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andykee
13th of May 2009 (Wed), 21:56
Just finished my new site. Tried to keep things pretty clean and simple.

http://www.andrewkeephotography.com

Comments / critique welcome!


Thanks!!
Faolan
13th of May 2009 (Wed), 22:38
I don't see a header in Opera, it's there in the code...

Apart from that no main page explaining who you are, just 3 shots so I'll go to the next site... Especially as I may have disabled images for quicker page loading.

Any particular reason you're linking to Flickr? Duplication of purpose they're both portfolios...

Try and build some structure into the site at the moment it feels like scattered elements, try some borders to give it some depth and cohesion.

No SEO in your code.

No ALT tags on your images.

why do you need a RSS feed? You've haven't got a news section plus no-one is going to see it at the bottom of the page.
Hikin Mike
13th of May 2009 (Wed), 22:44
"Under the hood" you need metatags on 'Description' and 'Keywords'.

I would add some content on your home page. The photos are nice, but without some content, it's a wasted click and without content, Google won't index your site very high.

I like the photos and especially the Yosemite photos, since I spend so much time there...just not a fan of the treatment of some of the pics (overdone HDR), but it's a personal preference. ;)
andykee
13th of May 2009 (Wed), 23:05
I don't see a header in Opera, it's there in the code...

I'll have to look in to this. Everything checked out in Firefox, Safari, IE, and Chrome, but I forgot to test it in Opera.


Any particular reason you're linking to Flickr? Duplication of purpose they're both portfolios...
I'm limiting the shots that make my site to the "best of the best" so to speak, while Flickr will have a more constant stream of good but not necessarily portfolio-worthy shots. Bad idea?


No SEO in your code.

I'm working on this... It's partially there (trying an experiment to see if Google picks up on some "hidden" text on the index.html page)


why do you need a RSS feed? You've haven't got a news section plus no-one is going to see it at the bottom of the page.
Probably don't. Good point.
Faolan
13th of May 2009 (Wed), 23:22
Personally I wouldn't link to Flickr, your website is supposed to showcase the best shots so why give a person an incentive to go look at your other work? If you're trying to find clients that will backfire. Plus Flickr is seen as a 'social' site and therefore not really professional.

As to Google finding hidden content be careful with this you may get your site blacklisted as it's a common tactic with Spam sites.
andykee
13th of May 2009 (Wed), 23:38
Personally I wouldn't link to Flickr, your website is supposed to showcase the best shots so why give a person an incentive to go look at your other work? If you're trying to find clients that will backfire. Plus Flickr is seen as a 'social' site and therefore not really professional.

As to Google finding hidden content be careful with this you may get your site blacklisted as it's a common tactic with Spam sites.
And here I was thinking I was clever for doing this. Not trying to be deceptive, but it looks like Google doesn't care. Bummer.
andykee
13th of May 2009 (Wed), 23:58
I don't see a header in Opera, it's there in the code...
I just took a look at the site on Opera 9.2 on OSX and everything looked fine. Which header are you talking about? The header image above the navigation menu or the contents of the <head> tags?
Faolan
14th of May 2009 (Thu), 01:02
Presumably the header image. Browser Operea 9.64:
<div id="header">
<img src= "images/banner.png" />
</div>

That's the one. To be honest I would change the file name because that name is likely to be caught by a lot of blockers. Also you need some Alt Text on the image.

I can see it in Firefox, so it could be something to the way I've configured Opera.
recrisp
16th of May 2009 (Sat), 21:40
I like it, it's to the point, and nice looking, it shows off your photographic ability, and that's what it's all about.

The other stuff that has been mentioned is also good, but for starters, you are definitely on the right track, I was impressed, not only by your shots, but I like it's layout.
How did you make it, did you hire it out, or did you do the coding, or is it javascript from some site?
(If I may ask)

I'd score it high as in taste... :)

Randy

Just finished my new site. Tried to keep things pretty clean and simple.

http://www.andrewkeephotography.com

Comments / critique welcome!


Thanks!!
andykee
21st of May 2009 (Thu), 19:22
I like it, it's to the point, and nice looking, it shows off your photographic ability, and that's what it's all about.

The other stuff that has been mentioned is also good, but for starters, you are definitely on the right track, I was impressed, not only by your shots, but I like it's layout.
How did you make it, did you hire it out, or did you do the coding, or is it javascript from some site?
(If I may ask)

I'd score it high as in taste... :)

Randy
The layout was coded completely by hand (by me). The slideshow on the index page was javascript reuse and I used Lightbox for the galleries (with some of my own mods).
recrisp
21st of May 2009 (Thu), 19:43
The layout was coded completely by hand (by me). The slideshow on the index page was javascript reuse and I used Lightbox for the galleries (with some of my own mods).

Even better then, it looks the way I'd like mine to look, so that's about the highest compliment I can give... :)
I don't know how to do javascript, I can add to existing code, but I can't do it on my own, maybe someday.
I've got Lightbox, but I got lost in it I think, I wasn't in the mood, or my brain died, I forget... heh

Randy