First, a little background about myself. I’ve been a Zenfolio client for over two years, and much in the same way my own portfolio has grown and evolved in that time, the Zenfolio service has grown and matured into an impressive, value-added product.

I started with just the Basic plan, and over time have upgraded to the Premium plan and all the bells and whistles that come with it (more on that later). For now, only trust that I’ve been with them long enough to have a reliable opinion. Read on, friends. (And for those wanting to skip ahead, we're talking uploading, organizing, presenting, site customization, selling your work, available packages and the final verdict. Oh and let's not forget the Zenfolio coupon code!)

Uploading Your Images

Clearly the first step in getting your photography displayed online is to upload your images to your account. Zenfolio provides several ways to upload photos, from a simple online upload tool to powerful publish services for popular applications such as Adobe Lightroom, Aperture, and iPhoto.

The basic image uploader works well, and is accessible from your Zenfolio control panel.

Me personally? I use Adobe Lightroom for my photography workflow, so it only makes sense to leverage the Lightroom publish service. I’ve delved into the details of how it works in a previous post, but suffice to say, the publish service allows you to make your Zenfolio online galleries an integrated part of your Lightroom workflow.

All of the popular uploading options are listed on the Zenfolio site. http://www.zenfolio.com/zf/tools/uploading.aspx

The Lowdown

+ easy, reliable uploading
+ numerous upload tools from simple to powerful
+ integration with popular image editing and workflow software

Organizing Your Images

The Zenfolio account manager provides an easy way to organize your work. Individual images can be organized into any number of galleries. From there you can also create Collections, which are a way to group both galleries and/or images together. Collections are also helpful when you want to display certain content in multiple places within your portfolio. Maybe you want that special mountain scene displayed in a landscape gallery, but also in a featured item collection, or recent works collection. You can do that with Zenfolio in a few simple clicks.

In fact, the entire maintenance of your portfolio is very simple using the Zenfolio interface. Reordering images is as simple as dragging and dropping. Navigating your galleries is as easy as double-clicking. It’s all very well laid out and easy to use.

The Lowdown

+ flexible organization options using galleries and collections
+ powerful and reasonably intuitive interface for performing tasks
- a minor learning curve to using the system, but nothing that can’t be overcome

Presentation

After all the hard work you put into your photographs, you definitely want them to shine. This is where Zenfolio comes in and is truly its bread and butter. All of you collections, galleries and photos are displayed using the Zenfolio platform, and boy does it look good. Images are displayed in clean, easy to navigate galleries, with built-in slideshows, lightboxes and ecommerce options at your visitors’ fingertips.

The portfolio also dynamically resizes images in order to maximize visual quality for all visitors, no matter what screen resolution is used. I like this feature very much, as it ensures no matter what size screen and resolution your visitors use, they will see each photograph fill the screen.

Although the presentation as a whole is impressive, there are a few minor issues that I’d like to see addressed in the future. Firstly, there is limited mobile version support for the site, meaning if visitors decide to view your portfolio on a Blackberry, they're shown the full desktop version. On some older Blackberry models the site will not run at all because of the scripting involved in the full version of the site. On the iPhone and Android, they do see a version of your portfolio tailored to the small screen. I admit, it’s not often someone will want to view a photography portfolio on a small scale device but should they decide to, I’d like them to have the best experience possible regardless of device.

Secondly - and yes I’m nitpicking here - I would like to be able to link directly to the lightbox view of an image when sharing with others. Currently, you can link to individual images, however to display this image in the lightbox format, the visitor must click the image. A good example of how this can be implemented is the ever-popular Flickr. I can link directly to an image, as well as the lightbox view of that image. A small complaint I know, but a valid one nonetheless.

The Lowdown

+ great presentation of collections, galleries and individual images
+ consistent, clean visuals
+ dynamically generated slideshows
+ control over maximum image sizes available
- limited mobile/small device presentation
- no ability to link directly to lightbox view of an image

Customization and Branding

There are essentially three ways to design the look of your Zenfolio portfolio. The first, and easiest route is to select one of many template designs offered by Zenfolio. There is something for everyone here, with 30 templates as of this writing.

The second option - not for the faint of heart - is to use the Theme Designer, and start from scratch to create a brand new theme. The editor gives you complete control over many design elements, such as fonts (typefaces, sizes, etc.), colours, backgrounds, borders, buttons, etc.

The final option which I personally recommend, is to start with a stock theme and customize certain elements to best fit your needs. This is the route I went, by selecting the Grey Modern theme, and using the Theme Designer to make it just right for me.

