Critique - New Website

[Erin Kathleen]

Ok, so this is my new website:
http://bludomain6.com/1000w/

It hasn't gone live yet, but I'm hoping to go live tomorrow. I was planning on today, but life's gotten in the way. I still need to pick quotes for the text sections and move my About Me to the top (and write it) and I need to reorder and tweak the portraits gallery. Other than that, I think it's done. What do you think? I'd love input on it - especially if there are images I should remove or others that you love that I should bring to the top in any of the galleries. I'd also love some advice about what to write in my "About Me" section and how much pricing information I should include on my website. Right now I include everything I can think of including print prices, etc., but this new one I was thinking of just including my packages and "starting at" for my portrait work. Should I still include the print prices b/c my packages come with a print credit so clients can tell how far it will get them or is it enough information to have them call me and I can give it to them over the phone, email or in person? Any other comments/critiques are ALWAYS welcome.

Thanks so much!!!!

EK

[CaptainTom]

It is one of the best and most intuitive sites I have seen.
Excellently done.

I haven't looked at all the images, etc. but just want to say that your interface is flawless, and should prove to bring you a boatload of customers.

[ShaneKislack]

It looks amazing. The real test is to see how it loads for the average joe with a slow computer and no flash.

[Erin Kathleen]

Thanks, Tom, but I can't claim credit. BluDomain has been great - a bit challenging to work with, but worth it. I think it fits my style and personality so perfectly. My brother said it's "me".

[Erin Kathleen]

Originally Posted by ShaneKislack

It looks amazing. The real test is to see how it loads for the average joe with a slow computer and no flash.

Unfortunately, it's a flash site, so I don't think it works if you don't have flash. I've thought about having an "entrance page" where you pick Flash or No Flash (and no flash is basically the site I have now), but I haven't gotten that far. How many people don't have flash these days? And would they be the clients that I'm looking for??

[ShaneKislack]

That's always the question. I would say that if you were a commercial photographer with sophisticated (or computer savvy) clients...then you'd be safe. But likely you're going to have grandma's and parents looking at your site. And they are the ones with the money.

But like I said, it's really good from where I'm standing.

[KeepsakeGirl]

That's one of my fave blu templates. That and the newest addition they offer.

Your images are great.

Not quite sure about the green color you've chosen for the background though..i think green is good but something about it doesn't mesh *perfectly* with the leather. Maybe its just me.

[Erin Kathleen]

Thanks, Erykah. I've been struggling with the background color for a while. The biggest problem is that depending on their monitor it turns out anywhere from turquiose to emerald green. I love color and would prefer not to use beige or something, but I've no idea how to deal with the color difference on monitors. I was thinking a darker olive green might be better. What do you think??

[photobykim]

I love the wedding images you have, those are all good emotional grabbing images.

Weddings -
On thing you might want to look at fixing is the engagement image right after the group photo, it comes off your page, just need to resize that one and probably move it to your engagement gallery as well.

Bridals --
You have another engagement in this gallery it too needs to be resized. it's on the 1st page.

Actually now that I look at the engagements section you have those two images in there, just need to get them out of your other galleries.

Portraits --
I think I would start with the more emotional images (ie your black and white ones of the babies feet and holding the hand). or possibly start with the maternity, then newborn/infant...more of a natural progression of age.

I do not include my print prices, I have a notification at the bottom that says print prices and album prices upon request. Dont want to overwhelm them with to much info. If they're really interested and want that info, then they'll contact you and that gets them face (phone) time with you, which then lets you sell yourself.

Aside from those couple of things I think it looks good. I'm not to fond of the green color either, but that's your choice and preference. I had several people tell me before to change the purple and black on mine, but I didn't because I like it and that's a big part of who I am so I wanted that. Remember your site is an extension of you and your creativity and passion, so all of these are just my thoughts after going through your site.

Hope that helps you some!

[photobykim]

Originally Posted by Erin Kathleen

Thanks, Erykah. I've been struggling with the background color for a while. The biggest problem is that depending on their monitor it turns out anywhere from turquiose to emerald green. I love color and would prefer not to use beige or something, but I've no idea how to deal with the color difference on monitors. I was thinking a darker olive green might be better. What do you think??

I see it as a very light sea foam type green color. maybe doing something that has a nicer shade range than green. For instance if you use blue and it's lighter on some and darker on others you know that the shades within the blue range will still compliment your images and your style.

make sense?

[Erin Kathleen]

Thanks, Kim. I haven't re-ordered the portraits gallery and am looking for which images to start with there, so thank for that! I love the feet one too but I didn't know if it was bad to start with a detail image, you know? Otherwise, I might use one of the tutu pics - probably the smiling one rather than the one that's there now - since people seemed to really like that one.

Thanks for catching those two image duplicates and problems! I fixed those.

[Erin Kathleen]

Originally Posted by photobykim

I see it as a very light sea foam type green color. maybe doing something that has a nicer shade range than green. For instance if you use blue and it's lighter on some and darker on others you know that the shades within the blue range will still compliment your images and your style.

make sense?

Yeah except another photog (in CA, so I guess it doesn't matter too much) who gave me the referral to bludomain using the same template has blue. Does red work or too much?? Too bright??

[photobykim]

not sure that it matters on the blue since they're in CA and there are only so many colors to pick from. Red might not be to bad, just have to gage the shades of it, might end up with pink or REALLY red.

[KeepsakeGirl]

Originally Posted by Erin Kathleen

Yeah except another photog (in CA, so I guess it doesn't matter too much) who gave me the referral to bludomain using the same template has blue. Does red work or too much?? Too bright??

u might want to look at their list of launched clients and find some that use your template. then you can get a good idea on colors.

but like Kimberly said, its all a matter of your preference :)

[Erin Kathleen]

And I'm back to green. I need to see what it looks like on other computer. Green is so me, but that doesn't mean I should use it. I'll look at the blues again too. Ugh! Who would have thought picking a background color could be so hard!