Brand new website

Hey there,

I just finished -and I use the word finished lightly- my new website, I'm sure there's gotta be problems because I've built it myself but in all honesty I think it's alright. So I'd love it if I could have some suggestions on improving it if you have any.

www.callumbright.com

I should probably explain what I want the site to do for me, I'm aiming to make a career out of this -though I am still a student-, so I guess just pretend I'm a professional using it in the way most do.

I have a couple of specific questions to which are:
How is the loading time?
+
What do you think about trying to vertically center it?

My portfolio section isn't actually finished but I'm working on it, along with a custom 404 page too. Thanks in advance to anyone who helps out.

Good Start! Here are a few pointers

- The links below your headers in the nav bar are being blocked by the headers. If I move my mouse over the link just below "About" I have to move it to almost the bottom of "Callum" in order for it to be click-able

- I am a fan of LINKS being very obvious. Maybe a different color. Having them change when the mouse moves over them is also an option.

- I would add more graphics to your site. Such as for your "Contact' page for social networking. It could use Twitter and or Facebook Graphic links rather then just plain old text.

- Speaking of Contact info, I would make it as easy as possible to contact you. Check out my website in my signature and you can see that links to all my respective sites site in the header of every page. Makes it easier for potential clients. We live in a world were too much information is just one click to many for many people.

- Maybe use a more professional image of yourself if that is the type of clients you are going for. I always try to imagine potential clients visiting my website and trying to imagine their thoughts as the move through the various aspects of it. Make sure your website is suited for the clients you wish to go after.

- Make sure the rotating images on your home screen are not only your best work, but also the ones that best represent your style and level of photography work since they will be seen first. First impressions are HUGE.

- Always use the same font sets throughout your site. The weird text up for your portfolio throws things off in my mind.

- Loading time is good

- Its orientation looks good too

That should be enough to get you started

colbyb25 wrote in post #11514210
- The links below your headers in the nav bar are being blocked by the headers. If I move my mouse over the link just below "About" I have to move it to almost the bottom of "Callum" in order for it to be click-able

I was hoping no one would notice! I'll deffintely fix that one up.

colbyb25 wrote in post #11514210
- I am a fan of LINKS being very obvious. Maybe a different color. Having them change when the mouse moves over them is also an option.

I agree, my links do change from black to grey though. I've been trying to figure out how to make the links in the content area be a different colour without changing the navigation links. Do you have any suggestions? I think it still have that <p> tag spare, maybe I can use that.

colbyb25 wrote in post #11514210
- I would add more graphics to your site. Such as for your "Contact' page for social networking. It could use Twitter and or Facebook Graphic links rather then just plain old text.

- Speaking of Contact info, I would make it as easy as possible to contact you. Check out my website in my signature and you can see that links to all my respective sites site in the header of every page. Makes it easier for potential clients. We live in a world were too much information is just one click to many for many people.

Thats a good idea, I'll look into some more graphics for sure. As for making it easier to see my contact details maybe I should ditch the space where I have little page descriptions (under the blog link) and have it so my email and stuff sit there through the entire site?

I'm a bit hestitant to put my phone number on there, as its not an actual business number. I use my personal mobile, I'm only a student still with like 4 low paying jobs under my belt haha. Do you think my concern is unjustified? I would really like to get a phone number on there.

colbyb25 wrote in post #11514210
- Maybe use a more professional image of yourself if that is the type of clients you are going for. I always try to imagine potential clients visiting my website and trying to imagine their thoughts as the move through the various aspects of it. Make sure your website is suited for the clients you wish to go after.

Now I think about it you're probably right, my mind set is I want to develope a slightly fun or less serious style but I guess even John Keatly has a serious website. My images will determine my style I guess. Added to the list.

All in all THANK YOU for so much great feedback, really appreciate it!

CallumPhoto wrote in post #11514432
I agree, my links do change from black to grey though. I've been trying to figure out how to make the links in the content area be a different colour without changing the navigation links. Do you have any suggestions? I think it still have that <p> tag spare, maybe I can use that.

Easily done with CSS, but I would suggest keeping the colors the same throughout your site.

Did you design your website yourself? If so, I see your using a bit of CSS, but your using embedded CSS. I would use a separate file and link that to your site. This way you change it once and all of your pages update at the same time. Read this.

Hikin Mike wrote in post #11514657
Easily done with CSS, but I would suggest keeping the colors the same throughout your site.

Did you design your website yourself? If so, I see your using a bit of CSS, but your using embedded CSS. I would use a separate file and link that to your site. This way you change it once and all of your pages update at the same time. Read this.

Yep, designed by myself. Thanks for the suggestion but I am using separate css files to the hmtl documents, one for the layout based stuff and one for the styling of my text. I've been using my template to make new pages to so it's all pretty automated when I change things

I guess I didn't scroll down far enough...LOL!! I see both now, but you still have some embedded code.

a:link {
	color: #000;
	text-decoration: none;
}
a:visited {
	text-decoration: none;
	color: #000;
}
a:hover {
	text-decoration: underline;
	color: #999;
}
a:active {
	text-decoration: none;
	color: #999;
}

Ooh you were right, I do have a little there. Forgot about that, I tried to put it into one of my css files originally but I couldn't get it to do it. If you could show me what it would look like inside a css file that would be awesome.

CallumPhoto wrote in post #11515566
Ooh you were right, I do have a little there. Forgot about that, I tried to put it into one of my css files originally but I couldn't get it to do it. If you could show me what it would look like inside a css file that would be awesome.

No big secret. Looks like you have two files, one called 'http://callumbright.co​m/layout.css' and one for 'http://callumbright.co​m/style.css'.

Hikin Mike wrote in post #11517125
No big secret. Looks like you have two files, one called 'http://callumbright.co​m/layout.css' and one for 'http://callumbright.co​m/style.css'.

I think we've had a bit of a communication failure haha, what I really meant was this is an example from from my style.css files.

h1 {
font-family: Lucida Sans Unicode, Lucida Grande, Helvectia, Arial, sans-serif;
font-size: 18px;
line-height: 16px;
text-transform: uppercase;
color: #000;
font-weight: lighter;
margin-left: 7px;
margin-bottom: -51px;
position: relative;
top: -23px;
}

I was wondering what the other bit you pointed out should look like inside a css file, when I copy/paste it doesn't work unfortunately.

I guess I still don't understand.

Why can't you just copy that and paste it to one of your CSS pages? Of course, you should then delete the embedded CSS then.

What are you using to make your CSS file? I use Notepad++.

Hikin Mike wrote in post #11518592
Why can't you just copy that and paste it to one of your CSS pages? Of course, you should then delete the embedded CSS then.

What are you using to make your CSS file? I use Notepad++.

I use dreamweaver in the code section, I tried to copy and paste exactly what I put above but it just didn't work. Not sure why.

Never used Dreamweaver, so I can't help you.

Hikin Mike wrote in post #11518648
Never used Dreamweaver, so I can't help you.

Thanks anyway buddy.

I now have one portfolio running thankfully, it would be cool if people evaluate that to I don't know any alternative to the scroll bar without flash or something like that but I think it works okay. I'm a bit concerned the loading for it will be too long though, what do you all think?