I purchased a website from bludomain - I haven't requested to go live, but it is somehow up. No longer sure what "go live" means. After that, we quickly got pictures up so people who did find it wouldn't be accessing a blank site.

I'm sure i have too many photos- Let me know which work, which don't, and how/if I should reorder the pictures. I was able to mix up the engagement pictures, but I gave up with the wedding pictures and put them in [mostly] chronological order. The shots looked nice on a calibrated computer, but I'm looking at some of them at work and I may need to remove some because of the colors-- mostly from the first wedding, which featured horrific tungsten light and spray tan females - not a good combination. could convert those shots to B&W.

Let me know if any just don't work. It's a work in progress and I want this site to be solid -- something I can be proud of. Don't be afraid to critique the portraits section, either.

-->> www.deborahcull.com <<--

NOTE: I'm having a hard time with my logo and the page. First I had my full logo -- the "dc" and deborah cull photography - but it didn't look right since the logo section is taller than it is wide. Now I'm trying just the "dc" and I don't like it. It looks really nice on the business cards, but I'm not sure how about the site. Any ideas? Also -- anyone on a PC -- does it look pixellated? It's looks nice on our mac, but pixellated at work. Wondering if this is a crop or screen problem.

-I have TTD shots, but haven't been able to export them yet.
-picture under "us" is a place saver. We have no pictures of "us" yet =(
-picture under "give" is also a place saver. let me know if you have advice on pictures to use for that.
-picture under "contact" is a place saver as well...
-picture under "calender" also a place saver.
I don't know how many times I've updated the calendar - somehow doesn't seem to update.


Anyway, let me know what needs to go. Be brutal. Thanks.

The logo does look pixellated. I'm on a work pc.

"We Did!" doesnt load up with photos. I know you're still working on the site, just wanted to make sure you knew


Go Live propigates your website into your domain name. In theory. Make sure your email and contact form things work!

The second-to-last image under "Yes" has some weird spots floating near her head. It's the shot of the couple on the beach near sunset.

edit- There's one on the third-to-last image above his head as well?

Deb,

I did not have time to thoroughly review your site but I have couple comments. I agree that your logo is a bit pixellated. Also, I think the cycle time of your images is a bit fast, 3 sec? It kinda rush me through the site. Try 4 sec. Other than that it is a good start on your new site.

Thi

Noted on the time -- I wish I could change the speed of the pics in the text sections separately from the galleries. I'll go with 4.

Yeah - noticed those two spots as well. Don't know where they came from - I don't *think* they were noticable on the RAW image, so I'll see if it's a sharpening issue.

Yep - I'm going to upload to "we did" today at lunch. In theory. Very theoretical. Hopefully will get to!

I would slow the slideshow like others have said. Maybe not show as many of the maternity and just cut it down to the best 3-4. If you show just the average shots for fill you take away from the really good shots. Less is more most of the time.

Deb...just a quick comment...the calendar section makes you look "too available"... as in "if she is so available, then she's probably not any good". You don't want to scare anyone off...so it is a thin line to walk. Just something to think about.

Hi Deb,

I find the gray text on blue a tad hard to read on the navigation, could just be me though.

I agree with everyone's comments about the speed and the logo does look a little pixelated. I really like the design of the "dc" but I think I'd like to see the "Deborah Cull Photography" under the dc instead of floating down on the lower right. I ahve to agree with the grey on the blue, tough to read. Pictures look though.

At first glance the splash page photos seemed okay, but the second two images are very generic. I get the writing for the blog, but he isn't you. To me, wedding photog blogs are "active" with great shots rather than simply writing thoughts. The third photo just doesn't stand up to much of your other work, or pull me in.

Retitle the current wedding gallery as engagements instead of adding wedding photos to it? Portraits or maternity for the other gallery? I'd delete the first two images there. I like dogs, but I have a strong aversion to doggy kisses. The second and third maternity shots are very similar but the third is a stronger image. I agree about cutting down the amount of images from the second maternity session.

Overall, I like it. Great work so far.

brown_dog wrote:
Deb...just a quick comment...the calendar section makes you look "too available"... as in "if she is so available, then she's probably not any good". You don't want to scare anyone off...so it is a thin line to walk. Just something to think about.
I agree. I think you should take the calendar down. In addition to scaring customers off, I don't think I'd like my competition browsing my calendar.

Doug

Great ideas everyone! Yeah - I keep trying to edit the calendar, and it isn't working. No reason not to take it off, so I will.

Thanks for all the advice! I'm actually planning to make one image out of a few of the similar "Doubles" -- just haven't had the time yet. I'll do that this weekend. Otherwise I'm really trying ot cut down on the photos.

Linda- - should I just rename the galleries to generic names? I like the idea of something different, but I can see how the names would be confusing. OR I could have the wedding gallery (i do) come first, and the others last

DEFINITELY think I should change the text color. Now what color i should change it to is another question.

I'll try to reload the logo with the full words on it and see if that works...

OR I could have the wedding gallery (i do) come first, and the others last

+1

Oh - and thanks for the update on the splash site! I'm thinking of what i want there. Not sure yet. We'll see what I can figure out! I forgot to mention that those, too, were place holders.


Sheesh, I'm supposed to be packing right now. Oh well...

You can set the calendar to invisible until you're ready to use it, but I would want to figure out the problem now, not in the middle of May when you might be busy and wanting to post it.

I have to clear my browser's cache and then reload the page to see changes on my calendar. Do you have any weddings booked this year, workshops you're planning to attend, wedding fair? Find things to add to the calendar. You can post a general 'Smith engagement shoot; date TBD.' on a non-weekend date. Same for maternity shoots, an announcement for senior photo sessions. It can either show you aren't busy or show that you're staying active.

I don't see how posting the calendar would be helpful to your competition?

splash page nominally updated. my husband is now the middle picture. Dang -- I can't figure out what i want to do with this page... I'd like to keep all the pictures either B&W or color -- I don't want ot mix.

Love, romance. Wedding, wedding, wedding. Or wedding, maternity, wedding. The photos will speak to potential clients more than any words. Approach this as if you were doing a promo postcard with only three images on it. The sepia works well here and then you can show the color versions in the site.

I really like that idea, Linda. I think I'm going to choose a wedding, maternity, and other shot and keep them sepia -- then have them color in the site. I appreciate all your input! VERY helpful!

Went with an easy to use Bludomain template which means it's plain and simple for your clients to navigate

The FAQ section IMO "should" be covered in all of the other sections. I like websites with the least amount of options available to make it easier for the client.

Good idea - it's one less thing to have to write...