So founder DonMacAskill hired his father, Chris, to help set up a subscription-only site with no advertisers, no debt financing and an emphasis on total user control of their photos.
With just 24 employees, income of a few million dollars and no outside investors, DonMacAskill has created one of the top company brands in its field and one of the most-liked and most-respected personal brands.
Camera Awesome is free, but it is only available for Apple's iOS devices. (SmugMug CEO and Chief Geek DonMacAskill, says an Android app is in the works.) Though the app includes 36 free effects, including presets, filters, textures and frames, 261 effects must be bought as an in-app purchase for 99 cents per set of nine.