Hi All,

 

This photography website is only a couple of months old, but it's managing to get quite a bit of traffic from google searches with people scanning through the galleries and service pages.

 

However no-one seems to be making any enquiries, can you have a look and let me know if anything seems obviously wrong?

 

The main area this guy is interested in is wedding photography, would anyone book him based on the website?

 

Photography Website

 

One other thing, he has had a lot of input on the design of the site, it has to be black and white with all headings underlined.

 

Thanks in advance, be as critical as you like!

It's amazing how every photographer's website seems to be white on black...

 

It's tidy, but it's quite clichéd IMHO. And it sounds like that's your client's problem, not yours, if he's had a lot of input.

 

My eye isn't drawn to the (presumably important) main text block on the front page, because there are animations going on at the right, and the vague blurry background makes the text much harder to read.

 

The other thing I noticed was that (on my PC) the font + size combination used for the vertical menu looks really blocky - it doesn't anti-alias. And I'm afraid underlined headings look a bit, well, how do I put this, horrible.

 

He's a photographer, you're a web designer. He should stick to his skill and let you stick to yours. Mind you, I'm not sure how much that helps you

It's amazing how every photographer's website seems to be white on black...

 

It's tidy, but it's quite clichéd IMHO. And it sounds like that's your client's problem, not yours, if he's had a lot of input.

 

My eye isn't drawn to the (presumably important) main text block on the front page, because there are animations going on at the right, and the vague blurry background makes the text much harder to read.

 

The other thing I noticed was that (on my PC) the font + size combination used for the vertical menu looks really blocky - it doesn't anti-alias. And I'm afraid underlined headings look a bit, well, how do I put this, horrible.

 

He's a photographer, you're a web designer. He should stick to his skill and let you stick to yours. Mind you, I'm not sure how much that helps you

 

Hi Andy,

 

Thanks for the feedback, completely agree with everything you say. The blurrey image...ha ha I actually sneaked that one in to give it some colour as the black and white was despressing me too much!

 

I see what you mean about the home page animation, might have to change that and I will have a look at the vertical menu.

 

Thanks again

It's confusing having underlined text that not a link! I'd also suggest not having link text the same colour as ordinary text.

 

Having the copy written in the 3rd person tense (?) always puts me off - "Gus Thompsons love of photography..." - hey this is Gus's site, when you read it, it sounds as if it's not his site. Be personal with the copy - he's offering a personal service isn't he?

 

The home page might work better by having a random case study on display. This could be in tune with popular seasons?

 

The slidey image selector is very tricky to use, it doesn't stop when I mouseover.

 

Suggest having a photo of Gus on the About page

Unispiring colour scheme,layout,menu. Lack of logo. The underlined headings are really,really,really rubish. On a web page, the only thing underlined should be links.

A photographers site should have some artistic flair, something that shows of the photographers talent. I'm affraid a rotating image script just isnt cutting it for me.

The thing is as this is a photography site I sort of expect the photography to take the stage and be shown off, but instead the photos are small and its not really thought out. I didn't know in the galleries that you were able to scroll through the images the way you can as there was no indication and it tool me 3 galleries to discover this feature, therefore that is 2 galleries worth of images I didn't look at fully.

 

Another thing I found off putting and very unprofessional was the text on some of them, if there is something that needs to be said have a caption under the image, don't have it overlayed onto the image in black writing.

 

I also agree with what was said about the underlined text, it is just confussing it not be links.

 

 

I would say that just because it has to be back and white doesn't mean that it has to be just black and white...even just adding splashes of grey to it will help the site a lot. But you really need to consider the images and having them bigger (which as a photographer I am sure he will have the originals still) and if he is worried about having them too big on his site put a subtle watermark on them.

It's confusing having underlined text that not a link! I'd also suggest not having link text the same colour as ordinary text.

 

Having the copy written in the 3rd person tense (?) always puts me off - "Gus Thompsons love of photography..." - hey this is Gus's site, when you read it, it sounds as if it's not his site. Be personal with the copy - he's offering a personal service isn't he?

 

The home page might work better by having a random case study on display. This could be in tune with popular seasons?

 

The slidey image selector is very tricky to use, it doesn't stop when I mouseover.

 

Suggest having a photo of Gus on the About page

 

Hi yes I see what you mean about the text in the 3rd person, based on him not wanting to change the text, I persuaded him to start using a blog so that users would see a more personal side, I did this for another photographer and it seem sot work very well.

 

However I will press him further to allow me to update the text.

 

Like the idea of the photo to

Unispiring colour scheme,layout,menu. Lack of logo. The underlined headings are really,really,really rubish. On a web page, the only thing underlined should be links.

