Why?? Because people have said they are easy to design yourself. But they are so limiting. You can imagine that my site is the same to about 80% of the photographers out there. I really believe that my photography has outgrown the template design and would love to have a more customized design that shows my work, the emotion and my style. We, as photographers, need to stand out from everyone else with our websites. SmugMug is def the way to begin to show our true “colors”!
GL to everyone who enters…everyone is deserving of this gift!
I have struggled and wasted sooooooo much time on trying to get my site they way I want it… still it’s not there. Due to a recent injury that will require neck surgery I’m not able to work and therefore spending this downtime focusing on the business (with limited budget because I’m unable to work at all right now). I’m hoping to launch my business full time once recovered from surgery so I’m looking at branding ideas and stuck. Due to web-link complications I recently switched my business name from Inspiring Designs Photography to my name: Cindy Utterback Photography… now I desperately need a complete brand / website overhaul. I currently have blogger set up… but I’m unable to get it how I want it to look and it gives me grief every time I try to do anything. Would love to have you do the stuff you know how & love to do – so I can then focus on doing what I love to do. Thank You so much for considering me.
I desperately need a new website, especially one that is customized by pros, because it would simplify business for me. If my clients could order directly from their gallery & site, it would save me time! I received two orders in my inbox yesterday and neither one matches the packages I offer. It will take extra time (which I don’t have) to do the math & invoice accordingly. Ordering directly from their gallery would force my clients to order as offered rather than send me an email of “I want more of X, but not any of X, and could I get Z like this?” In addition, I love the image display quality of SmugMug’s galleries. I currently have a Power account. Winning a free, customized site with a Pro account would help me take my business to the next level. Keeping my fingers crossed!
“Why do you feel you need a new web site for your photography business ?”
My photography business has picked up quite a bit in the last year. I have a main web page that I’ve built my self (www.dabourphotography.com). Its fine but I can hear the sounds of people’s forehead hitting their desks while they’re reading the site. I already found the wisdom of SmuMug Pro (dabour.smugmug.com). I would love for that to be my main site as well as photo store and by up to date and nice looking!
Thanks!
Dave
Oh wow what an awesome competition! I would love to have a personally designed website, the design I currently have is very popular so would love to stand out in the crowd but unfortunately have no creativity or computer knowledge to create one myself. This would be wonderful to win, thanks so much
The dictionary defines good luck as this: ‘Good fortune or a happy outcome, especially by chance’. Let me tell you, on November 21st, as the winner of this contest is announced, I would love to collide with good luck!
A new website?! I have dreamed of a website makeover! If you saw my current blogger site, you too, would agree that I am in desperate need of something fresh!
I love photography — I love all of the opportunities to capture this beautiful life. I want to win this contest. I want to win this contest, not because I am any more deserving than these other amazing photographers, but simply because good fortune and a happy outcome, especially by chance, has come knocking at my door. What do you say? Can I get lucky?
K Stone Photography
http://www.kstonephoto.com
The dictionary defines good luck as this: ‘Good fortune or a happy outcome, especially by chance’. Let me tell you, on November 21st, as the winner of this contest is announced, I would love to collide with good luck!
A new website?! I have dreamed of a website makeover! If you saw my current blogger site, you too, would agree that I am in desperate need of something fresh!
I love photography — I love all of the opportunities to capture this beautiful life. I want to win this contest. I want to win this contest, not because I am any more deserving than these other amazing photographers, but because on November 21st good fortune and a happy outcome, especially by chance, has come knocking at my door. What do you say? Can I get lucky?
K Stone Photography
http://www.kstonephoto.com
I would luv a chance to have a customize website. I have a logo but I feel I do not use it as I should. I have a lot of ideas but not the knowledge or patience to learn how to create a unique website. Thank you for the chance.
I would love a new website! I feel like my website is just ok. My business has so much potential but I just need a site a little more professional. A site where clients go to and say there is no doubt in my mind I want this photographer to shoot my wedding or session
Memories by Micha
I am also just starting out and have only my blog as my website. I would love a custom designed site.
I don’t have the resources to start big right now and this would really help me out.
