My new website

The page titles all include 'Andy Turner Photography' - this is ok but it would be better as 'Andy Turner Portrait Photography' or 'Andy Turner - Portrait Photographer' - if that is what you do/are

Like that you can pause the slideshow.

Text/background contrast on the homepage global navigation is too low:

contrast.png


It's a bit odd that the global nav changes position (from centre to top right) when you move away from the home page.

Hope this helps.
 
As a person just looking at your website, all the photos load nice and quickly - I like the option on the homepage to scroll through the thumbnail images. Saves actually going to the portfolio page.

I don't know the technical limitations you have with Zenfolio but maybe consider getting rid of the 'recently added' and 'featured' menu tabs. Maybe split your photos into more than one portfolio? Like portraits, landscapes etc. Might be handy for organisation if your going to upload more photos to it.

Otherwise cool website :)
 
Thanks for the feedback Holly :)

Phil, I'm currently in the process of starting a small photography business (only in my spare time at the moment, but hopefully may grow into something more). I'm sure you're going to suggest getting rid of anything non-relevant (I do portraits and eventually, when I have built up more experience, weddings) and getting some price lists/packages on there, which I am still in the process of putting together.

No doubt this will draw some "another bloody weekend warrior" thoughts from some, but I am taking this seriously, and have done a lot of research on here and elsewhere to make sure I'm doing this right. Any advice is always greatly appreciated (Phil I always look out for your comments in other threads - you talk a lot of sense) :)
 
Andy,
I too have a zenfolio based site and for the purposes of SEO after doing a bit of research on here and the zenfolio forums you would be best to get some text on the home page in the shape of a welcome message that incorperates a few keywords in it explain the type of photography you do and where you do it.
As mentioned by Jezz you need to add a bit more to the page titles, I would add portrait and your area in there.

:thumbs:
 
andyturner said:
Thanks for the feedback Holly :)

Phil, I'm currently in the process of starting a small photography business (only in my spare time at the moment, but hopefully may grow into something more). I'm sure you're going to suggest getting rid of anything non-relevant (I do portraits and eventually, when I have built up more experience, weddings) and getting some price lists/packages on there, which I am still in the process of putting together.

No doubt this will draw some "another bloody weekend warrior" thoughts from some, but I am taking this seriously, and have done a lot of research on here and elsewhere to make sure I'm doing this right. Any advice is always greatly appreciated (Phil I always look out for your comments in other threads - you talk a lot of sense) :)
Click to expand...

No agenda from me; but the 'what's it for' is fundamental before you start designing anything. We tend to rush into things, and focus on the bits we find easy and ignore the bits we find complicated.

If the website is to advertise your services - you have to examine it from the customers perspective. For your website - it's not somewhere to tell people you're passionate - your images should do that for you. It's to tell them what you're available to do, where you do it and why they should book you.

Look at the website of any successful business* - they match what I just said - whereas most new photographers sites start out like yours - we do what's easy:).

Priorities:
SEO - get it seen
Great design - make it a welcoming and enjoyable experience
Hooks to pull in customers - get their details, get them to buy.

Everything else is irrelevant.

BTW - none of that is easy or obvious - there's a reason marketing types can command decent salaries. My websites years on and still not doing the fundamentals well enough for me:shrug:.

*except vodafone which simply never works properly and was coded by someone who never wanted to buy a phone:shake:
 
Thanks Phil, good advice :)

I'm probably putting the cart before the horse a bit, but am also doing a lot of research and getting into the detail of contracts/self-employment/insurance etc etc (there are so many more considerations than I anticipated!)

This forum has been a great help so far, and I'm sure I'll be leaning on the experience of yourself and others as I go on :)
 
gazfy said:
Andy,
I too have a zenfolio based site and for the purposes of SEO after doing a bit of research on here and the zenfolio forums you would be best to get some text on the home page in the shape of a welcome message that incorperates a few keywords in it explain the type of photography you do and where you do it.
As mentioned by Jezz you need to add a bit more to the page titles, I would add portrait and your area in there.

:thumbs:
Click to expand...

Cheers for this :)

I'll have a play around with it at the weekend and see if I can pad it out a bit.
 
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