Migrating from SmugMug

ArtInStack imports SmugMug folders and albums as portfolio collections and downloads photo originals into Media. This is a gallery vault migration—not a full website page builder import. You authorize your own SmugMug account; ArtInStack does not use a shared platform SmugMug login.

Prerequisites

• A SmugMug account with the albums you want to move.
• Workspace owner login on ArtInStack (team members cannot import).
• Permission to create a SmugMug API key (App Key) for that account.
• Enough storage on your plan for the photos you select.

Step 1: Create a SmugMug API key

SmugMug requires each account to create its own API application before a third-party product can connect. ArtInStack stores your key on your workspace—there is no shared platform SmugMug login.

1. Sign in to SmugMug and open API documentation → Manage Applications (or Request a new API key).
2. Create an application and copy the API key and API secret.
3. You can leave other application fields as SmugMug provides them—ArtInStack handles the Connect handoff automatically.

If Connect fails after you approve access in SmugMug, open the API key in Manage Applications and set Callback URL to https://app.artinstack.com/api/migration/smugmug/callback (or your dashboard host + /api/migration/smugmug/callback), then try Connect again.

Step 2: Save credentials and Connect

1. Open Settings → Import Site.
2. Select SmugMug.
3. Paste API key and API secret, then click Save API credentials.
4. Click Connect SmugMug and complete authorization in the popup (allow popups for this site if your browser blocks them).
5. When the status shows Connected, you can scan.

Credentials stay on your workspace like other integration settings. Disconnect clears the authorized session; Clear API credentials removes the key and secret as well.

Step 3: Scan albums

1. Click Scan albums.
2. Wait for the Import preview — counts for portfolios (albums) and media (photos).
3. No content is written yet. You can disconnect, reconnect, or scan again safely.

Step 4: Select albums and confirm

1. Review Portfolios and Media rows in the preview.
2. Use Choose… pickers to select specific albums or images, or import the full selection shown.
3. Click Confirm import.

A background job downloads originals (including private SmugMug assets when your connection allows), creates Media rows, and links them into Portfolio collections. Progress appears on the same screen; open Reports when it finishes.

What is imported

SmugMug	ArtInStack
Folder / album	Portfolio collection (name/slug from the album)
Photo original	Media library item + link in the portfolio
Captions where available	Media caption fields
Camera EXIF in the file	Stored on the media record when the downloaded file includes it

Imported portfolios stay private (public gallery / public page off) until you enable them in portfolio settings—so a scan-and-import does not suddenly publish galleries on your site.

What is not imported

SmugMug content	Why	What to do instead
Custom pages that are not albums	Not part of the album vault path	Build pages in the page editor
Site chrome / theme	Platform site settings are separate	Header, footer, and navigation
WordPress-style SEO redirects	SmugMug album paths are not a full CMS URL map	Publish portfolio pages, then share new URLs; use WordPress import if you also have a WP site

Verifying your setup

• Connected status appears before you scan.
• Preview lists the albums and photo counts you expect.
• Confirm import finishes with status Completed on Reports.
• Open Portfolio — collections exist and remain private until you enable a public page.
• Open Media — sample photos show dimensions and EXIF when the source file had it.
• See After your import for reports and go-live checklist.

Troubleshooting and common pitfalls

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
Connect popup blocked	Browser popup blocker	Allow popups, then Connect again
Connect fails after authorize	Rare SmugMug app setting mismatch	In SmugMug Manage Applications, edit the API key and set Callback URL to https://app.artinstack.com/api/migration/smugmug/callback (or your dashboard host + /api/migration/smugmug/callback), then Connect again
Scan says connect first	Access tokens missing or expired	Connect again; if needed, Clear API credentials and re-save the key
Some photos missing	Not selected in the picker, or download failed	Check Reports JSON for asset failures; re-import missing media
Gallery empty on the public site	Portfolio still private	Portfolio → Manage portfolio → Settings — enable the public page when ready
Team member cannot import	Owner-only	Workspace owner must run Import Site