Once you have your design completed, you can easily apply it across your entire portfolio, in order to have a professional, consistent look.

Starting with the Premium package, you can also completely remove all Zenfolio branding and truly create a unique portfolio, with the power of the Zenfolio platform under the hood. A large and small logo can be uploaded, which your portfolio will automatically use across the different page types (home page, gallery, individual image, etc.). You can also connect a custom domain name of your choice, so that “kpipher.zenfolio.com” becomes “kevinpipher.ca” and all traces of the Zenfolio brand disappear.

The Lowdown

+ many built-in themes to choose from
+ custom theme editor
+ complete branding solution
- branding not available in base package

Selling your Work

If you're looking to sell your work online, Zenfolio offers all the tools you need. It starts with price lists, which allow you to pick products to sell and apply whatever markup you want for each. It can be as simple as applying a percentage markup across the entire product line, to as controlling as setting each and every product price individually.

Once you have your price list completed, you can apply it to a certain gallery, or across an entire portfolio. The flexibility is very useful. Personally I use two price lists - one for panoramas, which only includes products that make sense for the unique dimensions of these photos, and a second list for all of the other galleries which feature more traditional photographs.

The shopping cart is very well integrated within the site, and automatically matches your design theme, even if you use a completely custom theme. There are many options for your clients, including framing, cropping and color adjustments. Of course you can disable these features if you prefer to take complete control over the end product. In fact, my initial impression of the shopping cart experience is that it is perhaps too complex with so many options, and needs to be simplified by disabling certain options. But overall I like the flexibility to offer the shopping features I want, and to turn off the rest.

Costs associated with selling are quite reasonable, keeping your profits as high as possible. When a print or other product is ordered, Zenfolio automatically deducts the cost of materials for the item as well as a small commission fee of 15% for prints, 10% for digital products, and 5% for sell-fulfilled products. The rest is all yours. The nice benefit of their cost structure is commission is taken only from your profits after cost of materials is deducted. Withdrawing your funds from your Zenfolio account is very easy and integrates directly with PayPal. You can collect your account balance at any time, regardless of amount. Zenfolio will also cut a cheque for those who don’t have a PayPal account.

Zenfolio offers many fulfillment partners to complete print and product orders. Notably MPIX (and MPIX Pro) in the United States, and Photobox in the UK/Europe. One significant drawback for Canadians is the lack of a Canadian print lab. Unfortunately this means higher shipping costs and the potential headaches and additional costs associated with customs. As a Canadian myself, this is probably my biggest complaint about the Zenfolio service. But rest assured, Zenfolio hears our concerns through their dedicated feedback system, so perhaps sometime soon there will be a dedicated Canadian lab. I’d recommend for any potential Zenfolio user to have your voice heard and support the suggestion:

http://zenfolio.uservoice.com/forums/75695-feature-suggestions/suggestions/1196049-i-would-like-to-see-zenfolio-partner-with-a-canadi

For those more interested in self-fulfillment, this is also an option. You can allow Zenfolio to manage the shopping experience of your clients. Once they have ordered, the details are passed along to you for fulfillment and delivery. This gives you the flexibility to offer just about any type of project or service you want.

The Lowdown

+ complete control over price lists and products offered
+ integrated shopping cart experience for your clients
+ reasonable costs and service fees for selling
+ self fulfillment support
- no Canadian print lab

Packages

Zenfolio offers four subscription levels to fit individual needs. Basic Plus gets you started with limited storage space but lots of great features. Unlimited removes the storage cap and introduces 1080p video hosting. Premium gets in to the heavy duty stuff with a complete selling solution and white-label hosting (removal of all Zenfolio branding). Finally Premium Business adds in a few business-level features such as multiple user sign-in (to allow your team to maintain the site with different access levels), access to MPix Pro lab, and live support.

From my experience, the Unlimited plan is great for anyone just looking to host a great portfolio without selling prints. It gives you plenty of bells and whistles at a reasonable cost (about $5 / mo). The Premium plan is in most cases the best choice for those of you who are serious about selling your work online. At $120 per year, it is a steal over the $250 Premium Business package in my opinion unless you are a large photo studio.

All of the current packages can be compared in a tidy chart here.

Conclusion

Zenfolio provides a very well-rounded portfolio and selling solution.  Management of your online portfolio through your favorite photo editor (Lightroom, etc.) is a real plus. And while the layouts and design customization options are somewhat restrictive, it's a good balance between freedom of design, and ensuring your work is shown in its best light.

The four package levels are well-priced, and give you confidence to start small and grow with time. The buyer experience from the feedback I've received is well liked, and after several years of hosting with Zenfolio I have yet to have to contact support for any system problems, which speaks volumes.

