How to Share a SmugMug Photo on Google+?

Sharing your favorite photos from SmugMug to Google+ used to be a simple way to showcase your photography and connect with others who shared your passion. While Google+ is no longer active (it was discontinued in April 2019), this article provides a historical look at how photographers shared their SmugMug content on this once-popular social platform. Let's explore the methods that were available for sharing SmugMug photos on Google+.

What Was SmugMug and Google+?

Before diving into the sharing process, let's quickly review what these platforms were:

• SmugMug: A premium photo sharing and storage service that allows photographers to display, share, and sell their work
• Google+: Google's social network platform that operated from 2011 to 2019, which allowed users to share content, join communities, and connect with others

Direct Sharing from SmugMug to Google+

SmugMug offered built-in social sharing features that made it easy to share photos directly to Google+ with just a few clicks:

Method 1: Sharing Individual Photos

1. Log in to your SmugMug account
2. Navigate to the photo you wanted to share
3. Click on the "Share" button (usually represented by a share icon)
4. Select the Google+ icon from the social sharing options
5. A new window would open, allowing you to add a comment or description
6. Choose your audience (public, circles, or specific people)
7. Click "Share" to post the photo to Google+

Method 2: Sharing an Entire Gallery

1. Log in to your SmugMug account
2. Navigate to the gallery you wanted to share
3. Look for the "Share" option at the top or bottom of the gallery
4. Select the Google+ icon
5. Add a description about your gallery
6. Choose who could see your post
7. Click "Share" to post a link to your gallery on Google+

Using Share Links Manually

If the direct sharing option wasn't working or you preferred more control over your post, you could share manually:

Method 3: Copy and Paste Links

1. Log in to your SmugMug account
2. Find the photo or gallery you wanted to share
3. Copy the URL from your browser's address bar
4. Log in to your Google+ account
5. Click on the "Share what's new" box at the top of your stream
6. Paste the URL into the post box
7. Google+ would automatically pull a preview of the image
8. Add any comments you wanted to include with the photo
9. Select your audience
10. Click "Share" to post

Embedding SmugMug Photos in Google+ Posts

For a more customized approach, you could download and upload photos directly:

Method 4: Download and Upload

1. Log in to SmugMug
2. Navigate to the photo you wanted to share
3. Download the photo to your computer (right-click and select "Save image as" or use SmugMug's download button)
4. Log in to Google+
5. Create a new post
6. Click the "Add photos or videos" icon
7. Upload the downloaded image from your computer
8. Add a description and credit to your SmugMug gallery
9. Select your audience
10. Click "Share" to post

Using SmugMug's Social Media Tools

SmugMug offered specific tools to help photographers manage their social media presence:

Method 5: Social Media Settings in SmugMug

1. Log in to your SmugMug account
2. Go to your account settings
3. Look for "Social Sharing" or "Social Media" options
4. Connect your Google+ account (this required authorizing SmugMug to access your Google+ profile)
5. Configure your sharing preferences
6. Save your settings

Once configured, you could share directly to Google+ with your preferred settings already in place.

Comparing SmugMug Sharing Methods to Google+

Tips for Effective Photo Sharing on Social Media

While Google+ is no longer available, these tips remain relevant for sharing SmugMug photos on other platforms:

Best Practices for Photo Sharing

• Include proper attribution - Always credit yourself as the photographer and link back to your SmugMug gallery
• Add relevant hashtags - Use hashtags related to photography, the subject matter, or techniques used
• Tell a story - Add context to your photos with descriptions that engage viewers
• Consider image size - Balance quality with loading speed for the best viewer experience
• Protect your work - Use watermarks or lower resolution versions if you're concerned about unauthorized use
• Engage with feedback - Respond to comments and questions about your photography

Alternatives to Google+ for SmugMug Users

Since Google+ is no longer available, here are some alternative platforms where you can share your SmugMug photos:

Current Social Media Options

• Instagram - Great for visual content, though you'll need to download and re-upload photos
• Facebook - Offers direct sharing from SmugMug and supports albums
• Twitter - Good for quick sharing, though image display is more limited
• Pinterest - Excellent for photography that fits specific categories or themes
• Flickr - A photography-focused community with direct integration options

SmugMug's Current Social Sharing Features

SmugMug continues to evolve its social sharing capabilities. Current features include:

• Direct sharing buttons for major social platforms
• Customizable sharing options at the gallery and individual photo level
• Ability to generate and share custom links
• Options to control image size and quality when sharing
• Privacy controls for shared content

FAQs About SmugMug Photo Sharing

1. Can I still share my SmugMug photos on Google+?

No, Google+ was discontinued in April 2019 and is no longer available as a social sharing platform. You'll need to use other social networks like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to share your SmugMug photos.

2. Does SmugMug automatically resize my photos when sharing to social media?

Yes, SmugMug typically resizes photos to optimize them for the specific social platform you're sharing to. This helps with faster loading times while maintaining reasonable quality for social media viewing.

3. How can I track how many people view my shared SmugMug photos?

SmugMug offers statistics and analytics for your galleries and photos, allowing you to see view counts and other engagement metrics. The specific data available depends on your subscription level.

4. Can I schedule SmugMug photo shares to social media?

SmugMug itself doesn't offer scheduling features, but you can use third-party social media management tools like Hootsuite or Buffer. You'll need to provide these tools with links to your SmugMug content.

5. Is it better to share a link to my SmugMug gallery or download and upload photos directly to social media?

It depends on your goals. Sharing links drives traffic to your SmugMug site where you might sell prints or have a more customized display. Downloading and uploading directly typically gets better engagement on the social platform itself but disconnects the content from your SmugMug account.

Conclusion

While Google+ is no longer an option for sharing your SmugMug photos, understanding how these platforms once worked together provides insight into the evolution of social media sharing for photographers. SmugMug continues to offer robust sharing options for other social networks, maintaining its position as a top platform for photographers who want to display and distribute their work. The methods described in this article reflect how photo sharing worked historically between SmugMug and Google+, and many of the principles can be applied to current social media platforms.

Whether you're a professional photographer or an enthusiastic amateur, SmugMug remains a valuable tool for organizing, showcasing, and sharing your photography across the social media landscape. As social platforms come and go, the importance of having your own dedicated photo space like SmugMug becomes even more apparent.