Looking for "Membership" and "Photo Album" software
 

A "Photographer" buddy has been after me to come up with an idea to help him get more "Wedding" business.

There are 3 "biggies" in our area, who get most of the "Wedding Photography" biz.

He tried the "Wedding Shows" in January and has tried to work with local Jewelers (my idea) to get the names of couples buying "Engagement Rings" to whom he sends his "Flyer" about what he can do.

Well....the results haven't been too good.

Soooo....

I told him to "Offer something of Value"....that competitors aren't.

Here's the idea;
Many friends and relatives of a couple CAN'T get to the wedding sooo...

"Put up a website where Photos of the wedding...."can be seen the SAME EVENING or the next day""

Have an assistant take digital candids of the wedding and reception and upload them to the website....where she can enter with her own Password and upload Photos into an "Album".....that is created "automatically" by the software I am looking for.

Sooo....I am looking for a "Membership" software program that can let DIFFERENT Photogs into the site to upload THEIR photos under the name of the couple (SMITH Wedding, JONES Wedding...etc).....and....a software program that will "automatically" create a "Photo Album" of say 20 or 30 "THUMBNAIL" photos....which....by clicking on any thumbnail will bring up a larger photo.

Can anyone recommend software for these TWO situations?

Thank you,

Don Alm
P.S. I'd prefer it if any of my 3 "fans"...Mssrs, "James Anthony", "Jason Rodgers", or "Mark Tranel"....would not respond.

"Membership" and "Photo Album" Software Workaround
 

Don, try Ebay picture manager service it might be a good workaround for your project if a stand alone program is not available.

Also what about kind of a Web 2.0 idea where the photog instead of (or in addition to) taking their own pictures at the wedding allows free uploads of photos by those that attend the service.

The idea being most people know how to take a photo not but not snap a great shot or know how to set it up TOO be able to snap a great shot.


The photog offers a service(for a fee) where he can turn those lousy shots into memorable ones so people won't feel they wasted an opportunity to record something special at a one time (hoped for but rarely achieved) event.
It prevents them from having to throw away(delete) their most loved shots because they thought the photo couldn't be saved and improved.

A natural extension of this might to be offer this same service for their digital video recordings as well.

Then finally that same photog can offer pre Wedding training for guest so they know how to set up great shots and video for the wedding. With this skill they'll be less likely to miss or screw up recording those great moments.

Re: Looking for "Membership" and "Photo Album" software
 

Don,

I'm not sure exactly the software you're looking for...

But here's a few including some online Wedding Photo business concepts...

Might also Help trigger some other Possible Wedding Photo business ideas for those interested...

Keyword phrase Googling brings up all kinds of Good stuff... ;)

http://www.wedorama.com/
http://www.weddingprints.com/
http://www.photounity.com/
http://weddings.theknot.com/collages...spx?MsdVisit=1
http://www.weddingphotographydirecto...acy-alert.aspx
http://www.raizlabs.com/magic/
http://www.everica.com/
http://www.wedding-album-maker.com/wedding-photo-album/
http://news.thomasnet.com/fullstory/505165

Phil

Re: Looking for "Membership" and "Photo Album" software
 

Thanks for replying.

What I'm looking to do is;

1) Set up a website

2) Have my clients (Photogs) arrange to take "candid" digital shots of the wedding and reception and...

3) Go to my website....enter in their Password. This allows them to get into THEIR portion of the site...where all of THEIR Photo Albums are stored, in the Last Name of the Groom (Jones Wedding, Smith Wedding, Brown Wedding)

4) To create a New Album (of, say, 20 photo Thumbnails)....they type the Name of the Album (Johnson Wedding) into a box and hit "Enter". This brings up a Template that allows them to upload their 20 Photos (jpgs) Preferably, this "UpLoading of JPEGS" can be done thru their web browser, instead of having to use a FTP program. The "simpler" the better.

5) The Name of the Wedding is then placed on the first page of the site so that anyone wanting to see photos of THAT wedding can....see the Name of the Wedding and just click on the Name....and the 20 Photo "Thumbnail Page" will come up.


I work with and know a LOT of "Hotel Managers" who hold a LOT of Wedding Receptions. The competition for these "Reception Halls" is GREAT. Anyone offering better service or something unique....that would be of benefit to those renting these "Reception Rooms"....would have a "competitive advantage" in their area.....and very possibly....rent more receptions.

