I am so excited do be do be - Website cc

[NicolaB]

Yeeee Ha. A very clever friend have very, very generously given his time and skills to developing a website for me. It only went up late last night so I haven't had time to check it all out yet. By the end on the week I will have a new watermark - it is all such great fun.

I would be so grateful for your brutally honest cc (I guess Big F won't like my cliche on the home page ha ha)

Thanks so much - I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it do do be do........

Illumine Photos

[mbrobich]

It looks good. The only thing I would maybe modify a little is the font used on the main page. Make it little more stylish. The rest seems about right !!

Good luck, have fun and wishing you all the best !

[oldwolf]

For the main page, I think you need labels under each of the buttons that leads to your website, blog and facebook. At first I wasn't sure where each would lead until I waited for the little text box to pop up. Even when it did pop up, the text was very small so for those with vision issues they might not see the writing.

When I go to your galleries, I don't have any navigation buttons. I don't necessarily need to watch each picture for the amount of time that's defaulted. I want to click through them to see the ones I like. If I end up not liking the first picture then I'd want to give you a second or third chance to see a picture I do like instead of being forced to see a picture I don't like for an extended amount of time.

Other than that, I like how the background color changes to compliment the changing banner picture.

[cipher]

Overall I like it. One thing I would add would be a control on the slide-show for the galleries.

There is no way (that I can tell) to skip a photo once I have seen it long enough to build an impression, or pause when I want to look at a photo longer. There is no way to navigate the gallery other than sit and watch it go through--personally I am a fan of thumbnails as I tend to jump around a bit when checking out a gallery.

[slugger]

I was going to put the same as oldwolf actually.

Labels on the front page, and the ability to navigate through the galleries myself - or decrease the slideshow time.

It looks fantastic! Congrats!!

[NicolaB]

Thanks all .

I realised today that I haven't paid any attention to the landing page (it hasn't been appearing in my demo site). The type face will change & I will add my logo when it is ready this week. The labels are a work in progress, so hopefully that will be sorted in the next few days.

I agree about the galleries. We don't know how to do it! I will feed back to see if he is up for the challenge!

I haven't a clue how to suggest doing the proofing page. I think that is going to be another challenge.

[Tito87]

I'm happy for you. I wouldn't dare to give you advice as to how to set up your website; I have no idea how to build one. I'll just wish you the best. I'm glad you're becoming a "Pro".

[Shawn7656]

Originally Posted by oldwolf

For the main page, I think you need labels under each of the buttons that leads to your website, blog and facebook. At first I wasn't sure where each would lead until I waited for the little text box to pop up. Even when it did pop up, the text was very small so for those with vision issues they might not see the writing.

When I go to your galleries, I don't have any navigation buttons. I don't necessarily need to watch each picture for the amount of time that's defaulted. I want to click through them to see the ones I like. If I end up not liking the first picture then I'd want to give you a second or third chance to see a picture I do like instead of being forced to see a picture I don't like for an extended amount of time.

Other than that, I like how the background color changes to compliment the changing banner picture.

I agree with all of this
One thing no one mentioned is the strange favicon (the picture that shows up on the tab). Here's a shot of it, zoomed in a bit
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29446716/Lulz.png
Sorry for the crude way of doing things , I just made it quickly in Paint (the devil program)

[BigFuzzy]

Ok Nicola...
*steps up to website, cracks knuckles and peers inside*


Gaaaaaaaasp! Wha.. ack.. gurgle...ouch it hurts, the pain, make the cheese stop! There.. got it out of my system. Though, yes, I am very anti-cheese, I always have to remind myself there are times and places for it, and this is one of them. So it's perfectly...acceptable. hehe.

Starting with that which is less than loveable (besides the cheese):

Agree with everyone on needing a next/previous buttons on the galleries. Big time.

Also agree your splash page needs text under the images so people know what's what. Floating text when hovering isn't enough in my opinion. Not everyone knows about hovering text.

Your logo on the images in your home page slide show that have dark backgrounds gets lost. Well it get's lost in general but I think you said you were working on a new watermark? Personally I don't love watermarks, especially on the homepage slider, but I fully understand those that use 'em. Just personal taste.

Don't love all the location text on home page. I understand people need to know (pretty quickly) where you service, but I find that the text just listing cities is not visually appealing to me. I am too extreme to one end where I have practically no text on my homepage, but I also believe in minimizing text on the home page yet making it obvious where to find that info elsewhere (ie other buttons/pages/etc)

Again, a taste issue, but I hate quotes from someone else. I'm weird about this, I know, but I feel that on my website where I'm promoting ME, I don't want words showing how smart/witty/insightful someone else is... almost as if I'm never going to be that... does that make any sense?

Where the hell is your 'about me' page?!?! I wanna know at least the face of the person I'm bringing into my personal life.

I'd suggest specific prices of prints instead of "starting at"... I know as a customer I want to know exactly what something costs. I don't want to have to call/email you. I'd probably not buy from you based on this alone if everything else were equal in my comparison of you to another photog. This comment applies only to prints as the rest of the stuff I understand not being able to always pin down prices.

I understand the words, but I'm not sure what you're saying in the "Custom Photography" section. Maybe I need more coffee? What is it exactly you're offering.. multiple sessions over time (ie 15-20 hours?) or are you simply saying that all sessions get your loving care and that's why they're expensive? Or what? Just don't get it. Sorry. It's entirely possible I'm simply stupid.

Is it possible to create a bit of blank space between the top of the home page images and the top of that window so there's a bit of framing happening with those images. Not a biggie, but noticeable to me.

Seriously, wtf?! No about me page??!! Allows you to sell your personality a bit and that's important for the client to (even subconsciously) think you're cool and fun.

Things I like or work well:

Your work is good, and would make the rest moot if not the case!

I like the simplicity of the website. Clean and elegant. Perfect for this sort of thing.

Not sure how I feel about the background changing with the tone of the image.. it's either cool or uber-cheesy. Hmm.

I really like your "what to expect" section.. been wanting/planning on implementing one myself. Nice!

I like how you have minimal amounts of Galleries.. some folks (looking square at self in hypocrisy mirror) have too many galleries that have nothing to do with selling what it is about you you're... selling. Keep It Simple Stupid.. and you did (and no, not calling you stupid).


I assume your "recent work" will be like a photo blog that's updated with shoots? I like it.


Conclusion:

So, yes, I wrote a LOT in the negatives sections. But none of it is website killing (except no about me page perhaps.. hehe).

You have a nice and simple, easily navigateable website that is clear in what you're offering and communicates to the client effectively. Your images are good and are well presented (minus the lack of 'next' button) and clearly show off what you're offering/selling.

I think it works, it's good, and with just a bit of tweaking it'll be even better. Well done. And despite how I started, the cheese wasn't so bad.

[NicolaB]

Wow Al THANK YOU for taking so much time to study my site. Thank you! I am sending my little one to playgroup tomorrow so I can have some think time and reply to your very well considered response (OK so that is not the only reason I am sending her to playgroup lol)

Thank you Tito

Shawn, the Flavicon was a challenge I set him on Friday, so he just grabbed one. I agree, something more classy will be good lol. Well noticed.