Hi All,
I have spent some time trying to build my own photograpic website. I am hoping some of you will have a browse and give me some feedback (good or bad). The images on there at the moment may not be the final images, I just used them for gauging the look and size of the layout.
So the important bit, the web address is http://www.andycrompton.co.uk
Many thanks Andy
My own website
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Paul Jones
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Re: your website
Hi Andy
I've currently got your link on the ADAPS website pointing to your Ephotozine gallery. Would you like me to link to your website instead?
Websites are a subjective thing. I've recently gone through the whole process myself revamping my own site and in fact I'm just working through a batch of recent photos to get them ready to update my site. It's your site and if you like it that's the main thing.
The site is nicely laid out and clean. For a photography site it could perhaps help to have some photos on your Home page. Obviously, I appreciate that it's still a work in progress.
I personally think you might want to re-evaluate your Prices page:
6" x 4" = £1.00
7" x 5" = £2.00
10" x 8" = £3.00
Your prices seem remarkably cheap to me. Forget what the actual print costs you from the lab. You're not just selling a piece of paper - you're selling your services and shouldn't be afraid to charge accordingly. You might decide that it's better not to list your prices on the site.
Also:
Models
I'm happy to do one hour studio shoots on a 'Time for Prints' basis. I am currently using a studio in Preston and will cover the studio hire fee.
TFP is a good way to build up your portfolio. But TFP is a two-way deal. You're both mutually benefitting. You're getting photos and so is she/he. You might want to reconsider this and agree to split any studio hire costs on a 50/50 basis. Just my suggestion.
Best regards
Paul
I've currently got your link on the ADAPS website pointing to your Ephotozine gallery. Would you like me to link to your website instead?
Websites are a subjective thing. I've recently gone through the whole process myself revamping my own site and in fact I'm just working through a batch of recent photos to get them ready to update my site. It's your site and if you like it that's the main thing.
The site is nicely laid out and clean. For a photography site it could perhaps help to have some photos on your Home page. Obviously, I appreciate that it's still a work in progress.
I personally think you might want to re-evaluate your Prices page:
6" x 4" = £1.00
7" x 5" = £2.00
10" x 8" = £3.00
Your prices seem remarkably cheap to me. Forget what the actual print costs you from the lab. You're not just selling a piece of paper - you're selling your services and shouldn't be afraid to charge accordingly. You might decide that it's better not to list your prices on the site.
Also:
Models
I'm happy to do one hour studio shoots on a 'Time for Prints' basis. I am currently using a studio in Preston and will cover the studio hire fee.
TFP is a good way to build up your portfolio. But TFP is a two-way deal. You're both mutually benefitting. You're getting photos and so is she/he. You might want to reconsider this and agree to split any studio hire costs on a 50/50 basis. Just my suggestion.
Best regards
Paul
Paul
================
http://www.PaulJones.org
"As usual Paul is absolutely correct."
"In short, Paul is an absolutely brilliant mentor."
================
http://www.PaulJones.org
"As usual Paul is absolutely correct."
"In short, Paul is an absolutely brilliant mentor."
Re: My own website
Thanks for that Paul, much appreciated.
I've debated over the prices for ages, my wife said they were too cheap. Anymore and i felt like I was ripping people off. After reading your comment I think I will wrestle with my conscious and increase them.
For the time being you can leave my link to ephotozine.
Andy
I've debated over the prices for ages, my wife said they were too cheap. Anymore and i felt like I was ripping people off. After reading your comment I think I will wrestle with my conscious and increase them.
For the time being you can leave my link to ephotozine.
Andy
Re: My own website
Hi Andy,
Had a quick look at the site, using firefox(v3.0.4), my obs:
I'm getting old the home font is just slightly small or the type of font isnt sans serif style so just a little awkward to read, but thats maybe me, must put my reading glasses on.
On the portrait tab the page stretches off the screen so the sliding bottom bar has to be utilised, it appears that the number of thumbnails is affecting the page width, but again might be wrong. Now a strange occurence say the 4th thumbnail with the little girl,(who obviously knows me as she's giving me the finger)if i load it she appears as a larger photo, now if I click the next photo, which is landscape mode of the two girls hugging, then the photo of the girl with finger actual broadens width wise for a split second before the image changes to the two girls. It does similar to all the photos on 1st loading but after that is ok. Maybe its firefox------hmmmm tried it in Internet explorer, now there is an arrow on the thumbnails to expand right or left but still the same effect on loading the photos. On the artistic page the thumbnail arrows are present but there aren't any extra thumbnails, but obviously still being set up.
Have text size set on larger in IE so home page looked ok text wise there.
Agree with Paul site is clean and functional, likewise prices, but noticed you've up them which is good, I know you can get 6x4 prints for 5p, but really you should cover your costs, if you sat down and included all your costs then you would still have to sell a good few prints to break even, thats if running it on business lines rather than a hobby.
Its certainly an excellent start, as you know I've recently updated both my websites recently and the photocd4u one is on its 50+ incarnation already. I had black text appearing where it should have been white, even the html code said it was white, turned out that a google analytics script was altering it!!
I've actually managed to get a lot higher in google by doing some seo stuff so if you need info on that send us an email.
