Newbie With Questions.

[uthscsa19]

I have slowly begun doing research into developing my photography forum/photo-host website that I've been meaning to create.  I am new to website creation and most things that are relevant.  I have looked over forums, and have decided to go with SMF forums (phpBB seems to be very vulnerable), and I wanted something that would integrate well with that.  I want my users to register with one user name that gives them access to the forums and a personal photo gallery that they can manage themselves.  This will be a photo critique, photography hardware and technique discussion board/photo-host. 

Can Coppermine accomplish this? 

Is Coppermine Free? (I have a small budget, and most of it is going toward hosting and books to learn html,css,design)

How Hard is it to setup Coppermine and integrate it into SMF forums for someone that knows little about webcreation?

Is there a rating system integrated? (A big part of this site is giving users feedback on their photos, so they can improve their technique)

What things are needed from my webhost? (I haven't much of a clue as to what they offer or what I need, but this is why I am taking atleast a month just to research before I start building and paying for a host)

I am really hoping this is my solution to the photo-hosting section of my soon-to-be website, but if you don't think that it will work, then let me know.  If this sounds like it will work, or it has been done before, can you please point me in the direction of that site so that I may see SMF/Coppermine intergration and functionality. 

Thanks for the replies.

UberWebNewbie

[Joachim Müller]

I have slowly begun doing research into developing my photography forum/photo-host website that I've been meaning to create.  I am new to website creation and most things that are relevant.  I have looked over forums, and have decided to go with SMF forums (phpBB seems to be very vulnerable), and I wanted something that would integrate well with that.  I want my users to register with one user name that gives them access to the forums and a personal photo gallery that they can manage themselves.  This will be a photo critique, photography hardware and technique discussion board/photo-host. 

Can Coppermine accomplish this? 

yes, see http://coppermine-gallery.net/demo/cpg14x/docs/index.htm#integrating_steps_start

Is Coppermine Free? (I have a small budget, and most of it is going toward hosting and books to learn html,css,design)

yes

How Hard is it to setup Coppermine and integrate it into SMF forums for someone that knows little about webcreation?

not hard if you follow the documentation thoroughly.

Is there a rating system integrated? (A big part of this site is giving users feedback on their photos, so they can improve their technique)

yes, review the demo

What things are needed from my webhost? (I haven't much of a clue as to what they offer or what I need, but this is why I am taking atleast a month just to research before I start building and paying for a host)

http://coppermine-gallery.net/demo/cpg14x/docs/index.htm#what

You should use the most recent stable cpg1.4.4 when starting from scratch.

[uthscsa19]

Thanks, looks like I have some more reading to do.  Look forward to using this awesome script.