Website & gallery at last...thoughts?

Forbiddenbiker

Forbiddenbiker

The Enforcer
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Name
Adam
Edit My Images
Yes
Its not finished yet, so some links don't go anywhere. I've just thrown some images in for testing, so possibly many of them will not be included. ... deciding which images I try and sell and which are just not up to it is going to be the tricky bit for me ...I may run my choices passed you all in a few weeks time, when I've finished. :thumbs:

Overall though, what are your thoughts and ideas please guys and girls. :)

click on the adambishop logo bit to return to the home page.


Edit: Changed to PHP file ending...refresh page please.
Test site. --

Questions for you all please;

Copyright.

..just a signature at the bottom of each image? ....or a large semi transparent ribbon across the centre of each image with my copyright details on?

or something else?

For those that know coding, the headers and footers will be on a single file eventually, so the slow load will be fixed by that.

Hope you like it. :D
 
Hey Adam ... :wave:

Congratulations m8 ... :clap: ... got to be one of the best new web sites I have happened across for a long while ... :thumbs: ... loving the look and feel of it already and it ain't finished yet ... :eek:


It is very attractive, easy to navigate with clear well laid out buttons and tools 'n stuff !

The whole thing looks like it is going to work very well and be a pleasure to review ... :D

The downsides ... :thinking: ...


... Well not many actually ...

1. I would like pics to be displayed on screen without the need to scroll to see them in total
2. The text boxes for Name & E-Mail do not show the text as you type ... although it does show on the confirm/submit page !


Overall a great looking site that I want to see finished Adam ... :clap:



Rog...:p
 
Hi Rog, long time no banter mate. :wave:

Thanks, glad you like it.  I only started this last Friday, so .... give us a chance mate! ;) :lol:

... You so right about the gallery scrolling down bit...been looking on automating that so the page drops down auto like ...not sure what to do yet.

The text boxes (contact page yes?) are not fully live yet.. so that probably it...:thinking:


Thanks Rog, damn fine response as usual.
 
You are very
1.gif
Adam ... :thumbs:


I do realise there is a load of stuff still to do ... :thinking: ... but you did ask ... :lol:


Just wait until you think you've got it finished ...
08.gif









:p
 
Just a quickie before I feel a good critque coming on..
I just tried it at work (no flash player installed) and eeek. It looked orrible !
Get lots of broken images & stuff like "http://[(site_url)]/gallery.php" as links

I'll try it @ home later
 
Looks good to me, Adam as I can speak Italian!! LOL :D :lol: (I know, I know that's how the website templates are!!) :D
 
Hmmm. Personally I find its far too busy. The border around the site seems too thick. The font for your logo seems very messy. The navigation seems very small and hardly noticeble in the design. It doesn't jump out that this is where you navigate from. I don't feel that Gallery2 really fits into the design either. Think about designing a photography website this way. When you visit a gallery in real life, they're clean, well designed and just about the photos. Take a look at some of the worlds top photographers and I'm sure you'll see the same thing. Ok, they may have some hideously complex Flash based site, but the design will be minimal.

Brand, navigation, photos. Less is more.
 
Janice said:
Looks good to me, Adam as I can speak Italian!! LOL (I know, I know that's how the website templates are!!) :D
Click to expand...

Can you really, a girl of many talents Jan. :thumbs: ...You and Gloria will be able to have rude chats on meets etc. :lol: ... rude because I can't here what your saying not because its dirty chat or any thing, …. Mind you, the thought of you and Glo having a dirty chat in Italian is quite ... :nono: :lol:


...anyway. I've just found out you can't see the style of this site at all in IE :eek: ...do people still use that. ;)

Hang on I'll sort that now. ... better to find out now that laters, …and theirs me thinking I knew what I was doing. :lol:
 
petemc said:
Hmmm. Personally I find its far too busy. The border around the site seems too thick. The font for your logo seems very messy. The navigation seems very small and hardly noticeble in the design. It doesn't jump out that this is where you navigate from. I don't feel that Gallery2 really fits into the design either. Think about designing a photography website this way. When you visit a gallery in real life, they're clean, well designed and just about the photos. Take a look at some of the worlds top photographers and I'm sure you'll see the same thing. Ok, they may have some hideously complex Flash based site, but the design will be minimal.

Brand, navigation, photos. Less is more.
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Some good points Pete ... nothing nice to say then? ;)

I agree about less being more, but the trouble with the worlds top Photographers sites is ... there already know around the world.

I'm not. :) I'll not go into the details of what this means to my site, but, for your info ....Too minimal is not good and flash sites are simply appalling btw.

