New ad partner incoming – can you help support the site with a few pennies a month?

By Hamish Gill

Those who follow the website will likely be familiar with my ongoing headaches with adverts – specifically with how, when and where they are displayed on the website. The short version is that I haven’t been happy with the provider for a long time, but haven’t felt confident moving away from them as I have been worried about a reduction in revenue.

There is a reality to the running of this website that I don’t often talk about. That being that it is hard, it is time consuming, and I don’t earn anything close to minimum wage for the time that I spend on it either. Though none of this ever feels anything like an issue to me because I love doing it. I love the community, and I very much appreciate the fact that whilst I don’t earn much from doing what I do, everyone else who contributes does so for nothing more than their own enjoyment. All of this has made the idea of doing something drastic like moving ad providers seem like a big deal. I suppose it feels like there’s a fine balance here. The website is currently generating just about the right amount of cash to cover the costs, and to pay me enough for my time that I can justify doing it, but not so much that I feel guilty for raking in a load of cash for other people’s hard work. In short, I am comfortable with with the current balance. But I am not comfortable with the company I currently work with, or indeed the user experience of the website. In fact, to be honest, I find the amount of ads embarrassing.

As such, one of the big reasons for wanting to change ad providers is to regain a bit more control over how the adverts are displayed. The current system is to some degree automated to generate as much income as it can within certain parameters. This is good for the cash, but frankly crap for user experience.

I have spoken to a whole load of other companies about switching to a new system. Many of them just want me on board and talk about how much more money they can make me. To me, this just means they will clutter the website even more. There is one that hasn’t taken that approach though. In fact, they have been very honest with me and have said that if I switch to them, I will likely see a reduction in revenue, but the website will be cleaner and I will have more control over ad placement etc. So I have decided to go with them.

The problem is, whilst this is going to see a long term slight hit on revenue, in the short term it is going to be quite dramatic, and I am actually a little worried about the transition – both the reduction in cash, which they tell me could be quite significant to begin with, and indeed the cost of paying my tech support guys to make the transition.

So, if you hadn’t guessed already, I’m basically here begging for a few more pennies from a few more of you via the website subscription. It’s £2.99 a month, and for that you get a completely ad-free experience of the website. You also get a lovely warm feeling from knowing that you’re helping e keep this place going! I hate to beg, but really, if you are able to support the website, even if it was just for a few months, it really would help!

If you would like to subscribe, you can do so here – thank you in advance!

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There are two ways to contribute to 35mmc and experience it without the adverts:

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If you think £2.99 a month is too little, then please subscribe and I can manually edit the subscription value for you – thank you very much in advance if this is what you would like to do!

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Make a donation – If you would simply like to support Hamish Gill and 35mmc financially, you can also do so via ko-fi

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About The Author

By Hamish Gill
I started taking photos at the age of 9. Since then I've taken photos for a hobby, sold cameras for a living, and for a little more than decade I've been a professional photographer and, of course, weekly contributor to 35mmc.
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Comments

Neal A Wellons on New ad partner incoming – can you help support the site with a few pennies a month?

Comment posted: 09/05/2025

Some of the content creators might like to make a donation - I would. It would be nice to have a link for a donation rather than a subscription.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 09/05/2025

I didn't think of that - very kind, thank you!! You could paypal me here: https://paypal.me/35mmc

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Gary Smith replied:

Comment posted: 09/05/2025

I used that option as well. - G

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Jeffery Luhn replied:

Comment posted: 09/05/2025

The subscription thing is also undesirable for me. I'll be happy to do a paypal donation of $36. Two burritos and two sodas cost that much, and 35mmc is easier on my system!

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Ian replied:

Comment posted: 09/05/2025

Hi Hamish, keep us updated if possible. We can't help if we don't know and I'm sure there are those here that can and will. I've put some in your PayPal, let us know if more is needed. It's tough times for everyone and there are so few good photo sites left, it would leave an unfillable hole were the unthinkable to happen. Cheers Ian

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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 09/05/2025

Thank you, Ian, that's much appreciated!

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Ron Duda on New ad partner incoming – can you help support the site with a few pennies a month?

Comment posted: 09/05/2025

Hamish am I missing something? I read the articles on 35mmc virtually every day. I don’t see any adverts.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 09/05/2025

You are a contributor - people who write for the website get an ad-free experience without having to subscribe.

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Ron Duda replied:

Comment posted: 09/05/2025

Wonderful! I’ll continue in that vein. Your efforts are very much appreciated Hamish. Best wishes.

