p.4 #1 · Top 3 Mistakes in Wedding Photography Websites
I don't have music on my site but I don't think its a negative as long as:
- it doesn't scare the bejesus out of potential clients (i.e. hard rock) I went to one site that had a rock song on and literally jumped out of my chair!
- the mute button is easy to find
I have been to some sites with some nice soft music and really enjoy it. Whats kind of funny is that trying to come up with a first dance song in my wedding last year, I was looking around on photographer sites
p.4 #4 · Top 3 Mistakes in Wedding Photography Websites
joosay wrote:
Interesting, two big name photographers here in NYC both have music on their website.
They're not dependent on random internet traffic coming upon their sites. A search from someone doing a bit of photographer site surfing when they ought to be on the clock can get them clicking immediately off of sites if music starts playing... even if there is a control button somewhere. Not having music becomes a practical matter.
Photographers who are getting leads coming in from other sources have their websites geared to back them up instead. So accoutrements such as flash or music serve to enhance that experience.
p.4 #6 · Top 3 Mistakes in Wedding Photography Websites
I don't agree that flash or music are mistakes. If you do add music, you have to consider that the listener may not like your taste in music. That is OK as long as they can quickly find the music off button. True, the flash sites tend to do less well overall in SEO than HTML sites but since everyone now is heading away from flash sites, now is the time to get in. I agree that asking a group of photographers (too influenced by Prophoto, etc.) or even web designers what you should have on your site is not the best idea. We all have different ideas. Think of your client and what they might like to see.
The biggest mistake is showing too many mediocre images or awful images when you have better work to display. Considering SEO early is also wise!
p.4 #7 · Top 3 Mistakes in Wedding Photography Websites
Vance Zachary wrote:
you have to consider that the listener may not like your taste in music.
The same thing happens with the about page, I think. When someone tries to be quirky and writes something like, "I love red jelly beans marinated in root beer", hoping to attract brides who'd think "oh that photographer sounds like fun!!!" - isn't that photographer actually carving so narrow a tiny slice of possibility out for themselves, trying to connect based on something like that? I mean, I know narrowing a target market is a good thing, but the rationale for it has to practical, no?
The biggest mistake is showing too many mediocre images or awful images
I have yet to find the photographers who admit it's their work you're talking about. Seems they always think their work is wonderful yet to them others are horrid.
p.4 #9 · Top 3 Mistakes in Wedding Photography Websites
TheGE wrote:
I have yet to find the photographers who admit it's their work you're talking about. Seems they always think their work is wonderful yet to them others are horrid.
I guess I'm the rare exception; I often wonder if I'm showing too many mediocre images. I just don't want to give them a false impression of what they're going to get by showing only the "Best Of" images.
