Website Critique?

[Sollie_Nevina]

I know a lot of these threads are going around lately, so if everyone is worn out from viewing and commenting, then that's cool by me.

Keep in mind, I mainly made a website to know what does and doesn't work. I know I am in no way shape or form ready to start a business. But I like to be prepared and I have insomnia, lol.

Home - Sollie Studios

Thanks for reading.

[OsmosisStudios]

... WHere is your website?

[Sollie_Nevina]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

... WHere is your website?

Ugh! I hate typing with a toddler pulling on my arms. So sorry. Home - Sollie Studios

[santiagoyes]

Hi Sollie_Nevina

Great website, I think you forget the photo slide show on the front page.

[OsmosisStudios]

As I tell everyone: buckle up.

First impression:
Loaded fast, no flash which is nice. The "Create a Free Website" button at the bottom has got to go though, as do the ads. More importantly, though, your navigation menu should NOT take 2 lines. The Items on the second line would best be suited to a footer, and a small one at that. The title bar, as well, is very... plain. The coloured stripes effect is overplayed and not suitable in this case. The text placed over it doesn't fit with the look (modern/vs/classical). Your copy text on this main page could also use some trimming and editing: the way certain things are said isn't fantastic.

Going through the menu:

About us:
This shouldnt be the first link (after home). Your portfolio should be. Content wise, it's pretty bare. The portrait isn't confidence inspiring, and nobody wants to see a list of equipment. I'll come back to this later, actually.

Photo Gallery:
Ditch the search bar, get rid of the "Sign In or Register". The galleries are also a bit complicated. You've got individual galleries for individual projects, but you've also got galleries that encompass great swathes of subject matter. It's all very difficult. Some of the galleries also contain images that are far too similar.

I'd be tempted to pick and choose from the "Modern Day Deities", "Headshots" and "Band photography" galleries, shoving one (or at very most two) of each into "people".

I'll be brutal here: most of the images I see aren't portfolio worthy.

Testimonials:
If you dont have any, you dont have a page. Ditch it until you have testimonials.

Contact us:
This page is fine, though there are some formatting issues in the form. It's straightforward, but lacking. It needs a bit more to incite people to write.

Calendar:
Get rid of this. Straight up.

News:
Get rid of this.

FAQ:
A lot of these questions aren't relevant and many of your answers are terrible. "How many years of training and experience do you have? I have 3 years of unprofessional training." You just dont SAY that.

Photography Prices:
Your prices are crazy low for what youre offering. You're also shooting yourself in the foot with the CD: Customers get the CD and a release to print, but then you offer a-la-carte printing? Pick one or the other: not both. Speaking of which: a-la-carte prices are low.

Policies:
This should be included into the Pricing page, and both need to be reorganized.

Terms of Service:
Nobody will read this, but post it in the footer, VERY small.

Location:
Place this under the Contact or About pages.

Sites of interest:
Kill this.

There are some major issues with the website, but frankly there's a larger underlying issue: your images simply aren't, in my humble opinion, worth the money. I mentioned earlier that I would mention the equipment list: nobody cares what you use to take your photos. In this case, however, the equipment shows very clearly where the issues in the images are coming from: you simply cannot compete. There is some learning that needs to be done here before the business should have gone live.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news.

[Sollie_Nevina]

Thank you, Osmosis.

As I said earlier, I'm not even close to being able to charge money.

I'll keep your points in mind for when the time comes to even consider a professional website.

I'm glad you're the bearer of bad news. Other people might have tried to sugar coat it. Thanks for a very honest opinion.

[srt]

Well, after reading OsmosisStudios reply.....I'm going to go and work on my website! lol!

[Sollie_Nevina]

Originally Posted by srt

Well, after reading OsmosisStudios reply.....I'm going to go and work on my website! lol!

You and me both.

[Peter Ahrens]

I'm not too sure about your tagline "Photography and Videography you can trust".

That makes me think... why should I trust you? I just stepped onto your website? To me, trust is only built over time.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Sollie_Nevina

I'm glad you're the bearer of bad news. Other people might have tried to sugar coat it. Thanks for a very honest opinion.

Oh... that was sugarcoated...