noun
1 a place for a person who is in love with photography.
2 a safe backup for all your photos.
3 a solution for all your online photography needs.
4 the best photo contests, photo communities, photo galleries, photo albums, photo eCards and photo store.
Easy Photo Management and Multiple Uploads:
Easily organize your photos and edit them with various tools and effects.
Create photo albums and display them in amazing 3-D slideshows.
Effortlessly import your photos from Flickr.
Use our friendly uploader to upload multiple photos at once.
Easy, Private, and Secure Photo Sharing:
Control the privacy of your photos by making them public, private, or by allowing only a specific group of people to view them.
Easily share your photos with email groups of your choice.
Protect your photos with a custom watermark.
Photo Contests:
All uploaded photos are eligible to win, so please be sure to enter your original photos.
Participate in photo Contests and win cash, prizes, and the publication of your photo in American Photo Magazine.
Select the next winner by voting for your favorite photo in the next Contest.
Photo Store:
Sell and print your photos as glossy or matte posters, stretched canvas, greeting cards, mounted prints or watercolor prints.
Take advantage of the various promo tools.
You can browse the store and buy photo prints.
Photo Community:
Explore the ViewBug community, visit the photo gallery, meet people and make friends, get feedback, and give advice.
Join photo Communities and learn new photo techniques in the Photo Tips section.
Create customized photo eCards to make someone smile or for use as invitations to a special event.
Help the world with your participation in the ViewBug Charity Communities.
We welcome you! ViewBug is the perfect home for your photos.
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Secure and private photo sharing |
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We back up all your uploads to Amazon S3, the most reliable backup service on line! |
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We will never delete your photos unless you request it. |
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Request DVD or CD backups of your uploaded files. |
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Right-click, drag, and embed protection available for your online photos. |
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Protect each of your photos with your own customized watermark. |
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Create private albums, private groups, and utilize adult material filters to control who sees your photos. |
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GENERAL
What is ViewBug?
ViewBug is a home for your photos. The site includes photo contests, communities, and a photo store.
You can connect with other photographers, sell and buy photos, and securely store and share your photos.
You can also participate in photo communities and our themed photo contests for a chance to win cash, prizes, and publication in American Photo Magazine.
What are the rules of ViewBug?
As in any other online photo community, please refrain from aggressive or negative behavior. Let's work together to keep photo critiques constructive and learn from others.
Be responsible and only upload your own work. Uploading copyrighted material will make your account subject to cancellation.
Be aware that minors may be browsing the site. Use the adult filter when appropriate and refrain from uploading X-rated material. Please see the Upload Guidelines on the main photo upload page for more information.
The most important rule is HAVE FUN!
Is ViewBug membership free?
Yes! We offer a free membership option, but please check out all available levels of membership. The features of Free, Premium, and Premium Gold each cater to different online photo needs.
What happens when my Premium or Premium Gold account expires?
Don't worry, your membership will automatically renew if you specified this option when you set up your account. Otherwise, your membership will automatically be converted to a Free membership. Your Premium or Premium Gold membership privileges will be temporarily suspended until you renew your Premium or Premium Gold membership.
How do I buy a Premium or Premium Gold membership for myself or as a gift?
Please select the 'UPGRADE' link within the My Account dropdown menu. Select the option to upgrade your membership or purchase a gift membership.
How do I activate my gift account?
Follow the simple instructions provided in the email notification you received. Once your account is created, your gift will be activated.
On the My Account page, you will find all the necessary tools to manage your profile, photos, and membership.
How do I edit my status and personal information?
On the Account Settings and Preferences page, simply click the respective text and edit the information. You will be able to let us know what you are up to by changing your status, and tell us a little about yourself in the personal information section.
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MY ACCOUNT
Within My Account you find everything to control and manage your profile and membership.
My Status and About me, how do I edit them?
Let us know what you are up to by changing your status and tell us a little about yourself in the About me section. To edit these sections, simply click on the respective text.
How do I edit my profile and select my avatar?
To edit your public profile visit My Account page and click on "View and Edit My Public Profile" link. To change your avatar go to My Account page and click the "Account settings and preferences" link. Select the photo you want featured on your Public Profile by clicking in the profile photo section.
On the top right corner of your Profile, select the link "Edit Profile" to change your avatar and personal information. Simply click any text to edit it.
How do I change my account settings?
On the My Account page, click the "Account Settings and Preferences" link and edit any text by clicking on it.
How do I manage email notifications?
On the My Account page, click the "Account Settings and Preferences" link and select the Email Notification tab. Select which notifications you want to receive.
What is the Activity Feed?
The Activity Feed is a newsfeed of your selected ViewBug friends. It tells you when your friends upload new images, comment on images, or win contests.
What if I forget my password?
