want to build a website; which web authoring software do you recommend?

I like simpleviewer....easy to use and puts in the flash.... if you know some basic html, you can edit it and tweak it to your liking as well..

Has anybody used iweb from apple? or Aperture?

If you have Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, there's a web gallery generator built in. I've never used it and not sure if it has slideshow functionality... but it's another one that's there if you already have Photoshop.

If you want to build a website quickly and without much knowledge, you might try buying or finding a template already designed, and then all you have to do is plunk your text and pictures into the slots.

The hosting company that hosts my photo website has a website builder that does just that. It is included in your hosting package. For $59.40 a year you get 1.5GB of web space (that's a LOT of web-sized pictures!), 35GB a month in web traffic, 50 email accounts, and as a bonus a one year lease on a domain name when you sign up.

I don't use it personally, I write everything by hand in a text editor, but I've tried it out for fun and it's pretty slick for such a cheap price.

no matter how you look at it, it takes time and hard work. Websites should never stay the same, I mean basic lay can but images and stuff should change every few months. If not then you tend to look lazy.

There are some really nice websites on here. I am also looking to upgrade my website. I am currently using a photosite website, and it has served its purpose so far. I would like to find something that says what "My creativity is" It is hard for me to give it to the hands of someone else when I know what I have in mind, and I know kind of how I want it to look. Soft, Gentle, Breathtaking!!!!! I am working on a budget also, but do have the time at the moment to learn, and am willing to research. Any other suggestions? I will look up JAlbum, I'm not sure where to find that.

Jen

www.jalbum.net Quick and easy to use.

llaamaboy wrote:
Show off ...

Strongly suggest you stay away from Frontpage.

Is this just Microsoft bashing or is there a real reason to stay away from FP?

I use it and find it incrediably easy to use and I have virtually no problems with it.

If anyone is interested in what a FP site looks like check mine out at

http://www.videolegaci​es.ca

Tell me why I should not use this software? I am not in the web designing business and don't have three weeks to type all the code into a text editor even if I knew how to program in html.

Not trying to start an arguement, I am genuinely curious why it is often suggested to stay clear of FP.

The code it creates isn't the easiest to troubleshoot and there seems to be a lot of unnecessary gobblety-goop. It's easy to use, but for ASP, I prefer using VS.Net.

i use text edit ... but am currently messing around with photoshop cs2

If you REALLY want to know;
This looks like a homemade website from the early nineties (as most FP sites do). If you don't mind that, then that's OK. Personally, if I was looking for a photographer I would click straight back out of any site that didn't look simple, professional and beautiful.
If I was looking for a builders merchant I wouldn't care what the site looked like, but as a Photographer we're selling our artistic ability, if we don't notice an ugly advertisement, newsletter or website; how can we possibly find a book full of beautiful images in the hustle and bustle of a wedding day?

hmmmm...I have to agree with you when you put it in that perspective. However, a flash based site can easily be created with FrontPage.

I do understand your point though and it is well taken. I think I shall rework my site and make it simple and beautiful!

For Netobjects Fusion there is a company called FusionFX/FusionUser that provide a ton of site styles that are very professional looking at a very reasonable cost.

http://www.fusionuser.​com/index.php?cPath=61

I'm certain you can find the same thing for any wysiwyg type editor.

Avoid flash and other plugins, many workplaces block them and lots of people look for wedding photographers during work time.

Yes, Amen to that. And keep the music OFF the photo site. It leaves a bad taste when someone loads your site up at work, and then suddenly Pachelbel's Canon is blasting through their computer speakers and they scramble to either turn down the volume or hit "back" right away to turn it off.

I was never a fan of flash either. Many people are not able to install all these neat plugins, or run Java applications. Bare bones HTML is the way to go.

Also, Mozilla firefox is greatly increasing in popularity. Don't forget to include compatibility for it. You'd be surprised at how many sites only work properly on Internet Explorer.

LESS is more