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Lance Rowley on New ad partner incoming – can you help support the site with a few pennies a month?

Comment posted: 09/05/2025

I love this idea! I wrote an article once and honestly I felt guilty that I got the ad-free experience because of it. I really hope that the community rallies to help support.
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Ibraar Hussain on New ad partner incoming – can you help support the site with a few pennies a month?

Comment posted: 09/05/2025

I'd be happy to subscribe if there were a subscribe option.
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Ibraar Hussain replied:

Comment posted: 09/05/2025

Which there is and I then used ! I’m going blind me thinks

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Timothy Hancock on New ad partner incoming – can you help support the site with a few pennies a month?

Comment posted: 09/05/2025

Subscribed Hamish
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Erik Brammer on New ad partner incoming – can you help support the site with a few pennies a month?

Comment posted: 09/05/2025

Thank you, Hamish, for running this site.
I can only recommend becoming a subscriber. The ad-free experience is worth it - for a small bottle of beer a month in a cheap pub!
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 09/05/2025

Cheers Erik, it does make a big difference to the website - I wish I could be done with the damned ads tbh!

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davesurrey on New ad partner incoming – can you help support the site with a few pennies a month?

Comment posted: 09/05/2025

Donated via PayPal just now.
Thanks Hamish
Dave
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 09/05/2025

Thanks Dave!!

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David Hume on New ad partner incoming – can you help support the site with a few pennies a month?

Comment posted: 10/05/2025

Hi Hamish. I just bought you a pint via PayPal. Actually I don't know how pint prices run in our respective countries so I hope that it's a nice pint not just a can of Tennent's from the off-licence. Anyway, I think it's great that you're finessing this, and it must be a pain to deal with. As a contributor I notice whenever I'm logged out that the ad-free experience versus the ad experience is chalk and cheese. I fully understand that this thing must not be a total drain on your personal finances and I hope it all plays out nicely. I watch a lot of YouTube and happily pay my monthly YouTube subscription so I get ad-free across the platform but blogs are such a different model I guess. I do notice with a little sadness that a lot of my favourite YouTube channels are getting more and more clickbaitey so it's a tough land to navigate I'm sure. Anyway this site still rocks so good luck!
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 10/05/2025

Cheers, David, much appreciated!

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Mark Ellerby on New ad partner incoming – can you help support the site with a few pennies a month?

Comment posted: 10/05/2025

I hardly ever subscribe to anything but I have enjoyed this site with the small and supportive community, plus the absence of intrusive advertising is valuable to me, so I have signed up just now.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 10/05/2025

Thanks, Mark!

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Tony Warren on New ad partner incoming – can you help support the site with a few pennies a month?

Comment posted: 10/05/2025

I have just contributed via Paypal. A health problem is keeping me away from my keyboard and shutter release at present so I am a reader rather than a writer for a while so only too glad to help keep things afloat. Keep up the good work Hamish. It is greatly appreciated by everyone who enjoys the site.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 10/05/2025

Thank you, Tony! All the best for your recovery!

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Tony Warren replied:

Comment posted: 10/05/2025

Thank you Hamish. It is my wife who is recovering, I am just the dogsbody. She is making good, if slow, progress.

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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 10/05/2025

I'm sorry, yes, you did tell me that before - I'm pleased to hear she's getting there, mate!

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Roger on New ad partner incoming – can you help support the site with a few pennies a month?

Comment posted: 12/05/2025

Why not add a Paypal link for donations to the “about 35mmc” page? There will be people who are happy to make the occasional donation even if they do not want to subscribe.
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Adrian Cullen on New ad partner incoming – can you help support the site with a few pennies a month?

Comment posted: 12/05/2025

Signed up !! It looks SO MUCH better without the adds.
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John Eaton on New ad partner incoming – can you help support the site with a few pennies a month?

Comment posted: 13/05/2025

Hi Hamish. Many, many thanks for what you do to create and maintain this site -- I think it's great!! Like others I would be very willing to help you keep up the good work, whether through donations of a higher subscription price -- I also think that at £2.99 it's a steal!!, and, at least for me, there's nothing remotely comparable that i could get for that price that would give me as much satisfaction. Several pints are on their way
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Eric on New ad partner incoming – can you help support the site with a few pennies a month?

Comment posted: 14/05/2025

Done. Already had ad free as a contributor (Thank you.), but gladly paid. This is a wonderful space. Continued success to you.
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