Ask Download Squad: What's the best photo-sharing service?

Since I posted the question, I'll take a shot at posting the first answer. I've used just about all the photo services out there, including the ones that focus mainly on printing (i.e., Snapfish, Shutterfly) and the ones that are almost entirely sharing related (flickr). Right now, I'm using smugmug, and while it's not perfect (the customization options are way too limited), it strikes a nice balance between the print-related services (it has a lot of printing options, mostly through third-parties) and the sharing services (it has a range of sharing options, including completely private galleries). It also has cross-platform tools that let you batch upload files at full resolution — and store an unlimited number at full rez as well, which makes smugmug a decent backup service. The biggest downside: no free version. You have to pay to play here. At the very least, there should be a free version that lets you post smaller images and get a feel for the service. However, at $29.95 a year, smugmug is competitive with other unlimited-storage services, and there's a 7-day trial so you can check it out. Is it the best? Depends on your needs. But if you're looking to share full-rez images, it's definitely worth a try.

My choices in order of priority would be:

1) Flickr
2) Flickr
3) to round out the list... Flickr. ;)

Given -- no photo printing services here -- as Marc said, it's all about sharing. But if you want to jump into an instant creative community -- Flickr is the place.

(No, they don't pay me to say these things. And why not, I might add... hello -- Flickr referral program? ;))

Gallery: http://gallery.sf.net running on your own server. Although Flickr *is* nice. I tried Buzznet also but I didn't like the interace.

Brian
http://myvogonpoetry.com

I am using http://www.pixvillage.com
because it is so easy to share a lot of files at once.

Flickr. Since the Yahoo acquisition, they have lined up a couple of deals with photo printing houses and so it's only a matter of time.

Flickr... although before a friend gave me a pro-account, I never used Flickr. I never used any photo service. I just uploaded them to my .Mac space or my server space and shared them that way.

Looks like Johnny-come-lately is going to have to chime in with the chorus and say Flickr as well. However, I don't have a pro account and only use it so often (mostly for blogging).

.Mac is how we primarily share family photos.

Exhibit Engine on your own server space. Easy to set up, handles Exif and workflow data, multiple resolutions, and is highly configurable.

http://photography-on-the.net/ee/beta/

Add me to the Flickr fan list. I wish they'd been bought by Google rather than Yahoo though - the Flickr/Picasa combo could have been killer. To be fair, I haven't tried Hello for photo sharing, but only because I can't see any good reason to use anything other than Flickr.

Printing services are all well and good if you live in the US. Which, last time I looked, the vast majority of the citizens of the planet don't. Therefore it has to be flickr, flickr, or flickr.

If you're across the pond photobox.co.uk does reasonable printing in the UK but you should still keep your photos at flickr.

Winkflash - unlimited storage at NO COST, prints are cheap at 12 cents each for 4x6, shipping is only 99 cents no matter how many you order and you can share the hi-res version at no cost so your friends and family can print their own if they have the capability.

Smugmug. Get the windows shell extension written by Omar Shahine and you have easiest way to upload photos to the net, period!

http://www.fotki.com -- unlimited storage, cheap prints, excellent online community.

Flickr is above all. But, if you want an alternative, try snapfish.com from HP.

hello + picasa... pain free image sharing & organization.

c'mon! join the google revolution! err...

I have a pretty detailed review of Smugmug, Flickr, Zoto on my site: http://www.illiteratewithdrawal.com/2005/05/smugmug-vs-flickr/

Everyone knows of Smugmug and Flickr, but Zoto is a newcomer that offers a very powerful interface and 2G of storage for free.

However, I would recommend Smugmug, Flickr, and finally Zoto in that order. Reasons why are on my site.

However, the Picasa/Gmail/Blogger integration is now quite nice too.

Scott

I use flickr and the front page of my website myself, really have to post more regularly tho.