What is the key to a Photographer's Website?

[megaloader]

Hello, I'm starting to build a site for a friend that is getting into photography professionally.
inFocus Studio
We are brainstorming on some ideas and would like input on what has worked for you over the years.
I'm thinking clean with the photos being the focus of the site.
Also what are some problems you have run into making or running a site, so we can avoid those pitfalls.
Right now it is just the name of the Studio and his contact info with slideshow on the first page, and we have a long way to go.
Any and all constructive input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[NikonME]

I would suggest against using Flash unless you have a Flash and Non-Flash version. Many people browse nowadays via cellphone or tablets. Not all of them have flash viewers. You loose potential customers.

The web crawlers, like GoogleBot, BingBot and Yahoo! Slurp, can have a hard to indexing Flash pages. As such, you will not have a great placement on those websites.

 

[480sparky67 67]

Don't make the site what YOU want to see.... make the site what your CUSTOMERS want to see.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

What kind of photography is your friend getting into professionally?
I ask, because after viewing the slideshow, I am not sure.

Slide show could be just a wee bit bigger as well.

I would also suggest, if the website is for your friends business, he should probably have it professionally done.

 

[Kerbouchard]

The quickest things that will make me hit the back button are music, flash, slow loading website, pictures that are awkwardly sized, and a slideshow that does not allow me to use an arrow key to move to the next slide, but instead makes me look at it for whatever time the designer happened to set.

 

[nickzou]

The quickest things that will make me hit the back button are music, flash, slow loading website, pictures that are awkwardly sized, and a slideshow that does not allow me to use an arrow key to move to the next slide, but instead makes me look at it for whatever time the designer happened to set.

Woot! My site passes all requirements! The images aren't preloaded though. So there's still like a split second lag between photos.

 

[imagemaker46]

Most of what has been said goes for me as well, like Bitter said I can't figure out what your friend is shooting. As for the slide show, it moves quick enough but on my laptop the images are way too small, I would consider increasing the size by at least 50%. Make sure it loads quick from page to page, on the home page it should be easy to navigate and find what a potential client is looking for. Can't stand flash and I don't run any of my computers with the sound on, unless I'm watching video. Simple design, simple navigation, this is what I like to see. Remember you are selling a photographer and the images, so concentrate on that.

 

[BJF]

You may try some WordPress themes for photography web site.

 

[Overread36]

Some idea of price and services on offer as well - even if he does not want to state specific prices he at least needs to give clients an idea of where his pricing structure starts as that is one of the key things that people will look for.

At the moment its just a few pics and an address - that tells me nothing of the photographer; his business; what he can offer to me the client; not even an idea what he might charge for the services.

 

[nickzou]

Some idea of price and services on offer as well - even if he does not want to state specific prices he at least needs to give clients an idea of where his pricing structure starts as that is one of the key things that people will look for.

How do you do this without being specific?

 

[480sparky67 67]

How do you do this without being specific?

Phrases such as "As Low As...." and "Starting At...."

 

[molested_cow]

Never done photo website before, but I have done products and services website for my dad's company.

One thing I would want to point out is, at least from my perspective, DO NOT showcase the works(photos) like they are products. Photos are captured memories. They are supposed to be meaningful in their own ways and matter uniquely to people. For example, I have some photos I took of my friend's family some time back which I didn't think too much of. Then bad news came and they had a lost in the family, and suddenly, these photos became very meaningful. I had them printed and framed and gave them to my friend's family.

People who will be looking to hire a photographer are looking to capture a special part of their memories, so the last thing they want to see is your friend's work being displayed on the website like they are just some commodity. How do you do that? Well, you are the designer right?

 

[Overread36]

Hmm yes and no - remember photographers who are being hired are being hired to produce a product for the client - that product might be capturing an emotion or an event - but at the end of the day its a product. So you've got to show your best on your site, but also show only that which you have and can produce.

No point showing the substandard photo of a key family member on your profile because to anyone outside of that family the photo is a poor quality and lacking - its not what you want to advertise as your style or product.

In addition be highly selective - only show what you have. If you do portraits then only show portraits - don't show the two wedding shots you snapped a while back - nor the one maternity shoot you did. If you don't have it don't show it

 

[mickmac]

I would spell Hawaii properly for a start.

 

[KmH]

Hello, I'm starting to build a site for a friend that is getting into photography professionally.
inFocus Studio
We are brainstorming on some ideas and would like input on what has worked for you over the years.
I'm thinking clean with the photos being the focus of the site.
Also what are some problems you have run into making or running a site, so we can avoid those pitfalls.
Right now it is just the name of the Studio and his contact info with slideshow on the first page, and we have a long way to go.
Any and all constructive input would be greatly appreciated.

You aren't the photographer.

You're not yet a contributing The Photography Forum member, and since you don't claim to be a photographer, likely never will be. (One post wonder?)

Yet you want input help for designing a commercial web site.

And you posted the request in the Beginners Forum and Photo Gallery.

Are you a beginner web site designer?