Web photo software

[Petes]

I'm new on this site so if this subject has been addressed before (or beaten to death) please accept my apologies.

Anyhow, I'm looking for easy to use and flexible software that allows setting up websites with different categories/galleries of photos, i.e., travel, local, mountains, etc. so they are not all together on one page. I want to be able to put the pages together offline and then ftp them to my website. Also, the ability to add new galleries without reloading the whole works would be nice.

My current website (see below) was loaded with a photoshop CS2 template which is OK but is a "one gallery" type approach and also seems to dictate a complete reload every time I want to change something. If someone out there knows otherwise please let me know.

I do not want to go through a long learning curve by using HTML directly :-X ; much prefer the package route.

Any suggestions will be appreciated!

[BigB]

Can you work with HTML? Gallery 2 seems nice, but it's pretty large and needs a database written for it. Otherwise, you could try the old version of Gallery (1.5 I think).

[Petes]

I don't know HTML and really don't want to have to go that route. My son-in-law has suggested MS Frontpage as being a fairly easy to use canned package. I'm looking for feedback along those lines.

[Mr. Pickles]

If you didn't want to actually do it yourself, you can get a SmugMug account. You can add multiple "categories" pretty easy, and batch upload to each of them. You can even link your current URL to it. We have discussed SmugMug in a few threads already (Selling Forum), and this is some blurb I wrote about it...

Get yourself a professional SmugMug ( www.smugmug.com ) account, and post your pics there. When people see them, they can buy them right there. Shopping cart and all. You set the prices for a bazillion different sizes of prints. Has Gifts too.

You want control? They allow a lot of "custom tagging", which can create a huge variety of different looking sites, and I believe it can point to a different site for the images. They have different upload options (PCs and MACs) and have batch uploading too. Certainly worth checking out.

You can use the link below to save $5 off of your Professional account...unless you don't want to save $5
http://www.smugmug.com/?referrer=L5xvhn5DEtHqs

Here is one example (not mine, because mine is plain) of an serious amatuer: http://mikelane.smugmug.com/
This one "looks" like a personal URL, but it is linked to SmugMug: http://www.emphoto.com/
And another one: http://www.moonriverphotography.com/

[Petes]

Let me clarify, I do want to put this together myself with a package, just don't want to code it myself in HTML. I've read mixed reports about Smugmug but they may be worth a look.

[Neil V]

One that I have used for a number of years and can recommend highly is JAlbum, it's relatively easy to use and creates some fantastic galleries and it's free!

http://jalbum.net/

Another that I have been using lately is Coppermine, it has a lot more options but isn't anywhere as easy to use as you have to configure your server a little to use it...

http://coppermine-gallery.net/index.php

[Petes]

Hi Neil,

Thanks for the tip on Jalbum, that sounds exactly what I'm looking for (and the price is right).

[eboz]

I like simpleviewer - http://www.airtightinteractive.com/simpleviewer/ and use Porta ( http://www.stegmann.dk/mikkel/porta/ )and there is nothing to creating a great gallery.

[Shortie]

I would recomend JAlbum as well

Here is one of mine

http://www.malpas.com/bubble-album/index.html

Shortie

[Rense]

Try Idimager

Rense

[Michele]

I used to use MS Front page and it is very easy to use, learn and flexible with a lot of options. I would recommend that if you are not into the HTML thing. I am not either and I have used it several times. In order to update, you just update whatever you need to on each page and then upload through FTP to your site. Very easy.

I am saying easy, because I am a definite novice person when it comes to websites and the internet, etc and I have done my own websites through MSFP.

Michele

[Petes]

>>In order to update, you just update whatever you need to on each page and then upload through FTP to your site. Very easy.

Hi Michele,
I haven't been on in awhile so hadn't seen your response. I did end up getting Frontpage. One thing I haven't figured out how to do is add a picture to an existing gallery. All the help and the book I bought etc just focus on how to build the initial gallery, not add new images or delete one or two. Have you found any way to do this?

[Epphoto]

Take a look at my site and let me know if you like it
If you do i will try to help you the best i can how to make one like my with the frontpage

Thanks Emmanuel