:thumbs:
 
Forbiddenbiker said:
Some good points Pete ... nothing nice to say then? ;)

I agree about less being more, but the trouble with the worlds top Photographers sites is ... there already know around the world.

I'm not. :) I'll not go into the details of what this means to my site, but, for your info ....Too minimal is not good and flash sites are simply appalling btw.

:thumbs:
Click to expand...

Good photos :D Even if they more known that shouldn't have any bearing on the design of their site. They still need to fit in the same details you do, and perhaps more. I wasn't saying you need a Flash site btw, just that they often have them and to ignore that part of their site instead focusing on the minimal design. Your photos do the talking.

www.asgercarlsen.com.
 
Have to agree with Pete in some respects. I do like the site and it is one of the nicer ones out there.

Your photos are great and I think you really need to take Pete's advice about branding. Sort out your logo....your name needs to be clear and memorable.

The navigation links (text)....too small.

'About Us'....maybe... 'About me' instead?

I like the general layout and darker colours used to enhance the photo viewing.

Changing the size of the image breaks up the site template on the right hand side (but I suppose you know this)

A few tweaks here and there and it's a nice little site.

If you are trying to sell the images then you need to make this really clear. I run several large e-commerce sites and you would be amazed at the number of people who can't find the purchase links!
 
In some of the galleries, you have file name, including the extension. It would look better without the file extension, and more professional.
Other excellent site, I'm just being picky.
 
Only had time for a quick look Adam and I am seriously impressed. ... :clap:

Let me know when you finish it.

Might be a nice idea to include a guestbook.
 
A guestbook provides a visual record for everybody to see and comment in.

People are generally lazy in nature and would find it easier to post in a guestbook.

They don't have to look tacky.
 
I know what they are, but generally how many professional people have a guestbook? Its not really the look, its the whole concept of having a wall of "I love your work" on your site. I don't think its something a professional photographer should have on their site. Its like having a photo of a camera to point out that they're a photographer. I guess it depends on your market but for me, they look rather unprofessional and I couldn't imagine the marketing department of say Honda browsing my guestbook reading comments my mates left.
 
petemc said:
Good photos Even if they more known that shouldn't have any bearing on the design of their site. They still need to fit in the same details you do, and perhaps more. I wasn't saying you need a Flash site btw, just that they often have them and to ignore that part of their site instead focusing on the minimal design. Your photos do the talking.

www.asgercarlsen.com.
Click to expand...


:D Thanks Pete, Your right I’m sure, Photos first and foremost for the viewer, I'm going for the small amount of wording more for google than them, as I feel that’s its important to satisfy its cravings too.... I'll have to decide on a compromise between the two somehow. :thinking:

Brains said:
Have to agree with Pete in some respects. I do like the site and it is one of the nicer ones out there.

Your photos are great and I think you really need to take Pete's advice about branding. Sort out your logo....your name needs to be clear and memorable.

The navigation links (text)....too small.

'About Us'....maybe... 'About me' instead?

Changing the size of the image breaks up the site template on the right hand side (but I suppose you know this)

A few tweaks here and there and it's a nice little site.

If you are trying to sell the images then you need to make this really clear. I run several large e-commerce sites and you would be amazed at the number of people who can't find the purchase links!
Click to expand...

Some great hints in their Brains, Thanks, I'll make the 'buy these photos' effect clearer. That is the intended point of the site, whilst somehow also being a site all about me...hmmm tricky.... as I said, some good tips, ta.... I'll sort the logo too....change my name or something. :lol: I know. ;)


taxi said:
In some of the galleries, you have file name, including the extension. It would look better without the file extension, and more professional.
Other excellent site, I'm just being picky.
Click to expand...

Good point, thanks.


hypnotic said:
Might be a nice idea to include a guestbook.
Click to expand...

Ta mate, I'm not sure about a guest book myself, seems slightly pointless ... I can come here for my ego fix eh, lol.

I am rather steered by Petes last point too ... no need to blab if the images can do the work kinda thing. ... I'm beginning to believe they might.


hmmm.

Good stuff everyone, thanks. :thumbs:
 
Brains said:
Oh yes...Google does like content....but there are other ways to get listed ;)
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:D You gotta have google food. :thumbs: ... your ways ... Do you mean other than the point you made?

... good idea btw, info and listing further down the page .. I may use that, thanks.

---

I've adjusted a few of the things you all suggested, It seems quite uncluttered to me (generally, compared to many sites) I may try and add more space between things to see if that improves that simple clean look.... the logo will have to wait for now, because I still haven't decided what to call the site. :gag:

Plenty to be getting on with, still got a blog to do; not really sure If I need that, or if I will use it, but it seems to be the way to go. I'll pop up the finished site in a couple of weeks.

