Webpage...... Finally!!

[habed]

I got a Zenfolio page and built my photog page after all this time

I know it's a template and there's not much to change, but I still would like your opinion.

One thing I've been wondering is... how many photos from each event should I upload? The page is for showcase only. Since I'm in Mexico I can't sell them locally. Maybe the printing would be cheap but the shiping could be very expensive and I deliver all the photos in high resolution in a DVD so I don't upload all the photos.

Blog is on Wordpress and sorry, it's in spanish.

I'm really excited because it gives me a more pro, elegant feel

Thank you in advance for any critique and/or suggestions

Best regards

Here's the link:

humbertoabed

[APhotoSchool]

I like the overall look of it, very nice and simple.

One thing I would say is that you should only upload your absolute best images. The best way to run a portfolio is to show about 20 or so of only your strongest images. You have some great images in there, but there are definitely a few that are not nearly as impressive. Narrowing this down will make it that much stronger!

Here's a post I made on that matter, it's about action sports but will apply to any type of portfolio: Creating a great portfolio

[BigFuzzy]

Hola Humberto,
Vives en el DF? Yo tengo familia aya, en Coyoacan.

Anyway... back to english so others know what I'm saying in case it helps.
As you noted your site feels very cookie-cutter especially with the very plain, text-only business name at the top.

As APS noted, you really need to keep your portfolios at a minimum (something I'm not good at either). No one wants to wade through so many portriats (in your "Books" section) to see your best. I always say that 10-20 should be your target range of images. And make sure you limit the amount of duplication from the same event as you don't want a client to think you've only done one or two jobs. I'd say if you had 10 images it should all be from different jobs, but if you use more you can risk more from the same job but just keep them from showing up one after the other.

Make sure your homepage slider is the same, hit them with your very best images. I saw several on your homepage slider that were poorly exposed/lit.. and I'm sure that's not the vibe you want to give potential clients, right?

Why have a search (Buscar) page? I think your links at the top of any site should be few and clear in their purpose.

Your galleries need to be reworked/renamed based on how you're trying to sell yourself. Bodas/Weddings is clear. "Books" makes no sense to me, why not call it Portraits/Retratos? And "Otros/others" also doesn't make sense to me. And the Main thumbnail for that section is a very over-exposed image.. is that what you want representing that whole section? I also feel the same about your Bodas album cover.. it's very dark and I doubt it's the best wedding themed image you have which is what I think you should use. The "Books" cover is nice and would fit if you made it Retratos .

This is a personal taste thing.. but I really find Visitor Books to be suuuuper cheesey and unneded. It's practically the same as "Testimonials" which I find to be contrived and useless as no one is going to allow anything negative to show up so why should I, the potential client, believe those words?

Contact page.. lots of people I know HATE contact forms. I'm ok with them, but I also understand how lots of people much perfer a direct email address or a phone number. I bet you've lost a least one person as a potential client by using it.

Your "Acerca/About Me" page.. wow. It's nice.. but super cheesey and not sure how appropriate it is for selling yourself as a photographer I should hire to photograph me. I had to force myself to keep reading. It was like reading a book. So I really recommend making it short and sweet. Tell the viewer as succinctly as possible why they should pick you over the 10gazillion other up and coming photographers out there.

As for your blog.. you really need to learn how to add in a "Read More" thing that breaks your posts into smaller more manageable posts. It took forever of scrolling to get through your posts. Typically you want to have the 1st paragraph, then a "click to read more" sort of button.

Why have irrelevant non-photography based Tweets on your website.. what is the point of that?

Have a link in your blog that goes back to your main page even though it opens in a new page because once I was there I wasn't able to get back to it without using the "Back button" which might lose you some people who get frustrated with not being able to get to your Home easily.

Despite all I've said, I've seen much much worse websites. You have a good simple core to work with but my main gripes is that it's very cookie cutter lookign and doesn't stand out at all from the 1gazillion other websites out there from people starting up. Make it your own. Make it (and your images) stand out.

Good luck y now vemos. Come unos tacos al pastor para mi por favor!

[Biomech]

I heard zenfolio and thought - yup, another zenfolio site, not expecting much.
But was pretty blown away with the photos - they're great. Plus they completely took my mind off the fact its zenfolio.

[habed]

BigFuzzy.... you really took the critique very serious....... WOW!! hehehehe.... Just kiding. I really apriciate your input.

Ok.

Coyoacan is a very nice area. I don't go there that much because it's crowded but when I do i enjoy walking on the park eating corn and icecreams.

I have a designer working on my logo, that's why there's plain text on my page header. As soon as she's finished I'll update that.

I just reduced my galleries.

Home page slider.... done. Eliminated some images

Search field.... gone

Galleries' names: Weddings is OK. Books.... Usually that's how we call them here. Portaits or retratos are thought like if you go to Sears and get your portrait taken there. I know is the proper word in the US but everybody here uses Book or Estudio which is the new name for that gallery group

Otros was changes to otros eventos or other events. I need to have those since lots of people ask me to do confirmations, baptisms, etc....

The cover for weddings and other events are changed now

the about me page is changed..... way shorter now

About my blog, I'm still trying to figure Wordpress out. it's the first time I have a blog and I thought it was easier... lot's of configurations and settings. I have a link to my page in there but I still can't find a "back to my page" button option or something. That's why it opens in a different page, so my webpage is still there when you wanna go back.

I know about the read more thing. In fact that's what I do in my facebook fan page, just write the first paragraph and then "read more" and a link to my blog. Yes, my blogs are, some, too long but I'm also following some other photographers trend to educate others and things like image formats for your photos and how to back up your images are not easy to explain in few words and have given me lots of traffic, specially from other photogs.

My Twitter is like a personal account. Don't want to have 2 of them and I don't keep it too personal. In this I also studied other photogs (Like Chase Jarvis and Jazmine Star) and other professionals accounts and they do the same. Kind of gives a feel that you're a human and not a posting machine.

What makes me feel better is that you have seen worst..... hehehehehehe

Thank you for your response, my actions would make you know that I heard you.

And talking about tacos al pastor, I know the best in the city. I've been a customer for more than 30 years and believe me.... I've converted so many people trough the years. people who thought they knew the best. So next time you come let me know and I'll take you there.... the Gringas are the best (Same as tacos al pastor but in flour tortilla and with melted cheese)

Thanks again

[habed]

Originally Posted by Biomech

I heard zenfolio and thought - yup, another zenfolio site, not expecting much.
But was pretty blown away with the photos - they're great. Plus they completely took my mind off the fact its zenfolio.

Thank you for your comment!!! Before I decided for Zenfolio I look for reviews on Zenfolio and Smugmug and I went for Zen because I'm not a computer literate and the major advantage was it's ease of manage photos and galleries. It's just like using Windows explorer

Regards