[...] MCP Actions is giving away a free SmugMug website! The winner will get a one year subscription to SmugMug Pro and a site customization by jR Customization. Get to the site, tell them why you want it and then cross your fingers. The deadline is Saturday the 14th at midnight (eastern). The top 10 entries are chosen based on how badly you need a site, not you “quality of work” which means if you are a newbie with a crummy site your life is about to change. Provided you convince them and get all of your buddies to vote. Back Home Tweet This!Share this on FacebookPost this to MySpaceShare this on del.icio.usDigg this!Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUponShare this on TechnoratiAdd this to Google Bookmarks [...]
I would absolutely love a new….sorry, A website:) I currently am hosting my godaddy bought domain name through blogger, and just don’t know enough about HTML to get it where I want it. I would absolutely love to have an upgraded website, but being a 21 y/o mother, student and photographer…the funds just aren’t there right now! Obviously I’m sure this will happen eventually for me, but I am SO darn antsy (oh and just waiting for myself to get better so I can start charging, hehe). A proofing site, such as smugmug would be FABULOUS to have access to as well:) They are seriously great. All of these great people who commented above me have great stories, and I’m sure mine won’t fall into the top 10…but a girl can try, right?:) Thanks for the opportunity MCP!
http://www.rebeccawerslandphotography.com
I would love to have a new smugmug website designed by MCP!! I currently have a “website” that I put together in a hurry that I am not pleased with at all. I can’t afford to have one designed for me right now so the opportunity to win this is great!
My wife recently graduated from law school, and if you know anything on the subject, you’d know the fledgling lawyer market is horrible right now. After a couple of months she’s been hired on as an independent contractor for a firm, and pays them 50% of all the fees she takes in for using their resources. Even so, business is EXTREMELY slow for her. We’re talking less than 3 figures per week before having to pay the firm.
I’ll be spending my lunch-hour and evening time building a semblance of a website for her, just to get her name out there and get her to show up on google searches and maps. I have no time to make a website for a side-job photography business that would help make the mortgage.
People tell me my stuff is pro level, even though I didn’t have any collegiate training. I take good stuff, have quality gear and a great post processing workflow, but without a marketing tool like a website, word of mouth won’t get me very far.
If you guys can donate a website with some direction on a business plan, it would be an amazing gift to get our plans off of the ground, and maybe even start a new direction for our lives. I hate having to ask, but pride is beyond me at this point. Here’s hoping.
I have a smugmug site and have tried to piece it together, I’ve had this site for almost a year now but I can’t get it to look how I want it. All the code and copy and paste stuff boggles my mind and I would love to win this customization to get a more professional look.
Hello! I feel I need a new web site for my photography business because I do not have one! I am soon to graduate with a Bachelors Degree in Mass Communication emphasis in the Visual Arts. I look forward to starting my photography business pretty soon and would love to have a professional and stylish web site to help my display my photogrpahy! I love the designs SmugMug has created and would love to have them design a web site for me!
Thank you for this opportunity!
My current website may well be my weakest link. I’ve gone as far as I can without you!
I would really like to have a professional looking website that accents my photography and enhances the writing I do. I would like to have coordinating links/buttons to products I plan on selling (cards, prints, etc.) in the near future, plus spaces for tutorials and information that other photographers may find useful.
Thank you for the chance to enter!
While I don’t know if I’ll ever deserve the title of professional photographer, I would like to at least try to look like one, if that makes sense.
Having a good career, but loving photography, I am in a bit of a quagmire. I would love to devote more time to photography, and in that sense, be able to devote additional time to vastly improving the appearance and flow of my website. I would love to be able to retire and pursue photography fulltime. We’ll see what the future holds.
I know that my poor sales are linked to my sites appearance, but have a difficult time in managing the time to cause the improvements that are needed. I am also unsure if my site truly reflects me, or my photography style. Organization of a website should be a higher priority, but life, work, and my love of photography pushes the organization factor farther down the proverbial list.
I too suffer from knowing it should look better, but I also suffer from not knowing enough HTML, or understanding CSS enough to improve it.
Winning a new website, or a website ‘makeover’ would be a wonderful notion.
