Creating a website

<p>Currently I have a web site, and I am planning on doing my own. I am going to be starting from scratch. I was thinking of going with Smug Mug. Any recommendations on who is a good one to go with? What are your thoughts on Smugmug?</p>

<p>The recommendations you get will depend (a <em>lot</em>) on what your purpose is. Are you a high-volume event shooter? Is this share-with-the-family hobby stuff? Do you need a place to let customers proof product shots? Are you selling prints? Selling downloads? What's your budget? <br /><br />You get the idea. It's hard to discuss such things without any sort of context.</p>

<p>As Matt says, read the past entries here, but first do some homework on what you want the Website to do, what you want to present and what you want visitors to see, and then look at and find other Websites for examples you like. Then visualize the Website and Web pages to have an organization, structure and basic design in mind. Lastly look at the terms of service for your domain name, use, access, e-commerce, quotas, etc. You may get a domain name registered to you but some Website hosts own it and only lease it to you. Get a domain name you own and can control and move if you want.</p>

<p>Smugmug is great for selling to clients, but not as a standalone site. We recently did a write up on what we feel is the <a href="http://www.msdarkroom.com/2012/06/07/bluehost-prophoto-blogs-pure-awesomeness/">best hosting and theme combo for photographers</a> out there. Summare: Bluehost and ProPhoto Blogs rock. Check them out.</p>

<p>-MS</p>