3 Things You Never Want to do on SmugMug

Getting the Best out of SmugMug

Choosing a photo sharing site is kind of like choosing a new pet for the family home. You want to consider all the benefits and weigh them against any possible pitfalls before bringing Bow Wow home. Before signing up for SmugMug, think about the following:

1. NEVER use the site simply for storage.

Most photo sharing sites out there advertise themselves as free and offering unlimited photo storage with the ultimate convenience package. While SmugMug does store as many photos as you like, it isn't free. SmugMug charges an annual fee of $34.95 for a standard membership.

But before deciding against SmugMug based on fees alone, read on. SmugMug offers much more than a free site and that's where the charge comes in. If you're simply going to store photos and nothing else, then SmugMug might not be the site for you. But if you plan on taking advantage of all the site has to offer -- storing, sharing, editing, commenting, and more -- then jump right in.

2. NEVER upload photos without checking your security settings.

When you upload photos to your SmugMug account, you're doing two things: adding photos to your own account and adding photos to SmugMug's online community. You need to take the time to check your account settings when you put on new photos. If you want your photos to stay private, then you need to select that in the options list. If you don't, others may access your photos in the SmugMug community.

3. NEVER ignore professional possibilities.

Most of us are not professionals -- we take photos for fun, not profit. But you'd be surprised how many outsiders purchase online photos. If that's an area you wish to explore, SmugMug offers a professional membership that can help you get started.

Options include the ability to print professional prints and even sell your photos online. Plus, you can put a watermark on each photo that is shared with the SmugMug community. It won't hurt your photos, but it will help keep others from copying them. And if that's not enough, you can disable right-click copying altogether. Your photos can be for sale and protected at the same time.

The bottom line: Don't limit yourself. Explore the entire list of options available on SmugMug and let everyone see those wonderful photographs..