What’s Your Preference?

peachz · #1 (**permalink**) 10-23-2010, 08:52 PM

Hi guys,

I'm hobbyist/semi-pro website developer and I'm currently working on designing a photo portfolio design (not for myself). I've browsed around the web to see what kind of templates/themes are available and I did not like most of them, particularly because many of them distract from the photos.

I think it's important to create an engaging design that does not distract from the photos, without looking dull or cheap.

I've talked with my photographer friends (one of which is featured on the site) and got some input from them but I need some more advice from pro photographers so I prepared some questions:

-What kind of frontpage layout would you prefer, big teaser images or a grid of small thumbnails?
-How many photos would you include in a portfolio website (if you would have one). Like 100, or 1000, or 25?
-What kind of features would you expect from a portfolio website?

-Do you know any examples of photography portoflio websites that you like? (links would be awesome!)

If you would like to discuss this with me I can take the input and think about it in the design and development process... and I would be very thankful for it!

You can see what I've got so far over here:

Justin Zuure | FJ Photography

A cool little detail: If you hover the sidebar thumbnails you get a popup box that has a glow that automatically takes the dominant color of the photo. This was very hard to achieve because other programmers just used the average colors, which gave strange results in photos with contrasting colors (orange+green gives average purple etc.) - and a better system needed to be developed

vsa · #2 (**permalink**) 10-24-2010, 08:37 AM

Just an fyi the slider doesn't degrade very nicely if you don't have ********** enabled. (the forum is awesome and censors .js >.>)
And while the thumbnail glow thing is cool being dynamic I'd argue that just black glow would perhaps work better for viewing the popups.

Also totally unrelated to the design or the questions you asked but future customers probably don't care or need to read what gear you use (in the about me box) as long as the photos are great.

Overall I think the site looks pretty good. Kinda like a blog but nice still.

peachz · #3 (**permalink**) 10-25-2010, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vsa

Just an fyi the slider doesn't degrade very nicely if you don't have ********** enabled. (the forum is awesome and censors .js >.>)
And while the thumbnail glow thing is cool being dynamic I'd argue that just black glow would perhaps work better for viewing the popups.

Also totally unrelated to the design or the questions you asked but future customers probably don't care or need to read what gear you use (in the about me box) as long as the photos are great.

Overall I think the site looks pretty good. Kinda like a blog but nice still.

Thanks for your comment vsa, I think you're right about the popup. Even though I think it's cool it does distract from the photo so photographers problem do not all think it's cool. I will make the colored glow an option and also provide the option for white and black glow.

Regarding the slidehsow, yeah I should make that look normal when ********** is disabled, little sloppy that I forgot.

nickbedford · #4 (**permalink**) 10-25-2010, 08:23 AM

I like it! It's like a blogfolio or a portlog

A portfolio in blog stylings. And very sleek. Photos look great too.

jamesev · #5 (**permalink**) 10-25-2010, 08:57 AM

In the about me section

1) "I've Been" small b in been
2) you say you have zoom lens (I would declare what zooms you use)

peachz · #6 (**permalink**) 10-26-2010, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesev

In the about me section

1) "I've Been" small b in been
2) you say you have zoom lens (I would declare what zooms you use)

thanks for the feedback, corrected the typo

peachz · #7 (**permalink**) 10-26-2010, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickbedford

I like it! It's like a blogfolio or a portlog

A portfolio in blog stylings. And very sleek. Photos look great too.

Thanks, did you just make those words up? Can I borrow the blogfolio word? :P

peachz · #8 (**permalink**) 10-26-2010, 06:59 PM

Never mind I saw blogfolio is an existing term.

I'm thinking I should also add automatic watermarking functionality, that would be good right? as long as it's small enough.

sk66 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-26-2010, 10:07 PM

"What kind of frontpage layout would you prefer, big teaser images or a grid of small thumbnails?"
Personally one large image and LARGE thumbnails for different categories..the rest can be in header/footer links.

"How many photos would you include in a portfolio website (if you would have one). Like 100, or 1000, or 25"
Not more than 10-20 per category for a "pro portfolio".

"What kind of features would you expect from a portfolio website?"
Depends on the purpose...is it for "sales", "marketing", or "sharing"?

My 2 cents on the theme as is...
I don't like the "about me" showing up in every view...An "about me" page would be more professional.
I don't think the ability to add comments to images is part of a "portfolio"...it would be more of a blog at that point. It could be quite useful in a "client review section".

I don't think the "features" detail should be on a professional portfolio, nor the "purchase now".

I don't like the hover over small thumbnails which expand a little larger. I prefer thumbnails large enough for me to decide if I want to click on it right off.

Is it supposed to be a "professional portfolio" theme, or a do-it-all photography theme? I understand Drupal is highly configurable, but right now it's more of DIA.

On a pro site "for sales" I would expect shopping cart integration and the ability to have protected areas for clients to review their images.

Overall, it's nice theme and you're on the right track. I know how much work custom Drupal themes can take....