It’s been a full year since a simple error, a mix of oversight and misplaced trust, cost me the .com domain for the FlixelPix website. I had built the site for over fifteen years. In an instant, I lost not just a web address, but access to countless connected accounts, years of search engine credibility, backlinks, and the email addresses tied to the domain.
Top Image: The first photo I captured with the Fujifilm X100 camera in 2011.
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The domain was quickly picked up and became an AI generated photography site on it for a year. Then, at the start of October 25, it went up for auction. When I saw the starting bid of $5, I had a glimmer of hope until it surged well past $1000. I had to let it go.
The next chapter and the new owners have restored the domain and pull old content (probably via WayBackMachine). This is essence looks like my site in 2019. It’s one thing to own the domain and another to republish my content. I have contacted a lawyer.
FlixelPix Website : dot something
Let this serve as a cautionary tale: never rely solely on auto-renewal to protect your domain name. Systems fail, payment methods expire, and reminders can go unnoticed. Take the time to manually verify that your domain is secure, your billing details are current, and your renewal dates are firmly in your calendar.
Thankfully, the photographs and creative work that defined FlixelPix are still mine. I’ve been able to rebuild some of the content from backups, though the timestamps and links tell a different story.
The hardest part is starting over. Rebuilding social media accounts from scratch, watching old backlinks lead nowhere, and knowing that thousands of RSS subscribers have vanished.
This new site stands as both a fresh start and a reminder, safeguard what you’ve built. Recovering from a lost domain is far harder than preventing it.
Looking back:
Photography Exhibitions
Through the Mill – The Island Arts Centre (Hilden Mill)
Twenty – The Island Arts Centre | Mak9 – Films & Photos
Music Album Covers
Michael Mormecha, & Malojian Southlands. Both images captured at Millbank Studios. Music Photography : U2, Wolf Alice, Foy Vance et al.
FlixelPix Website: Photography Projects
BigIF – Tearfund & Christian Aid
100 Our Story of Healing, Honour and Hope Evangelical Alliance
Even Gods – Film – Phil Harrison
Water Aid – Tearfund
Fujifilm X Photographer Projects
Launch – Fujifilm X-Pro1 | Freedom Through Photography (with Millican Bags) | Fujifilm X-M1
Launch – Fujifilm X-Pro2
Launch – Fujifilm X20
Launch – Fujifilm X100F
The Fujifilm X Photographer Journey
The Long Exposure eBook
If you ever linked to the website please do update the links to the new address. If you have any advice, pointers or similar narratives please post in the comments below:
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