Website help...first-timer

[TCUphoto]

Hi, I'm looking around for website ideas and suggestions. I need to make a website/blog that is very easy to use, considering my website knowledge is minimal. I know I want it to have a blog and a layout where the photos span almost the entire width of the computer. It seems like a lot of people use prophoto blogs, are those easy to use?? I saw on a thread a lot of people didn't really like wordpress.

I would like something very affordable, but would be willing to spend a couple hundred in order to achieve a more professional look.

Any suggestions are appreciated! Thanks!

 

[tevo]

Dont pay a web designer, learning to design websites is actually very easy. There are plenty of websites that offer templates, and that you can pay for a domain. Look at godaddy.com, webs.com, 110mb.com. As for actually designing your website, google should provide some useful tutorials / pointers.

 

[tirediron]

What is the purpose of the 'site/blog? If it's for commercial work, than you're missing a zero. Search photographic websites and find examples that you like and go from there. The level of HTML that you need to build a simple, attractive website can be learned in an afternoon.

 

[tevo]

What is the purpose of the 'site/blog? If it's for commercial work, than you're missing a zero. Search photographic websites and find examples that you like and go from there. The level of HTML that you need to build a simple, attractive website can be learned in an afternoon.

this

 

[TCUphoto]

I just want a basic website, that doesn't look cheesy (like wix). I don't need anything customized for me; a template where I can just add the pictures/words, and an area for my pricing is ideal.

 

[collyn]

I would either use squarespace for a dead simple but very customizable site, or you could save a little and host a site with somebody like host gator and install Wordpress or joomala. It is really easy to setup and can be used for things other than blogging. Go check out my website at Collyn Rankin Photography, Photography of Colorado Landscapes then click on blog and that is the wordpress part it was set up in 5mins

 

[shootermcgavin]

I would either use squarespace for a dead simple but very customizable site, or you could save a little and host a site with somebody like host gator and install Wordpress or joomala. It is really easy to setup and can be used for things other than blogging. Go check out my website at Collyn Rankin Photography, Photography of Colorado Landscapes then click on blog and that is the wordpress part it was set up in 5mins

I kind of second this, host gator is the best hosting site, buy your domain from godaddy and then point it to hostgator that is very easy to do. Godaddy will charge you 10-12$ for domain name and hostgator is about $10/month. I would have someone build a site cheap for you, it's not as easy as everyone makes it sound to build a nice site. Most my sites are in joomla but I don't really know how to edit them or anything, my time is more valuable then the cost of paying someone to do it. I've been slacking on my photography site so it still just has a main page. I've had a 250 page site built in under a week though so you should be able to get it done pretty fast if it is important. PM me if you want you can use my guy.

 

[o hey tyler]

Dont pay a web designer, learning to design websites is actually very easy.

HAHA! Good one. Yes, learning how to design websites is easy. Because everyone is inherently born with a superb design sense, knows how to direct user traffic, has thoughts and ideas on what should be above the fold, and knows how to do interface production.

Lets flip the coin...

Dont pay a professional photographer, learning to take photographs is actually very easy. There are plenty of cameras that offer full auto mode, and that you apply in camera processing to your JPEGs. Look at Canon, Nikon, or Pentax. As for actually composing and lighting your photographs, google should provide some useful tutorials / pointers.

 

[tevo]

HAHA! Good one. Yes, learning how to design websites is easy. Because everyone is inherently born with a superb design sense, knows how to direct user traffic, has thoughts and ideas on what should be above the fold, and knows how to do interface production.

Lets flip the coin...

Dont pay a professional photographer, learning to take photographs is actually very easy. There are plenty of cameras that offer full auto mode, and that you apply in camera processing to your JPEGs. Look at Canon, Nikon, or Pentax. As for actually composing and lighting your photographs, google should provide some useful tutorials / pointers.

I don't think choosing to DIY a simple photo blog (as described by the OP) over paying someone hundreds is analogous to choosing to shoot an event / subject of importance by yourself in auto mode. Has the OP said that he/she was looking to create a website for their business / studio , I would have not said to learn to do it on their own, because directing user traffic would be more of an issue. Everything else is personal preference - design sense lies in the eyes of the beholder. Interface production is also something that can be learned through some research on the Internet - at least at a basic technical level. If someone was able to learn these skills and become a web designer, what is stopping this person from doing the same, without spending hundreds of dollars?

 

[KmH]

If someone was able to learn these skills and become a web designer, what is stopping this person from doing the same, without spending hundreds of dollars?

Time and motivation?

 

[brandibell]

I used photobiz and am happy with the end result.

 

[o hey tyler]

I think what you were doing, was using the phrase "designing a website is easy" a bit to loosely. Getting a Wordpress, or Zenfolio off the ground does not equate to 'designing a website'. Design sense does not "lie in the eyes of the bolder", if that were true, nothing would be widely functional or look good. That doesn't mean that the person who likes their poorly designed site template with text on a fleur de lis background that you can't even read will be successful if the design or UI is flawed. I'm not suggesting that the OP drop additional coin on a custom coded/designed website at all. I just think that a lot of people now-a-days think that getting a Joomla template on their own domain "designing a website".

Perhaps I am just to used to hanging around with actual website designers, interface producers, and Python coders.

 

[tevo]

I think what you were doing, was using the phrase "designing a website is easy" a bit to loosely. Getting a Wordpress, or Zenfolio off the ground does not equate to 'designing a website'. Design sense does not "lie in the eyes of the bolder", if that were true, nothing would be widely functional or look good. That doesn't mean that the person who likes their poorly designed site template with text on a fleur de lis background that you can't even read will be successful if the design or UI is flawed. I'm not suggesting that the OP drop additional coin on a custom coded/designed website at all. I just think that a lot of people now-a-days think that getting a Joomla template on their own domain "designing a website".

Perhaps I am just to used to hanging around with actual website designers, interface producers, and Python coders.

No, what you said was completely true. I just meant that if the goal was a basic photo blog, it could be achieved without spending a lot of money - and is by no means "designing a website".

 

[shorty97]

Hey i am fairly good at webdesign and would be willing to help you out. Send me a email
[email protected]

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

I use smugmug.com they allow customizing as well as templates. They have a dedicated photo forum that includes a section strictly for site customization, where you can get tips and tutorials on writing custom code. There are always people on there, much like here, to help if you can't get your code to work. It costs about 10-12 bucks a month including the top package and including paying for the domain name. ( its a little more if you pay monthly but I pay per year and just broke it down into months myself )