Simply click the sign-in box and select the "Forgot Your Password?" link. You will be sent a temporary password.
How do I change my password?
On the My Account page, click the "Account Settings and Preferences" link. You will be able to change your password by clicking the appropriate link.
What are reward points?
Reward Points is a program that rewards you for participating in ViewBug. When you perform different actions, you earn points. When you reach certain point brackets, you will get great stuff! Click here for details.
What are promo tools?
Promo tools are a set of cool banners that include thumbnails of your photos. You can embed these in other websites and blogs to get more exposure.
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MY AWARDS
How can I win an award?
ViewBug staff, guest judges, and registered ViewBug members evaluate and vote on uploaded photos based on creativity, originality, and quality. By participating in photo contests, you could win photo publishing prizes, cameras, and cash.
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MY INBOX
How do I send a message?
On the My Account page, click your Inbox tab, then select the Compose icon. Type the name of a user in the "Find" section, then select the user from the User Finder box. Type your message, then send it.
How do I reply to a message?
Click the reply button of a message or comment.
How do I block a user from sending messages to me?
In your Inbox or on a specific member's profile, select the "Block" button.
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MY PHOTOS
How do I upload photos to my account?
Log in to your ViewBug account and choose the 'Upload' option within the portfolio dropdown menu.
Is there a limit to uploads?
There is no limit on the total number of photos you can upload. If you have a Free membership, you can upload a maximum of 111 MB of photos per month. If you need more photo uploads per month, simply upgrade your membership and you will have unlimited photo uploads. With any Free membership, you will be able to track how many uploads you have left on your 'Account Settings and Preferences' page.
Can I access and view all my photos?
Yes! There is no limit on how many of your own photos you can view at any given time.
What photo types can I upload?
The standard upload file type is .jpeg, this is what we recommend.
How many photos can I upload at one time?
We recommend that you upload a maximum of 100 photos at once. For faster uploads and easier organization, we suggest you upload photos in batches of about 20.
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MOBILE UPLOADS
What is a Mobile Upload?
A Mobile Upload is an easy way to upload photos from your cell phone directly to your ViewBug account.
How can I do mobile Uploads?
Your account provides you with a unique Mobile Upload email address. Simply save this email address in your cell phone and use it to email photos directly to your ViewBug account.
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SINGLE PHOTO EDITING
To Edit your photos, log in to your account and click on "My Photos".
In what ways can I edit my uploaded photos?
You can rotate your photos, change the titles and descriptions, add or remove tags, change the technical descriptions, and select privacy settings and license attributions.
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TAGS
What are tags?
Tags are keywords used to identify and find photos. There is no limit to how many tags can be used to refer to a single photo. For example, a photo taken of a sunset at the beach could include some of the following tags: sunset, beach, sun, sand.
What is the "Tags I Follow" section?
This section is only available for Premium and Premium Gold accounts. You will receive a newsfeed of the latest public uploads that include your selected tags. For example, if you like photos of nature, you can add the word "Nature" to your "Tags I Follow" list, and you will receive updates noting all images uploaded with the tag "Nature".
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How do I add effects to my photos?
On your "My Photos" page, click the 'Effects' option in the desired photo. You will be able to use great editing tools from picnik.com on your photos, and these effects will automatically be saved in your ViewBug account as a new photo.
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Can I print my photos?
Yes! On your "My Photos" page, select an image and click the 'Print' link. Select the desired product. Your photo will be delivered by FedEx.
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How do I change my privacy settings, photo rights, and license attributes?
You can select different privacy settings for your photos. You can choose who can see which photo by using private groups. A photo can belong to one or more private groups, and it will not be public anymore.
You always maintain all legal rights to your photos.
Please select adult filters for your photos with adult content.
What type of license attributes can I choose for my photos?
License attributes are the rights you may grant to others to use your work. Please visit creativecommons.org for more details.
What is a watermark?
A watermark is a clear overlay placed over your photos. Watermarks provide extra protection against unauthorized distribution.
Anyone can use the ViewBug standard watermark. Premium and Premium Gold members can upload custom watermarks.
You can select where to place your watermark in each photo.
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What is the Photo Manager?
The Photo Manager is an easy way to edit many photos at once. Simply drag and drop photos into the tool that you want to edit as a batch.
You can use the Photo Manager to change titles and descriptions, add or remove tags, rotate and delete photos, and change privacy settings.
With the Photo Manager, you can create new albums and add or remove images from albums. You can also add or remove images from communities you belong to, including specific private groups.
You can perform any of these actions during upload, or at any later time.
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ALBUMS
How do I create an album?
You can create an album in one of the following easy ways:
1. On the Album tab in the Photo Manager, click the Create New Album link.
2. In the portfolio dropdown menu, select My Albums and click the Create New Album link.
How do I add photos to an album?
