HI Fellow members, I have been working on websites for a while now and wanted to know what you think of this website...It is not fully finished but the overall framework is there with pics etc.

http://www.rougeweddings.com

a bit laggy when opening the pages, im wondering what you coded this in and what image format you used? and i dont think all red is a good idea, experement with diffrent shades, maybe darker red and lighter red, you will see a big diffrence in apperance.

Agree with mr shock, the red is too much. Personally I would try fading a darker red around the edges into your red in the middle.

 

Is the photo of you/the photographer in the header? or is it a picture of a bridsmaid? The header could do with a little something extra. Like an graphic or image to do with marriage/wedding.

 

I do like the concept, but it doesn't feel very weddingy.

Check out some of your competitors sites, see how they layout their sites and see if you can draw any inspiration from them.

I am due to get married next year (so i can give you a customer view)

I agree with everyone, It does not feel weddingy. (maybe tone down and use with white)

Add images that are of a wedding nature.

 

Its a nice site, However from a brides point of view i wouldn't have lasted 5 seconds on the site (and would have quickly moved on to the next on my list)

 

The text & wording needs work. (i know only temp) just makes me want to leave the site faster.

 

I would love to see it when you worked on it more

From a technical stand:

you need to learn how to actually build a site, as what you have isn't a site it is a bunch of cut up images, which I am guessing has been done through a wysiwyg editor based on the state of the coding. This makes your site not very practical for people who for example need to use screenreaders, or if you want this site to do well in search engines (as there are no words to be keywords it is pointless even having keywords in the metatags). Also are you working on a super huge resolution as what you have is massive, I'm viewing this on 1680*1050 and I am having to scroll down to read 10 lines of text, it just makes no sense why it is so big that on a resolution as big as mine I need to have to scroll down to read what is really 3 sentences.

 

 

Design point of view:

The concept is ok, but it doesn't say wedding photographer to me. Really it doesn't say wedding at all, it is too harsh and what you should be doing is selling this person as a photographer of such a special day. You aren't really selling what they do, which is a shame as from the couple of photos you have on the site at the moment they are good at what they do, so make more of a focus on the photos and show them off more. Try using a more neutral pallet of colours so that the emphasis is on the work and not the awful red, yes it is stereotypical to use white on a wedding site, but it doesn't have to be white, just have it toned down so the people can enjoy the photos, and they will stand out on the page.

a bit laggy when opening the pages, im wondering what you coded this in and what image format you used? and i dont think all red is a good idea, experement with diffrent shades, maybe darker red and lighter red, you will see a big diffrence in apperance.

I like the Light and Dark Idea...Do you think I should keep the Bulky blocks (3D borders) I definitly like the white lines I hand did them

But yes I have to criticise my website to improve

Agree with mr shock, the red is too much. Personally I would try fading a darker red around the edges into your red in the middle.

 

Is the photo of you/the photographer in the header? or is it a picture of a bridsmaid? The header could do with a little something extra. Like an graphic or image to do with marriage/wedding.

 

I do like the concept, but it doesn't feel very weddingy.

Check out some of your competitors sites, see how they layout their sites and see if you can draw any inspiration from them.

Hi Helen,

Thanks, yes she is my friend as a bridesmaid, I took the picture...I will be getting more wedding photo's up as soon as I can though...I've created master pages and just need to get the foundations built in

I am due to get married next year (so i can give you a customer view)

I agree with everyone, It does not feel weddingy. (maybe tone down and use with white)

Add images that are of a wedding nature.

 

Its a nice site, However from a brides point of view i wouldn't have lasted 5 seconds on the site (and would have quickly moved on to the next on my list)

 

The text & wording needs work. (i know only temp) just makes me want to leave the site faster.

