BrandStudio vs SmugMug
Built for the event, not the after-party.
SmugMug is a proven place to host your portfolio and sell prints — unlimited photo storage and a print store with fulfillment handled. BrandStudio does a different job: it runs the event itself — capture on iPhone, iPad, or a tethered Mac, every photo branded with your client’s logo, and each guest finds their own photos by selfie before they leave. SmugMug figures below are from its plans page as of August 2026.
FeatureBrandStudioSmugMug
What it’s built forRunning events: capture on-site, brand every photo, deliver to each guest by faceHosting your portfolio website and selling prints after the shoot — a mature, proven platform for it
On-site capture (iPhone, iPad, tethered Mac)Native apps for all three — shoot the room, photos go straight to deliveryBuilt for uploading edited work after the shoot
Photo boothIncluded — iPad booth with animated bursts, overlays, and printsNot a booth platform
Face Match (guests find their photos by selfie)Included on every planBuilt for browsing galleries rather than event-day guest search
Delivery speedOn the guest’s phone before they leave; lobby screens during the eventYou edit and upload after the event, then share a link
Custom domainDeliver plan and upPortfolio plan and up
Photo storageSized by plan: 500 GB, 2 TB, or 5 TB, plus $20/mo per extra TBUnlimited photo storage on every plan (RAW files are a paid add-on)
Print salesNo built-in print store — BrandStudio is capture and delivery, not print salesBuilt-in print store with lab fulfillment and shipping (Portfolio plan and up)
Live slideshow / photo wallIncluded on Deliver — photos hit the screens during the eventNot an on-site display tool
Pricing$159 / $319 / $639 a month billed yearlyFrom $20 a month (billed yearly) up to $37 for Pro, plus custom Enterprise
Why teams pick BrandStudio
- Built for the event, not the after-party. Photos reach the guest’s phone before they leave — not after two nights of culling and uploading.
- Every guest finds their own photos with a selfie. No scrolling a giant gallery, no “can you send me mine?” the next day.
- Your logo on galleries from the entry plan, not reserved for a higher tier.
- One platform for the room: capture, booth, branded delivery, live slideshow, on-site printing, and follow-up — not a portfolio host you bolt other tools onto.
- Every new account starts with a setup call with a real person.
When SmugMug might be a better fit
- If you want a portfolio website and a self-serve print store for selling images after a shoot, that’s what SmugMug is built for, and it has been doing it since 2002.
- If your priority is long-term, unlimited hosting for a big catalog, SmugMug’s unlimited photo storage and maturity are real advantages an event platform doesn’t try to match.
- If your business is selling prints from galleries weeks later, SmugMug’s built-in store, lab fulfillment, and shipping are a lower-lift fit than running an event platform.
Not sure if we're the right fit?
Book a 30-minute Event Kickoff Call with Jon. We'll walk through your event, hear what you're trying to do, and tell you straight if BrandStudio is the right match — or point you somewhere better if not.