C & C please?

[IndigoStarsNiagara]

I have been trying to drum up business but I am afraid my website might not be to par.
Suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
I try to stick to photography where I take it right the first time so I don't have to do much, if any editing at all. I will admit there are a few fully edited photos, but I wanted to show that I can do it.
Thanks!

www.indigostarsphotography.ca

 

[Wardy1987]

Hi,

I would have to say the first big nono was building your site in flash. There are alot of people that use mobile devices that do not work with flash. Dont get me wrong as a designer i love flash however with html5 and java i dont see flash with a web market other than games and complex multimedia.

 

[westerngirl14]

I think you do a fabulous job on your portraits. I wasn't terribly impressed with the website design though...the way the slideshow went, with a flash between each picture bugged me really bad. And your logo on the pictures is very distracting, but I understand, it's the internet, you want to get your pictures marked good!.... as for advice, Good business is best spread by word of mouth - people are going to believe their friends, sooner than advertisements. Encourage your clients, if they are happy with their pictures, to tell their friends about you!! Blow up posters of your best shot, and put around town, with your information on it. Libraries, post offices, etc are great places for this, where people go every day. If it's eye catching enough, they will stop and take a closer look.

 

[tirediron]

C&C per req: While I don't necessarily share westerngirl's enthusiasm for your portraiture, her comments are good ones.

The first thing I noticed is that I had to look to find the hyperlinks to take me to the rest of the 'site. I would suggest raising those to the top of the page and increasing the font size.

Your bio image looks like it was cut from a Facebook post; every image on your website should be your best work. I would really think about redoing this one.

While I realize that's a "fashionable" term, I find the use of the word "investments" a rather obscure way to refer to "prices" or "cost". With respect to your prices, there seems to be little continuity in the charges for various sessions, and the names for your wedding packages, while unique, make no sense to me at all.

I found the 'site to be very slow loading, and the Flash implementation seemed clumsy in places. As mentioned above, a Flash only 'site has no advantages and will in fact limit your audience. If you do want a Flash version, than you really should also include an HTML version. Nowhere could I find your actual location; unless you're local, "Welland" may not mean a lot. At the very least have your address easily found so that someone from BC doesn't spend a half-hour on your 'site only to find out that you're 2500 miles away, and I couldn't find a telephone # either. If you have a domain name, use that for your e-mail address. Webmail addresses do not exactly scream professional IMO.

 

[Kerbouchard]

My biggest complaint would also center around the flash/automation. I prefer a website that I can control which picture I look at and for how long, or at least the ability to override the default settings. I would have much rather gone through the images by hitting an arrow key than having it just cycle through them.

 

[IndigoStarsNiagara]

Thank you all so much for your c & c.
I will definelty get to work on the flash thing. I kinda find it annoying too since I can't even access it on my phone.
I am still trying to find a watermark I like. That is my 3rd one I believe.
As for everything else, I will get to work on it. I really appreciate you all taking the time to go over my site.

 

[KmH]

I highly recommend changing to a non-serif font.

 

[shootermcgavin]

I have flash disabled so i wasn't able to see it, I'm not a big fan of flash sites.

 

[IndigoStarsNiagara]

I highly recommend changing to a non-serif font.

What is a non-serif font. Sorry to ask such a dumb question. Is it like cursive?

 

[MTVision]

What is a non-serif font. Sorry to ask such a dumb question. Is it like cursive?

I'm assuming he means sans-serif fonts. The don't have serifs which are the little lines at the end of the character.

Arial font is sans-serif and Times New Roman is a serif font

Look it up for a better explanation.

 

[IndigoStarsNiagara]

I'm assuming he means sans-serif fonts. The don't have serifs which are the little lines at the end of the character.

Arial font is sans-serif and Times New Roman is a serif font

Look it up for a better explanation.

I get it. Thank you!!

 

[IndigoStarsNiagara]

I highly recommend changing to a non-serif font.

I have tried it in different fonts, but I don't seem to like many other fonts. My new business cards are in a different font but still have serifs.

 

[rexbobcat]

C&C per req: While I don't necessarily share westerngirl's enthusiasm for your portraiture, her comments are good ones.

The first thing I noticed is that I had to look to find the hyperlinks to take me to the rest of the 'site. I would suggest raising those to the top of the page and increasing the font size.

Your bio image looks like it was cut from a Facebook post; every image on your website should be your best work. I would really think about redoing this one.

While I realize that's a "fashionable" term, I find the use of the word "investments" a rather obscure way to refer to "prices" or "cost". With respect to your prices, there seems to be little continuity in the charges for various sessions, and the names for your wedding packages, while unique, make no sense to me at all.

I found the 'site to be very slow loading, and the Flash implementation seemed clumsy in places. As mentioned above, a Flash only 'site has no advantages and will in fact limit your audience. If you do want a Flash version, than you really should also include an HTML version. Nowhere could I find your actual location; unless you're local, "Welland" may not mean a lot. At the very least have your address easily found so that someone from BC doesn't spend a half-hour on your 'site only to find out that you're 2500 miles away, and I couldn't find a telephone # either. If you have a domain name, use that for your e-mail address. Webmail addresses do not exactly scream professional IMO.

I do have to agree when it comes to the images. Many of the images just...don't...make me jump up and want to hire you. I know it's important to get the image right the first time, but minimalist editing...I just don't like it. It's one thing if an image can stand on its own with little editing, but many of your images seem to be taken with on-board flash and whatnot. In my opinion....they require editing.

About the website design...not a big fan. I try to use HTML and javascript for most of my site. Try looking up Lightbox. It's a photo gallery that uses javascript, but it simulates functions of flash galleries.

 

[rexbobcat]

C&C per req: While I don't necessarily share westerngirl's enthusiasm for your portraiture, her comments are good ones.

The first thing I noticed is that I had to look to find the hyperlinks to take me to the rest of the 'site. I would suggest raising those to the top of the page and increasing the font size.

Your bio image looks like it was cut from a Facebook post; every image on your website should be your best work. I would really think about redoing this one.

While I realize that's a "fashionable" term, I find the use of the word "investments" a rather obscure way to refer to "prices" or "cost". With respect to your prices, there seems to be little continuity in the charges for various sessions, and the names for your wedding packages, while unique, make no sense to me at all.

I found the 'site to be very slow loading, and the Flash implementation seemed clumsy in places. As mentioned above, a Flash only 'site has no advantages and will in fact limit your audience. If you do want a Flash version, than you really should also include an HTML version. Nowhere could I find your actual location; unless you're local, "Welland" may not mean a lot. At the very least have your address easily found so that someone from BC doesn't spend a half-hour on your 'site only to find out that you're 2500 miles away, and I couldn't find a telephone # either. If you have a domain name, use that for your e-mail address. Webmail addresses do not exactly scream professional IMO.

I do have to agree when it comes to the images. Many of the images just...don't...make me jump up and want to hire you. I know it's important to get the image right the first time, but minimalist editing...I just don't like it. It's one thing if an image can stand on its own with little editing, but many of your images seem to be taken with on-board flash and whatnot. In my opinion....they require editing.

About the website design...not a big fan. I try to use HTML and javascript for most of my site. Try looking up Lightbox. It's a photo gallery that uses javascript, but it simulates functions of flash galleries.

Did not notice the date on this thread. My bad.