SITE REVIEW: Fine Art Photography

Hey guys, I've been working on a new website for myself and my photography, and I really would like your opinions on all aspects. I've only got the index page done at the moment but the others will be easy and simple to do once I get the design right on this.

Here's the link!

Thanks in advance

Edit: I'm looking for a good gallery script, free or not too expensive, to integrate into this site. Any suggestions?

It looks interesting, Breeze. I would suggest maybe the copyright part, you do not need to include the (unless otherwise specified)? It sounds a bit confusing to me.

Well there might be some things I may include that are done by other people (images, code, etc) ... it's just covering all bases, really. It won't have any big effect on a viewer, it's not like they read that as part of the content.

I like it. Nice and simple. I really like how the image border matches the pipe separators in the navigation. Colors go well together. Logo looks good. Can't really find much constructive criticism, but there isn't really much to criticize. I'll have to take a look at it once the rest is up.

I know of a couple gallery scripts. Does your server have php and mysql running on it?

Maybe this one http://minishowcase.net/

Yeah, it does - I'll check out that link right now, and I'll post here again when I've got more up there.

Breeze,
Really nice design, I also like your Profile Link site.

But one thing,I don't know how to say, just feel that balck background doesn't match very well with the white character,maybe a little too bright or what?

Thanks

Hmm, I'll make the main text light brown and the links white and I'll see if that looks any better.

Define "not too expensive".

There's ImagevueX (demo)
That's $54 for a personal license.

I hate to post a generic "love the site" review, but in fact I do..

The colors are dark hues which I personally love. It all seems to blend together well. Also, after reading the content, I feel as if we are old friends.

As far as a gallery script... check this out also. I use it and it's free and easy.

http://jquery.com/demo/thickbox/

I only have one really major critique. If it wasn't for the fact that I knew you named your site "Fine Art Photographer" by your title tag (although your keyword in your subject line is "Photography" here in this post), I would never have figured that out by your Title image. Needs to be a little mutual agreement there. Which is it?

It's a lovely font and close to what I think you want, but the word "Fine" is nearly impossible to read if you didn't know what it meant. Kinda like reading the handwriting of someone you've never met.

Yeah - my handwriting sucks A lot of people have been saying 'what is that word?'.

It wasn't helped by the fact that my scanner doesn't like me and I wrote it one a piece of paper and took a picture of it ... I'm getting a tablet soon.

By "not too expensive" I mean around $30US or less, but I'll look into that link Joe, and yours too natas Thanks for the feedback, guys!

The site looks nice. But, I think it can look better with some brighter colours.

Breeze do you have any interest in a flash gallery? If so I would suggest slide show pro and if you don't want to mess with the xml you could also use slide show pro director. If you are interested, in ssp shoot me a pm.

As far as the design on the site goes I like it. Color scheme is good and I really like the lighting and background around the title. I do agree with ATNO though I thought it was a fancy "my art" no idea it was fine. Also I feel a little like the color scheme is different in the header/footer areas and the content area. You pull the red into the border but the rest of the center is gray. I'm not sure if it would work or not but did you try doing your image in a brown duo or monotone and the text to a tan? Not guaranteeing it will look good just something I would try. That way you could continue the red, white , tan throughout. Really good job though on the layout and nice type choice.

Ok, here is a list of things to consider.

1. Gray text on a black background is difficult for some people to read.

2. Underline the links. No matter how "artsy" it is not to underline links, you need to do it anyway. Build to the lowest common denominator. Not everyone will know you want them to click there.

(Suggestion for point 1 and 2. Make the text the brighter white and make the links orange or red.)

3. The 1st call to action on the page leads to another website. Yes, I know you have a profile there. Use just the link directly to your profile and take out the one to their home page. You do not want your first call to action to take the user away from your website. Also, have it open in a new window so you have not lost them altogether. That is called a "traffic hole".

4. I see you are planning a links page. As some young people might say, "That's so 1995".

If it is just going to be a hobby website, you can ignore most of what I told you here. I specialize in Internet Business Websites. If you plan to use the website professionally, do some affiliate marketing, or otherwise make money with the website, then you need to go over these suggestions and possibly make some changes.

Here are some tips.

1. Define your goals. If you want them to buy or download your pictures, that is a goal. If you want them to contact you to do photography or to purchase photos by phone or by contact form, those are goals.

2. Plan your website around those goals and make sure you are leading your visitor directly to where you want them to go.

3. Linking to other people's profiles and websites defeats the goal of websites that have goals in mind.

Like I said before, if it is going to be a hobby website, then ignore most of this. If it is going to be a professional website with the goal of making money or achieving a specific purpose, then don't think of all the great places you can send your visitors to, think about how to convert them into leads or sales.

For instance, my girlfriend, no matter how beautiful she may be, could not have a link from a website where I was trying to make money.

Again, please remember, my focus is on business when reviewing a website. If the focus is not about business for you, then I'm the worst person to review the site. The thing about the gray text still applies though.

Hope that helps.

@namecritic: You gotta give me a site review once I get done with it


@Breeze: I really like your site Breeze... I really do, but the first thing that came across my mind when I came to your site is that it's a bit too gothic (Using "medieval: as if belonging to the Middle Ages; old-fashioned and unenlightened;" as the definition from google's 'define' tool).

Even though, I like it that way... but the links... the really dark red on the black background (The voided link that the user is on) is quiet hard to read... and to make it worse, that part of the background has a red tinge to it.

Gray text is fine with me... kind of fits the design... just make it a bit lighter maybe... try #AAAAAA, #BBBBBB, or #CCCCCC. (From dark to lighter respectively).

About links... you can have them underlined and then un-underline it at hover, or keep them as is, but underline them at hover... or just change the colors like namecritic suggested.

I like for the fact that as soon as I get to the site, I know that the site is all about fine art photography.

The design kind of looks empty to me, but it's simple... I like that about it... it's simple.

I generally like designs that have more to it, but if you've ever read my requests for design reviews... they are either too busy, some 1960's weird thing, or something horrible entirely, so don't take this part of the review too seriously

Are you going to use purgehosting for free sub-domain hosting or are you going to get a regular host (Paid hosting with your own domain)? Just wondering.

I like your logo image at the top (The image that says "Fine Art Photography Aaron Bradford" at the very top center)...

That's about it with this review of mine... good luck... great design