So....what these "Halls" can do is offer a "Unique Service" where photos of the wedding and reception will be taken (by a "Hall" Staff Member) and posted on the website....the evening of the reception...or the next day...so those who could not attend the wedding or reception (or even those who did attend)....could go to the website and SEE PHOTOS THAT EVENING, or the next day.

Would THIS "Feature" get more "Wedding" business for Photogs AND Reception Halls?

I think so.

My "photog buddy" AND....the Sales & Marketing Manager of a large Hotel that has 3 big Reception Halls.....is VERY interested in what I'm looking to provide.

Any technical help would be much appreciated.

Don Alm

Re: Looking for "Membership" and "Photo Album" software
 

Thanks Phil....those Links will keep me up most of the night.

Don Alm

Re: Looking for "Membership" and "Photo Album" software
 

Thanks for asking Don.

I really think the best thing to do would be hire a freelance programmer from rentacoder.com or elance.com

Because your requirements are a bit unique, most free scripts won't fit your needs without being modified.

I would say that "Joomla" can be edited to fit your needs and finding a programmer who can customize Joomla maybe the option for you.

--

This may help you:

On 14th Feb, we threw a party. Singing and dancing. Music. Good food. All those things.

Here is what we did: we hired a photographer who would snap a picture of every couple as soon as they came in. Once all the couples had come, the photographer went and developed all the pictures.

And he then framed them. (The frames had the couples names on them - as we knew who all were going to attend the party, we had gotten custom frames made from before. They were usual frames with painted alphabets cut out of wood stuck on them.)

When it was time for people to leave, they would get a photo frame with their photos in it!

The idea was a big hit. We did it so that everyone who came would remember the night. We paid for the frames and for the photographer.

And last I heard from the photographer 5-6 days back - he says 4 people from our party contacted him to do the same thing for one of their upcoming events. Snap pictures of everyone attending and then develop the pictures in an hour, frame them and gift the frames while they are leaving.

4 referrals in about a month out of 90-100 people is very good, don't you think?

My photographer now gives this idea to everyone who wants to book him. And is looking for more such ideas his clients can book him for.

Something your photographer friend can adapt - to charge more money for instant photographs as well as get more referrals.

Membership software...
 

Hi Don,

I think your best bet is to go with a "custom" solution like Ankesh said... However...

Alternatively, some membership software you can use is Amember http://www.amember.com. Note that this just provides the "membership" capability, and anything else you want on the site (eg. photo display capabilities) would have to be provided by other software, which can be run from "within" the membership section...

I hope that helps!

- Dien

Re: Looking for "Membership" and "Photo Album" software
 

Thanks Dien....I think I'm onto something.

I now have 2 large reception halls and 3 wedding photogs VERY interested in my program of offering their customers, "INSTANT Wedding Photos".

I think the best thing to do is hire a programmer to modify the software programs.

Again,

Thanks much,

Don Alm

Athenagold.com
 

I am fairly sure you could do this with Cornell's Athenagold software.

Each "shop" in the mall gets a unique log in and can upload pictures (which could be made available as a digital download for a modest fee).

Margaret

Re: Looking for "Membership" and "Photo Album" software
 

Hi Don, I believe this software will do everything you are looking for.They have a free demo and looks like you can have passwords for different photo groups.
http://www.ktools.net/index.php
Good luck with the new adventure.

What happened to the Deja Vu post...the one that had Don discussing this before?
 

When I read this post, I thought, hasn't Don done this already? But then I went back to work.

Someone found an old post of Don's, in which I believe he described how he was doing this very idea. I'm confused.

Did you do it Don? or was earlier post an idea? I think the question that got deleted was, What software did you use, or how did you do it back then when you first described the idea?

It seems a legit question to me, unless I'm missing something about the original post. Maybe Dien or other moderator can point me to the original post. Thanx.

Gordon Jay Alexander

Re: What happened to the Deja Vu post...the one that had Don discussing this before?
 

Hi Gordon,

I restored the post... However, I looked through the Feb 2005 posts in the archives, and couldn't find any post of Don's with that wording during that time period... So maybe Don posted the post the guy is referring to on another forum? All I know is, we don't have that post in our archives, at least not in Feb. 2005...

- Dien

Re: Looking for "Membership" and "Photo Album" software
 

I couldn't find this post in our archives, at least not in Feb. 2005...

- Dien

Re: Looking for "Membership" and "Photo Album" software
 

Hi Dien,

Just a thought:

After all the past archives have been added, maybe create an automatic sitemap xml file of all the posts and feed that sitemap to Google.

Because searching the old sowpub posts using the search function doesn't work very well. So if all the posts are indexed with google, we can use google to search through sowpub...

