Critique: www.imagesbyadam.com

[imagesbyadam]

What the hey...this is the second version of my site and has been live since February of this year. Did 100% of the design, graphics, and layout myself. Its all me. (With bits of java and flash from 3rd party programs I bought).

Recently underwent a slight modification and color scheme change when my designer finished my logo. Just finished the new portfolio gallery last night, migrated from simpleviewer which was downsampling all my images.

So...let me know what you think? Also if you hit a functionality issue let me know.

[OversighT]

Good job Adam. The site is clean, well designed, and very easy to navigate. I like the colors as well. I have been thinking about about redoing my site in a similar palette.

T.

[fatmaxxv]

I like the color choices you used and also the photo selections. Overall, I like your design.

[Clayton Wallace]

Some nice photos there, clean design. Some of the images are a bit too Photoshopped (I see areas where the background has been clearly altered, for example).
The navigation is too obscure, almost mystery-meat status.
Download was slow on my dsl. Other sites coming up ok right now.
I like your logo. I wish you had it on more than 2 pages. Looks like you are hiding it?
Popup got blocked by my settings in FF, I suspect many others have popups set to block as well. I only viewed it to give feedback. If I was a client it would have annoyed me.
On my 1280 screen it is nearly impossible to read some of your text (the smaller font size).

[imagesbyadam]

Originally Posted by Clayton Wallace

(I see areas where the background has been clearly altered, for example).

Hrm..which ones exactly?

Originally Posted by Clayton Wallace

The navigation is too obscure, almost mystery-meat status.

You know I agonized over the nav-layout and I'll tell you I'm still 50/50 on it. I wanted the site to be about the pictures but I still think its not.

Originally Posted by Clayton Wallace

Download was slow on my dsl. Other sites coming up ok right now.
I like your logo. I wish you had it on more than 2 pages. Looks like you are hiding it?
Popup got blocked by my settings in FF, I suspect many others have popups set to block as well. I only viewed it to give feedback. If I was a client it would have annoyed me.
On my 1280 screen it is nearly impossible to read some of your text (the smaller font size).

Wierd...the site has a small footprint. My DSL rips it right down real quick. The logo came in after the site was done, so it was more worked in to replace my last (ugly) logo that I DID hide! Revision 3 will definately "brand" more. Same story on the availability calendar, it came in 3/4 through completion. And finally..yeah..it is too small, I designed it for like 800x600 and the 3rd site will be much much bigger.

Thanks for the critique though. This is exactly what I'm looking for.

[sebbomar]

Hello:

I would add labels so you don't have to rollover the little squares to see the menu.

I would delete the calendar thing. You don't want the potential customer to not call you because they think there is a conflict. What happens if you have a cancellation. You could network with some other photographers to expand your business.

The gallery thing is not big enough to fill the space and it is not centered like the other pages.

[Clayton Wallace]

Some nice photos there, clean design. Some of the images are a bit too Photoshopped (I see areas where the background has been clearly altered, for example).

The 8th one from the start of the gallery for example (close up with b+w background). I am generally a fan of selective coloring, but the disparity between foreground and background in this case it looks weird to me. Some of your colors are way oversaturated, which again I am sometimes a fan of, but a few of the flesh tones border on orange.

Having said that, the more I look at your photos the more I like your style. You have some great shots there. Just some areas that (to me) you pushed the envelope a bit too far.

And that navigation has got to be clear. Just leave those things on instead of the hunting and guessing. The 'distraction' from the photos will be more than made up for the clarity you will provide your brides. "If I find his website confusing/frustrating, what will his contract/packages/proofing be like?".

Oh, Nice domain name. And did I mention nice photos? Not just saying that to make the critique easier to swallow!

I don't have a problem with the calendar as a concept, just as a popup. I'd hate a popup if it actually WAS a free ipod.

A couple of minor points here:

1. When I'm in your gallery, then switch to another page like here (using tabs in FF), then switch back to your site, a mystery line appears just under the gallery. Like one pixel wide, 25 tall, black.

2. You really should make better titles. Accurate, keyword loaded titles with help your SEO. Not to mention your customers...

3. (very minor) You have some awkard ImageReady generated code (and filenames/paths). It is working though, so...

[imagesbyadam]

Originally Posted by Clayton Wallace

The 8th one from the start of the gallery for example (close up with b+w background). I am generally a fan of selective coloring, but the disparity between foreground and background in this case it looks weird to me. Some of your colors are way oversaturated, which again I am sometimes a fan of, but a few of the flesh tones border on orange.

I actually didnt even notice that was the one with the BW background its so faint. Let me ask a question though...are you looking at the site on a color calibrated monitor? I'm just not seeing the flesh tone being orange on anything..and all these have gone to print too and I didnt see them as orange..real curious on that.

Originally Posted by Clayton Wallace

Having said that, the more I look at your photos the more I like your style. You have some great shots there. Just some areas that (to me) you pushed the envelope a bit too far.

Thank you =)

Originally Posted by Clayton Wallace

And that navigation has got to be clear. Just leave those things on instead of the hunting and guessing. The 'distraction' from the photos will be more than made up for the clarity you will provide your brides. "If I find his website confusing/frustrating, what will his contract/packages/proofing be like?".

Oh, Nice domain name. And did I mention nice photos? Not just saying that to make the critique easier to swallow!

I don't have a problem with the calendar as a concept, just as a popup. I'd hate a popup if it actually WAS a free ipod.

A couple of minor points here:

1. When I'm in your gallery, then switch to another page like here (using tabs in FF), then switch back to your site, a mystery line appears just under the gallery. Like one pixel wide, 25 tall, black.

2. You really should make better titles. Accurate, keyword loaded titles with help your SEO. Not to mention your customers...

3. (very minor) You have some awkard ImageReady generated code (and filenames/paths). It is working though, so...

Definately thanks again. I'm already brainstorming for v3 of my site..I wish I knew flash but I'll make it work with HTML. I'll investigate the problems your having, I think its probably FF related. I need to flesh out the compatabilities. And SEO..yep..I have got to focus on it, I just havnt had the time.

thanks again. I really appreciate the details you've taken the time to give

[Clayton Wallace]

.are you looking at the site on a color calibrated monitor?

yep. and on my non-calibrated (more blue) monitor it is still a bit much. On that one I would think they would look less yellow/glowish. Maybe my monitors is on the fritz. Defininitely get feedback from several people.

You have a nice site, good design, and great photos. You are welcome for the feedback. I know how valuable it can be

[LadyShutterBug]

once i enter the site, the navigation is not clear at all. i have to play "find the link" with my mouse... i don't like this and it makes me want to give up.

i do love your blue background though-- it's one of the colors integrated into my own site.

on your pricing page-- i hate to be a grammar nazi, but it is unprofessional-- when pluralizing the word "photo", you needn't use an apostrophe-- it's "photos", not "photo's". i would also differentiate your main title from the package titles.

i always feel the need to apologize-- in my first life i did a lot of editing/layout critique in the healthcare field... so i am a picky spelling and grammar gal.

i love, love, LOVE your bride in the pumpkins, that is just precious.