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FORUMS Post Processing, Marketing & Presenting Photos The Business of Photography 
Thread started 27 Feb 2014 (Thursday) 16:46
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New website critique

 
mdrtoys
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Feb 27, 2014 16:46 |  #1

Hey folks, I wanted to get some feedback from some of you on what you think about the overall front portal of my website. I still have to upload the rest of the pages but I'm having a wonderfully hard time with finding what I like. There are things I like and things I don't so feel free to let loose.

Reason for rebuilding the website, apparently my old host closed shop and i can't find anyone from there to retrieve my site. So, off to smugmug I went.

Let me know what you think I need or don't need. This is a critique of the opening page. I still have to upload the galleries and other pages.\

Please don't be afraid to rip it apart if need be.

Thanks in advance

Mark

Website is http://www.mdrfoto.com (external link)




  
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neimad19
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Feb 27, 2014 17:10 |  #2

It's okay to me, not amazing but okay. Overall leaning into the 'boring' category (for my taste).

The menu font on the left is a little boring compared to the nice cursive font that appears in the slide show. I would try to 'dress up' the menu font on the left, not too much though, just a touch so it matches the slide show font.

There is also a lot of black, uneven space during the slide show. Make sure the slide show pictures are evenly set against the black background. I would probably even change the black BG to something a little lighter..maybe even a really opaque image that blends in well with the rest of the slide show images.

Other than that, it's alight. It doesn't have a million flashing images and options, it's simple and seems easy to navigate which is important.

A few simple tweeks here an there and you'll have a really nice front page imo. Definitely on the right track.

Last thing - have your first and last name somewhere on the front page, just discreetly down the bottom somewhere so people associate your name with your work.




  
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juicedownload
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Feb 27, 2014 18:09 |  #3

mdrtoys wrote in post #16722554 (external link)
Reason for rebuilding the website, apparently my old host closed shop and i can't find anyone from there to retrieve my site.

Well, how kind of them to let you know. I like to take periodic backups from my web server for this reason.

Here's what I have for now:
1. Add more images - looks like one sample per category
2. Too many categories - I'd limit it to people photos
All depends on how you want to market yourself. Don't dilute the main page.
3. Text font is hard to read. Too stylish and small.
4. I'd remove the text from the slideshow and put some text below the image slider about your photography services.


Harrisburg Wedding Photographer (external link)

  
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steelbluesleepr
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Feb 27, 2014 18:19 as a reply to  @ juicedownload's post |  #4

my first thought is get rid of the fade transition, it's really annoying and looks fairly dated.

Also, the small cursive mouse-over text is REALLY hard to read.


-Jayson- my flickr (external link)
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Dan ­ Marchant
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Feb 27, 2014 19:03 |  #5

1. The mouse over colour for the menu text is too close to the background colour, making it almost invisible.
2. The portfolio is broken. It loads a page with one image.


Dan Marchant
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DavidAndrew
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Feb 27, 2014 20:47 |  #6

steelbluesleepr wrote in post #16722758 (external link)
my first thought is get rid of the fade transition, it's really annoying and looks fairly dated.

Also, the small cursive mouse-over text is REALLY hard to read.

A cross fade transition is the simplest kind outside of a cut. Are fades really out and cuts preferred? Curious.


David
Portfolio / Blog  (external link) | Flickr  (external link) | 500px  (external link) | Instagram  (external link)

  
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juicedownload
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Feb 27, 2014 21:09 |  #7

DavidAndrew wrote in post #16723054 (external link)
A cross fade transition is the simplest kind outside of a cut. Are fades really out and cuts preferred? Curious.

Going to ask that too. I think the fade could be faster. That might improve the appearance.


Harrisburg Wedding Photographer (external link)

  
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mdrtoys
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Feb 27, 2014 22:23 |  #8

Updated now, thanks for all the critiques




  
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steelbluesleepr
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Feb 28, 2014 11:45 as a reply to  @ mdrtoys's post |  #9

The design looks much better, but the "real estate," "family and children," "wedding," "blog," and "contact" buttons at the top now don't do anything; only the "about me," "pricing," and "home" work.

I also can't scroll through the pictures at will.


-Jayson- my flickr (external link)
In the bag: 5D mark II+Vello grio/10d+grip/Canon 17-40L/Canon 28-135/Canon 50 1.8/Canon 35-80 Macro Conversion/Vivitar 135 2.8 M42/Vivitar 28 2.5 M42/Yongnuo YN460II x3/Yongnuo RF-602 x3

  
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Numenorean
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Feb 28, 2014 11:53 |  #10

mdrtoys wrote in post #16722554 (external link)
Reason for rebuilding the website, apparently my old host closed shop and i can't find anyone from there to retrieve my site. So, off to smugmug I went.

Hopefully you learned to back things up now.


Gear List

  
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HiepBuiPhotography
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Feb 28, 2014 12:02 |  #11

Since it's in the preliminary stages, there's not much I can comment on but one thing that caught my eye was the name. I'm assuming your "company name" is MDR Foto, but it reads Photography of Mark Rigsby (MR). It seems a little weird to me. Maybe add your middle name? I don't know. Just something that stuck out.


Hiep Bui Photography | Harrisburg Wedding Photographer (external link)

  
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Hikin ­ Mike
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Feb 28, 2014 13:03 |  #12

If you're going to use a slideshow, I would show only 'landscape' format photos. It just doesn't look good to have different formats. Mainly because your logo seems to be larger than your portrait-format photos.

On your 'About Me' page, is there a photos? Looks like it should, but I don't see it.

Looking at you "logo", the kerning on your last name, especially the 'SBY' is a bit tight.

If your trying to use your website to drive clients via you search engines, you need to read my SEO link in my sig.


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Myboostedgst
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Feb 28, 2014 13:23 as a reply to  @ Hikin Mike's post |  #13

If viewing on mobile (iPad in my case), your logo on your homepage is too big and wont scale. It was fine on other pages though, just not the home page. It cut off half of photography and your last name.


Andrew | Midwest Automotive (external link) | Flickr (external link) | Instagram (external link)

  
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mdrtoys
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Feb 28, 2014 14:45 |  #14

Thanks Mike, I haven't even begun to do the SEO yet. I'm pretty adept at it since I was able to get my last website at number 2 on the first page. But, I will definitely read your post since I'm always looking for ways to push it higher.

Andrew,

Thanks, I'll look into that. It's supposed to scale on every page




  
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mdrtoys
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Mar 02, 2014 08:32 |  #15

Ok, I've completely revamped it to kind of spiff it up. Let me know




  
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