Thanks for reading my ramblings,
Why am I in need of a Smugmug website? Well, to be honest, I do not have one yet. Don’t get me wrong, I have attempted several times over the last 2 months to create a site, but when I get almost finished there is always “something”. So, of course, I delete and start over. Over the last year I have gotten back into photography after a few years off to stay at home with my children. I relized a bit to late there is no reason to take time off, I could be doing it PT. The problem- well, it has taken me this year to adjust to all things digital- leaving my computer a bit in the dust. I have taken weddings, children and seniors at little or no cost to help build my portfolio back up, now I need a place to display my work so I can start booking real clients. I would love to be able to advertise to my potential clients with a sleek new website from smugmug! Thank you for this opprotunity to enter your contest. Since I do not have a current website, let me know if you need to see any of my work. Thanks again- Alison
My name is Kelly Manley. I am half blind, deaf and 30 years old. The photography have always been my passion ever since I was 5 years old. Being a photographer gives me a chance to have a “normal” eyesight. Many people don’t always understand or see what I mean in the viewfinder. Some of them are scared to give me a chance to prove them wrong that I can do what any of other photographers with 20/20 eyesight do. I fear that my website are not as good as any of the professional/freelance photographers out there even I tried my best setting it up. All I know is that the pictures I took made people smile, feel a little emotional, remind them of a memory, or anything that made them feel. I want to be able to have a website that is professional and affect the clients the same way I shoot my pictures. I am a freelance photographer and I am proud at what I do and I think i deserve this kind of help.
OH MY GOODNESS!!!! I think once you look at our site you’ll understand WHY we NEED a new and improved site!! If you don’t have the right marketing tools then you lose out….we are losing out! The Lord has blessed us with a beautiful gift of capturing those cherished moments, but we (my twin sister and I) are struggling with each having 40 hr day jobs, living 250 miles apart, and trying to make our own families still feel loved while we sit in front of the pc editing 1000′s of pics and praying for the day when we can be photographers full time!!! Whew, that just made me tired! Neither one of us knows how to design a site nor has the time…..PLEASE bless us by choosing us!!
I definitely need some help to step in the right direction with getting my business up and running. I just don’t feel that my site is polished enough and I haven’t quite been able to realize my vision just yet. I’ve been struggling over the last year and a half to properly market myself and display my work so that I can draw in clients and I haven’t been able to do that at all. It’s very discouraging. Thanks for this amazing opportunity and good luck to everyone!
I am trying to design a new website now but am not a technical soul. I am struggling to the point of utter frustration. My current unnamed website provider (something like blu something) does not represent the level of photography that I am doing now. I want to rub my current website off the face of the map and begin anew!!!
Wow! What a fantastic contest! I’ve long admired the websites that Smugmug provides, and would love to have one, it’s on my list of “eventually’s”. In the meantime, until I start really making some profit in this business, I created a DIY website because I needed SOMETHING to put galleries up. I’m not sure this was the right answer, as it really doesn’t show what I want it to, but I’m at a loss as to what to do with it! I know I need to get more out there, more information, galleries and just a better look that more represents me, but I’m not a designer and don’t have the funds off the top to invest. Bad, I know, but reality sometimes sucks! At any rate, my website is at http://www.deenahill.com, and I am Deena Hill Photography! I know there are several deserving entrants out there, and anyone who wins this will be super lucky!
You have got to be kidding me!! How amazing would that be??!! I have spent hours upon upon hours on Dgrin with attempting to make my site look better. I SOOO want an amazing site like all of the other professional photographers!! I have used Smugmug for about 4 years now. Just in the last 2 years I have gotten it to look better but NOTHING like the ones that JR did! AMAZING! I would love for my clients to log onto a site like that. I remember watching Jodi’s site change over time. I was always amazed at the awesome things you had your site doing!! I want that WOW factor for my site. I hate having all of the “pictures” that my clients have to click on for my pricing and information. Honestly- I work full time at the local elementary school, have a husband who is trying to open a business, have a 6 year old son and I am try to keep my photography business up and going. While TRYING to stay up to date with the local big photographers. I simply don’t have the time nor strength to sit for anymore hours and try to figure it out for myself
This would be an AMAZING step for my photography! I’ll just keep my figures crossed X. If I don’t get picked, I’ll make it. I’ll just pray that someone who is in a turning point in their photography journey will and it will bless their journey~
Thanks
April
I’ve been in love with photography my entire life. I decided to pursue my dream with a shoestring budget at the beginning of this year. I had no money, but I was not afraid of hard work. I started with a $500.00 credit card limit and a Rebel XT. Add to that, a whole lot of guts, sweat and passion. I offered specials, knowing that this year would be a “building” year. I used the deposit money to purchase my “L” lenses and a 40D, my speedlights and various other necessities for my business. At 50 years old, I am amazed that I finally took the plunge into doing something that is for me…not my family…not my friends…and not what is regarded as “safe.” Each wedding and each portrait session is personal and meaningful to me – which is so hard to describe – but a piece of me goes into every photo I take and every emotion I capture. I created my own site using bits and pieces of knowledge I’ve accumulated over the years. I keep saying that I will recreate it into something that reflects the emotion and passion that I feel about photography. I don’t want a “cookie cutter” site like everyone else’s. I want it to be….me. This takes time and more knowledge (and money) than I currently have. I would love the opportunity to have a site/blog created that identifies who I am and my love for what I do.