Go to the photo manager and choose the albums tab. Click on an album to add or remove photos.
How do I edit the album description and the main album photo?
Within the photo manager, select the albums tab. Click on the album you want to edit.
How do I edit the order of photos in an album?
Using the Photo Manager, choose the specific album. Drag and drop the photos to place them in the order you wish.
How do I share an album?
In the My Photos dropdown menu, select My Albums. Choose the specific album and click the 'Share' link.
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Favorite Photos:
Select from other members' photos to include them as favorites in your account. Now you can easily find these photos any time.
Someone looking at your profile can view your favorite photos as public items.
You can choose a favorite photo by clicking the 'Favorite' icon for the photo you like.
How do I choose a photo to be a favorite?
You can choose a favorite photo by clicking the 'Favorite' icon for the photo you like.
How do I remove a photo from my favorites?
You can remove a photo from your favorites by visiting your "Favorite" section and clicking the 'Remove' link for the photo.
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COMMUNITIES
How do I control a Community I have created?
On your Community page, you can invite or block users, remove other members' photos, and edit the name, avatar, and description of your Community.
How can I join a Community?
Visit the Community you would like to join. If it is a public Community, click the 'Join' link. You may join a private Community with an invitation from any member of the community. You can join Special Communities only if the community leader or creator invites you. Members join VIP communities by invitation from the ViewBug staff only.
How do I add photos to a Community?
You can add photos to a Community in one of the following easy ways:
1. Click the 'Add Photos to Community' link found on the Community's main page.
2. In the Community section of the Photo Manager, add your photos by dragging and dropping them into any Community to which you belong.
Private photos will become public if shared with a Community.
How do I stop being a member of a Community?
You can cancel your membership in a Community by clicking the 'Leave Community' link on the main Community page.
What is a charity community?
Charity Communities are a great way for the ViewBug community to help raise funds for non-profit organizations. All donations are made solely by ViewBug; you help by participating. In order for ViewBug to make the donation, the Community has to reach its specified goals.
How do I create a Charity Community?
You can suggest a Charity Community on the main Community page. The ViewBug staff will review your proposal. If accepted, you will receive an email with further instructions.
How does the non-profit organization get the donation?
ViewBug will send a PayPal transfer to the non-profit organization's PayPal account.
Photo eCards:
Create your own eCards, or visit the eCard section in the Explore menu to use other members' public eCards. Use eCards to make someone smile or for use as invitations to a special event.
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ECARDS
Create your own or visit the eCard section under the Explore menu to use other member's public eCards.
How do I create an eCard?
Visit My Photos and click the eCard link under the specific photo. Choose from many cool templates, add your photo and message, then send the eCard. Only one photo may be used per day to create a public eCard; this helps control the quality of the eCard section. You may create as many private eCards as you desire. A public eCard may be used by any other ViewBug member, while a private eCard is not available to others.
Also, you may create, edit, remove, and send eCards by using the My eCards link in the My Photo dropdown menu.
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MY CONTACTS
How do I add a ViewBug friend?
Search any ViewBug member and click on the Add as a contact link in their public profile.
What are email groups?
You can create email groups to easily share photos among colleagues, friends, and family. Want to show your wedding photos to your family? Share your Wedding Photo Album with your Family email group.
What are private groups?
Private groups are an easy way to select who can see which photos within your ViewBug profile. Choose from your ViewBug friends and categorize them into different groups. The most common groups are friends, family, coworkers, and ViewBug Friends.
How do I create private groups?
You can create private groups within My Contacts or the Editor. Your default private group is ViewBug Friends.
How to invite someone to a private group?
Select the private group and click on the invite link. Also, within My contacts page you can manage who is in which group.
How to add a photo to a private group?
You can use the Photo Manager to add or remove photos from your private groups. Public photos will become private once added to a private group. One photo may belong to one or more private groups.
How many private groups can I create?
Free membership holders can create five private groups, Premium members can create 10, and Premium Gold members can create an unlimited number of private groups.
Contests:
All private photos submitted to Contests will automatically become public. You maintain legal rights to your photos, but you allow ViewBug to show your winning photo as per the contest details.
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CONTESTS
All private photos submitted to Contests will automatically become public. You maintain legal rights to your photos, but you allow ViewBug to show your winning photo as per the contest details.
Who chooses the Contest winners and how are these winners selected?
Depending on the Contest specifications, some winners are selected by members' votes and others are judged by ViewBug's staff or a judging panel.
Winning photos are selected based on quality, originality, and creativity, in accordance with the contest's theme.
Guest judges include various accomplished artists.
Learn More...
Do I lose the rights to my photos when I submit them to Contests?
Never! However, you agree that your photo will be published if you win a publishing Contest.
How can I promote my contest entry?
