The most common solution is to place your video on the host server and have it play back on the viewer's computer as the bandwidth allows. In this case, which is called a progressive download, people can pause the video to allow it to buffer, meaning that if they have a slow connection they can wait and then experience a clean playback at their leisure.

With streaming video, your video is sent to the viewer's computer only as they watch it, so if they have a slow connection it will be jumpy. This is the future of video playback but, unfortunately, for many people, this still does not deliver an acceptable experience.

The final thing to consider is what tools people will need to watch your video. You may be creating your video on a Mac, in which case it may seem to be a logical decision to post your video in QuickTime. However, you need to realize that people who are using a PC may not have a QuickTime player. What is most common and is used by the likes of YouTube is Flash video. The Flash Player is able to play back most videos and more than 98 percent of computers with Internet browsers have Flash Player installed.

You can also consider providing an embed code, which will allow people to upload your video to their own sites and blogs, and ultimately share it with others. Viral marketing is a good thing, and I would highly encourage this action.

Getting started
I understand that this is a lot of information to digest and that the process probably seems even more daunting after reading all of these options. However, it's not nearly as difficult as it seems and you can probably sort through your fears by making a quick call to a video savvy friend or your Web site provider. Many of the leading photography Web site companies can help you add video to your site without a lot of hassle or confusion.

The next step would be to review some other photographers' videos and see what the competition is up to. There are an array of photographer videos online, and they all range in length, approach, and quality. Once you've fully researched your options, you'll be well on your way to standing out in a sea of professionals and finding new clients with a greater appreciation -- and understanding -- of your work.

Tricia Gellman Holmes is the vice president of marketing at liveBooks, Inc. The San Francisco-based company provides fully editable and customized Web sites and management solutions with innovative online tools to help photographers translate their work into effective, online experiences, increase their exposure and share their creative vision.