For the last 9 months, I’ve been laid off well really unemployed as I don’t see me going back to my company any time soon. But this layoff has been a blessing in disguise. Despite being one income down we decided that during this time the best thing for me was to go back to school for graphic design . It has given me the opportunity to focus on my creative side. I’ve also been photographing my boys (and any one else who comes my way) non stop. It has made me realize that this is what I want to do. I don’t want to work in an office, typing dictation, and thinking about one day having a fulfilling job. I love capturing moments. I love being able to do that for my family and friends. With everything uncertain in our lives right now, I feel calm being behind that lens.
I am at a point that I am ready to start portfolio building. My family is also ready for me to start my own business. My boys would be happy not having to be my photography subjects all the time. And my husband realizes that my unemployment checks will stop coming at some point. I need to have an income source in place.
I really have been overwhelmed on how to start a business. What steps to take, designing a brand, etc. It really been holding me back when I just want to take this leap and see if it will fly. It would be wonderful to start off with a professionally designed site. I could actually say with confidence “Hi I’m Stephanie Doran. I’m a photographer. Please check out my website”
I have had my own wordpress blog at http://www.timeslidesby.com for almost a year now. I realize the time it took to design and customize it and its not even that great. I can only think of the time it would take me to design a site that wouldn’t even come close to the websites done by jR customizations. For me it would be the time, because we don’t have the money to spend. So please take a chance on me!
Being recently retired and would love to take my photography to the next level. I have done my best with some help but a sharp professional site by MCP Actions would certainly catch the eye of new and returning customers. The examples show some truly exceptional work.
I would love to have a site. I hired someone to build my site, but it always had issues. It was not user friendly. I found out that my designer was not a local person, but was living in another country. After spending more money than I had planned, I had a site that I did not even like, so I let it go. I really want a new site, that I can work with happily!!
What more could a photographer ask for? A customized website would be awesome. I have one of those “templates” that several hundred, maybe even a thousand, photographers also have. I want to be different and stand out in the crowd. My images are different from my competitors and I would love for my website to be different too!
I am a photographer, not a website developer. I like to spend my time effortlessly updating my blog/photosite so that I can spend more time with family, friends or clients. I just want to have a website that has all of the one stop options in one place and dazzle them at the same time. I want my website to load quickly and get to the content and right to the point …. but always leave them wanting more. If you could do that for me, you’ll have a client for life who will sing your praises all over the Las Vegas valley and then some!!!
What a fun question and what a difficult one to answer when I think of all the other photographers who could use this as much as I can.
I have been taking pictures since my mother handed me her 35 mm camera and instructed me to take her photo when I was 8 years-old. Every significant moment (not necessarily event) I have recorded whether it was beautiful or heart breaking. That, for me, is what photography is. Capturing all those moments because they tell a story.
I am a mother to a beautiful 17 month-old boy and am in the process of adopting a sibling for him. I am also the sole bread-winner in my house. During the day I work as an RN in the hospital which is often soul breaking work. In my free time I choose to capture the beauty around me. I love taking photos of families, children and volunteer my skills at events and for families experiencing loss. I would really like to have a nice site to increase business and referrals and to better advertise the wide range of services. Currently I am using a blog and it is not capable of all the things that I see on all the beautiful customize sites out there.
Thank you for your consideration and good luck making this difficult decision!
