want to build a website; which web authoring software do you recommend?

[rightaway]

I am looking at building a website. nothing too fancy, but i would like to have a flash slide show for gallery.
Do you have any recommendation for authoring software?
Something that gets the job done and without a learning curve that is too steep?

thanks

stephan

[flyb0y]

Macromedia Dreamweaver 8 is what I use for HTML. Macromedia Flash 8 is what I use for flash work. I love em both. Ive used Frontpage for HTML but liked Dreamweaver much better.

[tim]

Ultraedit (text editor) is what I use.

[RAitch]

JAlbum is a really cool program for free that you can change the layout for. Some of the layouts have slideshow functionality and you can tweak it in notepad.
Plus, it can connect to your FTP server and automatically update the content.

Really cool. Plus, you can use it to create an HTML interface for files that you burn to a DVD. So when you put the DVD into the drive, it'll come up with a web page look instead of windows explorer. It's really cool. Check it out.

[llaamaboy]

Ultraedit (text editor) is what I use.


Show off ... :lol:

If you talk Flash, Macromedia Dreamweaver Studio - pretty sure Falsh is included. It also is pretty friendly with CSS if you want to get a tad advanced or more serious.

Strongly suggest you stay away from Frontpage.

[rightaway]

JAlbum is a really cool program for free that you can change the layout for. Some of the layouts have slideshow functionality and you can tweak it in notepad.
Plus, it can connect to your FTP server and automatically update the content.

Really cool. Plus, you can use it to create an HTML interface for files that you burn to a DVD. So when you put the DVD into the drive, it'll come up with a web page look instead of windows explorer. It's really cool. Check it out.

Does Jalbum create a web page? I thought it was used for creating slide shows. :rolleyes:

[Bob_A]

I use Netobjects Fusion. Lots of features and reasonably priced.

[RAitch]

Does Jalbum create a web page? I thought it was used for creating slide shows. :rolleyes:
It does. You can point it to a folder of images then generate the HTML required (thumbnails and all that too) in the click of a button. Then you can even set the program up to connect to your FTP server and do a complete/incremental update.

There are all kinds of skins you can download and then make subtle customized changes to them.

GREAT free program that you can use to whip up a web gallery in a matter of minutes... as well as use it to create an HTML index for your image collection to burn off to CD with an autorun (so it's easy for the grandparents to view).

(but I pretty much already typed all that)

[OdiN1701]

I use notepad.exe

[RAitch]

I use notepad.exe
Good job... yet that's not easy and doesn't have an easy learning curve like requested.

[ricohcam01]

This may be a little of topic here but I thought I would add to this thread by saying that all the customers I spoke to after making my website told me that they are glad I did not put anything on it that did not pertain to weddings. I am currently making another site for a non wedding portfolio. Just thought I would through that out there.

Here is mine. I am updating it in the next couple of weeks.
www.imagesbyjansen.com (http://www.imagesbyjansen.com)

Good luck!!!

[ricohcam01]

Someone sent me a PM and I could not get it because of my pop blocker. Please send the PM to my email address attached to my website. Thanks a lot.

[jfrancho]

Someone sent me a PM and I could not get it because of my pop blocker. Please send the PM to my email address attached to my website. Thanks a lot.Just click the "Private Messages" link in the upper right of the nav bar.

[bpuppy]

Have you considered hiring a web designer? It's a similar argument to someone hiring a pro to shoot weddings. If you're not stellar with graphic/web design, perhaps it would be better for your image to hire someone who is ... so you can focus on photography and the design pros can focus on your site.

I realize this is not a cheap option, but if you have the funds, this is the way to go. The last thing you'd want people to think is, "This guy must have just learned how to use dreamweaver."

[RAitch]

"This guy must have just learned how to use dreamweaver."
LOL!!

[rvt1000]

I like simpleviewer....easy to use and puts in the flash.... if you know some basic html, you can edit it and tweak it to your liking as well..

[tella]

Has anybody used iweb from apple? or Aperture?

[RAitch]

If you have Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, there's a web gallery generator built in. I've never used it and not sure if it has slideshow functionality... but it's another one that's there if you already have Photoshop.

[picturecrazy]

If you want to build a website quickly and without much knowledge, you might try buying or finding a template already designed, and then all you have to do is plunk your text and pictures into the slots.

