This project started a looong time ago, when I first started working with Ellen Petty of Identity Kitchen. As we worked together on custom blogs and websites for photographers, we started brainstorming ways to make something similar available to everyone. The goal was to create Affordable, Easy-to-use, WordPress Portfolio Websites for Photographers.

Our Goals

We put together a long list based on what worked best with the common features we were using in our custom sites: social media integration, customization, easy-to-use backend, unlimited galleries, integration of fantastic photography tools like ShootQ, etc, etc. Like all of our custom sites they needed to be an all-in-one website AND blog, all built in WordPress and 100% HTML – no Flash.

Flash sites are invisible to iPhones and create difficulties for search engines. Unfortunately, until now, Flash templates have been the only realistic option available at an affordable level. Regardless of what was used for a website, we were seeing a lot of people still use WordPress for their blog, often combining two or three website and blog services to manage it all, sometimes even hiring separare designers or programmers to work on them.

There is a good reason why WordPress and HTML based sites were not being done on an affordable level. WordPress is software that needs to be installed for each site. You can purchase “themes” or templates for WordPress but these also need to be installed. It requires some knowledge of databases, HTML, a programming language called PHP – all pretty overwhelming if you don’t know how to use it.

The Answer

The answer was to use a lesser known version of WordPress, which allows an entire network of sites to run off of one installation. Once the basic framework is developed, anyone can then sign up for a site by just entering some contact information. No HTML, no installation, no upgrades to worry about. You don’t need a hosting account. You don’t even need to wait for us to respond to an email or return a phone call. Just sign up and the site is ready.

You can check out all the features on the main site: http://photographyblogsites.com or to really see how it works sign up for the free 7-day trial.

Lifetime Offer

In celebration of the launch, we are offering an introductory lifetime membership for $499. That includes our search engine optimized blogsite, any new themes, 4 GB of hosting, our support, maintenance, upgrades and much, much more. For a full list of features visit our features section. No recurring costs…ever! But act fast! The offer will expire 11:59 PM on November 30, 2010.

Feedback

This is growing community and we are continuing to build and improve everything about the site – the way the main site itself works, suggestions for new features, etc. We have setup a support forum to take any and all feedback. We’d love to hear your thoughts as we will keep developing PhotographyBlogSites to be the best they can be.

Thank you to everyone who has helped with feedback and ideas throughout the process – we couldn’t have done it without you!

What is WordPress MU and What is WPMU DEV?

WordPress has become a well known name as one of the best (the best in my opinion) Content Management System available. It allows any site from a simple bog or basic five page site, up to the most complicated site you could imagine to be easily edited by anyone without any knowledge of HTML.

WordPress MU means WordPress Multi-User. It is essentially the software that runs WordPress.com and was developed to allow an entire network of sites. User can visit a WordPress MU site and get there own site by just signing up. No installation, no hosting to worry about, etc.

It has been a branch of WordPress for the last few years – not as well known, not as well documented and not as well supported. One of the only places providing real support has been WPMU DEV. They provide a number of free plugins, as well as a premium membership with some really essential tools for any MU site.

How I Have Improved MU with Premium Plugins

While not officially announced yet, if you read my post about SEO Image Galleries or follow me on Twitter, you may have heard of a major side project I have been developing for some time now – PhotographyBlogSites.com – which was built using WordPress MU as a means to make it easier for photographers to simply sign up and get a new site.

As one of the only sources of reliable MU plugins, I have made use of many of the close to 100 plugins avaialble on the WPMU DEV site. I want to point out a few of my favorites, without which PhotographyBlogSites would not be possible.

New Blog Template

This plugin makes it possible to make an exact copy of any blog and give it to new users. This way, instead of an empty default WordPress site, the new users has the chosen theme, settings, even pages, posts, categories, etc. All in place. It saves you the time of deleting the placeholder content, adding the standard pages, fixing the settings, etc.

Download New Blog Templates Here

Domain Mapping

This one is absoultely crucial. It allows users to use their own domain name. Without it, they would have something like marty.photographyblogsites.com – similar to the free sites you get at WordPress.com or Blogger. But if you are running a serious business site, you want your domain.

Download Domain Mapping Here

Anti-Splog

If you think spam comments are bad, try running a site where spammers can create entire sites and usernames through a contact form. One of the toughest aspects of running WordPress MU is dealing with the spam blogs or splogs. This plugin does a great job of preventing those fake sites. In turn, it saves database space and bandwidth for the legitimate users.

Download Anti-Splog Here

More

These are just three of the developer end plugins I have made use of. I will be doing a post on the PhotographyBlogSites blog about a few that make the user experience better.

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As a disclaimer, this is a post I put together as an entry for a contest (http://wpmu.org/100-plugins-wpmu-dev-giveaway-time) where they are giving away a free annual membership ($419). While that would be great, I am currently a paid member and have been meaning to write a post about them anyway. If you are developing a WordPress MU site, definitely check them out.

Now, you know how proud we are of our Search Engine Optimized, WordPress powered, custom portfolio blogsites. What if there were an entry-level, template-driven, DIY, portfolio blogsite available? No more updating your blog at one address and your portfolio at another. No more calling your webmaster to make changes to your site, update your entire site as easily as creating a blog post. You can even customize the site to match your brand.

Now, what if it was affordable to everyone and included installation and set-up? Interested?

Sign up here for more information.

Here’s a blurry sneak peek…

Some added details of my own:

There are a lot of sides to this project, including some exciting resources for anyone, whether they use the new BlogSites or not…

• There will be an FAQ and tutorial site, complete with screencast videos for everything WordPress.
• There will be support forums for plugins, and technical issues.
• SEO Image Galleries. This new site is also the home of a plugin currently released in Beta called SEO Image Galleries. It is available at the WordPress Repository, or can be installed directly through the plugin browser on any self-hosted WordPress site.

Plus lots more…

Sign up for our Beta list here: Photographyblogsites.com

You can also follow us for updates on Facebook and Twitter.