I would LOVE to win this! I have a smugmug acct, not pro. I have had it for about a year. Its in bad need of someone with the talent to design it. I do not know how to design a website or even a blog. I have a logo and do not know how to put it on the site! I also volunteer at the animal shelter taking pictures for their site and I would love to add that onto my site, but then again I don’t know how. I do not have the money at the time to hire someone or I would. Please help.
I am desperately needing help with my website. I have had a SmugMug Pro account for about 2 1/2 years and have never really figured out how to set it up attractively! I am 57 years old….passionate about photography and eager to really start a new path in my life with photography as my vehicle…but my brain can only figure out so much technology at at time!!!!
I have been a Dental Hygienist for over 35 years and am so thrilled with the way photography over the last years has helped me more and more fill the void in my creative side! Help with my website to grab attention and engage potential clients would be a fantastic help. I truly hope you will consider me and help me get it finally it “Pro” ready!!! Thanks so much for consideration…….
The dictionary defines good luck as “good fortune; advantage or success, considered as the result of chance.” I believe that this is what it will take for me to win this contest. Certainly, as I read through the comments on this post, each person is deserving of a new website — each person has a need for a new website. I am among those, clearly in need of a website makeover (as my current website is a blogspot template). What will mark me as a bit different? I am asking for a little luck — hoping that on November 21st, as the winner of this contest is announced, good fortune will come my way. What do you say? Will I get lucky?
Kimberly Stone
K Stone Photography
http://www.kstonephoto.com
Sorry that I show so many submissions — my computer had given me an error and I could not see my submissions — I just now saw that I am on here way too many times
please forgive me!
I designed my own website…in Frontpage no less (because I don’t know how to use anything else so far). The most obvious reason why I need a new website – Frontpage isn’t even supported by most web hosting companies anymore…it’s just a matter of time before I’ll be stuck – Please Help – I would absolutely need and would Love a new site!
I would love a website for my portfolio because right now I am still using wordpress to show my portfolo and notice that a lot of my visits go to my gallery page, and a powerful gallery will bring in lots more clients. I know tha smugmug delivers exceptionally powerful website.
I NEED a new SmugMug website because I love my husband and don’t want to get divorced… plus, I think a divorce would devastate my children!
You see, I have tried – many times – with the help of my dear husband to design a new website (he’s a bit of a techy, but has limited web design experience… and NO flash experience)… which always ends in, well, nothing. Have you ever tried to do a home remodeling project with your spouse or significant other? I have found that remodeling a website has the same dire consequences on a relationship! I am currently use the Tofurious theme on WordPress, which is very lovely, but the scrolling my clients have to endure in order to view my images is enough to kill anyone’s interest in even the best photographer. When they arrive at my homepage, they see my banner. When they arrive at my portfolio, they see my banner. Same for the “About”, “Pricing”, “Contact”… you get the picture (no pun intended) – they might not even know that images exist on my site because every page they click on shows the same thing… my banner. I should put a disclaimer in my banner that states, “Please scroll extensively to see actual images”. I have worked furiously at improving my photography, but do not have a great platform to showcase images, provide client ordering, and save my marriage. So please, visit my site and… well, start scrolling! My blog is clean and uncluttered (almost to a fault), but could use a little excitement (and NOT the kind of excitement my marriage sees when my husband tries to help)!
The Probst Family thanks you for your consideration!
Well, after looking over all of these wonderful entries, I have no idea how I would win! Everyone has such beautiful reasons. My wish to win a jR customization and smugmug pro account is simply because I want to give my images the display they deserve. I am in based in Tampa, FL and we are literally weeks old. I have had a passion for design & photography all my life, but I have been blessed with my husband that not only supports my dream, but shares the gift of creativity. Our images are unique and represent our passion and love. We are tech savvy, but he works full time and I am also a full time student trying to attain my BA in Communications. We also have 2 little ones. Unfortunately, spending endless hours on our web presence is not an option at this time.
We are trying to launch our business and at the same time, keep our brand solid and use the best tools out there. Smugmug is amazing! We had the chance to go to a meeting here in Tampa a few months ago, and I fell in love with the product. But at this time, we just don’t have the finances to have all the tools we want! We started a free blog on blogger http://kismisink.blogspot.com (though we really wanted to try WordPress!) and we started a free website on showit.
We tried to be as inventive as we could with what we had, and you can see our results.
