CRITIQUE: www.imagefusionstudio.com

[daveb]

Hello, I would like to get some feedback on our site.
It has been up for several months now and I am looking at ways to make it more impactfull.

Any information as well as fresh eyes will help as we look at version 2.0 of the site.

Thanks

http://www.imagefusionstudio.com

[janetg]

1) the link as posted didnt work, but...

2) everything looks great - but the dark purple text - it's got to go - it's way too hard to read against the black background.

3) i got a popup from one of the menu links - that opened a wee tiny little box...

looks nice otherwise

[daveb]

Originally Posted by janetg

1) the link as posted didnt work, but...

2) everything looks great - but the dark purple text - it's got to go - it's way too hard to read against the black background.

3) i got a popup from one of the menu links - that opened a wee tiny little box...

looks nice otherwise

I fixed the link.... Thanks

2) I have been afraid of the purple text... I will change that out....

3) on the little popup... I dont understand why the code does that on IE ... Ill have to research it.

Thanks ...

[daveb]

Would it be possible to have a couple of folks check the site for speed ...
I added some flash to the front page and I am wondering if it is running OK.

Thanks

[marcus]

I like the website, and the Flash works great and the speed is fine. I just have a hard time reading white text on black. I think white would brighten it up some and welcome people into your site. Just my .02....

[Clayton Wallace]

Dave,

Ok, here goes. I have lots of suggestions. I hope I don't come off as rude. I sort of get to the point without a lot of fluff. Hope this helps...

• Site downloaded fast for me, but I've got a fast-fast dsl.

but the dark purple text - it's got to go - it's way too hard to read against the black background.

• Absolutely, purple on black has got to go....also, purple is the default 'visited link' color on so many sites, you may be confusing visitors into thinking the purple text is a link. I know I had the urge to try.

I just have a hard time reading white text on black.

• Absolutely, white on black is hard to read and a no-no for any significant amount of text. If you must, make the font larger and a very light grey.

• Why are there lines moving in your (flash) photos? I assume you wouldn't show a print with lines in it...I find it very distracting. I feel like you are using lines in other places as filler, not as a tool to lead the eye. Real and implied lines are one of our most powerful tools and must be used thoughtfully.

• You need to break up this text.

  http://www.imagefusionstudio.com/retouch.html

  It is overwhelming and even if it is strictly for SEO you don't want to give the impression that your work is cluttered.

• To me your photo choice on 'dance' doesn't say "We're passionate about dance". I'd put a photo of someone dancing, maybe something lively that indicates passion?

• There are too many lines leading the eye away from your photos here

  http://www.imagefusionstudio.com/sli...o_gallery.html

• Your sessions link shifts on rollover and is the only one that does.

• I don't really get this. See the note below about wording/proofing. Picture 3.pdf

• I'm a little confused as to why there is a sunset in the banner. I think you must have a better use for that spot.

• You say this but I can't select more than onePicture 4.pdf

• Why is Portrait the only thing capitalized?

  We specialize in Portrait, advertising, portfolio, wedding

  In general I'd have someone proof the entire site (someone who is especially good at catching things like that). There are many awkward phrases and unclear word choices that make the site text feel like a rough draft. If you know an English teacher that needs a portrait...

• I'd keep the blog as professional as you want your business to be. Make it useful, relevant, and current, but keep the slang for off-hours and out of the public eye. I can see where some would disagree here, but even hip photographers are hired (and rehired) for their professionalism.

• You need to customize the Coppermine portion of you site so that it looks more like the rest of the site. I actually find that portion easier on the eyes.

Hope these thoughts help.

[daveb]

Wow ... THANK YOU Clayton... your help is appreciated greatly
Marcus and Jane ... Thanks also... We are doing some changes this weekend !

[LadyShutterBug]

tooo much color, way too much text. way too busy of an opening page.

the "y'all halla y'all" makes me want to leave the site.... but i may not be the demographic you're targeting ;)

[Daniel Bates]

Yeah, the purple text has to go... and I'd prefer that the white text be more like light grey. Maybe the "Imagine" text could be in a larger font, semitransparent medium grey... just a thought...

[daveb]

Originally Posted by LadyShutterBug

tooo much color, way too much text. way too busy of an opening page.

the "y'all halla y'all" makes me want to leave the site.... but i may not be the demographic you're targeting ;)

Ya Halla Y'all is an event that I am shooting next month. We are taking portrait session reservations on the site... We want to have a easy way for participants to access event information.

What about that bothers you ?

[LadyShutterBug]

oh, my mistake. it just seememd like slang or something to me. probably because the're a lot of text and your eyes just kind of go all over the place ;)

[Clayton Wallace]

Bothered me too at first, until I realized it was an event name. It sounds super casual (and the event may be). Perhaps if you indicated it was an event next to the name it might be clearer to non participants. My $.02.

[daveb]

Originally Posted by Clayton Wallace

Bothered me too at first, until I realized it was an event name. It sounds super casual (and the event may be). Perhaps if you indicated it was an event next to the name it might be clearer to non participants. My $.02.

Yeah, I agree on that as I PMed to Kasey ... I may replace that with a graphic or something.
The full event name is "Yaa halla y'all - A gathering of the Stars in Texas" but that is WAAAAY too long

It is a 4 day Bellydance show that we have been doing for the past few years.

[daveb]

Originally Posted by LadyShutterBug

oh, my mistake. it just seememd like slang or something to me. probably because the're a lot of text and your eyes just kind of go all over the place ;)

I note what you have said about a lot of text... SEO placement is very important to us ... just having a couple of words on the page or links that are graphic only does not get very good search engine placement.

I do see your point though :)

[Clayton Wallace]

Dave,

Don't worry about what Kasey says about text, she is a text Nazi. Fill that page with spider food! Just don't look like you are filling the page with spiderfood...

(edit) Oh, and I don't think that event name is too long. I've seen longer. And at least a person gets it is an event that way...