[geofftelforduk]

Morning all,

I just published my new website this morning for the world and the crows to see!!

I would appreciate your opinions if you have a spare few minutes!

www.geofftelfordphotography.co.uk

Thanks
Geoff

[SevloW]

Looks good, the only thing I would change is on the home page - the images change too quickly and I found that annoying. Some excellent photos in there.

[geofftelforduk]

Originally Posted by SevloW

Looks good, the only thing I would change is on the home page - the images change too quickly and I found that annoying. Some excellent photos in there.

Thanks SevloW! I appreciate your comments! Yeah, this is something I have thought about as well! Will probably be changing it in the next few days!

[shotokan101]

The site is fine - with the exception of the Home Page - that is (IMO) pretty dire for a Photography site - just plain text on a white background.

Get some pictures on it - you've got some great ones elsewhere on the site

You could possibly think about having some form of coloured/textured backgrounds to the text areas as well and maybe have a play around with some more stylish fonts.

Jim

EDIT: from other posts looks like it's just me who's not seeing pictures on home page so disregard comment above about home page

[weetsie]

i don't like how fast the image changes on the main page, i would slow it down by at least 300%

i don't like how wide the website is, at 1080x1650 it only covers the middle 1/3rd

Geoff Telford Photography reserves the right to use all images taken at any occasion for display purposes, advertising and/or on his website.

its probably just me but i wouldn't hire you to shoot my wedding because of that sentence.

if the wedding photog i hired asked me if it was ok to put some photos on their website i would be fine with it so long as i got to approve which ones went online.

sometimes you just don't like how you look in a photo or they are personal, you wouldn't want those types of photo being put in a newspaper ad for instance.

[SevloW]

Originally Posted by weetsie

Geoff Telford Photography reserves the right to use all images taken at any occasion for display purposes, advertising and/or on his website.

its probably just me but i wouldn't hire you to shoot my wedding because of that sentence.

if the wedding photog i hired asked me if it was ok to put some photos on their website i would be fine with it so long as i got to approve which ones went online.

sometimes you just don't like how you look in a photo or they are personal, you wouldn't want those types of photo being put in a newspaper ad for instance.

That is pretty standard for most pro's, they usually have this disclaimer, if they need to advertise they need to show their work.

[geofftelforduk]

Originally Posted by shotokan101

The site is fine - with the exception of the Home Page - that is (IMO) pretty dire for a Photography site - just plain text on a white background.

Get some pictures on it - you've got some great ones elsewhere on the site

You could possibly think about having some form of coloured/textured backgrounds to the text areas as well and maybe have a play around with some more stylish fonts.

Jim

EDIT: from other posts looks like it's just me who's not seeing pictures on home page so disregard comment above about home page

Jim

Thanks for your comments. You obviously arent getting the full picture on the home page! I think "pretty dire" is a bit harsh, but I appreciate your comments! Will have to work on this one!

Originally Posted by weetsie

i don't like how fast the image changes on the main page, i would slow it down by at least 300%

Point taken!

Originally Posted by weetsie

i don't like how wide the website is, at 1080x1650 it only covers the middle 1/3rd

I see where you are coming from, but not everyone is browsing at 1080x1650. It is one I have thought about!

Originally Posted by weetsie

its probably just me but i wouldn't hire you to shoot my wedding because of that sentence.

if the wedding photog i hired asked me if it was ok to put some photos on their website i would be fine with it so long as i got to approve which ones went online.

sometimes you just don't like how you look in a photo or they are personal, you wouldn't want those types of photo being put in a newspaper ad for instance.

I can see where you are coming from on this, but I seriously doubt that any photographer is going to consult there clients to let them choose which pictures are used for publicity purposes. I think this is where your clients have to trust you not to use pictures which will cause embarrasment.

Thanks for your comments guys, I really appreciate them.

[mark800]

I've tried to be thorough as I would appreciate that myself.

I love the site design - nice and simple.

On the home page, I would limit the pictures to your powerful people shots rather than things (e.g. cars).

I would slow down on the image transitions, as has been mentioned.

There's a typo on the prices section - it says "portaits".

