“I just wanted to stop by and say hello and tell you how much I love your customer support and quality – Smugmug is the best!”

I heard that quote so many times from so many Smuggers while I was with Smugmug and Bay Photo at Imaging USA 2010.

Larry (LT) and I had the pleasure of joining the Smugmug team in the Smugmug/Bay Photo exhibit. To say the exhibit was busy is an understatement!

I spoke – and listened – to so many Smuggers – I lost count after 200 (and that was only Sunday!). We answered questions regarding Smugmug Pro, Smugmug customization (“WOW!!! – that is a Smugmug site? – awesome”), Bay Photo, order fulfillment and general techi stuff!

So many smuggers and ‘fans’ stopped by to say hello and to meet us. Amanda and Alisa Lynn from Alabama, Candace from Tennessee, Cindy from Alabama, Alisha from Georgia, the Time Smart Images team from Pennsylvania, Jeanelle and her friends from Mississippi – the list goes on and on. A few photogs even referred to my writings on the internet. I thought to myself – “people actually do read my blog, forum answers, articles and newsletters.” David Jay stopped by and I had the opportunity to demonstrate some of the cool Smugmug Customizations/Wordpress Customizations we have completed.

I also had a few conversations with some sport photographers on how I used Smugmug for my youth sports photography (which is my fav photography!).

Honestly though, the conversations I appreciated the most centered around the non-Smuggers who were just starting off and “don’t have an internet site” or “I only use Blogger”. Smugmug has so much to offer them…functionality and flexibility for any photogs business!!

A few other photogs bowed their heads in shame when they shared their nightmare stories of using a competitor’s site. “I cannot sell my art to my customers with my boring site” some photogs cried! It was not a hard sale explaining all of the features that Smugmug Pro offers.

“Oh my gosh – I know that web site – I love it and her photography is breathtaking!” “I’ve seen her photography before – I want to photograph like her!” “Your jR?? I love that web site – the photography is the best!!”

Here’s a secret I am happy to share… a few of the photogs I have worked with to customize their web sites are more popular than they think they are. And yes… Jaki Good Photography (Jaki) from Ohio, Moments Photography (Alicia) from Louisiana and Studio KYK (Monica) from California I am talking about you!!! Your customers love you and so do your peers!

We had our fun as well – Markham and LT “skooled” me on some iPhone apps I did not even know about (Bump, Lego Photo, etc). At the end of the day LT ask if I noticed how light the traffic was in other exhibits in the area as compared to Smugmug/Bay Photo. LT said “That exhibit had so many team members just standing around doing nothing all day!”.

A big thank you again to the Smugmug team (Markham, Jeff, Frederique, Candice) – they were great hosts! This was such an eye opening experience – I enjoyed and appreciated every moment.

Oh, and Smuggers, you must check out the Metal Prints from Bay Photo – they rock!

Still not a ‘Smugger’ ?? Visit Smugmug to learn more…