Phil
Had a quick look at the site, using firefox(v3.0.4), my obs:
I'm getting old the home font is just slightly small or the type of font isnt sans serif style so just a little awkward to read, but thats maybe me, must put my reading glasses on.
On the portrait tab the page stretches off the screen so the sliding bottom bar has to be utilised, it appears that the number of thumbnails is affecting the page width, but again might be wrong. Now a strange occurence say the 4th thumbnail with the little girl,(who obviously knows me as she's giving me the finger)if i load it she appears as a larger photo, now if I click the next photo, which is landscape mode of the two girls hugging, then the photo of the girl with finger actual broadens width wise for a split second before the image changes to the two girls. It does similar to all the photos on 1st loading but after that is ok. Maybe its firefox------hmmmm tried it in Internet explorer, now there is an arrow on the thumbnails to expand right or left but still the same effect on loading the photos. On the artistic page the thumbnail arrows are present but there aren't any extra thumbnails, but obviously still being set up.
Have text size set on larger in IE so home page looked ok text wise there.
Agree with Paul site is clean and functional, likewise prices, but noticed you've up them which is good, I know you can get 6x4 prints for 5p, but really you should cover your costs, if you sat down and included all your costs then you would still have to sell a good few prints to break even, thats if running it on business lines rather than a hobby.
Its certainly an excellent start, as you know I've recently updated both my websites recently and the photocd4u one is on its 50+ incarnation already. I had black text appearing where it should have been white, even the html code said it was white, turned out that a google analytics script was altering it!!
I've actually managed to get a lot higher in google by doing some seo stuff so if you need info on that send us an email.
Phil
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Mike
- Iconic Photographer
- Posts: 570
- Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2007 8:34 am
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Re: My own website
It is a nice website the only issue I have is with the landscape format width changing from page to page. Otherwise great effort. Hope it serves you well!
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http://www.rileyuk.co.uk
http://www.rileyuk.co.uk
Re: My own website
Phil, Mike thanks for taking the time to look.
I have tried to build the site around a 1024x768 monitor, thought this was a common size (my monitor is 1680x1050).
When I view the site in IE7 the pages stay the same size, however now I am aware of the problem, I have viewed the site in frontpage using a 1024 resolution and the problem is apparent. I will look into fixing the page sizes. The wider pages are thoose with the larger number of images on them.
I think the images going a funny shape prior to changing to the next is an inherrent fault with the slideshow generator in frontpage. I did look at a web album generator Phil told me about, however I could see a simple way to incorporate the code in to my already created page.
The font through the site is comic sans at 10pt and again on IE7 is more or less the same size as the text on this forum. I will try it at 12pt and see how it looks though.
You have made me aware of some issues/faults that I was unaware of, many thanks Andy.
I have tried to build the site around a 1024x768 monitor, thought this was a common size (my monitor is 1680x1050).
When I view the site in IE7 the pages stay the same size, however now I am aware of the problem, I have viewed the site in frontpage using a 1024 resolution and the problem is apparent. I will look into fixing the page sizes. The wider pages are thoose with the larger number of images on them.
I think the images going a funny shape prior to changing to the next is an inherrent fault with the slideshow generator in frontpage. I did look at a web album generator Phil told me about, however I could see a simple way to incorporate the code in to my already created page.
The font through the site is comic sans at 10pt and again on IE7 is more or less the same size as the text on this forum. I will try it at 12pt and see how it looks though.
You have made me aware of some issues/faults that I was unaware of, many thanks Andy.
-
Paul Jones
- Iconic Photographer
- Posts: 2378
- Joined: Sun Sep 02, 2007 5:35 pm
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Re: My own website
I designed my new PaulJones.org site around a screen resolution of 1024. It seems to be the default these days. You only have to look at popular sites like BBC.co.uk.Andy C wrote: I have tried to build the site around a 1024x768 monitor, thought this was a common size (my monitor is 1680x1050).
I think the optimum size for such a resolution is 955x600. This is the recommended size that you should design to.
If you're familiar with CSS style sheets, you might think about locking down the size of your text throughout the site.Andy C wrote: The font through the site is comic sans at 10pt and again on IE7 is more or less the same size as the text on this forum. I will try it at 12pt and see how it looks though.
Best regards
Paul
Paul
================
http://www.PaulJones.org
"As usual Paul is absolutely correct."
"In short, Paul is an absolutely brilliant mentor."
================
http://www.PaulJones.org
"As usual Paul is absolutely correct."
"In short, Paul is an absolutely brilliant mentor."
Re: My own website
Hi Andy
When it comes to pricing have a look round some of the photography studios you will be amazed at what people pay for prints, because at the end of the day like paul says they are paying for your time whilst at the shoot and after whilst sorting and ordering/picking up prints.
Maybe put a small print into the booking fee and increase it , I know olan mills used to charge £30 and you got a 7 x 5 print and i'm almost sure thats the norm.
Lee
When it comes to pricing have a look round some of the photography studios you will be amazed at what people pay for prints, because at the end of the day like paul says they are paying for your time whilst at the shoot and after whilst sorting and ordering/picking up prints.
Maybe put a small print into the booking fee and increase it , I know olan mills used to charge £30 and you got a 7 x 5 print and i'm almost sure thats the norm.
Lee