My new website

[5x5 photography]

I just finished my entry level web site last week and I believe I have gotten it polished enough to use.
I know nothing about building web sites and have spent all my money on lenses so I opted to use Go Daddy and their templates.
I know it is basic (really that is what I was going for).'

Some of y'all may or may not like it but honestly I am happy with what I was able to put together by myself in an evening.

http://www.matteroffactart.com/

[FlyingPhotog]

Looks pretty good. Certainly very colorful (I do like your Avatar/Logo...)

My only initial nit: By habit, I want to click on the photos themselves and not the small "click here" linky...

[Anke]

Originally Posted by FlyingPhotog

My only initial nit: By habit, I want to click on the photos themselves and not the small "click here" linky...

I was going to type the same thing. Also your Copyright gets a tad lost on the graphic. Small thing but that's all I could think of

[5x5 photography]

Yea, I hear you on the thumbnail. I got Go Daddy tech support on the phone to change that but my images are loaded on the Go Daddy photo album (a separate page) and this is the only way I could have a thumbnail that links to a larger image.
I don't really like that either but for now that was my only option.

You are also right about the copyright getting lost in the graphics. I thought about that one a while and decided the colors were more important than the copyright. I am hoping tech support can change the color of the words.

Thank you both for the feedback, this site has been so helpful and I value the input from the members.
I believe I will make a follow up call to tech support.

I was able to change the copyright color. The new choice kept with my color scheme but made the text easier to read.
Thanks again.

[Jonta]

1: Low resolution on header
2: Get favicon
3: Horisontal scrollbar on 1024*768 with taskbar on the side
4: The red clashes horribly with the completely white
5: Header not clickable
6: Inconsistency in typography makes for a difficult read
7: Matter of fact art is written with a lowercase m
8: When on contactpage and opening "About me", I get a new tab. I don't want one. I've got plenty thanks.
9: Spellingerrors
10: Lack of description of links
11: Want to view the pictures by clicking on them
12: Iiiiih! Popups!

[5x5 photography]

1. The resolution was what I was provided with.
2. How would that help?
4. I like the red and white myself.
5. What should I link to the header?
6. The font is the same style per page.
7. That is how I intended it to be.
8. I do not have it set to open in a new tab, does not open a new tab when I click it.
9. I will recheck my spelling, I used Google spellchecker.
10. Are you referring to the links of the pictures or the tabs? If the pictures the title is all I want to describe the image. I am trying to keep it simple.
11. Software will not allow, I can't help that.
12. There are no popups on my site.

Thank you for the input.

[Hikin Mike]

Originally Posted by PhoenixPhotography

1. The resolution was what I was provided with.
2. How would that help?
4. I like the red and white myself.
5. What should I link to the header?
6. The font is the same style per page.
7. That is how I intended it to be.
8. I do not have it set to open in a new tab, does not open a new tab when I click it.
9. I will recheck my spelling, I used Google spellchecker.
10. Are you referring to the links of the pictures or the tabs? If the pictures the title is all I want to describe the image. I am trying to keep it simple.
11. Software will not allow, I can't help that.
12. There are no popups on my site.

Thank you for the input.

Makes it more "professional looking".

IMO, I was going to type a short critique last night, but there's so much that I just "don't get", I frankly gave up.

[Hikin Mike]

Okay, I'll try...

I don't care for the color scheme. Red is so 'angry'.
What's with the 'Services'? I don't get it.
As mentioned earlier, I don't like the Gallery Format, but you have no choice about that.

[5x5 photography]

The reason I used red is related to the Phoenix.
I don't see red so much as angry myself.
A lot of folks ask me what sort of photography I am in, the services page explains that.
I really don't have a choice on the gallery format, I mentioned that (again) to tech support and they are looking deeper into it.
I am sorry there was so much on my site that you did not get but thank you for the input.
I figured there would be folks that liked it and some that did not.
So far the folks I have sent it to have had a few suggestions that helped but I am getting great feedback from my customers that have bought prints.
Overall I am happy with it but there are things I do want to change.
Since I know next to nothing about website building and design I have a feeling this will be a work in progress.
I have sold 2 prints using the site since last Friday. I know that is not the volume many of you are used to but I am not a professional photographer so I am happy with that.

Thanks everyone.

