Thread: Website Feedback

Hiya ladies. I know I can't post all the time so I hope you don't mind if I ask for some feedback! I'm working on my new blogsite at the moment--I've given myself a deadline of March 31st (Gwen you still with me on that! ). So far I've worked on the homepage (the slideshow that runs across the top, colors, logo, etc). I've also loaded 4 of the 5 galleries, hopefully I'll do the 5th one tonight.

If you have a minute, and feel inclined, could you take a look and let me know what you think? At first I had way too many images in my Newborn & Children galleries...I've gotten both of those galleries down to about 40 images each, I'm hoping that's not too much. If you see a photo you think shouldn't be there, please do let me know! I made a separate gallery for bellies, even though I really don't have a lot of maternity images--but I already had too many newborn shots so I didn't want to combine the two galleries if that makes sense.

Anyway...just hoping I'm headed in the right direction! I do have a website that I've had up for a couple of years, but it's really dated. And since I needed a blog, I figured this was the best way to go! Only one site to maintain this way.

http://primaryphotography.com/annie/

(BTW, I don't know if I'll ever get past self-criticizing myself. I often feel that if a 'real' photographer looked at this they'd think I was so amateur. Why are so hard on ourselves??)

Hi Meagan - I am on uncalibrated monitor - I will come back to give my feedback

you're off to a great start, Meagan (imho)!

the only thing I noticed is that, compared to the other galleries, you have a lot more b&w photos than color in the 'tiny bundles' gallery. The rest seem to be pretty evenly split between color and b&w. Now, for me, that's not a draw back as I love b&w photography and you do it ever so well. But it is a noticeable difference between that gallery and the others.

HTH!

And while I know it's easier said than done, don't be too hard on yourself. Girl, you are one TALENTED photog!! One day I'll be as consistent and awesome as you (or at least as consistent).

Best,
GiGi

Great start!! You have some beautiful photos on there!

My feedback:
I noticed the same thing that GiGi did with the b&w pictures. I feel like in both the Tiny Bundles and the Little Babes galleries, there are a lot of b&w's, though not quite as much in the Little Babes.

I also kinda felt like there were a lot of the same thing in the Tiny Bundles. For instance, you have 3 photos up there all of different dad's holding their babies. Maybe just choose one instead? If that makes any sense lol

I just love your photography though! Beautiful!

Haha good point about the B&W. It's so hard b/c I LOVE black and white photography, especially with newborns. So I have to think about that--I like to represent the kind of photography I'm offering to people in my galleries. For example I took a lot of images with my seamless paper (with babies and children) out, b/c I'm just so over the seamless. I much prefer photos in a more natural setting. I dunno.

Steph, good point about the multiple images. I know exactly which one I'm going to delete!

Thanks so much guys!!

I'm going to be totally honest here and sorry if I sound harsh.

I absolutely love the colours and theme, your pictures are also absolutely beautiful.

I find that the navigation is poor, yes you did a pretty good job with your titles but I feel that if I click on a heading I should get a list of sub-headings. The other thing that bothers me is the main panes are constantly changing sizes, you might want to figure out how to make the panes say a consistent size, or maybe put the one that changes size on the bottom so it doesn't seem so drastic and keep your header pane minimalistic.

I hope I've been of some help.

Originally Posted by Muddee

I'm going to be totally honest here and sorry if I sound harsh.

I absolutely love the colours and theme, your pictures are also absolutely beautiful.

I find that the navigation is poor, yes you did a pretty good job with your titles but I feel that if I click on a heading I should get a list of sub-headings. The other thing that bothers me is the main panes are constantly changing sizes, you might want to figure out how to make the panes say a consistent size, or maybe put the one that changes size on the bottom so it doesn't seem so drastic and keep your header pane minimalistic.

I hope I've been of some help.

Not harsh, I asked for opinions! Wish I could change the headings, but it's the way the template is made and I don't think I can change that. I'll look into it though.

I made the images in the slide show change sizes (I think that's what you mean?). I have a set space there with the template of 900px by 350px, which is a VERY awkward space for displaying portrait photography. So I had to make templates in photoshop to display images at the proper size, if that makes sense. I kinda like it that way though to be honest!

I can't comment on the images too much as I think that everything I saw is fantastic and don't know how I'd narrow it down any more, if I were you.

But speaking as a former web designer, my main comment about the site is probably something you can't easily change (as you mentioned it's a template): I find it awkward that in my browser (Firefox), I can't see the "Galleries" drop-down menu without scrolling down on the page. It takes me away from the main image display and that's a drawback. If I were the designer, I would change things to make the menus go UP instead of DOWN to prevent that problem.