Thanks Dien, I may be getting senile, but I'm pretty sure Don discussed this here
 

in the past.

I don't know when it was, thanks for looking.

I DO remember Don talking about this, and I was under the impression that he was doing this project...not just fishing for future customers...but I may be wrong...you know I can be.

Perhaps one of our archivists can point me to the original post about instant wedding photos. Seems to me that back in the 90's someone used eShowcase software to do this exact same thing...maybe it was from those old times I remember this...

but I could probaly swear that is was Don doing this.

Again Dien, thanks for looking.

Gordon

Seeing how Don has stated on a different forum that he DID this, then I think it is a
 

fair question to ask.

What software did you use before? He was charging a "hefty fee" per month before he sold it out to the hotel.

Since he sold the idea to the hotel and was getting a monthly fee, then he was or had someone use software back then...what was it and, actually, I wouldn't mind knowing the hotel that bought him out.

Anyhoo, I gots work to do.

GJA

WHY....must YOU people get all "fuzzed up"...
 

...over what one of my "fans" posts?

Because my "Fan" and "Archivist" ... has been allowed to post and the Board has decided to CONTINUE to COMMENT on his post ().... one of my OLD posts about my "WEDDING PHOTO" program, I will respond:

OVER 8 years ago, I got THIS PROMO IDEA. Then....about 2 years ago I put together a program for Wedding Photogs and Reception Halls. I COULD NOT FIND the "right" software to use so....I used a program where the Photog or Hall had to install on THEIR pcs....AND...they used THEIR OWN DOMAIN NAMES.

Because of these 2 factors;
1) Software that had to be installed on my client's pcs
2) Use my customer's Domain Name and websites

....I could not charge a "Monthly Membership Fee". I had to sell the program in a LUMP SUM to each customer.

And....after a few sales....I dropped it for a later day when the software I'm looking for would be available AND....the Domain Name I wanted would become available....so I could offer a service where Photogs and Halls could simply use their Browser to;
1) Enter MY website with their password
2) UpLoad their photos into an Album....and
3) Each "Album" would be listed under the name of the wedding

(Back then, when I went to register the Domain I wanted, I saw that someone had already grabbed it. Shame on me for divulging too much info, too soon)

So....one of the "future notes to myself" reminded me to see if the Domain Name I wanted was available....and it was, this week....so I grabbed it.

Now....I still do not have the;
1) Membership Software
2) Photo Album software

I STILL might have to hire a programmer to modify the scripts some of the "good people" here have mentioned.

AND....when I have the right software....I WILL go get "MEMBERS" who will pay me a Monthly Fee....to post their Photos on my site.

I have discovered, THIS WEEK, that THIS idea is STILL....very doable and of MUCH INTEREST to this "Niche Market".

Thus....is MY explanation of WHY I have AGAIN....brought up THIS Topic...in response to a post one of my "fans" has made....which has gotten some of you folks "in a Fuzz".

Now....I have to leave my keyboard to go collect checks from customers of my present program. And, when I return here this evening, I fully expect to see comments from "my Fans"....who will "attempt to tear this response apart, sentence by sentence....and possibly MORE comments from the "commanders of this Forum"....wondering about something else "my Fan" has said. WHO has been BANNED from this Forum but contimues to be allowed to post "UnderCover".

Have FUN on yer keyboards, folks! US "doers" have "shoe-leather to wear out and....WORK to do!

Don Alm...."Doer"

Here's the reason I get fuzzed up Don...and I'm speaking only for myself.
 

over what one of my "fans" posts?

Because my "Fan" and "Archivist" Jason () has been allowed to post and the Board has decided to CONTINUE to COMMENT on his post .... one of my OLD posts about my "WEDDING PHOTO" program, I will respond:

First off, Jason has been banned from posting, we check daily for his posts...in this case it was a different fan, and his NEW id has been deleted.


OVER 8 years ago, I got THIS PROMO IDEA. Then....about 2 years ago I put together a program for Wedding Photogs and Reception Halls. I COULD NOT FIND the "right" software to use so....I used a program where the Photog or Hall had to install on THEIR pcs....AND...they used THEIR OWN DOMAIN NAMES.

This doesn't jive with what you have posted in the past...and Don, I think that is one reason you have so many "fans" as you put it...your stuff just doesn't jive.

Because of these 2 factors;
1) Software that had to be installed on my client's pcs
2) Use my customer's Domain Name and websites

....I could not charge a "Monthly Membership Fee". I had to sell the program in a LUMP SUM to each customer.