We wish, as everyone else, to grow our business, put our brand/name out there, and make a profit along the way. But our deepest goal is to make a difference in our society. To share our passion and love for life in the most creative and outstanding display!
Thanks for this opportunity!
Well, if you saw my blog/helpless website/blahness, you would really feel sorry for me. Sometimes I feel that if I just had an attractive website, I would get more business and look a little more professional. I seem to spend a lot of time editing pictures, but I don’t have the time to learn how to make a website look great. I just need help with even the basic of all basics website and I would feel a step closer to being a real official photographer.
I am a new (4 months) photographer. I have tried to figure out html and css code and have NO idea how any of it works! I have tried and tried to figure that out after pricing how much it is for a website. Having an actual website would be help me be ‘official’. I think there is a great benefit to having both a blog and a website. I recently paid someone to help me set up my blog and I had to go through installing widgets and that in and of itself confused me. (that’s probably really pathetic to most of you) I actually have a basic smug mug account and can’t understand how to set up things. I would LOVE and APPRECIATE help getting that set up.
I would love to have a website rather than a blog. I like my blog but I’ve been told that other photographers are very professional because they have a “website” I want that “professional” look for my business. I think my customers deserve it! I would love to have galleries and online viewing too. Thanks. http://www.allforfunphotography.blogspot.com
I have gone back and forth deciding whether or not to enter this contest. I made the mistake of reading so many of the other comments and thought, “Oh that person really wants it”, or “They soo deserve it.” I have been in a constant state of comparison. Now what I really want is a website that truly shows who I am, Lydia Shannon, as a person and as an artist. My current site isn’t terrible, but it sure doesn’t represent the 22 year old girl who is ready to spread her wings. Who just resigned from her fourth grade teaching position and is ready to take the photography world by storm. My website says nothing about myself other than the articles and posts that are written as personal. It is now 11:53pm and I am probably the last person to enter this contest. But that is me.
In January, I have decided to incorporate and really create a business. I realize that if I want to be a high end photographer, I need a website that sells me instantaneously to my clients. I am always up on my soapbox talking about how people NEED to hire a professional and here I am with a template website that I created myself. Please help me to stop being a hypocrite and to start being myself. Too stop comparing to everyone else and to truly come in to my own as not only a photographer, but also as a person.
One minute to spare – Booyah!
Wow…what a great and fantastic opportunity this is… First off thank you for offering such a wonderful gift! I myself do not have a web site. I use the basic myspace to show the people I photograph their images and then have them tell me which ones they want me to print from there. I do not have the first clue about setting up a web site but would LOVE to have one so maybe the people around my area would take me serious! I do so many free photo shoots because I feel no one thinks I am anything more then a picture taker (nothing close to a professional) don’t get me wrong I don’t mind doing things for people but for the past year that’s all I have done. So maybe…
I would love to see if a web site could turn things around!
My comment didn’t post originally so I’m coming back to post after the fact so I can qualify for the discount.
I need a new update to my blog and my smugmug page! It’s so outdated!
Man do we need a website! My business partner and I have been trying since last october to have our friend finish our web site. That’s right I said a year! They started and never finished. When you go to our site it says coming soon. Every dollar we make goes right back into our business buying backgrounds, lights, and lens. This would be our final thing we need to really give us that boost we need in building our client base. We both currently work full time jobs on top of running our photography business. We would love nothing more to dedicate all of our time to our passion and finally leave or jobs!! We believe getting a functional and operating website is the key.
Someone else is certainly more deserving, but I had to comment anyway. One of these days, I will find the time and money to build a site and start my photography dream. In the meantime, I hope the very best person wins this awesome prize!!
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Oh my gosh!!! I would love to have a website for my new passion for photography!! I am just starting out. I am a country girl from Kentucky and don’t have the money right now to invest in the website. PLEASE PLEASE PICK ME!!!!! thank you so much!!!
I couldn’t build a website if all that was required was spaghetti and meatballs and I was a master chef. I simply cannot do it. With kids ranging from teh ages of 22 through 3, learning how to build a website, be a wife and mother, business person, family nurse, family chef, family driver and anything else my family needs takes priority. I’ve been lucky enough to score a couple of gigs to pay a few bills, but I don’t really have a suitable place to display my work or samples. So many others have some sort of website. All I have is SmugMug and thank goodness for them.