C&C On My Website Please!

I have been working hours on the layout and content of my site. To me, I just don't feel its where I want it. I could be too narrow minded, so I figured I would ask here. Remember it is not complete and I am trying to keep it simple. I am using iWeb to create it and don't want to get away from that. Please let me know any suggestions that you have. Also, keep in mind, I still have to put pictures up and complete some descriptions of services. I am really looking for layout and a suggestions.

Thanks!

www.NABimages.com

I think your header/logo is a bit big. I would like to see some type of hover treatment when I hover on top of a link (different color). I would like to see where you're located and what you do on the home page. It will help both your visitors and search engines. The gradient in the content box makes it harder to read, especially towards the bottom.

To start, I'm not entirely sure from your main page what it is you do. Are you photographer? Do you provide editing services? Professional retoucher? Do you take the actual pictures yourself or are you a large company like Bella Photography? You need to specifically state what it is you do, what services you provide, and who provides it, and that should be the very first thing people see when they go to your website. Not 27 links to get to your Facebook page. Also, where are you located? I see no mention of the areas you serve. Can I hire you to come take my pictures in New Mexico for the rates you have listed on your site? What about South Dakota?

Next, this is just a start, but what don't you have in it yet? It looks really bare right now. There should be at least one image on your front page to give potential clients a feel for what your work looks like. I went to several different pages on your site and didn't see a single pictures until I went to your galleries page, and even then I didn't see anything I actually wanted to see. If I'm a bride looking to hire you for my wedding, I want to see wedding pictures. If I'm a Mom looking for pictures of my kids, I want to see pictures of kids. If I want to get pictures taken of my dog I want to see more than one dog who's in pretty much the same pose in the entire gallery. You should show a variety of your work in each category that you offer your services in. If you don't have any experience in some of these areas (like weddings and boudoirs), don't offer these services until you're able to show examples of your work. From what I see on your website it looks like you offer to shoot anything and everything, but have only ever taken portraits of one dog and one musician. That gives me 0 confidence in your ability to photograph my wedding or my newborn (or if I run a business it doesn't make me want to hire you to design my brochures). You don't have to offer that many services if you don't have experience in it. Limit what you offer to what you know and expand as you go.

I have a lot more thing I could nitpick on but the last one is how you have your services and packages listed. If I'm a wedding client I'm going to assume that I already know that you offer wedding services so I won't even go to that section. Instead, I want to know how much you charge so I'm going to click on the "Packages" section. And I'll be disappointed because all you have listed there is a session fee for portraits and a dozen confusing packages. No mention that you even offer weddings. I shouldn't have to go on a treasure hunt to find your pricing for all of the services you offer. Instead, I would make your "Services" section your "Packages" section. Then I can just click on what I want to see that packages. Also, those packages you have listed should be what you show your clients when they come to meet you or something they can email you to get. Having them listed on your website like that is very confusing and looks sloppy. Instead, just say "Print Packages Available Starting at $99. Contact me for full package list."

Hurry hurry, hurry- step this was to the greatest side show ( er now where would that be ).

Act fast before the show starts and get in at half price. Step this way

If you want to see what it is we can do, you'll have to purchase a ticket, since we have so many photographers and stylists, we just don't have time to waste in showing you what it is we doo

Hurry hurry this way, see the dog jump from the barrel.

Show you our portfolio, go away, ya bother me, I told you we do good work, See?

Uh no, there's nothing to look at.

Friend me. Why, what is it you can do for me and what kind of style do all those photographers use.

What kind of stylist do your work for you?
You don't have a studio? Where do so many photographers and stylist, conjure their craft?

C&C what there's nothing to see, except what you charge, and paragraphs of hype.

I hate your logo.
Where are samples of your work?
Why are there no blog posts?
What exactly do you do again?
And who's Rodney Pimp?

unfortunately I agree with above comments, even with the TopHat Moments...there's still A LOT to work on! I'd start with a nice wordpress template if you're on a budget or even a free Blogger! I did fine with it for the first few years until I got my website done professionally.

Your website is the first impression that your potential clients will get, all I can see is a huge logo, no portfolio, and Walmart pricing (174.99, 129.99....)...Apply some changes and show us your improved website.

Svetlana wrote in post #12383898
Your website is the first impression that your potential clients will get, all I can see is a huge logo, no portfolio, and Walmart pricing (174.99, 129.99....)...Apply some changes and show us your improved website.

Yeah, not a huge fan of the WalMart pricing, either. $99 is OK, $99.99 isn't. I'd work on that.

1995

Find someone in your mass of employees to proof your writing. Just from reading what little you have, it sounds to me like your a very young person.

FoxPhoto wrote in post #12385312
1995

I'd go for more of a 1996 vintage myself. Just missing some flashing fonts and a hit counter. (Oh just spotted the hit counter right at the bottom).

That has to be the first time I have ever seen the phrase "blowout sale" on a photographers website. I guess at least it is original... in a very odd way.

Seriously, I'd start over completely. Wordpress or any other of the free useful tools would be a start.

On a completely random note your logo when glanced at resembles an angry face for some reason. It kind of has a "Doctor Eggman" from Sonic the Hedgehog feel to it.

Remake that logo.

Get rid of the website counter, those are pretty lame nowadays.

Gallery first, Info/Pricing, About, Contact. Slap some of your BEST work up in that gallery of yours, not an entire shoot. Even if you only end up with 10-15 shots. BEST WORK ONLY.

Be more human. Tell people who you are and why you do what you do. USE THAT BLOG. Even if you're not doing anything, write! write! write! You are not just selling your services, in fact, make that the last thing you sell. You HAVE to show some personality in order to get people to listen to you, be interested, and stick around.

Hope this helps!

Like I told you before. When you hire a designer, you get what you pay for. Again. If you need a website/logo business cards ect. Get a hold of me. www.convexcreative.com

lol.. Another one who will never come back.

If you do come back, here's a tip - if I have to click even ONCE to see what it is you do (ie no images on the front page), there's a good chance I've already moved on.

here's a general rule I go by for myself: if I don't have portfolio shots for a particular category (IE: newborns, weddings or seniors) then don't put a link for it. Don't post the category until you have something to show. Or better yet, if it's under construction and just not up yet, then say so!

and yes, change your logo.