Just in case you don't find your answer here, check out our forum, where most tech support, feature ideas and other things are discussed.
What Will I Have To Do?
1. To list your events you will simply upload a folder of images to your web site. (We will provide you with the specifications)
2. To set your prices you will simply edit a text file, and to remove an event you will simply delete the image folder from your web server. No more uploading through a complicated form, no more sales through someone else's web site and no more being told "we are branding your business" by a company that puts it's logo all over your proofing pages.
Why Should You Use ShowMeProofs?
Besides the fact that it's free? Honestly, I think it's the best system available. In fact, I use the system myself and I thought that other photographers would like to have the same system working for them. Check out the demo and please let me know what you think. Send your comments to chris @ ShowMeProofs.com or hit the AIM link on the home page.
Now Here Are The Requirements
System Requirements:
You will need to have your own web site, or at least a hosting service where you can store your images. If you do not have a hosting service we recommend WestHost (We use WestHost exclusively) you can see their hosting packages at WestHost.com *WestHost meets all of our image hosting requirements.
You will need to have FTP access to your site to upload your images.
You will need a PayPal account to collect online payments. (Or you can have people call in or mail payments to you)
Your server must support PHP or ASP scripting.
Instructions on how to set up events through your site will be provided after you sign up.
Free Proofing? But how does it look?
Hey, I may be biased but I think it looks pretty good. Here's how it works, after you sign up you will need to download a zip file that contains the three files you will need to start selling from your site, and a folder of sample images for you to see how to size your files.
Then you will be given a small piece of HTML code to add to a page on your site so that your visitors can see their proofs through your site. Basically it will add a login box like this to your site in a frame:
You will be able to set the text and background colors to match your site for the entire proofing system. So your logo and URL will be visible the entire time your clients are looking at their photos.
Once your visitors login to their event they will see a very simple layout of 20 images per page that looks like this:
They can browse through all of the images, view their current cart, past purchases and click on the images to see them larger:
This is where they will be presented with an order form that you can customize to sell any items that you offer. They can also browse through their images at full size with the "Next" and "Previous" buttons at the top of the pop-up page.
When they decide to add an image to their cart, they will be shown a full order form and be given a chance to update the number of items in their cart:
From here they can update the quantities in their order, complete their order or continue shopping. If they choose to complete their order they will be asked for their complete contact information, they will be sent a PDF copy of their order, you will be sent a PDF copy of their order and they will be shown a final invoice for their order:
If you choose to use PayPal you will see the Visa/Master Card button where your clients can pay for their order online. If you do not use PayPal then the only button you will see is the print button. It will be up to you to contact your clients for payment, or to have them call you.
You will also be able to set up discounts, manage your clients, and review your sales statistics for your events. It's a pretty full featured system, and you can't beat the price! Take a look at our demo event on our Free Photo Cart Info Page, or sign up now to sell your own photos!
Information Collection and Use
1. ShowMeProofs collects personal information about you when you sign up for our proofing system, our forum, when you visit ShowMeProofs pages and when you use the sales system. ShowMeProofs may combine information about you that we have with information we have from business partners or other companies.
2. When you sign up for our proofing system or register in our forum we ask for information such as your name, address, phone number, email, web site, occupation, interests and other personal information. When you use our proofing system to view images from a photographer we ask you for your email address which is optional. When you use our proofing system to purchase images we ask you for your name, address, phone number, email. Once you provide this information and visit ShowMeProofs you are not anonymous to us.
3. ShowMeProofs collects information about your behavior and transactions while on our site including your viewing habits and business relationships.
4. ShowMeProofs automatically receives and records information on our server logs from your browser including your IP address, cookie information and the pages you visit.
5. ShowMeProofs uses the information for the following general purposes: to track your shopping experience, match you to your saved carts, match you to your clients/photographer, allow your clients/photographer to contact you, provide statistics to our photographers, to contact you directly, improve our services, conduct research and provide customized services for you to match your needs.
Children
In compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act a child under the age of 13 must have a parent or guardian provide a full release prior to using the ShowMeProofs forum or online proofing system.
Information Sharing
ShowMeProofs does not rent, sell or share information about you with nonaffiliated people without your permission except under the following circumstances:
1. We respond to subpoenas, court orders, legal processes or to establish or exercise our legal rights or defend against legal claims.
2. We believe it is necessary to share information in order to investigate, prevent or take action regarding illegal activities, fraud, potential threats to the physical safety of any person, violations of ShowMeProofs terms of service or as required by law.
3. ShowMeProofs works with vendors to provide targeted advertisements based on your information such as your geographical area and browsing behavior on our site. ShowMeProofs does not provide any personal information to the advertisers that you may interact with.
Cookies
1. ShowMeProofs may set cookies on your computer for the tracking of login and order information.
ShowMeProofs reserves the right to modify this Privacy Policy without notice.
