Using Flash for your business site

I'm wanting some opinions from other photographers about the use of flash for your portfolio/business site.

Do you think it is necessary to have a whole site created in Flash or no?

I'm a little torn on that aspect. Flash is...well...."flashy", but is it worth it?

For me, no. I don't want to see your intro, wait for your site to load, & NO, I don't want to hear your music, either.
I do want to see a gallery of images so I can click on the few that I need to see to get an idea if you can do specific work.
I'm sure that other answers will differ.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #6848284
For me, no. I don't want to see your intro, wait for your site to load, & NO, I don't want to hear your music, either.
I do want to see a gallery of images so I can click on the few that I need to see to get an idea if you can do specific work.
I'm sure that other answers will differ.

Yeah I know what you mean. When you first see things moving and flashing you're like "ooh" "aahh", but when you go back to the site, it gets very very irritating. I think a site with great photography doesn't need animation - the photos are impressive enough.

I chose to use flash for my site because I've found that most of the photographers my customers will be shopping are using Flash sites. There is something to be said about familiarity and accepting a standard -- and most child portrait photographers use flash. In my experience, consumers tend to ask why you're different (and believe that what everyone else is using is the standard) instead of just appreciating that you are trying to do something different.

With all that being said, I don't have an intro, a splash page, music, or slow loading galleries. The designer chooses whether to add those things and they are just as available to the designer if a site is HTML-based.

Something that I've seen in the past that absolutely drove me crazy was Flash sites that you have to search for a button, or figure out what to click on because of a failed attempt of being "art-sy" by some designer. People want to be informed of what you have done, what to do, etc, not have to look for a "clue" to click on some obscure part of an image to find something. I've left those types of sites in an instant.
I haven't seen many photography sites that are like this, but I have encountered many business and/or graphic design websites. It always leaves me confused.

In my opinion, less is more, or if you prefer, none at all.

@Andrea -- Look at you go!

I remember seeing your site before (nice) but the portfolio, wow, that really pops now!

Nicely done.

:o Thanks!

I hate flash sites that take too long to load or tries to be too artsy and fancy. Sometimes simplicity works best. But flash sites like Andrea's for example, is absolutely fine...quick loads, great pictures, and easy navigation. Wish some other sites were easy to use.

And obviously you can have the greatest site in the world but means squat if you can't produce good photos.

I want something robust yet I did not want HTML even thought I find it is easier to edit.

I wanted a business site which was a simple portfolio and I think mine settles for it. Whilst I agree about using flash/enter screens and music, I think if in the right hands, it can be put together well.

PhotosGuy wrote in post #6848284
For me, no. I don't want to see your intro, wait for your site to load, & NO, I don't want to hear your music, either.

+1. Flash usually takes too long to load. Most of the time the wait isn't worth the effect you get.

"I don't want to see your intro, wait for your site to load, & NO, I don't want to hear your music, either. "

None of which are endemic flash. And I find no particular relationship to load time depending on flash verse CSS/HTML. Just depends on the coding. I've seen dog slow CSS/HTML sites and fast flash and vice-versa.

Of course, flash won't fly for dial-up but I don't think any graphic intensive site is suitable for dial-up.

www.proTennisPhotos.co​m

I don't like flash. I think it's too "flashy", (no pun intended). In most cases flash is overkill. It seems to me like the site owner is saying, "Hey! Look how fancy my site is! Aren't you glad you waited on your slow connection to see my fancy gingerbread? I spent a lot of money on this so now I want you to spend a lot of money buying my products"!

AndreaBFS wrote in post #6848598
I chose to use flash for my site because I've found that most of the photographers my customers will be shopping are using Flash sites. There is something to be said about familiarity and accepting a standard -- and most child portrait photographers use flash. In my experience, consumers tend to ask why you're different (and believe that what everyone else is using is the standard) instead of just appreciating that you are trying to do something different.

Andrea makes a good point as well. In her market, she sees the competition as setting the status quo. She chose to go with the flow and that is her prerogative. Under those circumstances, I think she did a nice job of using flash without abusing it. If you think flash might be an asset to your site then you should use it. Just avoid going overboard with all of the music, sounds and intro crap that a lot of people tend to use.

However, a flashy website can also be a good marketing strategy. In some circumstances, if people see your product as being a "high end" item then they are more likely to spend more $$ to have it than pay 20% less for a competitor's product.

One example that stands out is the commercials that are flooding the TV for the Jared jeweler. In those commercials the engaged young lady is bragging to her friends that her fiance' "went to Jared"! That is a GREAT marketing campaign because it is imbedding in the head of every young woman that if her man really cares about her, he will go to Jared to get her ring! That poor guy could probably go to a discount jeweler and get the same setting with the same quality stone and save a ton of money but the marketing of the Jared company will make him feel like he is less of a man or that he doesn't love his girl enough if he goes to a different jeweler just to save some money. How could he give his future wife a ring that she couldn't brag about him getting from Jared?

GRRRRR! I still say no to the flash. Let your work speak for itself. Only you can decide if it's best for you and your business though.

Good luck!

Alvination wrote in post #6849332
I hate flash sites that take too long to load or tries to be too artsy and fancy. Sometimes simplicity works best. But flash sites like Andrea's for example, is absolutely fine...quick loads, great pictures, and easy navigation. Wish some other sites were easy to use.

And obviously you can have the greatest site in the world but means squat if you can't produce good photos.

I agree

There's good flash and there's bad flash.

Good flash is ok. I use it, but it's embedded for my galleries. Nothing else on my site is flash.

it really depends on how you want to present your site and your images (the important part) of course there will always be pros and cons. i like mixing both.