All in all, I recommend Zenfolio to anyone looking to create a stunning online portfolio with ease. From photo enthusiasts to professional studios, there is something just right for everyone.

In this review I've tried to touch on the most common questions I receive from my visitors and colleagues, however if I've overlooked something, drop me a line in the comments below, or through my contact page and I'd be happy to help you out.

Zenfolio Coupon Code

And finally - for those ready to take the plunge and sign up with Zenfolio, feel free to use my Zenfolio coupon code for 10% off the package of your choice: TR7-WP3-1SZ

I am proud to announce my portfolio, www.kevinpipher.ca was hand-picked from thousands of Zenfolio sites for showcasing on the examples page, as well as the rotating examples on the homepage. I spent a lot of time designing and customizing my site, so I guess it goes to show a little elbow grease goes a long way.

If you’re considering signing up for a Zenfolio account to showcase your own photography, receive 10% off by using Zenfolio coupon code TR7-WP3-1SZ when you open your account!

During a day-trip down the Avalon Peninsula’s eastern coastline, we made our way to the tiny town of Ferryland. Once there we turned off the main highway and onto a small dirt road that runs across an outcrop of land jutting into the Atlantic Ocean. The road soon ended and the rest of the journey was on foot – adding to the anticipation of what lay ahead.

As we walked the gentle incline toward the bright red lighthouse, you could hear waves crashing against the rocky cliffs. The closer we got, the smell of fresh-baked bread also became apparent. Finally reaching our destination we were treated to some amazing sights.

Standing Tall

 

Ferryland Lighthouse

 

Ferryland Lighthouse II

 

The picnic experience really was a must-do after all. Inside the lighthouse we selected from a number of lunch packages. All food is made and prepared on site to order. The friendly staff gave us a blanket, a small flag, and pushed us out the door to find a perfect spot to sit along the rugged cliffs for lunch.

We plunked down in a comfortable grassy spot and after only a few minutes were given a basket full of fresh sandwiches, salad, desserts and juice served in old mason jars. While enjoying lunch on the cliff we watched many whale pods pass by and seals play in the surf.

Ferryland Picnic

 

After lunch we spent a bit of time wandering the property and just sitting, quietly enjoying the views.  We didn’t really want to leave but had a big day ahead of us as we headed down toward the remote Cape Race. Ferryland was an experience not to miss if you are ever on The Rock. Make a reservation ahead of time, and plan to be amazed!

Ferryland Lighthouse Picnics: http://www.lighthousepicnics.ca/

5. Export to Photomatix

For anyone who uses Lightroom along with the ever popular HDRsoft Photomatix to create HDR and/or exposure-blended images, this plugin is a must have. It allows you to easily export multiple photos (or a single RAW file) directly from Lightroom into Photomatix. The export dialog allows you to select from several options such as image alignment, noise reduction, file format, etc. After tone mapping your image in Photomatix, the final result is automatically imported back into Lightroom.

 

Website: http://www.hdrsoft.com/download/lrplugin.html

4. LR/Mogrify 2

The LR/Mogrify 2 plugin allows you to create border effects, overlay watermark text (or images) among other useful features. As part of your workflow you can create poster effects for your online portfolio images based on EXIF and IPTC metadata.

As an example, for my Flickr workflow I add top and bottom borders, a logo, and title to my photographs based on the title meta field:

 

And here are the settings I use to create it. First I use the standard Lightroom export "Image Sizing" option above to enforce a consistent long edge, as shown below:

 

This allows me to set exact pixel measurements on the LR/Mogrify 2 options below. I add 94 pixels of black to top and bottom:

 

Next I  add a 1-pixel white border to the inside edge of the black outer borders:

 

For the watermark image, I use a small GIF logo inset 25 pixels from the bottom center:

 

Using Text Annotations along with the {title} token, the photograph's title is automatically added, based on the meta data:

 

Website: http://www.photographers-toolbox.com/products/lrmogrify2.php

3. Metadata Wrangler

While you may not realize it, there is a wealth of meta information stored in your image files. Created by the most prominent Lightroom Plugin developer Jeffrey Friedl,  Metadata Wrangler gives you very tight control over what information is included with photographs you export from Lightroom. In certain situations, you may want to strip out any date/time information, GPS information (if you geoencode), etc. You can even create presets for later use. There are tons of meta fields to choose from. Here’s a small sample of EXIF fields:

 

One of the main features I like about the plugin is the ability to strip out any metadata not explicitly listed by the plugin itself. This gives me peace of mind, ensuring any meta information Lightroom may have stored with the file is excluded from the final image unless I explicitly tell it to include it.

