Just finished...

[_Jo_]

...a basic website. Could you please take a look and tell me what you think?

I want to keep it nice and simple. Hopefully I have.

Thanks :)

[mizuno]

As far as low-cost (or free), do-it-yourself web solutions, I think it's pretty neat and tidy.

The banner ads and freewebs menu at the top of the page is very distracting, but that's the price you pay for the price you don't pay.

If you are seeking to establish a professional photography business, I would strongly recommend registering a real domain name and paying for your own web hosting service. That way you can reinforce yor own brand by having everything your own unique domain name and matching email address etc.

If you're just looking to pick up the odd wedding here and there as income supplement, then what you have created is probably fine.

[_Jo_]

Thanks for your advice. But at this stage it is still a hobby and I don't intend outlaying the type of money required for a basic website/domain name until I feel it is viable.
I am hoping people can see past the 'banners', which I felt were not too bad (at least they don't pop up in your face like some free sites lol) and I also really like the option to disable 'right click'. It is a nifty wee site that will serve me well...for now. But watch this space - if I turn "pro" it will be the first thing to go.

Thanks again for your comments :)

[mizuno]

Cool! If it's just your hobby, save your pennies for more gear - there's ALWAYS more gear to buy. ;)

As a matter of interest, a domain name will set you back just $10 per year and basic web/email hosting under $2 per week. It's really not a significant outlay at all. :)

[_Jo_]

Thanks mizuno - your advice much appreciated :)

[Rellik]

If you want free hosting with no ads, you can try out: http://www.awardspace.com/

I tried them out before and it really is free. But I've moved on to godaddy now. You can get a lot free these days if you are not picky. Like here: http://www.dot.tk/en/index.html you can get a .tk domain for free. And I think yahoo has domains for $1.99 us, so it's not too much.

Regarding the site, it is nice and simple. But as mizuno said, the banner on the top and the text on the bottom is quite distracting. The gallery resizes your pictures so it creates jaggied edges in them. It is quite noticeable in some pictures. But I understand that most of your page is from a template where you just drag and drop things into it.

The right click is handy, but I've dropped it off my site mainly cause I found it a bit annoying. It also doesn't really prevent people from stealing your pictures if they wanted to. For example, in your site, I can just drag the picture to the url bar in the browser, and I can copy it all I want. Or I can just look at the source and find the url. Alternative is to watermark your pictures, but it sometimes can take away from the picture.

[Jaythan]

I like it. Just as stated, the banners are distracting.

[_Jo_]

Thank-you.

[tim]

Jo, come 2nd shoot for me some time (PM). As a non-professional site it's good.

[samnz]

Well done Jo! Like the simplicity. Nice and quick for ppl like me still on dial-up. :( Which is one reason why I don't have a website.

Sorry for nit picking but on your About Me page, is the "west coast" capitalised or not? Not too sure myself. Also maybe "West Coast of New Zealand" ???

Other than that, I like it! :)

[_Jo_]

Jo, come 2nd shoot for me some time (PM). As a non-professional site it's good.

Thanks for the offer. If I am ever up your way I will certainly give you a call :)

[_Jo_]

Well done Jo! Like the simplicity. Nice and quick for ppl like me still on dial-up. :( Which is one reason why I don't have a website.

Sorry for nit picking but on your About Me page, is the "west coast" capitalised or not? Not too sure myself. Also maybe "West Coast of New Zealand" ???

Other than that, I like it! :)

Thanks - and I was aiming for a quick browse - non flashy site. Just somewhere I can 'preview' a few of my images from each wedding. I am certainly happy with it at this stage - it is all I need. I am pleased you have no trouble viewing on dial-up. I also checked the about me page and made a couple of edits there - thanks for that! :)

[oldshooter]

...a basic website. Could you please take a look and tell me what you think?

I want to keep it nice and simple. Hopefully I have.

Thanks :)

It is a good start and we all have to start some where. I can see both you and your wedding couples were having fun, and that is the most important thing you are doing here.

Having your own domain name is the next step. It will make it much easier to be ranked or listed in the search engines, which is how a lot of brides find photographers. Maybe take some of the profits from your next few weddings and accomplish that task next. Blending business, marketing and branding, and photography together is more art than science.

Warm regards,
Joe

[davidgr]

For a free site and template, it isn't bad, but the banner ad that came up for me was very anoying! If it's just a hobby, it will be fine, but if you're looking to make money from your photography, your site should look a lot better than this. Get your own domain name from any number of places for less than $10 a year. Hosting plans will vary greatly, with the biggest things to watch are bandwidth and storage space. Check out http://www.siteflip.com/specials/fmh101b.html For less than $1 a month, you get a pretty good deal to start from.

[Dragonfli Spirit]

I know how hard it is to get something you like, and build it yourself, so WELL DONE!

[samnz]

I also checked the about me page and made a couple of edits there

Nice job Jo'. If I ever hear of a 'Grey' wedding, I'll be sure to pass on the info. Regards, Sammy

[_Jo_]

Thanks Donna & Sammy.

[sblais]

Good job for the web site. It's simple, yet elegant and I'm sure that it does the job you want it to do.

[_Jo_]

Good job for the web site. It's simple, yet elegant and I'm sure that it does the job you want it to do.

Thanks for your comments - I like simple and was aiming for that :)