ProPhoto - Premium Wordpress Theme for Professional Photographers - Single Column, big pictures - Blog Template

Over that past few weeks, a small but significant number of WordPress users (including ProPhoto users) have been experiencing a problem inserting images into posts using the WordPress write box.  What happens is they upload an image, but then their little upload box goes white and freezes, and they can never insert the image into their post.

[note: this is kind of a long post, but keep reading, there are some good tips, and if those don't work, there is pretty good fallback solution at the bottom]

We have dubbed this problem “The White Screen of Death.” It’s a tricky problem.  Some facts:

First, please understand this is not a ProPhoto theme issue.  This is a problem with WordPress itself, not ProPhoto. Specifically, it is a problem with WordPress 2.5 and above.  It did not occur in earlier versions of WordPress.

Second, this is not a ProPhoto theme issue.  Oh, wait, did I already say that?  Sorry, I’ve gotten a few emails where people were upset with me over this and could not understand that there was a difference between WordPress and ProPhoto.  WordPress is the blogging software. ProPhoto is just an add-on of files that makes your WordPress blog look cool.  All of the image uploading functionality is done by WordPress, and not by ProPhoto.  You can de-activate ProPhoto (or even delete it off your web host) and still have the same problem.

An analogy:  if you’ve ever purchased a set of Actions for Photoshop, ProPhoto is like that.  If Photoshop has some kind of bug, it’s not the fault of the poor guy who sold you the actions.  Another analogy:  if you bought a pair of fuzzy pink dice for your Honda Accord, don’t blame the dice manufacturer when you blow a head gasket in your engine.

OK, rant over, sorry.

If you are having the White Screen of Death, here are a few support threads that might make for good bathroom reading:

Thread 0
Thread 1
Thread 2
Thread 3
Thread 4
Thread 5

Here are my thoughts on getting this resolved:

First, if you’re using Internet Explorer, try using Firefox instead.  If you don’t know what Firefox is, it is a free web browser that is faster, safer, and more powerful than Internet Explorer.  You can download it here.

Second, make sure your version of Flash player (a plugin used by browsers to display special content) is up to date.  Go here to update.

Third, try using Firefox with no additional tabs open - just one window and no tabs.

Fourth, use an FTP program and navigate to your blogs wp-content folder, which is in your main blog folder or whatever your root directory for your blog is.  Using the FTP program, change the permissions on this folder to 777.

Fifth, read Thread 0 above, and try some of the other solutions, or continue reading for an alternative solution.

If none of those things seem to work, you’ll probably need to use a blog editor to publish to your blog until WordPress gets this all sorted out. You can post to your blog, including uploading images, using a desktop-based (non-web based) program.  Try using Qumana blog editor.  It should allow you to post just fine.  And it’s free. Just disable the dumb little “posted by Qumana” tag by going to “Preferences” => “Editor” and uncheck “insert Qumana tagline in new posts”.

Finally, if you don’t want to use a blog editor like Qumana, you can downgrade (but I don’t recommend this) to WP 2.3.3.  This is a temporary fix, because you will want to eventually upgrade again in a few months for security reasons, but maybe by then WordPress will fix this bug. To downgrade, first backup your blog, entirely (don’t skip this step), then follow the normal upgrading instructions here, except use this copy of WordPress 2.3.3 >> WordPress233

Nicole just left a comment asking how to adjust the font-size for her comments area.  I thought that was a very good question, and one I’ve been asked a few times, so I’m writing it up here for everyone’s benefit.

There are two places you may want to change the font-size in your comments area.  The first is in the area that lists how many comments and has the “show comments” and “add a comment” text, as shown below:

The second area, is the actual comments themselves, show below:

To change the font size in these areas, open up your Stylesheet in your Theme editor by going to “Design” => “Theme Editor” after loggin into your WP Admin area.  Once you’re in your Theme editor, from the right-hand side choose to edit the file called “Stylesheet (style.css)”.

Scroll all the way to the bottom, put your cursor at the end of the line and press return a few times to get on a new line.  Then paste in this chunk of code:

/* font size for comments area */
.meta-inner {
font-size:13px;
}

Adjust the number 13 to whatever size font you want.  This will affect both of the areas I discussed above.  If you’re OK with both areas having the same font size, you’re all set.  Just view your blog (remember to force your browser to refresh so you can see your changes) and check your work.

If you want the font size for your actual comments (picture 2 above) to be different from the other area (picture 1 above), you’ll need to add another chunk of code, like so:

/* font size for only comments */
.meta-inner #comments {
font-size:12px;
}

Again, adjust the number 12 to whatever you want, save the changes, view your blog and refresh your browser to check your work.

Related posts:
Change comment text color,
Display comments by default,
Comments aren’t working

Just a quick note to let everyone know that I made all the payments today for people who received a Quick Buck discount code. Thanks Kim, for bugging me about it!

Sorry for the delay, it’s been about two months since I went through my records and made payments.  If anyone thinks their code was used and didn’t get a payment, email me and we’ll figure it out.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, anyone who wants one can get a personal discount code for ProPhoto theme for Photographers.  Everyone who uses your code will get $5 off the theme, and for every person who uses it, I will also send $5 back to you as a thank-you for your referral.

I try to make the payments at the beginnig of every month.

If you have photographer friends and colleagues, or participate in a forum, email me at: sales at netrivet dot com and put “QUICK BUCK” in the subject line and also give me your PayPal email address, and I will send you your own code.

I’ve got a couple people who have earned more than what their blog cost in Quick Buck payments, so it can be quite lucrative!