www.amybrownphotography.net

[epoh]

http://amybrownphotography.net

My laundry list of things to do:
-Change splash page image
-Add image/text to the main page
-Add images to about & pricing section
-Add prices to pricing page
-Work on getting some color in there somehow.

Will y'all verify for me that everything is functioning - no broken links, gallery works, contact form works? Also, any suggestions - I'll take 'em!

Thanks in advance!

[jamiewallace]

It all works. It's kind of annoying that your portfolio launches in another window and there's no obvious way to get to other pages from there.

Also, why have a splash page and a "home" page that has no content on them. Why not combine them into one?

Beautiful images, hope your business does well. Also, love the font. What is that?

[epoh]

True, the splash page started as a temp filler page, I can toss it pretty easily.

Yeah, I'm not very happy about the portfolio setup either. I'm not sure what else to do with it though. I suppose I could go with smaller images (600pixels maybe) and keep it in the same window. I'd have to play with frames for that work. hrm...

And the font is called Scriptina. You can find it free via google. I love it - I've had complaints it's tough to read, but I haven't found anything else I like nearly as much.

Thanks!!!

[rages4calm]

Great job, I think you should make the text html instead of an image though, search engines can not identify your website if there is nothing to consume,

[epoh]

Hey, I just wanted to say "Thanks!" I am going to do some more big editing this weekend.

[Clayton Wallace]

Hi Amy,

Your current version is much improved :) and I think you are heading the right direction.

1. Your 'Services' page is out of alignment from the others (sideways shift, maybe two pixels or so).

2. I second the splash page/home comments above (even if Jamie is my brother). I also like the font, but think it is a bit too much as it is, especially in your navigation. Have you tried increasing the space between links? I'm not sure what you design criteria are (particulary the monitor resolutions you are aiming for), but is looks like you easily have the space to spread those out.

3. I like the simple design that keeps the focus on your photos.

4. The black-on-grey, "Fields marked..." text on the contact page is too hard to read.

5. Like Carl said, use html whenever possible for good optimization. You have a long way to go here, but focus on content and design for now.

6. I would actually show less photos in your gallery. Focus on the ones that make you look like a pro. You have very nice shots of your kids, but take out the ones that look like a mom shooting her kids (kitchen chairs in the shot, etc). I'm still getting better at this, but I've learned that your get what you show. If you show good candids of your kids, your friends will think you are a good photographer. If you show good shots that "look pro" (even if they are your own kids), you will have people pay you money. Your choice.

7. Most of your shots are very, very similar (close cropped headshots...maybe to eliminate a distracting background in otherwise good light?). Try to avoid creating doubt in the mind of the viewer that that is all you can do...even if it is. Unraised questions are the easiest to deal with.

Best of luck,

[FreshPhotography]

I have to agree with others comments - the splash page just causes users to click one more time, so probably isn't the best option. Visitors like the least amounts of clicks possible, plus the search engines rank some pages - like the index - higher than others. You definitely should have text that Google & Yahoo can see on that index page.

Also, once you click it, then you are at a page with still no text. Others have already pointed this out too.

I love the colors, adore the font, think the logo is great! And don't stress - every website takes a few redesigns it seems before it is exactly what you want. I think you're well on your way! :-)

[Clayton Wallace]

it is exactly what you want.

You mean we get to STOP at some point? :)

[epoh]

Okay, I've updated the site with some changes:

Lost the splash page
Added photos to the main page, as well as the about page.
Change test images to straight text
fixed font color on contact form so it's visible
Removed some of the weaker images from the gallery
Changed logo image at top of each page to a link to the index.html

So, lemme have any comments! I still need images on the other pages, I think. And something to lighten up the site, but I haven't figure out what I want yet.

[JoeBannon]

You need a photo of you on the about page.

[epoh]

Bah. There are zero good pictures of me in existence. So until I can schedule time for some fabulously talented forum member to take some photos of me, you'll have to do without! LoL.

[JoeBannon]

Well, it may help your business to put a face to the photographer. I know I'd be more inclined to use someone if I knew more about them.

[Graydon]

On the about page you have...

"A picture can recall to use the smell of honeysuckle..."

did you mean "recall to us the smell..."?

I hesitate to add anything else because I know what it takes to go through developing something that works for you and then have others critique it... but after the first round or six, it gets easier to see that most are helpful... some just opinions...

With that, here are my opinions.
- I don't like the gray border around the image on the about page
- Any image you put on the site should be one of your best and while I like the one on the about page, it's not your best (based on viewing your gallery).
- The gallery has a black (or dark gray) background and the site has a not as dark gray background - get them matched up.
- The menu on the about page spreads out over a different width than the rest of the site pages... I'm guessing because of the image.

I like the gallery layout and function and agree with the comment about the head shot theme but know that it can be updated as you expand your portfolio.

The link in the bottom right to the "simpleviewer" should be removed if you can. It's just another option for users to click on and be taken away from your site and doesn't add any value and I didn't see an obvious reason to download it.

re the comment about the menu being images vs. text... probably valid but I think you've got the alt tags there so that it reduces the negative effect of not having pure text links. Using a sitemap loaded to Google analytics should further negate that (if I'm remembering the stuff I've read about having sitemaps).

Finally, I think that having the gallery in a separate window if better than playing with frames But take a look to see if you can change the gallery default page from "index.html" to something else. Eventually you may want to have multiple galleries and knowing how to change their default page should help in setting those up.

All considered, it's a good, clean, quick loading site and you are now into the details that will differentiate you from others as well as provide you a platform to build upon.

[epoh]

Thanks a ton Graydon. There's definitely plenty more work to be done and I'll take all your recommendations into consideration!

[Aric C. Hoek]

On my site, I felt it to be important to have my phone number on every single page. I can't find a phone number anywhere on your site including the contact page. I want to make it easy for people to get ahold of me.

I feel that one of the main purposes of a site is the act of persuasion. The goal of convencing the visitor to contact you in hopes of having your services / product. Make contacting you the easiest thing to do on your site.

This next thing is a personal opinion. I do not put my pricing up on my site. I feel that once the visitor has this information, they can move onto something wlse without having to contact me. In order for me to be successful, I feel that I must have the opportunity to sell my services over the phone to my potential clients. Phone skills are so important.

All the links seem to be working fine.