Wondering what you guys think about Livebooks
Is there a good alternative
I like there pro set up, but at $4000.00
ouch!

$4000 is not an unreasonable price for that service. You will make that up (and more) in fees (if you promote the site as well, of course).

Photographers need to stop looking at spending like this as anything less than an investment in their business. You wouldn't hesitate to spend that kind of money on a new camera because it is a vital and needed tool--a good website is just that, a vital and needed tool.

Don't try to pinch pennies on the important stuff.

And no, I do not have any sort of business relationship with Livebooks. You should figure on spending around that much with any designer/programmer (if not more). But LB is a very well respected service and its websites are much liked by buyers.

-Leslie

Leslie, I agree that the four grand is an investment in the business, but what do you suggest for the start-up business without another $4000 in the budget? If it's equipment, you can always rent or go used, but the web site is up front. If you spend it there where do you get the $ to promote your new site? A simple site with a bigger advertising budget might be a better business decision.

The thing with livebooks is that it is great, however it is starting to turn into the black leather portfolio.
Everybody has it and even though you can do some unique design aspects the originality is lost.

The photographers sites wich most impress me are the most simple. Check :

http://mondino-update.net/

Home made, probably with Dreamweaver.

I prefer them to expensive looking ones. Check :

http://www.soniasieff.com/

or

http://www.demarchelier.net

Livebooks is very heavy for our budgets, also if the price/qality ratio is very good. I am also investing more in promotion than in building a website (I know, mine is not working yet. New one coming soon...I hope)

By the way, Sonia Sieff is the daughter of great Jean-Loups Sieff www.jeanloupsieff.com/

The first time I saw a Livebooks site, i wanted one, but they're just way to common now. For 4 Grand (which isn't alot relatively), i think you can get something alot more original and less generic looking.

Four Thousand Dollars is very expensive. However, livebooks does offer a version of the site for Two Thousand dollars and it seems to do just about everything you'd need it to do. That is more reasonable to me.

I had never heard of the company before, but I do like their simple site design. I doubt any of my clients have seen so many of their sites that they are bored with them. Those of us who spend time posting on forums are far more familiar with website design than the average person who just uses the web as a tool, and not as a hobby.

The reason clients (buyers) like them so much is because of their simplicity and the size of the images. They get to see the work, nice and big, and without any frou-frou in the way.

I've surveyed and spoken to lots of buyers and that is exactly what they want--clean, simple, easy to use.

What is great about LB is the back-end--it's drag-and-drop simple for photographers. You need to add images or switch order? No problem at all. Drag, drop, drag, drop...voil�.

-Leslie

If you can find someone to do a good job for a cheap price
I guess more power to you.

But if your a good photographer
with a bad website, I think it defeats the purpose..

When you tell people your website you want to impress them
with a great site. That's your portfolio. You dont have a second
chance to make a first impression. (and yes I am a livebooks
customer and very happy with the results)

I have the medium level live books site and I love it. I actually prefer the design to the more expensive one with the hidden thumbnails. For me it was worth every penny. It has more than paid for itself and the ability to update my site in seconds is MONUMENTAL!
You can always upgrade with them and add features so you do not have to go all out from the get go. Since changing to a Live books site back in December, I have seen a huge increase in the number of people bookmarking my site, from a high of maybe 30 before, too last month's 146! I have had 31 just this week alone!
You have to also keep in mind, it is a one time fee, and then you own it, it is not annual like some others. I also think the creatives that look at, just appreciate it's ease of use and just see the work, not the design. To me, in the end that is all that matters! I do think if the work is not strong to begin with, no site design will make you look like a better photographer and something as clean as LB might make mediocre work more obvious.

There are alternatives though, to answer your question, I am just not sure of the names?

What about www.tangointeractive.com ?

That looks like an interesting option but their hosting is very expensive and from the pricing guide it looks like the "Site welder" is not included in the "set up fee" also high...since you have to contact them for that price for customizing I am sure it is not cheap...+ that high annual?
Maybe not a cheaper option but it is different!

cuechick, where do you find that you have been bookmarked in your stats ?

thanks, Art

On awstats near the bottom under miscellaneous it says "Added to favorites" and gives you the number...

Any opinions about this product?

http://www.evrium.com/store/

Rich Green
www.rjgreenphoto.com