Would anyone like to look at my website?

[mandyatm]

I am not too savvy when it comes to web stuff, so this site has been in the making for a while. I think I finally have it to where I really like it, but I want to make sure I am not missing something obvious. Is it too busy? Have I chosen good images to include in the slideshows?

Also, now that it is up and running, I have no idea about how to get the word out. I do have clients and I have gotten referrals, but I also want my site to be searchable and right now it is definitely not. I don't know if I just need more time (the blog has been up since December), or if I am doing something wrong. I am using Wordpress.

Anyway, the site is www.capturethedance.com.

Thank you!

[OsmosisStudios]

I dont understand the name (where is there Dancing?) but the site itself is nice, if a bit... strong. I'd tone down the background a bit, just make it less powerful.

I dont understand everybody's obsession with putting ABOUT ME pages BEFORE the PORTFOLIO itself. You're not selling you, you're selling images. They go first.

[mandyatm]

Thank you for your advice. I will re-order the pages.

As for the name, well, where does any name come from? No one else was using it and it is easy to remember. The idea is that life is a dance. Ever heard the song? Maybe I should explain that on the home page.

I will also see if I can figure out how to tone down the background. I have been wondering about that too. Should I remove the pattern completely?

[EndlessHope...]

Wow...I think your site is awesome...) You definitely chose great pictures to put up. I was just gonna look at a few but ended up looking through your whole site!...All the colors on the site match and look real well together(I know because i do scrapbooking and work with colors a lot). .....And I think your title is pretty cool too....to me it seems like you mean like "capture the fun" "capture the excitement" ??....yea!
From my point of view, I would say it looks Great!.....

[mandyatm]

Thank you. I really appreciate that! The web stuff does not come easy for me.

[Indigo November]

Wow!!!! EndlessHope said it well, exactly how I felt! Great website, great photos! Love it all!
And thank you for not going flash, flash websites are awful!

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by mandyatm

I will also see if I can figure out how to tone down the background. I have been wondering about that too. Should I remove the pattern completely?

I certainly wouldnt remove it. Try just bringing it into an editing program, creating an underlying layer of black and adjust the opacity of the texture layer. It'll tone it down and make it nice and dark. You could also use the dark brown of your website instead of black, if you'd like. Try them both.

[mandyatm]

Thank you!

Osmosis, I will work on that. I decided to move the "about me" section under the "details" tab. I don't really think anyone really cares to know me, I am not all that interesting, but it's there if someone is curious.

[PowerPix]

Originally Posted by mandyatm

I decided to move the "about me" section under the "details" tab. I don't really think anyone really cares to know me, I am not all that interesting, but it's there if someone is curious.

You'd be amazed. A lot of people actually do want to know who they are dealing with, even if it's reading a simple bio. About Me pages allow some sort of connection -- a breaking of the ice.

I, for one, always look at About Me pages for anything. Maybe that's just my personal "thing", maybe not.

[Peter Ahrens]

The site looks really nice.

The main thing I would change with your site is the fonts.

I would probably choose your fonts a bit differently - at the moment those fonts are basic standard Microsoft fonts (Times and Comic Sans I'm guessing). From your site, I would choose something more elegant, perhaps Georgia. The line spacing is a bit close too. The Capture the Dance font in pink looks good though.

To keep your navigation more consistent, I would get rid of the * around the details and contact.

I would get rid of the white transparent border on for your home page image.

If you look at the background blocks on your front page, the navigation background and the photo line up, but then the 'thank you for visiting my website' block is aligned on the right, but not on the left. Have you put the correct sizing? This happens on a few different pages, like the contact page, where it is aligned on the right but not the left again.

Well, I hope this helps Mandy. You're certainly on the right track.