A photographers site should have some artistic flair, something that shows of the photographers talent. I'm affraid a rotating image script just isnt cutting it for me.

 

Hi kree80r, yes I also hate the underlined headings and the colour scheme. Thanks for the feedback, just need to persuade the photographer it needs changing now!

The thing is as this is a photography site I sort of expect the photography to take the stage and be shown off, but instead the photos are small and its not really thought out. I didn't know in the galleries that you were able to scroll through the images the way you can as there was no indication and it tool me 3 galleries to discover this feature, therefore that is 2 galleries worth of images I didn't look at fully.

 

Another thing I found off putting and very unprofessional was the text on some of them, if there is something that needs to be said have a caption under the image, don't have it overlayed onto the image in black writing.

 

I also agree with what was said about the underlined text, it is just confussing it not be links.

 

 

I would say that just because it has to be back and white doesn't mean that it has to be just black and white...even just adding splashes of grey to it will help the site a lot. But you really need to consider the images and having them bigger (which as a photographer I am sure he will have the originals still) and if he is worried about having them too big on his site put a subtle watermark on them.

 

Ah yes the text on the images! wondered when that would be picked up! You may not have noticed but all the galleries are being slowing updated with "text in images", he has been slowly going through each gallery and sending me new images, complete with built in text, which I've tried to stop him doing but he insists "it looks better".

 

I didn't expect the actual photos to be picked up for being small though, I tried to layout the pages so that you can always see a complete photo at the top of the page next to the text, without having to scroll down. The thumbnails are then also right next to the images so you can click between them and see each picture without having to scroll.

 

Also the photos come in a variety of rectangular shapes and sizes and so I have tried to account for that, again keeping them all at the top of the page (this is based on a 1024 x 768 screen resulution which seems to be the most common now in the UK).

 

But anyway it's a fair comment so I will give it some thought.

 

More to the point, how do I stop him sending me images with the text in!

I agree with everyone else the design choices that this guy has insisted on are doing no favours to the site at all, it harks back to the days of the webs infancy, basicly, its a bit old fashioned, looking at the guys photos you can understand why he made the design decisions he did, as his photography is just as old fashioned,

 

You asked the question "would you hire, based on the site" the answer is no, but that would be based on the site AND the photography.

 

The guy needs to understand that its an ultra competative market and he is doing himself no favours by insisting he does your job, next time he does a photo shoot, go along and give him instructions, bet he would not be happy.

Photographers sites are a little samey.

 

Case in point Today I got an enquiry throught my website from a photographer asking me how much would cost to make a website look exactly the same as another photographers.

 

I promise you, this is true!

Photographers sites are a little samey.

 

Case in point Today I got an enquiry throught my website from a photographer asking me how much would cost to make a website look exactly the same as another photographers.

 

I promise you, this is true!

 

Ha ha I know exactly what you mean! my client actually asked me to replicate a pricing page he saw on someone elses site, litterly "can you just copy and paste all of that information and put it in my site"

 

Maybe we should learn from this and make up one big website template for our own sites, including pricing!

I agree with everyone else the design choices that this guy has insisted on are doing no favours to the site at all, it harks back to the days of the webs infancy, basicly, its a bit old fashioned, looking at the guys photos you can understand why he made the design decisions he did, as his photography is just as old fashioned,

 

You asked the question "would you hire, based on the site" the answer is no, but that would be based on the site AND the photography.

 

The guy needs to understand that its an ultra competative market and he is doing himself no favours by insisting he does your job, next time he does a photo shoot, go along and give him instructions, bet he would not be happy.

 

I like the sound of going with him on a photo shoot. I must admit whilst I don't want to "disrespect" my own client, I'm not a huge fan of the photos compared to other photographers in the same area, some of them are ok but quite a few look to me like everyday phots anyone would take with a digital camera (such as the highland games and RAF airshow pictures).

 

Maybe if I go with him I can take a few snaps on the iPhone and put them on the website instead. No I shouldn't have said that I feel a bit guilty now. What I may do though is ask him to pick his best photos as I think it the site needs trimming down a bit.

 

Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback

I like the sound of going with him on a photo shoot. I must admit whilst I don't want to "disrespect" my own client, I'm not a huge fan of the photos compared to other photographers in the same area, some of them are ok but quite a few look to me like everyday phots anyone would take with a digital camera (such as the highland games and RAF airshow pictures).

 

Maybe if I go with him I can take a few snaps on the iPhone and put them on the website instead. No I shouldn't have said that I feel a bit guilty now. What I may do though is ask him to pick his best photos as I think it the site needs trimming down a bit.