 

I would love to see it when you worked on it more

Thanks Emmi,

Yep the text definitly is only temp and will get it changed...I did have a little look but it needs looking at big time

From a technical stand:

you need to learn how to actually build a site, as what you have isn't a site it is a bunch of cut up images, which I am guessing has been done through a wysiwyg editor based on the state of the coding. This makes your site not very practical for people who for example need to use screenreaders, or if you want this site to do well in search engines (as there are no words to be keywords it is pointless even having keywords in the metatags). Also are you working on a super huge resolution as what you have is massive, I'm viewing this on 1680*1050 and I am having to scroll down to read 10 lines of text, it just makes no sense why it is so big that on a resolution as big as mine I need to have to scroll down to read what is really 3 sentences.

 

 

Design point of view:

The concept is ok, but it doesn't say wedding photographer to me. Really it doesn't say wedding at all, it is too harsh and what you should be doing is selling this person as a photographer of such a special day. You aren't really selling what they do, which is a shame as from the couple of photos you have on the site at the moment they are good at what they do, so make more of a focus on the photos and show them off more. Try using a more neutral pallet of colours so that the emphasis is on the work and not the awful red, yes it is stereotypical to use white on a wedding site, but it doesn't have to be white, just have it toned down so the people can enjoy the photos, and they will stand out on the page.

Thanks Bizzi, especially for the compliments on my photographs...I am a photographer but enjoy website design...I use serif desktop publishing...I didnt use a template though...except for the buttons...

 

I used page properties and they ask you to enter website description to be displayed in google...But I will add this info onto the background of the page aswell

 

Interesting point about the resolution...I am guessing that what is viewed as ok on my laptop screen is not going to be in the same proportion as yours...I was just wandering if the borders I.E Banners and info is kept small would it matter about the page properties actuall pixel width as the main part would be within it's area?

I like the Light and Dark Idea...Do you think I should keep the Bulky blocks (3D borders) I definitly like the white lines I hand did them

But yes I have to criticise my website to improve

 

I dont think you need big chunky borders, its just limiting the space you have to put more content, i would definitely redesign basically the hole thing, start again, but this time stop and think would you really come here if you were planning your wedding, in my opinion a traditional wedding is white, your banner could have a kind of sparkling diamond effect, maybe with a few snapshots of weddings on the right side, then for contact insert a email form it will make it easier to contact you therefore they will be more willing to do it, rather than having to type in all out themselves, the easiest email form would probably be php.

 

With your white layout im not sure if black would be good, just change things around look at things from a customer point of view and i think you could have a really successful online business!

I dont think you need big chunky borders, its just limiting the space you have to put more content, i would definitely redesign basically the hole thing, start again, but this time stop and think would you really come here if you were planning your wedding, in my opinion a traditional wedding is white, your banner could have a kind of sparkling diamond effect, maybe with a few snapshots of weddings on the right side, then for contact insert a email form it will make it easier to contact you therefore they will be more willing to do it, rather than having to type in all out themselves, the easiest email form would probably be php.

 

With your white layout im not sure if black would be good, just change things around look at things from a customer point of view and i think you could have a really successful online business!

Thanks Mr Shock, I would love to do well in all of this, I love being creative...I'll try out a page form...Last time I did that though, it was hit or miss whether it would work on one of the websites I designed once last year but I'll give it a go...

why not just a fellow forum members flash email form his name is xurog and his website is http://www.xuroq.co.uk/ and you can find his flash email form at http://www.xuroq.co.uk/flashpreviews/flashformemail.html

Try to change colours, more lighter (imagine it is a wedding what colours you see? ) Maybe add a gallery and post there the best photos, choose from you've made! Make it to attract the visitors! (i saw such albums at our local wedding agency)

And also you need a banner or a logo!

i am a little concerned about the quality of your photos, what camera are you using and what are you using to edit them? the white balance is a bit off, horizons arent level, some areas of your photos are over exposed/ too hot. the general poses your model is in are a little iffy and the shadows arent complimenting her face, there is no use of strobes, filters, etc. Are you sure you will be ready to professionally take wedding photos in jan? Wedding photography is one of the hardest to get right and takes thousands of hours of experience to master, it is also one of the most importaint days of many peoples lives and they treasure their photos.

i am a little concerned about the quality of your photos, what camera are you using and what are you using to edit them? the white balance is a bit off, horizons arent level, some areas of your photos are over exposed/ too hot. the general poses your model is in are a little iffy and the shadows arent complimenting her face, there is no use of strobes, filters, etc. Are you sure you will be ready to professionally take wedding photos in jan? Wedding photography is one of the hardest to get right and takes thousands of hours of experience to master, it is also one of the most importaint days of many peoples lives and they treasure their photos.