This contradicts what you've posted, saying you got huge monthly fees...SEE? That is what confuses me...I'm not attacking Don...you and I have exchanged ideas and I appreciate that...but, if you get called on something you say you've done...I don't find it unreasonable to ask for a little more detail...that's all.

And....after a few sales....I dropped it for a later day when the software I'm looking for would be available AND....the Domain Name I wanted would become available....so I could offer a service where Photogs and Halls could simply use their Browser to;
1) Enter MY website with their password
2) UpLoad their photos into an Album....and
3) Each "Album" would be listed under the name of the wedding

(Back then, when I went to register the Domain I wanted, I saw that someone had already grabbed it. Shame on me for divulging too much info, too soon)

According to your posts on other forums and I believe here too, you were actively doing this...so no one stole anything...just "imitated"? you perhaps?

So....one of the "future notes to myself" reminded me to see if the Domain Name I wanted was available....and it was, this week....so I grabbed it.

Now....I still do not have the;
1) Membership Software
2) Photo Album software

I STILL might have to hire a programmer to modify the scripts some of the "good people" here have mentioned.

AND....when I have the right software....I WILL go get "MEMBERS" who will pay me a Monthly Fee....to post their Photos on my site.

Will and DID are where I have a problem Don. When you first wrote about this, I thought, "Gee, didn't Don already do this thing?"

Now it seems a little bit convoluted to ME? Not to Jason, Mark, Jim or any of your other "FANS"...I'm just trying to get the story straight.

I have discovered, THIS WEEK, that THIS idea is STILL....very doable and of MUCH INTEREST to this "Niche Market".

Thus....is MY explanation of WHY I have AGAIN....brought up THIS Topic...in response to a post one of my "fans" has made....which has gotten some of you folks "in a Fuzz".

Now....I have to leave my keyboard to go collect checks from customers of my present program. And, when I return here this evening, I fully expect to see comments from "my Fans"....who will "attempt to tear this response apart, sentence by sentence....and possibly MORE comments from the "commanders of this Forum"....wondering about something else "my Fan" has said. WHO has been BANNED from this Forum but contimues to be allowed to post "UnderCover".

NOT TRUE Don. I resent you saying that. YOU have brought your "fans" along...we didn't do anything to shine a light on you or what you say...you've done that quite nicely on your own.

My advice is, if you don't want to be questioned on your posts, then DON'T post. Simple solution for you and for US. Then we don't have to spend OUR TIME Don, NOT YOURS...we don't have to spend our time mopping up after you and your "Fans" have slung the BS.

Your "fans" may have some legit complaints about you Don, but I don't care...as I've told them before...I'd just like to see the BS disappear here for a short while and we get back to what the forum does best...

Share REAL ideas and help each other out...any doubt we I have about your programs has been raised by YOU...not your fans.

Gordon Alexander

PS. To those who register a different name and post, and your IP matches a user on file...you will be banned, PERIOD. First, last and only warning. There are 1001 forums online, go screw around somewhere else. Got it M?

Re: Looking for "Membership" and "Photo Album" software
 

A thought just occured to me... that the solution already exists. And for free.

Flickr.com
Slide.com

Both can be used by photographers to setup online albums and slide shows for free. And photos can be tagged with names.

Doesn't mean that one more person can't do the same thing. Especially in a niche market. But the offer will have to be a lot better if it involves monthly billing. Just my thought.

Maybe one solution could be offering "branded" albums - where the photographer's info is shown on all the pages...

Re: WHY....must YOU people get all "fuzzed up"...
 

Hi Don,


I thought about doing this one time. I was going to use a program called Coppermine. You can see an example here:
http://www.homebusiness-websites.com/coppermine/

Spammers have been adding some nasty comments. I haven't looked at this script for a couple of years. Now you can install this script from your control panel using Cpanel/Fantastico hosting account.

Here is the Coppermine website: http://coppermine-gallery.net/

Regards,
Steve MacLellan

There's also wordpress
 

with the photo gallery module

Margaret

Getting indexed more completely...
 

Hi Ankesh,

Thanks for that suggestion!

I just wanted to let you (and everyone else) know that I'm putting your suggestion into action as we speak...

So, hopefully Sowpub will be more completely indexed by Google in the near future... :)

- Dien

Re: Excellent! Thanks Dien (DNO)
 

DNO = Do Not Open

Re: Looking for "Membership" and "Photo Album" software
 

and here is a site that is doing what you want to do

http://www.sowpub.com/forum/showthre...er#post 14997