www.arcusav.com

[Arcusmedia]

I Went and Tweaked my Website and Now it looks better then before...

I Might Regret This later But Please tell me what you think...

The Bad and the good!

I know the Wording needs some work but I am working on that!

[SCone]

Let me be the first to say... amazing

[Arcusmedia]

is that bad or good?

[andyz]

Many of the images I looked at seem dark. Could be my monitor...

Did you not intend to put an address there? If it is there, I didn't see it in my quick glance.

[texkam]

The blue rollovers are good.

[ChristopherCoy]

1. And I thought I was gay.

2. I only looked at your male portfolio, of course, but there isn't enough variety. It looks like you did one shoot, with one decent looking guy without a shirt, and put the images up. As well, in the words of one of the pros, 'snapshots nothing more nothing less.' The images are dark, and appear to be simple snapshots with a few amateur effects put on them.

3. The photo for the 'budoir' gallery, looks like it was taken in a mobile home in 1975, with a 110 film camera.

4. While I'm on the subject of portfolios, what do you specialize in? I couldn't tell from all the 'galleries'.

5. "IF you want to order prints please visit gallery.arcusav.com" - this sounds like a 12 year olds approach to sales.

6. On your 'about us' page... "On January 1, 2010, I started Arcus Media." - who wants to hire someone who just started? This SCREAMS I'm a beginner.

7. Your pic on the 'about us' page looks like a snapshot a friend took at a frat party.

8. Is it 'about us' or 'about me'... 1st person, or 3rd... pick one.

9. Your 'testimonials' scream, "I'm just doing this because a friend asked me to."

10. Being a gay male myself, I realize the desire to have a photography business in a market that we are close to, and feel comfortable with. I once even thought that my goal would be to advertise to the gay market, because of the large amount of 'expendable income' that the statistics say there is. However, by doing so you are severely limiting your reaching potential. No model is going to go to your webpage, see that flaming rainbow and half naked guy and think that you are the photographer for her. No mom is going to see the half naked male and think that you are the photographer for her high school senior. No female with half an income is going to want 'lifestyle' photography from someone who has cheesy budoir and 'commercial' photography listed as a specialty; the combo screams "your portraits will end up on a cheesy porn website."


Dude listen. You're trying to hard. I know, because I did it. I bought a camera, set up a website with my own flaming rainbow logo, and thought I'd make a go of it. I was going to do seniors, families, pets, the gays... you name it. And just like you probably are now, I huffed and puffed and pouted when I got feedback such as the above. I thought that people were just out to get me, and hold me down. Now I realize that there is just no easy way for people to say, your website sucks, your photography needs work, you know nothing about business, and you're trying to hard. What was very good advice from people who had gone before me, always sounded like I couldn't do anything right.

Take it from me. Pull back on the reins a little, find a some patience, dedicate yourself to learning both photography and business, write down some goals, figure out what your 'style' is, and let the cards fall as they may for the next year. It will happen eventually. All you're doing right now is holding your own self down by trying so hard.

[Arcusmedia]

I Actually Have never had a Problem with the rainbow :)

I Serve The Lgbt Community and I do it well.

As For the Images Dark.. Well That is my Style :) And it works for me.

I Specialize in what was listed in the portfolio. Couples Male Female Events and Commercial Photography.

Yes The 12 year old marketing doesn't work but i am open to suggestions.

If you read the About me Section you will see where it is stated that i have been doing this for over 5 years :)

Any Suggestions to improve the testimonials would be awesome!

btw Christopher I love your work and Cant wait to hear from ya :)

QUOTE=ChristopherCoy;1179395]1. And I thought I was gay.

2. I only looked at your male portfolio, of course, but there isn't enough variety. It looks like you did one shoot, with one decent looking guy without a shirt, and put the images up. As well, in the words of one of the pros, 'snapshots nothing more nothing less.' The images are dark, and appear to be simple snapshots with a few amateur effects put on them.

3. The photo for the 'budoir' gallery, looks like it was taken in a mobile home in 1975, with a 110 film camera.

4. While I'm on the subject of portfolios, what do you specialize in? I couldn't tell from all the 'galleries'.

5. "IF you want to order prints please visit gallery.arcusav.com" - this sounds like a 12 year olds approach to sales.

