| Author | Thread |
|
|
05/31/2005 04:55:53 PM · #1 |
I am starting to create a website for myself and would like a few suggestions. Here is what I have so far. //emilyminor.com/ Any ideas on the logo, layout, text, etc would be helpful. I really don't have much there!
How many photos should I show? I would eventually like to sell prints and also get people to hire me to photograph them.
Should I do the whole site in Flash, or is HTML OK too?
Thanks!
Emily |
|
|
|
05/31/2005 05:04:25 PM · #2 |
DO NOT use flash. Everyone is so damned keen on it these days, they seem to forget how many people (computers) can't 'do flash'. If they can't do flash, they can't see your site. If they can't see you site, then all your work and effort is totally wasted. And, your competition's site, done in HTML, gets the business. I have seen this with wedding photographers.
Speed - not eveyone has broadband. Actually, from the last stats i read, less than 1/2 the net users have broadband. SO, keep the pics small and especially the home page - make it load fast.
How many pics? If you are selling prints, then you obviously have to show everything you are selling. If it is more of a portfolio / brochure type thing, 10-20. People's eyes will glaze over and you will lose their attention if too many pics are available.
logo..you want something that can be color or b&w, that can be scaled for size and used horizontally or square or perhaps even vertical. if you go with one or 2 colors then pic pantone colors. This way if/when you have biz cards or letterhead or anything in the future the logo will work and look the same.
As to your site:
contact - don't just pop up an email page. give them a page with other contact info and an email pop up option there.
retouched - the last two?? i like the before and after. i'd like to see more samples, and the sizes need to be consistent. the most common way of doing this is with a mouseover command (the use rolls a mouse over the image and it changes to the before image)
teh images page has an issue - it did not stop loading, had a broken link and clicking on some of the images did nothing.
otherwise i like the design/look/feel of the site.
Message edited by author 2005-05-31 21:08:34.
|
|
|
|
05/31/2005 05:08:39 PM · #3 |
| it all really depends on how much web space you have and what you want to use it for. If I remember correctly flash files can take a lot of room and as Prof Fate stated not everyone can do flash. One way around that is to have two sites set up and have links for flash or regular html. I like what you have so far. Nice clean. Good start. |
|
|
|
05/31/2005 06:09:26 PM · #4 |
| thanks for the feedback!! |
|
|
|
05/31/2005 06:17:59 PM · #5 |
Check this out. It's strictly in Javascript, HTML and CSS. NO Flash. In my opinion, more people have Javascript than Flash, considering Javascript is standard on most browsers. I'm going to use this code myself for my personal photography site....
Javascript Slideshow
Message edited by author 2005-05-31 22:19:13. |
|
|
|
05/31/2005 06:43:05 PM · #6 |
the site is too spread out to me. I personally dont like sites that make u scroll around up/ down, but thats just me. Also I think it would be nice to see the images at least a little bit bigger, as most people can afford a little more even with small resolution monitors. In regards to using Flash, It is ok to do that. About 97% of computers manufactured today have it, and it is available for free download. Anyone who frequently browses the web usually has a flash plug-in. Flash will take a little bit more room/ time to download but it really depends what you are making your site for.
My site is made out of flash and I haven't had any complaints, and actually gotten a good amount of compliments as to the simplicity / working order of the site. It got me a job as a newspaper photographer.
It's true you may miss a few people, and it is a risk. In my opinion flash sites done ok can enhance the aesthetics of the site. Just remember..the vast majority of computers these days can "do" flash just fine. |
|
|
|
05/31/2005 06:47:03 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by petrakka:
My site is made out of flash and I haven't had any complaints, and actually gotten a good amount of compliments as to the simplicity / working order of the site. It got me a job as a newspaper photographer.
It's true you may miss a few people, and it is a risk. In my opinion flash sites done ok can enhance the aesthetics of the site. Just remember..the vast majority of computers these days can "do" flash just fine.
|
My grandmother would hate you. ;) I think people miss the point. Yes, most COMPUTERS can do Flash, but Flash depends on knowledgeable USERS. Especially if the browser doesn't have the Flash player installed, my grandmother wouldn't know that she has to click the link to get the Flash player and she'd probably think it was a virus. End result: she wouldn't see my pics and she'd e-mail me telling me she can't get the site to work. Not to dis my grandma, but I hope you understand what I mean.
-Nick
Message edited by author 2005-05-31 22:49:54. |
|
|
|
05/31/2005 06:50:42 PM · #8 |
i know, like i said you will miss a few people. Also consider, there will always be a problem with someones computer/browser/ plugin combination somewhere.