...possibly. :D
 
Forbiddenbiker said:
Plenty to be getting on with, still got a blog to do; not really sure If I need that, or if I will use it, but it seems to be the way to go. I'll pop up the finished site in a couple of weeks.

...possibly. :D
Click to expand...


You mean possibly you'll pop up the finished site Adam ... :suspect: ... or possibly it will be two weeks ... or three ... or four ... :D







:p

 
I'm not sure if it was your site or just my PC playing silly buggers but something about Flash Player doing something wrong and it saying my PC might halt appeared before firefox.exe crashed...

I couldn't see anything obviously flash based on there though, so i'm guessing it wasn't :p
 
The flash bit (which I assume is the changing photos in the banner) works well with me on FF and I like it. i found myself staying on the home page just to see some more (nice) images :)

I have used Gallery 2 and did not like it but your implementation looks good. :thumbs:

I have a simple Coppermine site which aches with poor design features and the look is a best rough however I sell stuff from it. Interestingly I have not sold a single private piece as an internet order but get emails from pic editors that want a specific image. When I ask how they found out about my pic they always say google (or web search at least) so keywording is really more important than design in this respect.

Anyway, a good site Adam. Update us when you update it Adam so we can have another look. :thumbs:
 
HIMUPNORTH said:
I have used Gallery 2 and did not like it but your implementation looks good. :thumbs:

I have a simple Coppermine site which aches with poor design features and the look is a best rough however I sell stuff from it. Interestingly I have not sold a single private piece as an internet order but get emails from pic editors that want a specific image. When I ask how they found out about my pic they always say google (or web search at least) so keywording is really more important than design in this respect.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm not sure weather I've picked the right gallery to be honest, so many to choose from Ill go with the flow for now. :)

Interesting point you made about your responses. ...My main initial concern is will I actually sell anything! :shrug: ...I'm just joining the picture sites of the masses after all. I'm thinking a combination of limited editions and cheap will help ...perhaps. Lol. ... Pricing is a real headache

Do you blog as well Gary? I intend do a fortnightly blog, shots from the back streets kinda thing. In that way the site will make more sense as a gallery of my work more than a sales point.... I'm really not sure where I want to take that blog self advertising thing work wise… I don't want to start taking it seriously or anything. :lol:


Thanks.
 
I do have a blog Adam but have been lazy which kind off spoils the point really. A lot of these choices come down to personal choice and lifestyle. I have two businesses and three kids to organise so time for blogging is scarce. I would have to give up visiting here! :eek: :lol:

Pete does a good job of blogging but I think he is permanently attached to either a camera or a mac. :lol: ;)

It is worth having a Flickr presence to build traffic. This has provided me with a few decent leads.

Don't forget the traditional markets. Find a cafe or gallery that will display your work.

On the design front Mike Leslie and I were having a conversation the other day about web design and some of our local successful photographers (in commercial terms) have the worst websites of all. :shrug:
 
Hmmmmm.... :bang:

Secure router in work won't let me view your site properly so I'll have to get a look at home but..... On the point of Google keywords can they be placed in the page somewhere (anywhere) in the same font colour as the background so as to make them invisible? I seem to remember doing this years ago (pre Google) for search bots. Don't know about this nowadays but it might work. :shrug:

Good luck with the site.

David.
 
:thumbs: :thumbs: Adam, its excellent!! The colour scheme works for your style of photography. I might be tempted to make the Link bar and the photo title bar within the gallery section narrower - less graphic more image kind of thing, but otherwise the only problem I can see is that the images are bigger then the page, and people ARE lazy, scrolling is a nuisance. [I have the same problem with mine, still scratching my head on how to change the code to solve the problem]
I was always told by an old photographer that had discovered the www a few years ago that you should only have low res, small images on your website, with a copyright along an edge... I know what he means, I hate trying to see a picture through one of those translucent banner things right across the middle, but I suppose its personal choice :shrug:

Now then.... I have to ask....is it a template, and if so where did you get it and do they do others...I have just about had enough of ps webalbums and Expression doesnt do a satisfactory template I like! :'(
 
Edit; for HUN; :lol: Your both right I'm sure, design means nothing if no one finds your site. I'll do the flicker thing too, good idea.

I have a few well intended cafes who'd like to see my work on their walls, but I intend to produce a small brochure or large business card first, I found some local framers who are willing to do toned and coloured boarders to my taste and deal with my strange images sizes.... So it won't be long before I go live so to speak :eek: ...I'm scaring myself now. :lol:

I've even ponder on a market stall, or getting my work on someone’s else’s arty stall ...now theirs an idea. Hmmm.