6. On your 'about us' page... "On January 1, 2010, I started Arcus Media." - who wants to hire someone who just started? This SCREAMS I'm a beginner.

7. Your pic on the 'about us' page looks like a snapshot a friend took at a frat party.

8. Is it 'about us' or 'about me'... 1st person, or 3rd... pick one.

9. Your 'testimonials' scream, "I'm just doing this because a friend asked me to."

10. Being a gay male myself, I realize the desire to have a photography business in a market that we are close to, and feel comfortable with. I once even thought that my goal would be to advertise to the gay market, because of the large amount of 'expendable income' that the statistics say there is. However, by doing so you are severely limiting your reaching potential. No model is going to go to your webpage, see that flaming rainbow and half naked guy and think that you are the photographer for her. No mom is going to see the half naked male and think that you are the photographer for her high school senior. No female with half an income is going to want 'lifestyle' photography from someone who has cheesy budoir and 'commercial' photography listed as a specialty; the combo screams "your portraits will end up on a cheesy porn website."


Dude listen. You're trying to hard. I know, because I did it. I bought a camera, set up a website with my own flaming rainbow logo, and thought I'd make a go of it. I was going to do seniors, families, pets, the gays... you name it. And just like you probably are now, I huffed and puffed and pouted when I got feedback such as the above. I thought that people were just out to get me, and hold me down. Now I realize that there is just no easy way for people to say, your website sucks, your photography needs work, you know nothing about business, and you're trying to hard. What was very good advice from people who had gone before me, always sounded like I couldn't do anything right.

Take it from me. Pull back on the reins a little, find a some patience, dedicate yourself to learning both photography and business, write down some goals, figure out what your 'style' is, and let the cards fall as they may for the next year. It will happen eventually. All you're doing right now is holding your own self down by trying so hard.[/QUOTE]

[texkam]

The blue rollovers are good.


...and what Chris said. : )

[Tom]

One thing: Your prices don't make sense.
Why limit how many times someone can change? If the clock starts ticking at 1:15 and she has until 2:15, why do you care if she tries three different bikinis? It actually makes your life easier, because it is less you have to shoot.

1 hour session for $75 and 2 hours for $100? Just a 33% increase for 100% more time?
3 Hours for 150? This makes sense unless you see the $25 increase for 1-2 hours. Why not $125?
4 hours for $250 then 5 for 300? Why double the cost from 3 hours to 4 hours when you only went up $25 and $50 from 1 to 2 and 2 to 3 hours?

Why would I pay $300 for 5 hours and 5 changes when I could buy two 3-hour sessions for $150 each? Now I get 6 hours for $300 rather than your 5 hour session for $300.

* All Sessions Include 10 Edited Images and 3 Digital Images *

So if I pay for 1 hour at $75, I get 10 edited images and 3 digital images? WTF does that mean? You edit 10 and I only get to keep 3? What about the other 7?

And if I pay 500 for unlimited time and unlimited changes, I still only get 10 edited images and 3 digital images from the entire photoshoot?

None of that makes sense.

As For the Images Dark.. Well That is my Style :) And it works for me.

And when you get more experienced, you will hate your old work. I sure do. (Hate my work, not your work.)

I Specialize in what was listed in the portfolio. Couples Male Female Events and Commercial Photography.

That's not a specialization. That is a photowhore. "I'll take pictures of anything that pays."

Lets use Chris as an example. He came on like hellfire and wanted to do everything. But he learned a lot in a very short time and learned to specialize. And now he is getting quite a bit of recognition for his dog photography. I don't think he even had a DSLR two years ago.

When you are starting out and very inexperienced as a photographer, trying to do everything spreads yourself out too thin.