Metadata Wrangler gives you the opiton to remove any metadata not explicitly listed by the plugin.

I use a different wrangler preset for my Flickr account than my portfolio gallery. I use a different setting again for images submitted to photography contests, sent via email, etc.

While it is definitely an under-the-hood plugin without any flash or pizazz, its functionality is key and a must-have for any serious photographer.

Website: http://regex.info/blog/lightroom-goodies/metadata-wrangler

2. Geoencoding Support

For the vast majority of us who don’t have in-camera GPS support or a bring-along GPS data logger device, we’re left in the cold to try to guess where our photos were taken on a map. A few days after your excursion you may remember specifics, but try a few years later. With the help of Jeffrey Friedl’s GPS/Geoencoding Support plugin and Google Earth, you can pinpoint and geoencode selected images. Why bother you ask? Because it’s fun to map your photographic journey of course!

 

Website: http://regex.info/blog/lightroom-goodies/gps

1. Jeffrey Friedl’s Export & Publish Plugins

Lightroom 3 introduced a feature called Publish Services. In a nutshell a Publish Service is a more robust Export plugin, where images are connected, uploaded, and tightly integrated with popular image services and sites such as Flickr, SmugMug and Facebook. It’s an easy, efficient way to upload and track changes to images shared and published online.

There are however a few drawbacks to the built-in Publish Services:

1. Limited support – only Flickr, SmugMug, and Facebook are available
2. Limited functionality – while a good start, 3rd party Publish plugins offer more flexibility and features

That’s where Jeffrey Friedl comes in. He’s created five Publish plugins for popular sites which go far beyond the built-in plugins and address both points above. He now offers custom Publish Services for Zenfolio, Smugmug, Flickr, PicasaWeb, and Facebook.  I use the Publish to Zenfolio and Publish to Flickr plugins to manage my online portfolio and Flickr account.

 

In addition, each publish service you set up is completely customizable and can be combined with other plugins such as LR/Mogrify 2, Geoencoding Support, etc.  Using many of the above plugins, here’s how my Flickr publish settings look:

With great anticipation you arrive at your destination and begin snapping away – already envisioning the end result hanging on your wall. The view is as amazing as you had pictured in your mind’s eye…

Time passes, you arrive home and begin post processing. Your photos looks great. You like the results but something feels a bit off.  You begin to realize all of your photos look strikingly similar to those you viewed before your trip… You realize you’ve duplicated all of the compositions from memory of existing photographs!

Sound all too familiar? I certainly know the feeling and have fallen for it many times while traveling to popular photo destinations.

Solution: Observe where everyone with a camera is congregating, and head in another direction for the majority of your visit.

I recently had the pleasure of traveling with my Wife to one of the most photographed locations in the world - Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada. Its lighthouse is almost instantly recognizable to millions of people. Knowing this I decided to focus not just on the lighthouse itself, but the surrounding area. What I discovered was a quaint fishing village bursting with character, history and charm. Perfect for many subjects and compositions less common than the famous lighthouse.

The Marine Studio

 

A House with Character

 

Fishing Village

 

Seagull's Perch

 

Passage to Peggy's Cove

 

And of course, you don’t go all that way without capturing at least one image of the famous landmark. After all there must be a reason so many people flock to it with cameras in hand.

Peggy's Cove

In 2009 during a driving tour of Newfoundland, my Wife and I spent a full day circling the Southern Avalon Peninsula through highways 10 and 90. What we found were long quiet roads along rugged coastlines, spotted with small fishing villages with names like Path End, Devils Kitchen and Ferryland – each of which could give Peggy’s Cove a run for its money. We truly felt we were in the middle of nowhere and loved every minute of it.

Just when we thought it could not possibly get any more remote, we passed through Portugal Cove South at the southern tip of the peninsula, and turned onto the winding deserted road to Cape Race. The land quickly became otherworldly with rugged  rocks and windblown tundra lit up by the low lying afternoon sun.

We drove for 30 minutes without seeing another soul. Just the wind, sun and surf.

Abandoned Road

 

In the cove below, we watched a Minke Whale frolic in the surf just offshore for several minutes.

Cape Race

Winding Road

For those who don’t know me, I live in Canada with my amazing wife Joanne and new baby boy Benjamin. I’m currently a software developer, formerly a web designer, and in recent years an amateur photographer.  I’m always looking to get constructive feedback on my work, and to make connections with other photographers so drop me a line anytime.

All of my work published online is available for sale in print. If you’re on Flickr drop by my photostream and say hi!