We consider Shutterbug Storefront to be the most flexible imaging presentation and sales system on the Internet. To help you get started, we have created a very basic starter's guide. If you have any additional questions, please check out the rest of the links available to you on the right hand side of the screen in our "FAQ's."

Contacting Support...
Need more help? Please use the support form and we'll answer your question as soon as possible.   

What to expect from Shutterbug Storefront...

We would like you to spend a few minutes allowing you to get to know Shutterbug Storefront and what to expect when you get started.

"Shutterbug Storefront" is a highly flexible online sales gallery system.  To get started, it would be helpful if you had some familiarity and knowledge of the following:

Basic computing skills:

• Use of email
• Familiarity with one or more web browsers (how to refresh, clearing cache, etc)

Additional computing skills helpful (but not necessary):

• How to use FTP (file transfer protocol)
• Very basic HTML (for some minor customization of site)

Basic photography skills:

• What makes a good photo
• Exposure settings - color and contrast
• Cropping and aspect ratios

Basic digital photography skills:

• How to apply cropping in a photo editor
• Familiarity with resolution - pixels and DPI (pixels per inch)

Helpful digital photography / imaging skills:

• Access to some form of photo editor
• Dealing with color balance issues
• Knowledge of JPG file format and compression of same
• Knowledge of image rotation and orientation (vertical/horizontal, portrait/landscape)

Additional digital photography / imaging skills (helpful, but not necessary):

• Knowledge of monitor calibration
• Knowledge of color profiles
• Knowledge of color spaces
• Knowledge of noise reduction and effects of ISO
• Knowledge of EXIF info embedded in images files

Overview - Steps to getting started:

Based on past experience and input from our present users, here is a list of helpful hints to remember as you begin your Shutterbug Storefront "experience" at the beginning:

1. Create one small test gallery of 5-10 photos.  Become familiar with the uploading features and the adjustments to the layout of the galleries. 
2. Start off by thinking how you would like to have your overall site look.  Colors, layout, size of display images, etc.  Make changes to the test gallery until it looks the way you want it to look.  Then, consider adopting that look in your Main Gallery and applying those settings downward so all new galleries inherit that same, basic look.
3. Test things out on one smaller test gallery, rather than trying to upload and manage a huge, mission-critical job immediately.  Give yourself time to learn the basics of the Shutterbug Storefront site before your next important job comes up.
4. Be thinking long term.  Think of how you want to create your gallery structure - not just on the basis of a few galleries you may have now, but in the context of your overall business.  It is easier to start the gallery hierarchy off the "right" way, rather than moving and adjusting it later on.  Most photographers start off with a few main sub-galleries that segment their businesses down into main categories of work.  For example - Top-level sub-galleries might consist of Weddings / School Photos / Sports / Portraits, etc... then each one is further broken down from there...
5. Most importantly - give yourself some time to become familiar with the Shutterbug Storefront site.  The more you learn the features, the more valuable a tool it will become to your business!  Browse through the FAQ's.  Feel free to ask for help from Support if you get stuck.