CC on my Website

[mrsrice22]

Working on improving my website and need some feedback on functionality, appearance and where it can improve. I don't have the old website up to compare it to, but the old one was basically a blog. This one is still powered through WP but we're combining two blog templates.

I want something simple, easy to navigate, but at the same time to showcase my work (on the homepage). The blog is something that I am finding that I do not like and may ask to have a totally different template all together for that area.

Thanks for your CC!
Kristina

Rice Bowl Photography

EDIT: There are a few things that will stand out right away.

1. Portfolio Link - it's tied in with the second blog, so I've been making a bunch of random posts to see how it looks which brings me to..

2. The thumbnail image for each post is screwy but will either be removed or changed so that it will adjust to fit the image size.

[mrsrice22]

GRrr, sorry mods! I posted it under the wrong forum, please move to the Website Critique section.

[mrsrice22]

Bump, good or bad, I can take it, lay it on me! :)

[FranciscoJ]

Good or bas section, I like, it looks clear simple and direct for me.
Nice!
Francisco

[sbfuller]

I really like how you have each picture change into a small description. however, in that description, it has the date it was done and says that comments are disabled. it's distracting and i don't think it's as professional. is there a way to remove that?

[mrsrice22]

Thanks, Francisco!

Brett, I think so but I'll ask the developer about it and see what she can do. Thank you!

[reader0428]

Hi Kristina,

I do think the page is visually appealing and easy to navigate. But...you definitely need more images. If I'm going to view a photographer's portfolio, I would definitely expect more than one or two images in each section. From what you're displaying, it looks like you've just had one or two practice sessions with no volume of work to show. Do you have more images that you can add to the site?

[mrsrice22]

Amanda,

I do have more images, we're still in the testing/building stage so we're just putting in a few images within the blog portion to see how it ties in, how the images look, if we need to remove a column to allow larger images, etc. I'm also trying to figure out if I want to either a)remove that portfolio link all together and just use categories like I did with my old site or b) have that link direct to a totally different/independant page just for a portfolio and use some sort of a slide show.

I've had my site for two years and I think (I haven't asked yet, I'm afraid of the ansewer, lol!) that when she took down the old site and put up the new one that it may have wiped out all of my original posts with pictures. They may be stored on my server but I haven't had a chance to go digging around to find out. If they're still there, I'm not sure how hard it would be to put the old posts back, since they were tied in with a different template. It would be nice, as it gives some "history" and I'm not just dumping a bunch of images in there at once, but if I separate the portfolio from the main site and from the blog then it might not matter.

Does all that make sense? I'm sorry, it's 12am and I'm tired and rambling, I think it made sense, lol!

Thanks for the feedback!
Kristina

[mrsrice22]

Bump -

What about the tagline? "Action Photography for Active Families" ? The word Action makes me think of Sports photography and not portraiture but I want it stated up front that it's not the typical stand and pose type sessions. I used to have Your Life. Your Style. Lifestyle Photography but it was suggested to take "your" out as it then leads to clients being to possessive about the style and less about the photographer's style.

I've also added a few more blog posts, which tie in to the portfolio link.

TIA - Kristina

[mrsrice22]

Okay, it's done! If you have a few minutes, please visit my website at Rice Bowl Photography and navigate through the site and provide some feedback on the functionality, appearance, and where it can improve.

Thank you!
Kristina

[mrsrice22]

Bump - :)

[Tom]

I think your watermark is too big and too busy. You don't need your URL. You don't need your name. The whole thing can be smaller and consistently in one place. An old adage is "The bigger the logo, the worse the photographer."

On how it works, you have a different watermark than on the top page.

[mrsrice22]

Ok, so watermarking images = redundant and can do away with it, got it! I've got all the originals without watermarks so I'll work on changing all that out tonight, ugh.

So do you recommend using the same logo that's on the top of my website on my images when I do "watermark" them? IE if I post client photos to my FB page, I don't mind them tagging themselves, but I do want some sort of identifier on it, so should it be the same as how it looks on the website?

Thanks Thomas!

[Tom]

I would just put Rice Bowl Photography, not Rice Bowl Photography Rice Bowl Photography, photographs by Kristina Rice Bowl. Simple.

My horizontal logo is:


But the logo looks like this:


We just use our logo and Thomas & Penelope, because that is all you need to find us. Google Thomas and Penelope and our site is the top three hits. When you google Rice Bowl Photography, it is the first 3 sites as well. You don't need anymore.

Put it down there in the corner and keep it there. We don't watermark any pics on our regular website, but do on facebook and our blog.

[mrsrice22]

Ahh, ok I see now, that makes sense.

Thanks Thomas!