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Hi Danny, it's not clear from the image or what you describe what you want to achieve. Based on your questions I don't think you should aim for reproducing the webiste you linked to. Aim for something simpler. I'm using Joomla with joomlabamboo templates. After some initial headaches, it's working well now.

thanks for the tip RD

How do I get work from people that are not friend's and family if I've got no examples of my work? Am I wrong in assuming that this isn't possible? I can see how that would be true for an established web designer with a portfolio.

you don't know my dad

I assumed the best plan was to take whatever work I could get at first to build a portfolio. I can't see myself getting any 'client' work without an up to date portfolio. It seems like a catch-22 situation to me. Also, I'm not in a position to turn down work. I have to eat, and pay the bills..... I'll have a look at that link. ta

thanks RD, that's given me some direction with this.

Hi, I lost my job last year and decided to change career. I designed a couple of web sites seven years ago and graduated from an electronic media degree in 2001. I agreed to doing a web site for my dad. He asked me to give him a price that was fair to me for designing a website. I quoted £900. I drew up some wireframes on paper of the basic layout of the website. I showed these to my dad. He said that they were good and was happy for the website to be designed from them. I explained the importance of this stage, i.e. that the website layout would be based on these wireframes and that this process was to avoid me having to redesign the structure of the website later on. Then a month and half past. I kept in contact every couple of weeks at the most. I went over the deadline, but kept him informed of when I expected to launch the website. I learned Joomla. I uploaded a version of the website with the home page and the reproducable pages completed. I phoned my Dad to speak with him about this version. He has said that he is unhappy with the website. He said that he wants a photograph in the title area, I agreed to changing this, he said he wants pdf download buttons as requested, I said I was intending to do this. He said that he wants a horizontal menu, I say I can change that, no problem. He said that he wants the layout of the whole website changed from the agreed wireframe. I've emailed him copies of the wireframe that he agreed to. He didn't acknowledge this and keeps referring to the fact that I didn't provide him with a draft home page when he requested it. He has sent me some wireframes on paper representing how he want the website to look. I agreed to looking at them and letting him know how much the redesign of the layout will cost. He says that he can only afford a 'little extra'. I've asked him for his budget for the extra work, he replies saying I've got it 'the wrong way round';that I should tell him what the extra cost will be 'bearing in mind:' Then he lists some issues that make it clear to me that he hasn't understood the process, despite me doing my best to be as clear as possible; something that I'm going to try and sort out today. He has offered me his six year old mac laptop, as a favour. Now it's clear that I'm to consider this as part payment, although that's not explicit. I've got another website job lined up that I agreed to launch in month. As I'm still learning I planned to start that job this week. I have learned some hard lessons about process and communication. I'm already planning the next website job so that the process is clearer to the client. My question is: Should I agree to redesigning the layout? Should I take a second hand laptop as part payment for the extra work? Should I tell my Dad that the redesign will have to wait until after I have finished the next job.? My idea was to look at my Dad's suggestions for redesign, then work out a compromise based on what his budget is. Since he has refused to give me a budget, I'll have to take a guess at what he means by 'a little extra', work out what I am prepared to do for that amount, then throw in some extra as gratis. How does that sound? Here's the website's address: http://www.brunocassidy.co.uk/ thanks in advance for any feedback

I'm new to web design as well. It was interesting reading about your experience of starting out as a freelancer. I would read more of it if it wasn't for the white text on a black background. I could use readable if I have some time to read it. It would be nice if the text was readable in the first place though.

Hi, the image on the home page is 300kb which is a big file size for an image of that size.

I would recomend using Joomla. I looked around the various CMS' on offer and ended up focusing on learning Joomla. Joomla has some very powerfull user features that allows the administrator to fine tune what content various users can access and what they can't. I haven't done exactly what you describe but I'm sure that you'd be able to do it using Joomla. The templates for Joomla are pretty amazing. I'm learning Joomlabamboo. They do templates that respond to the size of the screen, including mobile devices, with resizing images and columns that reduce in number depending on the screen size. The documentation is terrible but the support via the forum is good and timely. good luck.

Hi, sorry about the delay. I don't seem to be getting the notifications and I've got my head buried in Joomla templates. If you're still following this... I'll be using the laptop for designing and building Joomla sites, so I'll need a decent screen but an otherwise low spec laptop would be fine. I'm quiet keen on getting a laptop that displays colours acurately. I'll be working on a desktop most of the time so I'm concerned that I'll end up having to re-do work if on the desktop if the colour is wrong on the laptop. I'll be using Linux mint 12. My dad has offered me his six year old 17" mac book pro. Would the quality of the screen be an issue on a heavily used six year old laptop? Would it be worth paying to have it checked over? Otherwise it works fine. ta, Ben.

The course was 'joomla 1.6 essential training' on lynda.com. It only covers the very basics. I'm now going to have to learn how to modify templates.

Could you give me some more general advice please. I'm completely at a loss. There's such a ridiculous amount of choice. 1. Is a 15" screen big enough for web design in you opinion? 2. Is buying laptops on ebay a risk? I've already got a faulty monitor that I bought mailorder that is proving difficult to return. Are there any ways of limiting the risk. 3. How concerned to I need to be about colour accuracy? Is there a type of laptop screen that is best for graphic work? Like FHD or WUXGA. 4. Anyone else got a good experience of using a laptop? thanks in advance for your help.

Hi, I've recently been made redundant and so have gone back to web design full time. I'm in need of some face to face contact so I'm considering buying a laptop to take advantage of a home workers 'work together' day that is held every week here in Manchester. I've heard that the screen is one of the most important things to consider when buying a laptop, and that Dell laptops have very good screens. I get eye strain very easily. And I do think it's important have decent colour reproduction. I've got a colour calibrator that I intend to use once I figure out how to use the open source calibration software. I'm intending to use it for web design and designing ebook covers. I'll be running Linux Mint 12. Would this be a good choice: Dell Inspiron 15R Processor: 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i3-2330M processor (2.20 GHz, 3M cache) Operating System: Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit Display: 15.6" (40 cm) High Definition (1366X768) WLED with True-Life Memory3: 4GB2 Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz Hard Drive: 640GB3 SATA hard drive (5400RPM) Video Card: 1 GB nVidia GeForce GT 525M Optical Drive: 8X DVD+/-RW Drive Case Color: Diamond Black Switch Cover Wireless: Intel® Centrino® Wireless-N 1030, Bluetooth v3.0+HS Security Software: McAfee® SecurityCenter 3 Year Subscription Primary Battery: Primary 6-cell 48 WHr Lithium Ion battery Services and Support: 1Yr Collect & Returns Warranty – No upgrade selected Advertised System Weight: 2.65 kg http://www.dell.com/uk/p/inspiron-15r-n5110/pd?oc=n00qs502&model_id=inspiron-15r-n5110&dgc=SS&cid=5186&lid=121454&acd=23975883824506462

I find myself in this situation a lot. Working on my own is not good for my motivation. I manage by doing tai chi during the day, in between 2hr chunks of work. I'd reccomend finding something else that you can do that really stimulates your mind and body. Maybe get up early and go for a long walk or swim in the morning.