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Archive 2016 · Online Proofing & Client Ordering Solution?

  
 
mikethevilla
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p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · Online Proofing & Client Ordering Solution?


ZachOly wrote:
Bumping.

Anyone have experience with CloudSpot? Seems to be $5/m cheaper for the same thing Pixieset is offering

On a similar note, why choose ShootProof for $5/m more than Pixieset?


I've been using CloudSpot for a bit over a year now. Like you said, very similar to Pixieset for a better price. Both have clean, but rather minimal design aesthetics, so if you're hoping for something with the flexibility of the olden folks (Smugmug/Zenfolio) you'll be disappointed. They're both much easier and prettier to use though, although Pixieset looks slightly slicker to me.

I love CloudSpot because their customer service is excellent. I'm actually friends with the creators of it (although it doesn't get me any special benefits I'm afraid), and they're awesome guys who react quickly and are always looking for ways to improve.



Sep 01, 2016 at 08:30 PM
IrishDino
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p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · Online Proofing & Client Ordering Solution?


So here's what I've found after using Smugmug, CloudSpot, Pixieset and ShootProof for the past two weeks:

Smugmug
- Unlimited photos is great, but I'll never really take advantage of it
- The worst UI of the four
- Cheapest of the four
- If you just wanted it for digital downloads, I'd consider using something like Google Photos for free
- No email templates so your kind of on your own here
- No analytics that I can see
- The Smugmug branding on the client view is kind of....unprofessional?

CloudSpot
- You have to work from an application (vs the web). Not a big fan of this, but it's easy to use.
- Very nice email templates (the best IMO)
- Reasonably priced ($240/yr for 200GB)
- Print fulfilment via WHCC only (for now)
- The analytics is poor (basically just tells you if someone downloaded an image/gallery)
- Basically, it's Smugmug with a much better UI for double the price
- No option for a download pin. It's all or nothing
- No option to download "Facebook" sized images.

Pixieset
- Middle of the road in terms of features and pricing
- I've used this the least of the four
- It's $4/m or $50/yr more than CloudSpot, for that you get a better UI and analytics. Plus you can modify info from a browser vs an application
- Offers a password to view gallery as well as a password to download the gallery (important to me)
- Can track individual image downloads

ShootProof
- Most expensive
- Great UI and customizability. It's the most thought out of the four.
- Great analytics (tells you exactly what was downloaded and by who)
- Lots of labs (plus a few in Canada)
- Can do contracts and invoicing (interesting, but not worth the premium alone IMO)



Sep 02, 2016 at 08:15 AM
Ziffl3
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p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · Online Proofing & Client Ordering Solution?


Currently with smugmug pro.
Looking at sprouts.
I asked what is there hosting info because of the gallery/proofing option.

I am looking at dumping 17hats and switching.
I have been impressed so far. I am still learning about the studio management work flow-wedding management.

As far as the backend. Sprouts uses cloudinary as there backend hosting.
My quick look is been impressive. Cloudinary are players in the hosting.

I like the clean look for the user and client from sprouts.
I like a one stop for studio management+photo gallery-proofing.
Good support from the team at sprouts.

But this is on going.
Probably decide by next week.

-mark



Sep 02, 2016 at 10:39 AM
skasol
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p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · Online Proofing & Client Ordering Solution?


Interesting. Following as I use Smugmug as well.


Sep 03, 2016 at 12:30 AM
artmaltman
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p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · Online Proofing & Client Ordering Solution?


Alas, Shootproof downgrades sharpness substantially when viewing on screen. Both Smugmug and Dropbox seem to offer full sharpness on screen.


Oct 24, 2016 at 01:09 PM
Mark Tassoni
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p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · Online Proofing & Client Ordering Solution?


I could go on for hours on this topic.

I use Pixieset, Zenfolio, and Shootproof. Migrating completely away from Zenfolio because, well, they are completely all over the place and the UI is dreadful. And their servers are so slow (even though they recently spent $$$$ upgrading.

I have tried them all. Smugmug would be great if they only would extend the ability to customize to the shopping cart as well as the very weird "Event Island". Very cocky support staff to be honest.

Pixieset is the cleanest UI of them all. No one is even close in my opinion. Shootproof is sort of close, but a little cheesy with some of the icons, fonts.

there's so many little nagging things about them all/ Like Shootproof doesn't allow for sorting in the galleries. Pixieset cropping uses a very tiny image that is hard to tell what the heck you are doing. Oh, i could go on and on....







Dec 12, 2016 at 09:37 AM
Mark Tassoni
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p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · Online Proofing & Client Ordering Solution?


it could be. inability to sort the gallery is a weird omission.



Dec 12, 2016 at 09:41 AM
MRomine
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p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · Online Proofing & Client Ordering Solution?


Mark Tassoni wrote:
I could go on for hours on this topic.


RedCart



Dec 12, 2016 at 10:29 AM
mineymole
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p.2 #9 · p.2 #9 · Online Proofing & Client Ordering Solution?


I have been trying to figure out which way to go too.

I have used Zenfolio for 8 years. Pixieset for 2 years.

Again and again, I swear I will get rid of Zenfolio, but don't because believe it or not I sell more prints with Zenfolio. For some reason the clunky shopping cart presentation of buying prints appeals more to buyers, where as the minimalist approach of Pixieset is great for downloading etc., but not good for print sales. It's like print sales is an afterthought for Pixieset.




Dec 12, 2016 at 10:50 AM
g-money
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p.2 #10 · p.2 #10 · Online Proofing & Client Ordering Solution?


I have been with Instaproofs for years and seldom an issue. They just recently did an overhaul to the gallery looks and it is very much like pixieset now which I have always liked. Support has always been great as well.


Dec 13, 2016 at 07:37 AM
IrishDino
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p.2 #11 · p.2 #11 · Online Proofing & Client Ordering Solution?


Was on CloudSpot for 2 years, then switched to ShootProof this year.

I didn't realize it when I signed up, but SP forces you to use PayPal for your lab fulfillment, which I hate.

The SP gallery is also not salesy. Unless you knew you could order prints from the gallery, you'd probably never know.

I'm most likely going to go back to Smugmug when my year with SP is over and save a ton of money.



Dec 13, 2016 at 08:03 AM
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