That said it all just depends on your audience. Also flash won't be searched by google or anything.
But...i still like a good flash site. (not overdone with animations etc.) |
|
|
|
05/31/2005 06:51:00 PM · #9 |
...(it posted twice)
Message edited by author 2005-05-31 22:58:43. |
|
|
|
05/31/2005 06:54:19 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by petrakka:
i know, like i said you will miss a few people. Also consider, there will always be a problem with someones computer/browser/ plugin combination somewhere.
That said it all just depends on your audience. Also flash won't be searched by google or anything.
But...i still like a good flash site. (not overdone with animations etc.) |
Well, I'm just saying, I've been down the Flashy Site road numerous times, and it only ends in a bunch of e-mails saying they can't get the site to work, or something on the site isn't working. Problem is, if they can't get your site to work, most people won't tell you, so you really have no idea how many people you're losing. The last project I made was a family photography site for a new member of the family. I did it strictly in HTML with a MySQL database. Result: no complaints and a lot of thank yous.
Message edited by author 2005-05-31 22:54:55. |
|
|
|
05/31/2005 07:14:19 PM · #11 |
Nope not everyone runs (SUN) Javascript players...until SUN gets their act together I use their runtime sparingly...now if you are talking what is left over of Microsofts Javascript p/o IE that code performs ok.
Anyways back to M--E's site...
I agree that it is spread very wide and quite whimsical for the more serious type photography that is displayed there. Also IMO there is way too much white... My first thought is wedding photography when come across a site that is totally white.
For a Photog site less is more...the more bling you have on the screen the less the viewer is attracted to your shots, and the more the viewer has to navigate.
Kind of like the Saliva (yes there is a band named that) song "Click, Click, Pull (boom)" you want the viewer to click on your portfolio, click that eye catching thumbnail and boom be smacked in the face with the beauty of your shot. They study it long enough and want it they will find that buy now link.
Menus should be close and quickly accessible, colors should set the mood. You got to say it on your front page...
Of course this is all my unscientific opinion...
I still haven't really found the direction that I want to go with my stuff...it is a tough deal to get that this is me site thing just right.
Andy
Message edited by author 2005-05-31 23:16:37.
|
|
|
|
05/31/2005 07:16:43 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by awpollard:
Nope not everyone runs (SUN) Javascript players...until SUN gets their act together I use their runtime sparingly...now if you are talking what is left over of Microsofts Javascript p/o IE that code performs ok.
Andy |
Javascript is built into web browsers. The SUN thing you're talking about is Java, not Javascript. Java and Javascript are two different things. There's no such thing as a Javascript player. I'm talking about Javascript. Javascript was developed by Netscape, not SUN. Javascript is standard on all major browsers. There's no "leftover" to it. All the Javascript functionality is available. Javascript was NOT developed by Microsoft.
Message edited by author 2005-05-31 23:23:28. |
|
|
|
05/31/2005 07:29:52 PM · #13 |
m--E, Your website is good. I am able to easily navigate it. I wish the photos were bigger on the screen however. I also wish that each photo was displayed separately instead of triptychs. Other than that, well done and it's simple to navigate. The design is also understated, which I like because it puts focus on the main subject of the site, the photos.
-Nick
Message edited by author 2005-05-31 23:30:32. |
|
|
|
06/03/2005 02:06:23 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by m--E:
I am starting to create a website for myself and would like a few suggestions. Here is what I have so far. //emilyminor.com/ Any ideas on the logo, layout, text, etc would be helpful. I really don't have much there!
How many photos should I show? I would eventually like to sell prints and also get people to hire me to photograph them.
Should I do the whole site in Flash, or is HTML OK too?
Thanks!
Emily |
Hi m-E !!!
I like much your website because it very sober and is purified.
Navigation is pleasant and very intuitive there.
Feed in the photo bus it is rather poor there from this point of view.
Afflicted for my English.
Philippe
|
|
|
|
06/03/2005 02:11:48 PM · #15 |
| Great logo, but your images section has too many parts and not emough pictures in each section. Also the frames around the pictures are to much. Try just a simple black line. Because you don't have many images just have one gallery until you can put at least six really great images in each. Also, if you offer retouching to clients then great if you don't then take it off the site. You don't want represent yourself as something your not. Also you have type under your logo and navigation, I don't think it is necessary. |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/08/2025 03:40:35 PM EDT.
