I use
Phanfare.com. You will not find a service that provides a more polished presentation of your pictures, and I have looked.
Their key advantages:
- Upload your photos, and it automatically produces beautiful slideshows that pan and zoom. You can use their music, or upload your own.
- They retain you high-res files, and you can download them at will. That means the service doubles as a backup.
- They also will host video (including HD), and videos are included in the slideshows.
- They have an easy web interface, but also have both PC and Mac application interfaces that are a breeze to use, even for computer-newbies.
- You can customize the look of your albums, from layout to colors
- Visitor reports - you can tell how many visits your albums are getting.
- Viewing and management apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch
- Unlimted storage.
- Zero advertisements anywhere
- They have speedy email support; they also used to have phone support.....not sure if they still do.
The downside is that they are not free. But it's not expensive. $99/year gets you everything above. They just came out with a cheaper plan a few months ago -- $29/year gets you everything above EXCEPT the retention of high-res files.
This sample album is on their website:
http://picturesque.phanfare.com/3942466
The layout is clean, classy, and easy to navigate. Check out the slideshows.....I can't tell you how many compliments we've gotten on ours.
Dave