The hosting company that hosts my photo website has a website builder that does just that. It is included in your hosting package. For $59.40 a year you get 1.5GB of web space (that's a LOT of web-sized pictures!), 35GB a month in web traffic, 50 email accounts, and as a bonus a one year lease on a domain name when you sign up.

I don't use it personally, I write everything by hand in a text editor, but I've tried it out for fun and it's pretty slick for such a cheap price.

[BLINN]

no matter how you look at it, it takes time and hard work. Websites should never stay the same, I mean basic lay can but images and stuff should change every few months. If not then you tend to look lazy.

[Close to My Heart]

There are some really nice websites on here. I am also looking to upgrade my website. I am currently using a photosite website, and it has served its purpose so far. I would like to find something that says what "My creativity is" It is hard for me to give it to the hands of someone else when I know what I have in mind, and I know kind of how I want it to look. Soft, Gentle, Breathtaking!!!!! I am working on a budget also, but do have the time at the moment to learn, and am willing to research. Any other suggestions? I will look up JAlbum, I'm not sure where to find that.

Jen

[snibbetsj]

www.jalbum.net (http://www.jalbum.net) Quick and easy to use.

[DAG123]

Show off ... :lol:

Strongly suggest you stay away from Frontpage.

Is this just Microsoft bashing or is there a real reason to stay away from FP?

I use it and find it incrediably easy to use and I have virtually no problems with it.

If anyone is interested in what a FP site looks like check mine out at

http://www.videolegacies.ca

Tell me why I should not use this software? I am not in the web designing business and don't have three weeks to type all the code into a text editor even if I knew how to program in html.

Not trying to start an arguement, I am genuinely curious why it is often suggested to stay clear of FP.

[jfrancho]

The code it creates isn't the easiest to troubleshoot and there seems to be a lot of unnecessary gobblety-goop. It's easy to use, but for ASP, I prefer using VS.Net.

[NGrinerPhoto]

i use text edit ... but am currently messing around with photoshop cs2

[Phil V]

Tell me why I should not use this software? I am not in the web designing business and don't have three weeks to type all the code into a text editor even if I knew how to program in html.

Not trying to start an arguement, I am genuinely curious why it is often suggested to stay clear of FP.
If you REALLY want to know;
This looks like a homemade website from the early nineties (as most FP sites do). If you don't mind that, then that's OK. Personally, if I was looking for a photographer I would click straight back out of any site that didn't look simple, professional and beautiful.
If I was looking for a builders merchant I wouldn't care what the site looked like, but as a Photographer we're selling our artistic ability, if we don't notice an ugly advertisement, newsletter or website; how can we possibly find a book full of beautiful images in the hustle and bustle of a wedding day?

[DAG123]

If you REALLY want to know;
This looks like a homemade website from the early nineties (as most FP sites do). If you don't mind that, then that's OK. Personally, if I was looking for a photographer I would click straight back out of any site that didn't look simple, professional and beautiful.
If I was looking for a builders merchant I wouldn't care what the site looked like, but as a Photographer we're selling our artistic ability, if we don't notice an ugly advertisement, newsletter or website; how can we possibly find a book full of beautiful images in the hustle and bustle of a wedding day?

hmmmm...I have to agree with you when you put it in that perspective. However, a flash based site can easily be created with FrontPage.

I do understand your point though and it is well taken. I think I shall rework my site and make it simple and beautiful!

[Bob_A]

For Netobjects Fusion there is a company called FusionFX/FusionUser that provide a ton of site styles that are very professional looking at a very reasonable cost.

http://www.fusionuser.com/index.php?cPath=61

I'm certain you can find the same thing for any wysiwyg type editor.

[tim]

Avoid flash and other plugins, many workplaces block them and lots of people look for wedding photographers during work time.

[picturecrazy]

Avoid flash and other plugins, many workplaces block them and lots of people look for wedding photographers during work time.

Yes, Amen to that. And keep the music OFF the photo site. It leaves a bad taste when someone loads your site up at work, and then suddenly Pachelbel's Canon is blasting through their computer speakers and they scramble to either turn down the volume or hit "back" right away to turn it off.

I was never a fan of flash either. Many people are not able to install all these neat plugins, or run Java applications. Bare bones HTML is the way to go.

Also, Mozilla firefox is greatly increasing in popularity. Don't forget to include compatibility for it. You'd be surprised at how many sites only work properly on Internet Explorer.

LESS is more

[toddb]

Avoid flash and other plugins, many workplaces block them and lots of people look for wedding photographers during work time.