Leslie Spurlock specializes in wedding photography. She is an expert in wedding photography.
Leslie Spurlock Photography - Weddings - Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, Plano, Frisco, TX

Scott Watters specializes in studio portrait photography. He is an expert in studio portrait photography.
PoloDigital - Photography by Scott R. Watters

Chris Coy specializes in dog photography. He is an expert in dog photography.
Pet Photography Denton | Pet Photography Dallas | Pet Photography Fort Worth | Professional Pet Photography

I specialize in wedding photography. I am an expert in wedding photography.
Aggie Wedding Photographer Thomas Campbell based in Kingwood, Texas serving the greater Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Ft. Worth, College Station and New Orleans areas

It doesn't matter if you are an expert or not. When you market yourself as someone who can do everything in the world, your clients assume you are a jack of all trades and a master of none. When your galleries have multiple shots of the same people, they assume that you haven't shot very much.

You are advertising the fact that you are new and inexperienced. Why would that be appealing to anyone?

You should chill on rushing into it all. Learn how to be a photographer first. Learn the business. Focus on what you are good at, which is ostensibly sound stuff.

There is absolutely no reason to mix sound and photography. Make a website for your sound productions. When you learn photography, make a website for your photography.

"Hey, I need someone that can prepare a powerpoint, mix some audio together and take nekkid pics of me that gay men will find attractive. I wonder if there is a one stop shop for all that." And Guess what - no one has ever said that. Don't mix very different businesses. They are going to assume you suck at your audio stuff because you have to supplement it with photography stuff. They are going to assume you suck at your photography stuff because you have to supplement it with your audio stuff. Keep it all separate.

Weddings aren't the only thing I shoot. But go to Aggie Wedding Photographer Thomas Campbell based in Kingwood, Texas serving the greater Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Ft. Worth, College Station and New Orleans areas and that is all you see. Because it makes a customer feel all warm and fuzzy to know I specialize in weddings, I am an expert in weddings, and I can serve all their wedding needs.

You need to specialize, not generalize and throw out the stuff that isn't related. Have an audio website or a stills website. Or both. But brand them separately.

[SCone]

Deja vu... Isn't this the same discusion from the "So How Do I set myself apart?' post???

[Arcusmedia]

Starting to look that way huh?

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by Arcusmedia

Starting to look that way huh?

Only because you ask for critique/advice, and when it's given, you either refuse to accept it, or rebut with a "that's what works for me" attitude.

Are you in business for yourself, or for your clients. Because what "works for you" isn't working for your clients.

[Arcusmedia]

Christoper I am Not trying to Start a Fight or Anything But I Asked about my Website Not ABOUT ME! Please keep this thread on the Rails and Stop making it a attack on me.. We can start another thread for that.

[texxter]

The Bad and the good!

Well, I am afraid I have mostly Bad for you.

Eric, honestly, there are some seriously bad photos on your website, and I don't say this lightly. And not only do you have a lot of bad pictures, but there are many variations of the same bad picture... It's painfully bad, man, I am sorry to say.

One first step to taking better pictures is realizing when a picture is not good and discarding it. You should discard most of the images on your website. If you could pick out what you think are your best 3 pictures, I'll be happy to give specific feedback and critique on making those 3 pictures better.

[dryicerx]

In regards to the photography perspective, I do agree with the above posters...

As far as the web design though, not feeling that quite either. There is a lack of uniformity across the board...

* Color scheme (use one, at the moment the black/white text with dark images does not match the colors in the logo). Look in to kuler.adobe.com if you insist on doing it your self.
* There is too much font mixing (eg. serif fonts on left of logo and sans serif on the right of logo, and in different places in the site) , and the font used as titles in the portfolio doesn't match either (technical looking sans serif does not fit boudoir)
* Back to colors, the color tones in the pictures are a mismatch, some are over exposed and some are under, and the wb is all over the place
* Out of place items (for example the paypal logo and seo badge) (and if you must use a logo like that, make sure it's smaller than your product's logo and matches the site design, not a image with a white background on a black background site).
* Way too many photos on the portfolio (should be only a select few that showcase the best photos, not all photos).
* Tag line inconsistencies (you are trying to promote photography, yet the tag line is audio visual media... which can confuse potential customers).

iWeb is good to make sites for very very small sites, but very inappropriate for businesses. I'd suggest getting a experienced web designer... or use a pre-made themed site, or if you must diy use learn proper html/css/js before.



Man I sound like a dbag reading my post back, but not sure what else to say. Good luck though.