I am going to try to post here from my PB because they are now blocking posting unless you pay? so here goes.
I'm getting the same Susie so I'm considering another hosting site. I just haven't made up my mind which one I'll choose yet.
PhotoBucket changed their business practices a few days back and are demanding that users pay an annual fee of $399 (yes $399!!) to allow their photos to be displayed on third party websites like GardenStew. In my opinion they've shot themselves in the foot.
It is only individual pictures which are no longer allowed to be posted without paying. You may still link to an album or to a photo where the recipient has to follow the link to view the image/s. One may also still download your saved images from PB so they are not 'lost' or locked up and unobtainable. Not that I am making excuses for the rip off nature of the demand from them. Personally I am in the process of removing all my content from them and saving it elsewhere. Having said that, one wonders how long it will be before all the photo sharing sites want to charge for their service?
Oh, and just as an fyi, I own another website, for a very small group of longtime friends, totally private and by invitation only...I've no plans to grow the membership. It's hosted by pro boards, and just started displaying that same notice. I haven't yet checked it out further, but as nothing from that site is shared outside of it, it hasn't been problematic to the function of that particular board.
