Creating a Website with PhotoMerchant - Photography Website Review
Introduction
PhotoMerchant is a website community that enables digital photographers to make their own online showcase. Web hosting, web design skills, and extensive time or financial investment is not required for artists to set up their own presence using PhotoMerchant. The website claims photographers can showcase and even sell some of their photos in as little as 30 minutes of setup time. PhotoMerchant seems to be a worthwhile investment of time for any photographer serious about showcasing their work online, especially if they desire to sell their art.
Web Design Features (4 out of 5)
Though PhotoMerchant offers a number of templates that could make many websites look identical, there are a number of customizable features. This makes it easier for digital photographers with little time and no web design experience to create a fairly unique looking site.
Web Hosting Options (5 out of 5)
It is not necessary to buy a domain name to set up a website on PhotoMerchant. However, those who want to direct customers and potential editors to their own domain rather than a subdomain of PhotoMerchant can get their own .com name. This flexibility is ideal for those who want to have their own domain name without the hassle of arranging web design and web hosting.
Merchant Accounts (5 out of 5)
Customers of PhotoMerchant can accept Visa and MasterCard from their own clients through the merchant accounts option offered. This makes it extremely convenient for digital photographers to accept these forms of payment without the red tape and costs often associated with creating individual merchant accounts.
Prints (5 out of 5)
One of the best aspects of PhotoMerchant is the ability to use them as a drop shipper for photo print orders. How it works is a customer places an order for prints of your digital photos and pays for them with a Visa or MasterCard. One of PhotoMerchant’s labs will print the order and send it to your client. All you have to do is collect the money, though PhotoMerchant of course takes a percentage of your sales.
Costs
Unfortunately, costs cannot be rated or noted because the information is not posted on the website. Potential members are accepted from the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. They are then signed up to either join the beta program or e-mail list and then learn more about the costs depending on their needs. Thus, it is impossible to make a judgment about whether PhotoMerchant is a good financial value for interested photographers.