 

Thanks for taking the time to provide feedback

 

Yer I thought his photos looked a bit dated, and a bit "family Snapish" some of the poses actualy made me LOL, they just smacked of Cheese,

 

I think asking him to trim down a bit is a good idea, and maybe try some subtle persuasion as far as freeing up the reins on the design goes, perhaps you should show him this thread, as I think he will struggle to get a decent amount of work presenting himself the way he does, Not your fault, think you have done well considering the amount of input the client has had.

More to the point, how do I stop him sending me images with the text in!

 

 

All you can do is advise them against it, explain your opinion, something along the lines of... Most people who want to to hire a photographer want to be able to see the photographs in their entirety so covering parts of them up with text will not only distract the viewer from looking at the photograph for how well he has captured the mood and moments, but can also put some people off the photos as it can take away from the compositions. Should he want to add descriptions this should be done by a caption above or below the photos so that he can say what needs to be said while letting the viewers have the full impact of his photography. But this is just your opinion as a web designer and knowing what helps sell, and that it is entirely up to him how he displays his image but you felt the need to express your concern that he might be distracting from the purpose of the site, showing his photography to potential clients.

 

 

 

I will agree that some of the photos on his site don't really show him as a great photographer though, as a lot of them look like "I was out on a family day out and took my camera" rather than photographs to show the events to their full potential or capture the mood of that day.

Danny, this site may show up if he googles him self. I recommend editing your post and changing the url to tinyurls and taking out his name. its actually prob pretty likely he will google himself checking his SERP.

 

maybe send him an email critiquing his photos, recommending different framing options and exposure speeds. then tell him I dont tell you how to do yours you dont tell me how to do mine. then go round his house and punch him.

 

I recommend you talk to him and set it straight. tell him his site is crap (but professionally). its a slight problem that you made this site for him and you prob knew from the begining that it wouldnt convert, so be honest and give him a great deal on a redesign, maybe set up a split test and if your design converts less he doesnt pay a penny more. There then is a question of helping a rubbish photog rip people off who dont know better, but we will ignore that at the moment.

 

get working on sticking some call to actions in there as well.

this is IMO what a photog site should look like

 

 

http://www.theshutterclick.com/

this is IMO what a photog site should look like

 

 

http://www.theshutterclick.com/

 

Actually apart from the impressive portfolio, the rest of the site is pretty poo. micro fonts, badly contrasting text, and the menu needs work (i mean, having to click two items in a menu just to get to a page??)

agreed, but its only got 3 or 4 small issues which imo think would be ignored. the site isnts trying to make a statement its just showing great photos which was the point i was trying to get at.

agreed, but its only got 3 or 4 small issues which imo think would be ignored. the site isnts trying to make a statement its just showing great photos which was the point i was trying to get at.

 

 

Hi Andy, thanks for the advice about the url, fair point.

 

I see what you mean about that other photography site, but surely it should be black and white?

 

No seriously the general idea will be to focus more on the images in a re-design I think (the decent ones), but I will need to keep some text in there somewhere for SEO, maybe if the imagery is front and center, much bigger, with the text underneath might work. I will have to knock something up and re-post it here to get some more opinions I think.

 

Thanks again for taking the time to provide feedback

Well.... Being a bride at the moment (due to be married in June)

I try and give you feedback as if i was viewing the site for his services....

 

And its not good news............................................................................

....................................................

 

I wouldn't have spent 5 seconds on this site, even that would have been to long!... It does not seems aimed at wedding at all. It lacks a personal service. My own photographer does not have the best site JPC Photography

 

But its million times better (not black and white for a start / the only wedding photographers that can pull that off must be serious designer photos (kinds you pay thousands for ) they also have more then a handful of photo's of brides...

 

Plus a must have to me is seeing real life photos (recent weddings under names not a gallery of different brides.) he needs at least a full album and range of one wedding. (other wise how on earth do we know what photo's he takes if he hand picks a few, )possible the best of them... so the others could be pooh!

 

Your clients site seems to me very miss-matched (bit of photos everywhere.... bit of wedding..... bit of children...... bit of random images )

 

If he wants to target brides... he need to soften his site, make that his soul target area (fill the site with pictures of brides / flowers / close up of hands)and have the other areas on a smaller nav or something.... make it a personal experience for the brides and groom (get rid of the third party business)

 

Does not seem as serious about weddings, therefore i wouldn't hire his services!

Well.... Being a bride at the moment (due to be married in June)

I try and give you feedback as if i was viewing the site for his services....

 

And its not good news............................................................................

....................................................