[Jonta]

Originally Posted by PhoenixPhotography

1. The resolution was what I was provided with.
2. How would that help?
4. I like the red and white myself.
5. What should I link to the header?
6. The font is the same style per page.
7. That is how I intended it to be.
8. I do not have it set to open in a new tab, does not open a new tab when I click it.
9. I will recheck my spelling, I used Google spellchecker.
10. Are you referring to the links of the pictures or the tabs? If the pictures the title is all I want to describe the image. I am trying to keep it simple.
11. Software will not allow, I can't help that.
12. There are no popups on my site.

Thank you for the input.

(I've just kept to your new numbers)

1: Do you think that users know or care? Get higher resolution. It's a photography site! The graphics better be good. I assume you haven't made it yourself? If licensing isn't a problem, convert them to vectorart, either manually or automatically.
2: How many tabs do you have opened in your browser? I know that I have a bit more than most (usually 100-200), and having favicons to help is a great relief.
3: Not going to adress? Don't think it important? It wouldn't cost you much, and it would be a good improvement
4: But I don't, and two designers I talked to about it didn't either.
5: Homepage
6: Horsehockey. What about "Services"?
7: Quite possible, but it looks like an error, and that's what counts.
8: Still does here. Chrome, Firefox, Safari
9: How about getting other, actual people to read it? I'm sure you know some that are good at finding spellingerrors. And how about a real dictionary? Webster's for example.
10: Nope. Your "Friends"
11: ...get other software...
12: Yes there are. When opening images.

[5x5 photography]

What did you mean by my "new" numbers? I skipped 3 intentionally OK. I appreciate the help but you can leave the contempt at the door.
I am new at this (as I have said numerous times). I write for a gun magazine and an online gun forum (m1911.org as Hunter). If you were to come to that site with questions I certainly would not be rude or smug.
1. I did make it my self using Go Daddy templates (I talked about that in my initial post, remember what happens when you assume and not read the OP).
2 1 (sometimes 2).

Originally Posted by Jonta

3: Not going to adress? Don't think it important? It wouldn't cost you much, and it would be a good improvement

4 (3 left out on purpose and you spelled address wrong). It is fine by me and the other web designers do not like my web site. It is my site and I put it together the best way I knew how on my budget.
So far yours is the only complaint.

5. The homepage is the same font for the description. The links to other pages is standard font.
6 Horsehockey, ok man I am not going to argue with you but I have no reason to lie when seeking opinions. This is how I am using the services page, again fine by me if you don't like it.
7 it stays lowercase, my call.
8 I had about 6 of my friends, my mother, aunt, and girlfriend check for new tabs and pop ups with the pop up blocker off. We got none, I swear.
9. Instead of being sarcastic and not helping either one of us could you point out the words and I will correct them.
10. When you click the link you will find out what it is.
11 As I have mentioned I used Go Daddy, their software does not allow this. I did this on a budget OK, again this is how it is going to be for a while.
12 See 8.

Look I do appreciate your input but being smug and sarcastic to me ain't helping.
When someone comes to me with a feeding problem on their Government Model My first suggestion is trying Check-Mate 7 round dimpled follower, hybrid lip steel magazines.
If they are unfamiliar with what I am talking about instead of being a jerk I explain to them what I am talking about and go from there, cool?

[Christopher Steven b]

I find some of the writing on the site to be a little peculiar and uneven. "my realm of..lies in" e.g. is somewhat incoherent and comes off as pretentious--at least when I read it.

Also, the red doesn't really suit what you claim as your style.

'flickr' is misspelled.

Congrats on getting a site up. It's a big step.

[5x5 photography]

I will go back and look for uneven writing.
Misspelled flickr is corrected, thanks. Not sure how I missed that.
I changed the "my realm" part.
I was never sure about that and now you pointed it out I agree it has to go.

I really want to stick with the red because of the Phoenix theme.

Thanks for your help.

[Jaymz]

I like the site. I do have images open in a new window when viewing them but it doesnt bother me at all. I dont think all sites need to fit the 'cookie cutter' list, not all pro sites have a favicon.

Services, Projects, and Friends pages don't show the same font as the others. Just fyi.

Viewed in Vista 32 with IE7, Vista 64 with IE7, and Linux with Firefox.

[Hikin Mike]

Originally Posted by PhoenixPhotography

A lot of folks ask me what sort of photography I am in, the services page explains that.

Maybe because I got a stroke 2 years ago and I have a tough time with comprehension at times, but I re-read your Services several times and I guess I just don't get it.