:thumbs:

Off now, works calling. :wave:
 
Adam - cant view here as citrix has scotched my flash. Just wanted to drop a line to say i will have a damn good look tonight (and now i'm subscribed it will be that more difficult to forget ;))
 
On having a second (where firefox didn't die :p) when using the gallery, if you view a size greater than the default, the layout all kinda goes wrong :/
 
LadyLens said:
get a stall on camden lock, I will come and sit and keep you company on a sunday!
Click to expand...

Oh nice one, thanks, brandy coffee please. :D

As for the site Yvonne, Thanks. ... It's not really template, just a compliant built page using boxes and floating boxes controlled through a style sheet (CSS) ...its dead easy to construct, something; not so easy getting it to look ok. :gag:

I've used this template a few times years ago to get my head around it all... its built to show you how it’s built.

Just cut and paste the source code (right click/view source/copy/save as .html ) stick it on notepad or other software if you have it, save .html.
Then open it with a browser and then play with the css part of the code in notepad or whatever (the top part) you'll see parts of the css code correspond in name, to parts of the html code lower down, each name matches a box, boxes are held in <div>tags on the lower part (html side of page) with all the style assets and positions of the boxes in the top part (css part of page) ..... Have a look you'll suss it I'm betting ...save the changed css and refresh browser/or re-open from the .html again, and watch your boxes get messed up, change colour, etc etc.. :D
There's loads more to it, but it'll get you started.

Usually the style sheet part of an html page is hidden, as it is here at TP, and my site, there&#8217;s a small line of code at the top of each page that calls the sheet to do its thing every time the page loads instead. ...google likes it clutter free too. I built this page from that template.

Anyhow...phew. HTMS

I reckon I can fix the low gallery scroll problem by adding an anchor to go to each time a single image or slide show is requested... if I can't do that I may try and remove or change the banner totally ... dunno, bugging me that bit.


Jonnyreb said:
Adam - can&#8217;t view here as citrix has scotched my flash. Just wanted to drop a line to say I will have a damn good look tonight (and now i'm subscribed it will be that more difficult to forget )
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:lol: ..Aye, it&#8217;s the rules mate. :rules: :lol:

Nice one Jon. :)

I have no idea who citrix is, but I Know I don't like him. :D


divine_madness said:
On having a second (where firefox didn't die when using the gallery, if you view a size greater than the default, the layout all kinda goes wrong
Click to expand...

:thumbs: :D
Yeah, that's going DM, I'm just sticking to the smaller size. Thanks.


Gwocni, David, your point &#8230;that&#8217;s an old but good idea, thanks for pondering. Those old school methods are kinda frowned on nowadays, and google knows apparently.

I've run out of smilies. ....
 
OK - citrix bum doesn't exist at home :)

Ad - i love it!! I just wish i could click on pics from the home page for a better view. Really; my only criticism. Very smooth.

Pete - surprised by your guestbook comments as I'm sure i left an entry on your previous site? :shrug:
 
Jonnyreb said:
Pete - surprised by your guestbook comments as I'm sure i left an entry on your previous site? :shrug:
Click to expand...

Yup I figured someone would point that out. Thing is, thats a daily photoblog. Its meant to have people leave comments on each photo per day, good or bad. Its not a "guestbook". I also have my more professional portfolio that doesn't feature comments.
 
petemc said:
Yup I figured someone would point that out. Thing is, thats a daily photoblog. Its meant to have people leave comments on each photo per day, good or bad. Its not a "guestbook". I also have my more professional portfolio that doesn't feature comments.
Click to expand...

Then in the interest of a balanced response it would probably benefit the masses to be upfront with history and views rather than have a duffer like me point them out at a later date?
 
I was. I posted my views on guestbooks, and I still don't think a guestbook should be put on a professional photographers site. My photoblog does not have a guestbook. The comment system is to promote discussion on the photography. I didn't try to disguise my views, I just knew that someone would make a point about a comment system being like a guestbook which imho they aren't.
 
petemc said:
I was. I posted my views on guestbooks, and I still don't think a guestbook should be put on a professional photographers site. My photoblog does not have a guestbook. The comment system is to promote discussion on the photography. I didn't try to disguise my views, I just knew that someone would make a point about a comment system being like a guestbook which imho they aren't.
Click to expand...

Pete - given you appear to have quite a following on here then you should, in my humble opinion, moderate your views or, at least, advise when and when not to do something. To criticise thinking and suggestions after the event is either disingenuous or duplicitious....... Come on - share your wisdom ;)
 
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