Online Proofing
Our proofing system is intended to help photographers sell their photographs through the internet. If you intend to use our system, please be aware of the following terms of service:
By using our proofing system, you must agree to abide by the following:
1. Any images or works of art that you provide for sale through our system MUST be your own work. Copyright infringement will not be tolerated and any suggestion of infringement will result in suspension of your account until the matter is resolved. If proof of infringement is determined all records related to your account will be made available to the rightful owner of the copyright materials and you will be banned from further use of this site.
2. ShowMeProofs will not be responsible for printing or production of products of any kind. It is your sole responsibility to produce the products you agree to sell through our system.
3. Illegal material IS NOT to be sold through our system. If it is determined that you are selling illegal material such as but not limited to child pornography, photos or video of criminal activity or any materials suspected as such your account will be suspended and the proper authorities will be contacted without notice to you. Any records related to your account will be provided to the proper authorities and you will be banned from further use of this site.
4. You agree to be solely responsible for the images or art work that you provide for sale. ShowMeProofs is not a partner in the sale of any items and is not to be held responsible for any materials sold through our proofing system. You further agree to be responsible for any legal fees that may arise as a result of your use of the proofing system in defense of ShowMeProofs should such circumstances arise.
5. ShowMeProofs can not guarantee the security of your images/art work or access to your events. Any materials that you present for sale through our system are displayed at your own risk. If you suspect that your copyright has been infringed upon ShowMeProofs will do our best to help you, please contact ShowMeProofs immediately so that we may help you gather all of the records relating to the incident.
6. ShowMeProofs will not guarantee that your images/art work will sell as a result of using our proofing system. It is your responsibility to market and promote the materials that you present for sale.
7. ShowMeProofs will not guarantee the security or delivery of any online sale notification or payment. It is in your best interest to provide your contact information to your clients in the event that an order is lost or a payment is misdirected. ShowMeProofs will not be responsible for any loss in income or potential income as a result of the use of our proofing system.
8. ShowMeProofs will not be responsible for the storage of images, art work or media files that are intended to be sold through our proofing system. It is the responsibility of the user of the system to obtain sufficient storage space on a system with the capabilities of working with our proofing system.
9. ShowMeProofs will not be responsible for the cost of storage of images, art work or media files. This cost is the responsibility of the user of the system.
10. ShowMeProofs will not be required at any time to support specific internet related technologies such as but not limited to XML, PHP, ASP, ASP.NET, PERL, PYTHON or JavaScript. ShowMeProofs will attempt to incorporate as many technologies as are determined to be sufficient for the majority of our users.
11. ShowMeProofs is currently operated as a free service. Under no circumstances will any user of the proofing system charge a commission or fee of any kind for the use of the proofing system above the price of the goods for sale. Specifically, the price of your merchandise sold through our proofing system is to be the same as the price for the same goods sold offline or otherwise. No premium should be charged for the use of the online proofing system.
12. Violation of any of the terms of service for the online proofing system shall result in termination of your account, loss of any incomplete or un received order notifications and related records for your account as well as denial of future use of the online proofing system.
13. If you choose to sell adult content through the online proofing system you also agree to allow our advertisements to be displayed along with your photos for all of your events even if the event does not contain adult content. You will make no attempts to disable any advertisements placed by the online proofing system or change the code associated with the advertisements. You also agree not to display any images which could be considered illegal according to the laws of the United States or it's teratories.
ShowMeProofs reserves the right to block any content displayed in the proofing system and further reserves the right to modify these terms of service without notice. Such changes to the terms of service shall be retro active.
Forums
Our Forum is post moderated, in order to create an environment of cooperation and quality information please be aware of the following terms of service:
By using our forum, you must agree to abide by the following:
1. Inflammatory, vulgar, promotional, or rude usernames will be removed.
2. You will always be respectful of others, the system, and the moderators. Always treat others as you would wish to be treated.
3. Links to adult content, pages with links to adult content or messages describing anything against the law will be removed. Posts of this nature are off topic and not the intended use of this forum.
4. Email excerpts are not allowed to be posted in the forum.
5. Promotional posts are not allowed in the forum. Signatures may contain your name, company name, etc. but please refrain from including links to your site or other sites. You may include your URL in your profile if you wish for it to be published. Affiliate based URL's are never allowed in the forum.
6. Please refrain from using foul language. Personal attacks and obscenities will not be tolerated. Please treat others with respect.
7. You agree not to hold ShowMeProofs or its members liable for anything stated within the forums.
8. The forum is not to be used for advertisements of any kind. Posts of this nature will be removed.
9. Information contained in this forum is not to be copied for publication or retransmission without the express permission of the original poster of the information.
10. Discussion of actions against any individual or company, boycotts or other inflammatory discussions is strictly prohibited.
11. You agree not to use the messaging system to send advertisements, chain letters or spam.
12. Revealing the URL of a member without their permission is strictly prohibited. Members are allowed as much anonymity as they wish to maintain and under no circumstances will a member be required to reveal any information that they wish to remain private.
ShowMeProofs reserves the right to edit or remove any content placed in the forum area and further reserves the right to modify these terms of service without notice. Such changes to the terms of service shall be retro active.
