Website - Work in Progress, but...

The23rdman

The23rdman

Messages
13,582
Name
Dean
Edit My Images
No
Whaddyathink? I'm working on copy and adding more content between jobs.

Soulful Photography

p.s. I hope it actually renders properly as last time I posted it up some people saw no css. I think I've fixed this isssue now.
 
I hope this is taken as constructive crit, as it's what it is, but it doesn't work for me. It looks like someone's first attempt at a website, and maybe it is, as it's an incredibly difficult thing to do and bring it off with a touch of uniqueness and style.

My main gripe would be the colour scheme, or lack of it. On the home page the olive green infobar at the bottom against the blue/red 'Print Voucher' box, alongside the grey grad 'Hello' box just seems to lack any kind of coordination - then moving on to the 'Portraits' page, the text box has a green grad with a yellow/red/black 'Special Offer' box... I think a consistent colour scheme over the whole site would make a big difference.

On the plus side, a lot of the images are very good.... :D
 
I agree. I'm planning on changing the colours of the offers boxes to make them more consistent.
 
I agree with DekHog. Its not bad and I think the logo could do with some work, even if thats just to simplify it somewhat. I dont mind the lack of colour, its clean and minimal with focus on the photography. Good start!
 
i think that if you choose a cosistant colour scheme
eg blue or which ever colour you choose , it would give a more professional feel .

i relise you are trying things out , just keep up the good work

what do you use to edit your site ?

Cheers Steve
 
Looking again the homepage it needs a little work things are unbalanced. Look up the grid system of design. It will help things balance out a little better. Also colour scheme as said before needs bringing down to a colour choice and sticking with it. I will also be honest and say the logo could do with being started again, it just is not strong enough.

Also when I hear soulful photography the site does not live up to what I expect as a potential customer. I think I could best sum it up as looking dated.
 
If you post a selfie on the about page, look at the camera so that it looks like you are interacting with the viewer.
 
Thanks for the great feedback, guys. Tbh, I'm not happy with the name anyway, but all the ones I wanted were taken and there are two guys working with my given name. How do I go about changing my business name? It's early enough to do it that it will not impact too much.
 
steve_lyt said:
i think that if you choose a cosistant colour scheme
eg blue or which ever colour you choose , it would give a more professional feel .

i relise you are trying things out , just keep up the good work

what do you use to edit your site ?

Cheers Steve
Click to expand...
I coded it myself in Dreamweaver and firefox's web developer toolbar.
 
few quickies

Most of the photographs have people gazing up, and not at the camera

There are 3 different sorts of text box styling on the front page. a more subtle and consistent approach will look a lot more professional

The logo looks pixelated on this laptop screen, and has a bad dose of the jaggies.

some of the rounded corner stuff looks a bit dated

the footer is a bit OTT

Mobile number is fine, but back it up with full contact details

The images - the "click on images" thing is OTT, and you leave no obvious way of returning from the modal lightbox

Some of the images in the commercial section should not be there, and the models need to smile and look happy (Hint - all photographers shoot a lens, as it is what they have close. might be worth approaching a engineering company, and shooting something technically challenging and more commercial)

In the portraits, 75% of the sitters are not looking at the camera. this is a theme carried over from the front page. While this is a style, it kind of stands out a bit too much

The orange and green is a bit clashing and visually too much

On the positive - the photographs have an excellent use of lighting and space - which is something you need to translate onto the website. Overall the site has nice code, and has a lot of potential to be sorted and look great. Your starting place needs to be

- call to action
- stunning photography
- crisp, neat, between the eyes visual layout
 
Okay, apart from now having a complete crisis of confidence I'm doing fine. Thanks for the detailed crit, Richard.

Richard King said:
few quickies

Most of the photographs have people gazing up, and not at the camera

There are 3 different sorts of text box styling on the front page. a more subtle and consistent approach will look a lot more professional
not sure I get you. I can only see two text boxes on the front page?

The logo looks pixelated on this laptop screen, and has a bad dose of the jaggies.
Yep, agreed. Made it on Xara Extreme and I'm not entirely sure how to use it.

some of the rounded corner stuff looks a bit dated

Really? I see this use a lot. Show me alternatives.

the footer is a bit OTT
In what way?
Mobile number is fine, but back it up with full contact details

The images - the "click on images" thing is OTT, and you leave no obvious way of returning from the modal lightbox
Yeah, agreed. Again, just playing in Xara and I noticed the lack of obvious return.

Some of the images in the commercial section should not be thereWhy?, and the models need to smile and look happy (Hint - all photographers shoot a lens, as it is what they have close. might be worth approaching a engineering company, and shooting something technically challenging and more commercial)

In the portraits, 75% of the sitters are not looking at the camera. this is a theme carried over from the front page. While this is a style, it kind of stands out a bit too much.
It's a style a like, but point noted.

The orange and green is a bit clashing and visually too much
Agreed.

On the positive - the photographs have an excellent use of lighting and space - which is something you need to translate onto the website. Overall the site has nice code, and has a lot of potential to be sorted and look great. Your starting place needs to be

- call to action Haven't I got those?
- stunning photographyBloody cheek. ;)
- crisp, neat, between the eyes visual layout
Well, I thought that's what this was, but maybe I'll just go open a vein. :(
Click to expand...
 
the only advice i can give you is to try all the ideas, it is better to have tried an idea and find it doen`t work than keep wodering if it would have

it is important to remember that if you are selling a service you have to keep
poeple looking and coming back to you site.
Cheers Steve
 
Ok... Here's a few thoughts.

* The logo looks a bit squashed vertically - nothing to do with the website but instead the design.

* Having a quote is a bit cheesy.

* The telephone number at the top should be text in case someone needs to copy and paste it.

* The colour scheme and gradient on the left look a bit old.

* Add a client list.

* I'd be careful with your Commercial page. Unless that picture of the lens was for Canon, I suspect that they would object to you showing that off as a commercial image.

* © Dean Mitchell 2010 and Website by Dean Mitchell Design could be skipped in the footer. The website would look cleaner that way.

In general, the design looks a bit old.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top