rates table is ugly and hard to read...that needs to be changed. Seems you are using a jpeg or some such pixel based file. Flash text would be better (scalable among other things).
The rollover links are mixed up on some pages. Client log in turns to 'exhibition' on rollover.
NOt sure about the myspace link. A bit unprofessional to me. Linking myspace to your website is a good idea, but the other way around seems a little cheesy to me.
rates i can work on -- fixed the rollover. not sure if i am with you on the myspace sentiment, but would understand if my main clients werent highschool seniors. thanks man.
Lose the rates table , I would do packages available for all budgets but that is just too busy . Ask the client what they ant and build a package just for them . The about page should be about what you offer and what you shoot , not that you love your brother and sister or that your parents support you . If you want to be a photographer get a site that is geared towards showing your work , there are many places that offer turnkey sites for photographers from $5-600 a year . Myspace link will get you nowhere but a link from myspace to your site might , a art director looking at it may move on to the next person .
eric - yup, gonna do something different with the rates... maybe something simple like "senior packages start at 75, contact for more info"? how does that sound, less information. cant say i agree too much with you about my about me page, i am a person, not a drone with a camera, which is what i feel sets me apart from other senior photogs in the area, who many people felt dissatisfied with. from my experience, young people want to work with real people. i feel bad for any client who has to be with a photographer (especially for an extended period of time, 1-4 hours) that offers nothing of their personality.
nathan - centering it right now, looks way better! thanks man.
ctyankee - disagree, booked 18 seniors in 2 months my first season ever using myspace alone... i consider it teaming forces, either way they are coming to me. i see you are using SSP as well for your image galleries. how are you liking it? i wish there were more ways to display thumbnails.
How about not having all your text as images? Not only is it totally 1999, it will guarantee that you won't rank at all in a Google search for anything. It doesn't help that your text is really badly rendered and looks like...pardon the phrase... hammered ass.
Otherwise, the design isn't bad... just ditch the text images. I know, it seems like a good idea... people see what you want them to see and all... but it just isn't the way the web works. Change it to text and style it with CSS.
The MySpace thing... I would said the same two years ago... but times are a' changin' and I'd make sure if I was booking senior portraits I had a MySpace page and cross-linked it to my own web site.
The myspace link should go. You're a professional. It's like photographers that link to their flickr page, just make you look like a back yarder with a web site.
The site looks good.
I do hate to be the echo of everyone else here but the myspace link has to go!
Its ok to have a myspace page that links to your website, not so much when your website links back to your myspace. If your clients or friends have myspace, they will find you.
I also see that you have way too much header space!! There isnt any reason for all that room above your logo/name. 10-20 pixels of space above your name/logo will be enough.
Your background image is interesting and ads theme to your page, it also ends horizontally on my screen. After a certain point all I see is a bunch of white. Consider a background that can be tiled or a solid color.
I know, it seems like a good idea... people see what you want them to see and all... but it just isn't the way the web works. Change it to text and style it with CSS.
So this is the best advice given from anyone. Whether or not you use myspace to promote and sell yourself is up to you. As youīve said, your target market sees the myspace thing as a plus.
As stated above getting your text as actual text and styled with CSS is incredibly important if you want to be found in google searches. Google canīt search for text within a jpg because itīs not seen as text, itīs a picture.
The overall style looks pretty damn good IMO. I would say maybe be more concise in your about section. Itīs fantastic youīre letting people know who you are, just sometimes more is less.
Oh, and Iīd get the site started off directly into photos. You want to hook people with your work (which will totally happen with that fantastic book) and then have them looking for price and about you. And label the Gallery, ĻphotosĻ or something you donīt have to think about to get to. It may sound silly, but people get super impatient with websites and when they arenīt spoonfed on where to clic, etc.
caleb condit wrote:
So this is the best advice given from anyone. Whether or not you use myspace to promote and sell yourself is up to you. As youīve said, your target market sees the myspace thing as a plus.
As stated above getting your text as actual text and styled with CSS is incredibly important if you want to be found in google searches. Google canīt search for text within a jpg because itīs not seen as text, itīs a picture.
The overall style looks pretty damn good IMO. I would say maybe be more concise in your about section. Itīs fantastic youīre letting people know who you are, just sometimes more is less.
Sure it's up to him if he wants a myspace link, that does not mean it is not good advice to suggest it ought to go.
If that does appeal to the target market then you're probably marketing to kids with no money to spend.