 

I wouldn't have spent 5 seconds on this site, even that would have been to long!... It does not seems aimed at wedding at all. It lacks a personal service. My own photographer does not have the best site JPC Photography

 

But its million times better (not black and white for a start / the only wedding photographers that can pull that off must be serious designer photos (kinds you pay thousands for ) they also have more then a handful of photo's of brides...

 

Plus a must have to me is seeing real life photos (recent weddings under names not a gallery of different brides.) he needs at least a full album and range of one wedding. (other wise how on earth do we know what photo's he takes if he hand picks a few, )possible the best of them... so the others could be pooh!

 

Your clients site seems to me very miss-matched (bit of photos everywhere.... bit of wedding..... bit of children...... bit of random images )

 

If he wants to target brides... he need to soften his site, make that his soul target area (fill the site with pictures of brides / flowers / close up of hands)and have the other areas on a smaller nav or something.... make it a personal experience for the brides and groom (get rid of the third party business)

 

Does not seem as serious about weddings, therefore i wouldn't hire his services!

 

Hi Emmi, thanks for having a look and providing some feedback. My client has actually only done a couple of weddings so I think he's going to struggle a bit anyway, in fact I think it's only two he's done. He wants to target the other areas also (he's just recently had an idea to add "school proms" on the site) but he tells me that weddings makes the most money (but then you probably already know that! ha ha)

 

Anyway I will consider your thoughts very carefully, hopefully I can get a re-design done soon so will re-post once I get the go ahead from him.

I did notice his cost is quite low (does that include album and photos?)

 

Get him join his local forum, quite a few brides are looking for cheap photographers over great pictures.. due the credit crush. He could make the most of this. (eg offer service really cheap / if not free to build items for his portfolio) Or he could shadow another photographer. This could gain him more money in the long run.

 

Weddings do make the most money.... sigh.... as soon as i say 'its for a wedding' things double in prices.

 

But he need a lot more work (or luck) to make money from the wedding side....

 

I do feel sorry for you being so limited by your client... when there is so much more you could have done with this.

... My own photographer does not have the best site JPC Photography...

 

Maybe you should offer him a re-design in exchange for his services Emmi

Hi,

 

Here is a decent website for wedding photography. The design of the website is good but more so in how the photographs are displayed. Barrie Downie Photography.

 

If he specialises in wedding photography then play to that. From the look of the website, that really doesn't come across.

 

Generally, dark websites tend not to work except in certain situations, i.e. a grunge or metal band website. For photography websites, I would say this would be a complete no no.

 

Think about how he would present the wedding photographs in a photo album. Would the album be black and the pictures small and of poor quality? I doubt it.

 

Remember, weddings are bright, white, white and white. Hence the phrase 'White Wedding'. Gus Thompson's website is black, black and black.

 

I assume the advice he's had about the underlining of words is to do with SEO? If so it looks extremely spammy, confuses people as they think underlined words are links and underlining, italicising and emboldening words does very little to increase search engine rankings. Underlining being the most ineffective, if not detrimental.

Very nice but I always look for an instant gratification as regards price, maybe instead of contact you should have price ranges and contact.

I love that site liverpool, all the photos arent only great photos but I expect they were chosen as they have very strong emotional connotations.

 

great advice there from emmi.

 

so what ya going to do danny?

I love that site liverpool, all the photos arent only great photos but I expect they were chosen as they have very strong emotional connotations.

 

great advice there from emmi.

 

so what ya going to do danny?

 

I think I'm going to stop working with awkward clients!

 

Everyone has provided some great feedback, I think the way forward will be to list some recommendations based on the feedback given. I'm sure I can persuade him to let me change it, I just need to explain things to him face to face.

 

Once I start on a new homepage I will get it posted here for review.

Sorry, I found the pricing you just had to go inside and look. But I didn't see it on the front page and it looks expensive. It's not though for events because there is no charge for negatives, or did I get that wrong.

 

Another problem might be his pricing, it is better to charge more and be registered for vat.

Sorry, I found the pricing you just had to go inside and look. But I didn't see it on the front page and it looks expensive. It's not though for events because there is no charge for negatives, or did I get that wrong.

 

Another problem might be his pricing, it is better to charge more and be registered for vat.

 

 

Yes a few others picked up the pricing, not easy enough to find (as you just discovered). I'm a bit confused by the pricing myself, he keeps copying everyone elses from different websites so it' no surprise some things look cheap and others look expensive. Not sure how to advise him otherwise though, I havn't got a clue about photography pricing, I think they make their money printing stuff but not sure what the standard rates are to compare against, plus I don't want to tell him his pricing is wrong. All I can do is suggest the prcing is centralised better and maybe say things like "have you ever though about being VAT registered etc".