Recommendation: Photo sharing website for a photographer

Question

I'm looking to build a photo sharing website for a photographer (starting out) and wanted to know any known choices. I don't mind paying up. I had a look around and I find Smugmug the best yet with 500px being the second choice. However if there are any other services like that, please let me know. I'm looking for a sharing style engine (something beyond wordpress -- like Smugmug), with some descriptions/captions (write ups about the work -- some of the photos could be architectural work/portfolio) and the ability to have different sections. I'm not looking to sell the photos/have an e-cart, just a nice portfolio feel. I'm a web developer so I don't have a problem with working on any code to do custom tweaks. Please let me know if you think anything is better and if you have any personal recommendations! Thank you.

Answer

IMHO:

If you value sharing over everything: Flickr

If you value photography-centric community: 500px

If you value simplicity and ease of use in your online portfolio: Zenfoliio

If you would like a bit of all the above, but with flexibility to custom code your own online portfolio: Smugmug

Smugmug isn't quite the sharing site that Flickr is, and isn't really a photo community like 500px, though it does sponsor Digital Grin. Zenfolio does not have much sharing or community either, but it's online portfolio is much easier to use and configure. The downside is that you must use their tools and options are limited, without the ability to edit CSS or HTML or Javascript. Smugmug is a bit clunkly in the tools area, but the online portfolio looks good, and you can edit CSS, HTML and Javascript if you prefer to do most anything. For the record, I use Smugmug.

Other options include Fotki, focused more on photo hosting, and PBase, and more or less bare bones photo hosting site.

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