You can promote your entry by sharing your submitted photos with family and friends, and inviting them to vote. Another great way to gain exposure is by using the promo tools included with your account.
How do I receive a cash prize?
For quick and secure transactions, all payments are made through PayPal. Payments are submitted within one to three business days after ViewBug receives confirmation from email notifications sent to winners.
What if I do not have a PayPal account?
Its easy, safe and free to open a Paypal account. Please visit www.paypal.com for more information.
How do I get published?
Publishing Contest winners will appear in the stated issue of American Photo Magazine and the ViewBug Book of Photography.
Are Contests free?
Some photo contests are free and accessible to all ViewBug members. Other contests are exclusively for Premium or Premium Gold members. Some exclusive contests will have an entry fee.
How do I pay an entry fee for a contest?
Secure payment is accepted via credit cards and PayPal.
When are Contest winners announced?
Photo Contest winners are announced within 24 hours of the Contest deadline.
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MY SUBMISSIONS
All private photos submitted to Contests will become public. This section is an easy way to keep track of any photos entered in Contests.
Journals:
Journals are a great way to share a story along with your images. Choose from two different journal layouts, publish, and share your thoughts with the world.
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JOURNALS
A great way to share a story along with your images. Choose from two different journal layouts, publish and share your thoughts with the world.
How many journals can I have?
Premium and Premium Gold members have an unlimited number of journals. Free membership holders have a two-week trial period with this feature. After the trial expires, the journals will be archived. Journals will be accessible once you upgrade to a Premium or Premium Gold membership.
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STORE
Do I lose the rights to my photos when I put them up for sale?
Never! You always keep the rights to your photos.
How can I sell a photograph?
You can choose the photo you want to sell on the My Photos page or in the Store section.
What are the size requirements for photos?
Please follow these size guidelines to have your photo printed properly:
| Print Size |
Image size |
| Width |
Height |
Width (pixels) |
Height (pixels) |
| 14 |
11 |
1008 |
792 |
| 18 |
12 |
1296 |
864 |
| 20 |
16 |
1440 |
1152 |
| 24 |
18 |
1728 |
1296 |
| 30 |
20 |
2160 |
1440 |
| 36 |
24 |
2592 |
1728 |
| 48 |
36 |
3456 |
2592 |
| 72 dpi | |
What photos should I sell?
You should select only your best artistic work, and we mean only the best of your best. You can only select one photo to sell per day -- we must control the quality of work available in the Store. We want to make sure your best work is easily located in the store.
What markup should I choose?
On average, we recommend a 20% markup to increase the likelihood of your photos being sold.
How can I track my sales?
In the My Store section, you can see what photos you have sold, the quantities, and the total profit.
When do I get paid?
A minimum balance of $20 is required to request payment. For your security, all payments are made through PayPal. Payments are submitted within one to three business days after ViewBug receives your payment request.
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Select the Account that better fits your photographic needs.
ViewBug is a place where we all share one thing:
A passion for Photography
We welcome all levels and types of photographers.
A team of energetic and photography-passionate individuals is all it took to get this idea working from the ground-up.
We are committed to offering a collaborative online environment that allows our members to gain exposure and have an opportunity to get their photos published and win cash & prizes.
 ViewBug is your one stop place for all your online photography needs:
Sell and buy photos
Securely back up photos
Easy organization and photo sharing
Great photo contests with amazing rewards
3-D photo album slideshows
Photo Ecards
We provide a safe photo backup service and multiple photo privacy settings to allow our users to share their photos in a secure manner.
We want our members to:
Be creative and original
Have fun
Learn from other members
Share their creations with the world
Be rewarded by us and other users
We promote creativity.
We reward originality and quality.
With thousands of users sharing their photos and other media through our site, we pride ourselves on keeping a close relationship with our members. We are dedicated to improving user experience each day, and we want ViewBug to be your home for all your online photography needs.
We offer many opportunities to participate in today's modern photography world.
ViewBug's mission is to continually give back to the community and our members, who are the ones that keep the site going. Join us and other members to help give back to the community through ViewBug's photo charity communities.
ViewBug will continually bring exciting, new, and exclusive features for you to enjoy.
What some ViewBug members are saying:
gemmen "Sharing my photos is easy plus I have been rewarded with cash! Viewbug and Paypal are efficient and quick to process my payments!"
1977Jan "I really enjoy getting feedback from the members and getting to know them... I have made so many wonderful friends on this site."
Kaly "I signed up, uploaded pictures, and ViewBugged away! I have received two awards, a total of $40 up until now"
Sailfishes "Thank you ViewBug, I really like your site, this the only site where I get positive feed back and rewards for my passion for photography"
Niko "I love this place! My photos are finally getting rewarded..."
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Our team and judges >>
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Bronze Member
Silver Member
Gold Member
ViewBug Moderator
3D Twister Slideshow
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