Just starting my business

I know not another website post, but I would really appreciate it if you would check it out and let me know what you think, lay out, pictures, both good and bad input is welcome.

http://photoSentimenta​l.com

Thanks

Your portraits and headshots (I would write headshots instead of headshot for the sections if I were you) looked really good, your nature section was okay, but I think you really need to work on the pictures like you took in your family section. Some of them were underexposed, or just appeared "flat", really neeing some good fill light. Others, I didn't understand why the subject wasn't looking into the camera at all.

Well...this line should go for a start:

It sends the message that you'll be taking photos that customers will hate.

I'm also put off by all the god references but that's just me.

The visitor tracker looks a bit naff and I don't much like the main font.

Some of the photos are good...some not so much.

Sorry for the poor review

the "about me" section seems a bit conceited. You talk your self up a little too much. And obviously you are very religious and that is fine, but unless you are going for a religious customer base, I would take some of the "blessed" and "God" references out. As for the nature photo's, some are fantastic and others not so much. Very mixed emotions going into that gallery. Take out the ones you think are just average and leave your greatest ones up there. Simple navigation throughout the site which I am always a fan of! Friendly honest criticism is always helpful

thanks for the suggestions. my wife wrote the about me page. I guess she likes me

Well that's a step in the right direction

Most of the stuff seems really good... but the nature sections the kind of photography I do so I can critique it better. I would say that it is kinda lacking. The shots are not bad or anything, they just dont really have much to set them apart... hell I will drop the "they dont pop" line that I hate, but its kinda true. The snow shot on your cover page and then the one with the road and trees are both nice shots. I love the layout of your website, its really simple and user friendly. As stated above I would drop the counter on the bottom, keep it for yourself to look at but not others. And as a Christian I don't mind seeing those 'God' references in the site, but as stated above it can be a put-off even though it was meant in the other way. Take my view it as you want, just my comments from looking through it.

Hi, coupla thoughts that came through my mind while exploring your site:

- site can be made larger for higher visual impact
- enlarge your images. Small photos = lack of confidence, low impact, 90s (when internet bandwidth was an issue)
- be selective of your portfolio images. I find you have better nature pix than portraits. The latter need to have more variety. People standing around or sitting makes you no different from Sears/Walmart stuff.
- About Me section is interesting. It's up to you what you want to convey. Think of it as what branding do you want people to catch upon reading this section.

I suggest that you visit many photographers (local or non-local) website to get some ideas that might work for you.
If you are starting out, you can tap into your church to grow your portrait portfolio.

I would get rid of the hit counter (or make it invisible to visitors). Look into Google Analytics if you want to track visitors (GA is FREE).

A "Guest Book" is very old school.

Consider rewording this line under your "services" section. It makes it sound like you charge $35 for each picture you put on a CD...so...10 pictures = $350?

Lastly, I was a bit shocked to see a gothic looking teenager under your "kids" section. Might consider removing a few of those to make that section a bit happier.

Get rid of the Guestbook, unless you're trying to bring back the 1990's. Get rid of the counter....who really cares (I don't). Ditch the GoDaddy logo as well. Not sure I like the color choices. Black background is okay, but the purple?

I don't want to start a debate. As a Christian, I applaud you for the God references, and IMO if people get "offended" by it and not book you, so be it. It's not all about money, IMO. That said, I would "refine" your 'About Me' page though.

If you're trying to bring more clients via the web, read my SEO link in my sig.

Counter = waste of time.

Personally I find the colour scheme too dark and the roll over colour on the menu means I can't read an item if I roll over it. The colour scheme is one I would normally expect to see on a tarot site (the one that springs to mind). Not one suiting someone who appears to have their belief in God as a selling point.

Agree about the God references. Not for me. Whatever your religion may be as a business you will lose some work as a result of having religious statements/inferences on there.

Guest book... what purpose does it serve?

It might just be my monitors but the photographs all look very dark (under exposed almost). This might be to the fact that there is a large amount of black on the rest of the page.

+1 for Google Analytics...the counter is very '90s.

[Cold hearted consumer]:
As a potential customer, your strap line and 'About Me' page would be a big turn off. It's flaky and has almost zero to do with why I should hire you. The references to God are waaay to heavy for my liking and will likely limit your marketability.
[/Cold hearted consumer]

Personally; kudos for being so open and honest about your faith and family. In a certain sense it's a unique selling point and need not be as bad as my 'Cold Hearted Consumer' alter ego suggests. My suggestion would be to collect all those thoughts/sentiments on a separate sub-page. If you intend using your site to land customers I would structure it so that the 'Home' and 'About Me' pages tell us the facts about what you do, where you are, how to book and why I should hire you (WRT your photography).

If you implement Google Analytics you'll soon see that most site visitors (who aren't your family and close friends) will be extremely fickle; their page views and time on site will be minimal - more-so if they can't immediately find the info they want.

Thanks for the Input every one, I have made some changes, like moving the older kids pictures over to a teen category, I think your right I'm going to take the Guest book of and go with a blog or just start a face book page. Thanks for the comments on the pictures,

There was a few comments on the Nature pictures not popping, can you give any suggestions. Now just to let you know I live in Texas so no great landscape and I live in the city most of the pictures or from my back yard, or on the drive to work. I think I did a good job of capturing the beauty that no one else was seeing. People from here are like wow great show where you take it, and I say arcoss the street. That one of the things I love about Photography opening people’s eyes to the beauty around them. Would I rather take photos of mountains with beautiful skis yes but I think I brought out the beauty in what is around me. If you have suggestions on how to make what I go better I’m all ears.

I see nothing wrong with the God references as long as you're in a town where that will open a lot of doors for you..... and hopefully you're a member of a large church to drum up business. In my area, that would work out very well.....

Don't really know about the "we're the guys taking pictures of stuff God made" line..... seems like you could do better than that.....

Glad you liked the site