HHCC below. In general, it's nice. I like the look of the site...though the placement of the menu below the images in the gallery is initially confusing.

Newborn Gallery: I think that there are too many similar images in this section...I'd pare them down some more. You've got TONS of black background images and the weight of them don't show great diversity. Oddly enough, I think that if you took some of the black backgound images out, it would look like you had more variety.

In the little babes section...the 2nd image looks totally blown on the forehead and cheek. It's a bummer cause she's totally cute. If you can rework that image I think it's great. Only other thing...you have too many pictures of your own little one. I think I counted 9! I'd definitely take some of them out. In particular...there are two chocolate black and white ones right next to eachother near the end of the gallery that are not particularly strong. I'd remove at least one of them.

Also...for little babes..you've got one face closeup after another. Again...there just isn't much variety. If you have more full body shots I'd get them in there and take out some of the less stellar head shots.

As they grow section:...that first image isn't the best. It's cute and I wouldn't necessarily take it out...but it definitely shouldn't be first. You just didn't nail that focus, so it's not the strongest one to start with. This time I counted 15 images of your own kids! You really shouldn't have more than 5 or 6 of any one person in your gallery....especially your own children. Just keep the strongest 5 or so.

Together Gallery: I couldn't get any images to load?

Bellies Gallery: Just sparse. Images are nice...you just need more belly clients. I feel your pain here...I've got the same problem.

Thanks so much Amber, very very helpful! I really appreciate it!

Originally Posted by AmberBella

HHCC below. In general, it's nice. I like the look of the site...though the placement of the menu below the images in the gallery is initially confusing.

Yeah I know, wish I could change this. I have three header options with the template, and I chose this one b/c it has the best space for photographs, but I don't like the placement either.

Newborn Gallery: I think that there are too many similar images in this section...I'd pare them down some more. You've got TONS of black background images and the weight of them don't show great diversity. Oddly enough, I think that if you took some of the black backgound images out, it would look like you had more variety.

Good point. It's good to hear this b/c I really struggle with what to delete, what to keep, etc.

In the little babes section...the 2nd image looks totally blown on the forehead and cheek. It's a bummer cause she's totally cute. If you can rework that image I think it's great. Only other thing...you have too many pictures of your own little one. I think I counted 9! I'd definitely take some of them out. In particular...there are two chocolate black and white ones right next to eachother near the end of the gallery that are not particularly strong. I'd remove at least one of them.

That image is blown--yes. I've tried to fix it and it makes it look worse. I kept it b/c I've seen it printed (at an 8x10) and actually, surprisingly, it looked great. It's always been a big hit with potential clients so I haven't removed it from the gallery even though I know there are things technically wrong with it (blown spot, her eyes are centered horizontally). Do you think I should remove it anyway?

Yeah too many of my own kid lol. I struggled here for two reasons:

1) I don't have a lot of pictures of other 'babies.' Most of the portfolio-quality work I've done has been newborns and children. But I do have pictures of my own baby lol. I see what you're saying about the last two B&Ws--I'll remove those.

2) The pictures of Jake are just with better equipment (and I'd like to think better skill lol) and since I've had my new gear I haven't been booking sessions (purposefully--too much with a need infant. Haha. Not a good reason, I guess that's just what happened!

Also...for little babes..you've got one face closeup after another. Again...there just isn't much variety. If you have more full body shots I'd get them in there and take out some of the less stellar head shots.

See above...not many babies in my portfolio. Ugh. Maybe just show a smaller number? I do have a tendency for close ups too, this is true. I have a thing for getting up close and hitting the eyes.

As they grow section:...that first image isn't the best. It's cute and I wouldn't necessarily take it out...but it definitely shouldn't be first. You just didn't nail that focus, so it's not the strongest one to start with. This time I counted 15 images of your own kids! You really shouldn't have more than 5 of any one person in your gallery....especially your own children. Just keep the strongest 5 or so.

Funny I love that first image lol. But you make a good point--any recommendations on a first image?

Yeah lots of pics of Luke. LOL. I deleted a lot too, ha!! So hard to narrow it down, especially when you're biased toward your own kid haha. Will do, 5 is a good number.

Together Gallery: I couldn't get any images to load?

Still have to load that one.

Bellies Gallery: Just sparse. Images are nice...you just need more belly clients. I feel your pain here...I've got the same problem.

Yeah just don't have many here. I have never done a full-blown maternity session. I took a few of my bff (the B&W that's on the home screen), but I was just at her house with the baby so obviously only took a couple of pictures. The other lady was preggo during a family session, so I took advantage there. I'd love to do some more!

Thanks again--I'll be working on this tonight.