Hi Andy,

Don't worry I won't actually be doing any paid work in january also I won't be using this camera...I will be stressing to them this if anyone contacts me...I think I should only start talking with people in January for the summer once everything is ready ...

P.S The photo's of my camera are just quick uploads as I'm only trying to get the website correct...I would never go into weddings unless I'm confident...I will be emailing photographers and hoping to shadow them for a few months...I direct Video and currently in a film www.theidentityfilm.com where I Edited, Produced, Directed, and filmed the feature...It's my pride and joy

may i suggest you do some intern work with local pros? and get all your photos critiqued on flickr and learn strobism

may i suggest you do some intern work with local pros? and get all your photos critiqued on flickr and learn strobism

Thanks Andy, I will do

The whole website has a 90s look, I would recomend having a look at some other websites that advertise wedding photography and orientate your design to appear more like thiers.

a bit laggy when opening the pages, im wondering what you coded this in and what image format you used?

Who is MrsShock, I'd like her to stop posting, she kinda reminds me of the silly old women that pretends she knows whats she's talkign about.

 

LAG,http://www.thefreedictionary.com/lag

 

It's keeping pace, the sites just fking huge, sort your images out.

 

http://www.rougeweddings.com/_wp_generated/wp0b1ccb42.png its like 60KB, what are you doing to make it 60kb?

 

Sites aweful, looks like a 10 year old with learning difficulties made it in frontpage, sorry.

 

RED means stop, stop looking at it, and I gladly did.

 

A horrible website i made for a CubeCart v3 store on the dirt cheap for my ex's sister; I personally think its gross, but hey women know what women want for weddings;

http://www.makeitextraspecial.com/ yeah its weddingy. Pinks horrid, the only bit i like is my material BG.

 

Worse than I though;

Serif WebPlus 10 HTML Export.. I do not mean to be rude, but your surely going to goto hell for using that software.

 

 

The problem with most wedding websites or related, ie wedding dress(es) etc is they are all bloody crap websites, very 1989 most of them, so I dug up my original "you should make it look abit like these" sites list, plus one or two;

 

http://www.dreamweddinggowns.co.uk/

 

Joking, look at MinuteDesigns, he made a joke people!

 

 

OK i give up, those sites are a year old and expired, and my google attempts have proven only fruitful in me finding plenty of sites to email when work gets dry. hehe!

why not just a fellow forum members flash email form his name is xurog and his website is http://www.xuroq.co.uk/ and you can find his flash email form at http://www.xuroq.co.uk/flashpreviews/flashformemail.html

 

Your telling people to use flash email forms, please, throw your pc through the window and promise me you will never ever ever touch one again.

 

What happens when the person doesnt have flash, OH NO THEY CANT CONTACT YOU, crap that sucks.

 

Oh, I hear the "everyone has flash, go download it" arguement, oh ok, oh wait my iPhone or iPod touch doesnt have flash, oh nor does my nokia smart phone, oh geez. No one uses their iPhone or iPod touch for the net right? Those unlimited data plans on the iPhone are for torrent downloading obviously!

 

 

There is a million easy to use, php/ajax contact forms about, all you need to do is copy and paste and edit, its dead easy, they are scary to start, but overly simple, if you want me to email you one, just ask.... I'd rather do it for you than you kill yourself using flash. I mean flash contact form? Why? That'll give me nightmares, seriously.