Critique my Smugmug page

Dan C · 14th of April 2010 (Wed)

I recently redesigned my smugmug start page. Would you have a look and tell me what you think? Do the photos in the slideshow make you say “wow”? Is it easy to navigate? Is the “about me” section written well?
*
Any feedback, good or bad, is appreciated.
*
http://danastasia.smugmug.com

vdubgrub · 14th of April 2010 (Wed)

To be honest, some photos are great (bee macro shot) but the rest appear like snapshots to me, especially the wedding shots. Your smugmug page has a very "template" like feel but I can relate as am not too happy with Zenfolio. Good luck.

early6 · 15th of April 2010 (Thu)

I agree with vdubgrub. Some great shots, but too many "snapshots." You may want to reduce the amount of photos by just keeping the best shots.

jonwhite · 15th of April 2010 (Thu)

What sort of work are you aiming to pick up using this site?

I ask this because your wording on the front page would probably be enough to put most potential clients off.

Quote:

I photograph weddings, parties, events, indoor archetecture, real estate, and landscapes. I most enjoy photographing beautiful scenes in nature, friends, and sights when I travel.

So your available for weddings etc but what you most enjoy shooting is friends and vacation pictures..... I dont think thats gonna get potential clients running to your door.

Overall Smugmug is ok for showing a few galleries but its not really very good at presenting yourself to people who may hire you, you have no functionality on there for that apart from a link to a profile page for another service.

If you want people to take you seriously and consider you as a possible option for weddings and events etc I would suggest investing in a proper website.

ccc_javier · 15th of April 2010 (Thu)

yes, be more selective

that stone puma is wacko... not good

Dan C · 15th of April 2010 (Thu)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccc_javier

yes, be more selective

that stone puma is wacko... not good

You're from Philly and you don't recognize that?

Dan C · 15th of April 2010 (Thu)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonwhite

What sort of work are you aiming to pick up using this site?

I ask this because your wording on the front page would probably be enough to put most potential clients off.

So your available for weddings etc but what you most enjoy shooting is friends and vacation pictures..... I dont think thats gonna get potential clients running to your door.

Overall Smugmug is ok for showing a few galleries but its not really very good at presenting yourself to people who may hire you, you have no functionality on there for that apart from a link to a profile page for another service.

If you want people to take you seriously and consider you as a possible option for weddings and events etc I would suggest investing in a proper website.

Thanks for the feedback. I am not a professional by any means. I have done a few weddings for friends, as well as parties and events. The wording about my interests when I am doing photography for fun was meant to help people learn more about me. Should I just take it out?

Hikin Mike · 15th of April 2010 (Thu)

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbddude

You're from Philly and you don't recognize that?

Go Penn State!!!

HappySnapper90 · 15th of April 2010 (Thu)

Why does your home page say "Dan and Statisia's Home"? But your "bio" only describes you? Why does it say "home"? Seems like it shouldn't be there. If it's just you, then remove the "Stasia" from the account.

Your "about", has 6 sentences in a row that starts with "I". If it is you and someone else, why is there now "we"? Try re-writing it. It sounds very elementary written.

"UCSD Campus" photos are not landscapes, they are pictures of buildings.

Frugal · 16th of April 2010 (Fri)

Quote:

Dan and Stasia's Home | This is my: Friend • Family

This is junk that Smugmug puts there by default. You can disable it in CSS. Also you can customize your home and text pages so they look like any other photographer's non-flash site

Dan C · 16th of April 2010 (Fri)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HappySnapper90

Why does your home page say "Dan and Stasia's Home"? But your "bio" only describes you? Why does it say "home"? Seems like it shouldn't be there. If it's just you, then remove the "Stasia" from the account.

Your "about", has 6 sentences in a row that starts with "I". If it is you and someone else, why is there now "we"?

Fixed--changed to "Dan's home"

Quote:

Originally Posted by HappySnapper90

"UCSD Campus" photos are not landscapes, they are pictures of buildings.

What would you call it? Cityscapes? Architecture?

Dan C · 16th of April 2010 (Fri)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frugal

This is junk that Smugmug puts there by default. You can disable it in CSS. Also you can customize your home and text pages so they look like any other photographer's non-flash site

What is CSS? Can you tell me how to remove/change this?