I'm surprised. Flash is pretty much an internet standard these days. I've never worked for or seen any companies block flash content. Presentation sells and flash is as candy coded as you can get. Not to mention Flex2 now. Using notepad is so nineties. I think the market has gotten allot more competitive for creativity and I know how hard it is to create a really dynamic and interactive web page from scratch using a text editor (back when I had free time, lol).

Flash has a huge installation base...like 96% for internet users. The thing that is really nice about Flash is that it looks the same on every computer, every OS (and version) and browser (and browser version). That is why it's so popular. That's really a huge plus and I think it out weighs the few that can't see it.
http://www.adobe.com/products/player_census/flashplayer/

[Dans_D60]

I'll chime in here. Why not … Yes, flash players are pretty much a standard plug-in for Explorer and Firefox. The trick is how much. Depends on your customer base and what is the “call to action”. As a graphic artist (and I’m not one) the more flash-based graphic presentation the better. As photographers the site can be used as a display of your talent (any amount of flash programming would be acceptable) or as a selling vehicle with a call to action. Our case is the latter. A little flash to keep the potential client interested but mainly HTML always directing the viewer to “contact us”. We have a much better chance to close the deal if they call. Wedding photography is extremely emotional and brides will leave a site very quickly if they cannot “connect” with the images, the words, and a reason to call.

Dan

http://www.danpettusphoto.com

[Faolan]

Main problem with Flash is there is compatibilty issues with mobile technologies and disabled users. As far as I am aware there isn't a mobile phone that supports a Flash plug in... Also as stated above a number of companies are starting to restrict content due to security concerns.

As to disabled, how many designers do you know that's got the skill and knowledge to build a gallery from scratch? Then you have to factor how much that's going to cost.

As to gallery software Porta is quite good as is JAlbum if you need something quick to put up.

The best authoring software is Dreamweaver because of the support and extensions. When you start to use Site Templates, that's where things make sense to pay for this app. Templates allow you change the content on one page that affects every page built on that design. On a large sites this is a major time save. Also templates can help prevent page screw ups...

Flash 8 has a very steep learning curve, hence the number of 'easy' programs available. Flash 8 also has a number of extensions to make your life easier in the creation of content.

Personally I use a mixture of Notepad, Vi, and Dreamweaver depending on where I am and what I have to do. I rarely play with Flash unless I have to...

[tonycortes]

Main problem with Flash is there is compatibilty issues with mobile technologies and disabled users. As far as I am aware there isn't a mobile phone that supports a Flash plug in... Also as stated above a number of companies are starting to restrict content due to security concerns.

As to disabled, how many designers do you know that's got the skill and knowledge to build a gallery from scratch? Then you have to factor how much that's going to cost.

As to gallery software Porta is quite good as is JAlbum if you need something quick to put up.

The best authoring software is Dreamweaver because of the support and extensions. When you start to use Site Templates, that's where things make sense to pay for this app. Templates allow you change the content on one page that affects every page built on that design. On a large sites this is a major time save. Also templates can help prevent page screw ups...

Flash 8 has a very steep learning curve, hence the number of 'easy' programs available. Flash 8 also has a number of extensions to make your life easier in the creation of content.

Personally I use a mixture of Notepad, Vi, and Dreamweaver depending on where I am and what I have to do. I rarely play with Flash unless I have to...
just thought you might like to know... my phone is loaded with FLASH and REAL player... but yet it's best to have a non flash site option or avoid using flash for important things

[toddb]

I saw a blip on CNET TV a while back where they where using flash for the onboard display for the user interface. I'm a flash newbie and it's probably one of the harder apps that I've looked at and nothing really makes sense if you just start poking around...made Photoshop seam easy. I highly recommend the TotalTraining Professional Series for Macromedia Flash Professional 8 training DVDs. I'm very impressed. It's about 24 hours worth of instruction but it's very, very well done. They instructor was working on flash before Macromedia knew what flash was. Check out a demo lesson on the totaltraining site.

I'm starting to wonder though if Flex2 isn't a better choice for creating a rich interactive experience. It's more geared for web application building rather then animation. I think you pretty much need to be using Flash 9 player and it uses ActionScript 3 (which is a big change from Action script 2). The reason I'm thinking of using this is because I could better create automated feed back, comment type stuff and really explorer rich interactivity between the user and my web site. But of course, for right now I'm just trying to get my images on the web to be seen right now.