This Zenfolio vs Smugmug review helps you cut through the fluff and compare a few features that most professional photographers and photography business owners would value. You can then make your own decision between Zenfolio and Smugmug. All our feature comparisons here will be between Zenfolio’s Premium account and Smugmug’s Professional account. Let’s begin!
What does a professional photographer value? Well, every photographer is different, but most professional photographers and photography business owners value:
- Making First Impressions,
- Quality of Prints, and
- Customer Service.
All of these help create buzz and word-of-mouth marketing, usually touted as the best types of free marketing/publicity. These can at times lead to even more free publicity if covered by news media (offline and online) and magazines (physical and online).
Making First Impressions
First impressions can be made either by your website or by your customers showing off their photos, which falls into the Quality of Prints feature. Let’s focus our attention on examples of first impressions that Smugmug or Zenfolio can help create. Which one of the example sites below makes a good and memorable impression on you? If you have a hard time deciding, let me mention that a photo-sharing hosting service with more flexibility and options in customizations has the potential for demonstrating our creativity.
Examples of professional photography sites hosted by Zenfolio (on the left; see more here) and Smugmug (on the right; see more here):
Quality of Prints – Zenfolio Vs Smugmug
Now, let’s consider Quality of Prints. A great impression can only be achieved if you demonstrate your skill as a photographer and then show or deliver excellent quality digital photos or physical prints. Here’s a really useful comparison of Photo Labs recently done by Smugmug. Smugmug allows use of these two photo labs: Bay Photo and EZ Prints; whereas, Zenfolio allows the use of Mpix Lab and Photobox. To decide which one suits your needs for quality and price, please learn more about them at the respective Smugmug or Zenfolio sites.
Customer Service
Customer Service makes or breaks a thriving business. Not only do your customers expect great customer service but so do you from your online photo-sharing hosting service. Several online forums and discussions have hinted that Smugmug has the edge in providing awesome customer support to you as the customer. I’ve heard similar things about Zenfolio as well. What you offer to your customers is obviously up to you and your staff.
Zenfolio Vs Smugmug – Other Features Compared:
This Zenfolio vs Smugmug review is in no way exhaustive; in fact, there are plenty of other features that professional photographers and photography business owners value. However, this review presents a comparison of a few very useful and valuable features offered by both these services. A complete listing of what these two services offer can be found at their respective sites at zenfolio.com and smugmug.com. I urge you to visit these sites before making a final decision since what you read on other sites (including this site) might soon be outdated by the time you read this. Smugmug and Zenfolio are always striving to get your business with all the updates to their offerings and added partnerships for related services to win your business.
So, which photo-sharing service, Zenfolio vs Smugmug, stands out for Professional Photographers? If you are happy with the customization features that Zenfolio offers, then go for Zenfolio Premium as it’s about $50 cheaper; but, if you prefer a wide array of site themes, great customer service, and expanding feature-set that keeps up with the times, then go for Smugmug (don’t forget to use the OYSDISCOUNT coupon code to save 20%).
If you disagree or agree with me for any reason that is not highlighted in this Zenfolio vs Smugmug review, please share your thoughts by leaving a comment below. Thanks!
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