Website

[motogeno]

Alright, my site is in need of major revamping - I originally did it myself in frontpage. I've been looking at a lot of sites of members on this forum for inspiration. Here is my issue. I'm not big on paying someone to proffessionally do my site because I want the freedom to add images, change things around and whatever. I like flash on sites, but know nothing about flash and hear it can be difficult. I have proshow gold and I love how easy it is to make slideshows, and so I was considering using proshow streaming videos to display my galleries and just using frontpage for basic info and things, but I uploaded a show to my site to test it out and it takes forever to buffer before the video plays. After some investigating I have found out that the speed of my server is max 10mb/sec unless I upgrade to a dedicated server which is really expensive monthly ($100). So, I turn to you, oh wise ones, for some advice.
1.Did most of you who use flash do your sites yourself or pay someone?

2.For someone like me who has basic html editing abilities (mainly in frontpage) do you think that it is within my abilities to make a flash site?

3.If so, what software do you reccomend that is user friendly and does the job?

4.If not, do you think that streaming video slideshows are a good option if I can find a server fast enough to play them at a reasonable price?

5.I'm with Beachcomber right now for web hosting, and I'm kind of dissapointed that I can't get a faster speed than 10mb/sec unless I get a dedicated server. Is this what I should expect from all shared servers?

6.If not, any reccomendations on hosting?

Thanks in advance for your help

[liza]

A lot of wedding pros use Bluhost. You might check them out.

[coreypolis]

Here's some Flash template compaines that often will offer hosting as well, which will be designed to handle flash speeds, and often alllow user customazation at any time.

http://creativemotiondesign.com/site.html

http://bigfolio.com/

http://www.winkletwebdesign.com/

http://www.bludomain.com/blu/index.php


For now I made a flash image in imageready and put that inside a html table. then made flash slideshows with music via "showit web"

For flash editng "flash mx" is the way to go

[karensimmons]

Hire a professional.

I don't understand why so many photographers - who want others to hire them over uncle bob with a camera - then turn around and do-it-yourself on their own businesses.

If you're running a business, treat it like a business. Hire a professional for your website. Hire a professional for your books. Do it right.

Karen

[picturecrazy]

There are a few of us here who have built our own websites. I don't think it's a bad thing, as long as you can produce something of high quality. As pro photographers, most of us have an 'eye' for what looks nice and what doesn't. I do a lot of stuff on my own because even some professionals can't give me the 'look' I want. (i.e. business cards, ad layouts etc...)

But don't live in denial... if you can't produce a professional website on your own, then don't. It'll hurt you more than help you. Know your limits. For example, I know there are people much better than me at designing albums, so I outsource it all to them.

[Big WIll]

If you got the skills to pay the bills, in web design may as build your own!

If you got the skills to pay the bills, in web design might as well set-up a web design business as well! :)

[motogeno]

If you got the skills to pay the bills, in web design may as build your own!

If you got the skills to pay the bills, in web design might as well set-up a web design business as well! :)

yeah, I'm thinking you're right on this. It's funny, I went to the sites listed above and realized that all the sites that I really like on here are made by these sites. Good to know. They're expensive, but I think in the end that's probably what I'll do because ultimately I want creative control and the ability to change things and add things as needed. Thanks everyone once again for saving the day,

Chris

[newgenphoto]

I once took care of the design myself but now it's in BigFolios hands. i still have control over my images, text, colors, music, etc but they do everything else for me. WONDERFUL company but with anything, you get what you pay for. Hosting isn't cheap for the premier templates but the service is beyond go. They were charging 35.00 a month but I think as of 2007 it is dropping to 25.00 a month for the premier hosting.

[LuisE]

I used KOOLMOVES to create my website. godaddy for hosting , and smugmug for my proofs .

[picturecrazy]

I host my website on Brinkster.com
I've been with them since 1999 so it's not like one of those many new hosting companies that will disappear with your money.

Right now they have a deal if you sign up for a two year package, they'll throw in professional web design FREE! Wow, that's awesome. I wish they had this when I first signed up.

http://www.brinkster.com

As for their hosting... I think it's fabulous. They may not offer as much monthly transfer as some of the others, but their servers are rock solid. The only time I saw downtime in the last 7 years is when they were physically upgrading the hardware on the servers.

My favourite part is... they have live chat. If you have a question, need help, or are confused, just launch their live chat and you can chat online with a support, service, or sales agent who will solve your problems. Instant service rocks. I hate waiting 48 hours for email replies.