Rick Anderson · 16th of April 2010 (Fri)

There is a lot you can do with Smugmug if you teach yourself basic CSS (cascading style sheets) and a little HTML. I am going to revamp my pages this weekend. The Digital Grin forum is the best place to start customizing smug accounts with hundreds of tutorials: http://www.dgrin.com/forumdisplay.php?f=31

Rick Anderson · 16th of April 2010 (Fri)

Also download Mozillas developer toolbar so you can see what is in the background of other Smugmug sites that you like. It's a great learning tool if nothing else. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/60

Frugal · 16th of April 2010 (Fri)

^^--- Good suggestions

14th of April 2010 (Wed)	#1
Dan C Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 778 IMAGE EDITING OK	Critique my Smugmug page I recently redesigned my smugmug start page. Would you have a look and tell me what you think? Do the photos in the slideshow make you say “wow”? Is it easy to navigate? Is the “about me” section written well? * Any feedback, good or bad, is appreciated. * http://danastasia.smugmug.com __________________ 5D2 \|\| Σ 50 1.4 \|\| 24-105L \|\| 430EX \|\|\| For Sale: 7D \| 15-85 \| Kenko 1.4x \| Gear and Feedback \|\| Smugmug \|\| I prefer to receive emails instead of PMs; please send me an Email by clicking my username.

14th of April 2010 (Wed)	#2
vdubgrub Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 83	Re: Critique my Smugmug page To be honest, some photos are great (bee macro shot) but the rest appear like snapshots to me, especially the wedding shots. Your smugmug page has a very "template" like feel but I can relate as am not too happy with Zenfolio. Good luck. __________________ Walter Shin "Cameras are just tools to help you see." http://www.waltershin.com

15th of April 2010 (Thu)	#3
early6 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 1	Re: Critique my Smugmug page I agree with vdubgrub. Some great shots, but too many "snapshots." You may want to reduce the amount of photos by just keeping the best shots. __________________ Canon 50D W/ battery grip, Tokina 12-24mm f/4, Tokina 28-80mm f/2/8, Canon 50mm f/1.4, Metz 48, Metz 58

15th of April 2010 (Thu)	#5
ccc_javier Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Miami, Philadelphia Posts: 1,363 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Critique my Smugmug page yes, be more selective that stone puma is wacko... not good __________________ http://miamiprophoto.wix.com/portfolio NSFW

15th of April 2010 (Thu)	#9
HappySnapper90 Goldmember Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 4,513	Re: Critique my Smugmug page Why does your home page say "Dan and Statisia's Home"? But your "bio" only describes you? Why does it say "home"? Seems like it shouldn't be there. If it's just you, then remove the "Stasia" from the account. Your "about", has 6 sentences in a row that starts with "I". If it is you and someone else, why is there now "we"? Try re-writing it. It sounds very elementary written. "UCSD Campus" photos are not landscapes, they are pictures of buildings. __________________ http://RobertHoy.zenfolio.com www.photographybyhoy.com http://www.facebook.com/Photography.by.Hoy

16th of April 2010 (Fri)	#13
Rick Anderson Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Napa, CA Posts: 533 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Critique my Smugmug page There is a lot you can do with Smugmug if you teach yourself basic CSS (cascading style sheets) and a little HTML. I am going to revamp my pages this weekend. The Digital Grin forum is the best place to start customizing smug accounts with hundreds of tutorials: http://www.dgrin.com/forumdisplay.php?f=31 __________________ ________________________________________ Way too much gear, way too little money left over after buying aforementioned gear.

16th of April 2010 (Fri)	#14
Rick Anderson Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Napa, CA Posts: 533 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Critique my Smugmug page Also download Mozillas developer toolbar so you can see what is in the background of other Smugmug sites that you like. It's a great learning tool if nothing else. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/60 __________________ ________________________________________ Way too much gear, way too little money left over after buying aforementioned gear.

16th of April 2010 (Fri)	#15
Frugal Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northern CA Posts: 780 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Critique my Smugmug page ^^--- Good suggestions __________________ Richard Gear

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