I would think about are your captions. It may be worth trying to talk about what customers will get rather than saying what you like. For example, "I love people. I love smiles. I love capturing people's smiles". "I love weddings". etc.

On contact, I wouldn't put "snail mail", as some may misinterpret that as you being slow.

[geofftelforduk]

Originally Posted by mark800

I've tried to be thorough as I would appreciate that myself.

I love the site design - nice and simple.

On the home page, I would limit the pictures to your powerful people shots rather than things (e.g. cars).

I would slow down on the image transitions, as has been mentioned.

There's a typo on the prices section - it says "portaits".

I would think about are your captions. It may be worth trying to talk about what customers will get rather than saying what you like. For example, "I love people. I love smiles. I love capturing people's smiles". "I love weddings". etc.

Thanks Mark!!

I take your point about the homepage images and will change that!

I hate typos!! Shall sort that later!! Reading it 1000 times obviously makes no difference! LOL!

Good idea on the captions! I suppose I was just trying to install confidence in the client if you know what I mean!!

Originally Posted by mark800

On contact, I wouldn't put "snail mail", as some may misinterpret that as you being slow.

Do you use a different postal service than most!??

[shotokan101]

Sorry Geoff - wasn't trying to offend - perhaps if you can see how I see your homepage it may put it in context...

Jim

[geofftelforduk]

Originally Posted by shotokan101

Sorry Geoff - wasn't trying to offend - perhaps if you can see how I see your homepage it may put it in context...

Jim

Jim

Not at all mate! Not taken as offence!! Have you got Flash Player installed? Are you behind a firewall?

Strange!

[Pirate!!]

These are my observations (just my 2 doubloons worth):

Images change to quickly for my liking and they all more-or-less seem to be wedding images. I would've preferred a full screen website. Also, there seems to be a number of different fonts used (at least 4, maybe 6). I would reduce the number of font types to maybe 3. It looks 'cluttered'.

I didn't see any online payment facility either. I would include at least PayPal. There are different account types for shopping cart, receiving online payments and other business related options.

I would like to see another tab titled 'About Me' with maybe your portrait in there and a little bio about yourself instead of having it on the Home page.

Also a Skype or Windows Live Messenger link (some people like that sort of thing). Include it in your Contact page.

Regards,

[shotokan101]

Originally Posted by geofftelforduk

Jim

Not at all mate! Not taken as offence!! Have you got Flash Player installed? Are you behind a firewall?

Strange!

Yep - flashplayer 10 and yes firewall+AV+AS "up the yazoo" - I work in IT so a bit security paranoid - especially with two youngsters using the home network as well but not having any problems with other sites so it's a bit odd.

I'll keep looking as I'd like to see what the site is "really" like

Good Luck with the Business BTW

Jim

[shotokan101]

Just checked the site in IE (was using Firefox before) and I can see the images now so "problem worked around if not solved yet"

Anyone else viewing site o.k. with Firefox ?

Jim

[geofftelforduk]

Pirate! Thanks very much for your comments!!

Originally Posted by Pirate!!

These are my observations (just my 2 doubloons worth):

Images change to quickly for my liking and they all more-or-less seem to be wedding images. I would've preferred a full screen website. Also, there seems to be a number of different fonts used (at least 4, maybe 6). I would reduce the number of font types to maybe 3. It looks 'cluttered'.

Good point!! I will look in to this and rectify it this evening!!

Originally Posted by Pirate!!

I didn't see any online payment facility either. I would include at least PayPal. There are different account types for shopping cart, receiving online payments and other business related options.

At the momen, this is purely a portfolio / advertising website. If I decide to go down the root of online proofing / purchasing then PayPal will be my payment engine of choice!

Originally Posted by Pirate!!

I would like to see another tab titled 'About Me' with maybe your portrait in there and a little bio about yourself instead of having it on the Home page.

I want to attract customers, not turn them off!! Good point though!

Originally Posted by Pirate!!

Also a Skype or Windows Live Messenger link (some people like that sort of thing). Include it in your Contact page.

Regards,

I think this is a good idea, but as I am semi pro at the moment I dont have access to Skype or MSN during the day!

[Pirate!!]

Originally Posted by shotokan101

Anyone else viewing site o.k. with Firefox ?

Jim

Yes, no problems at all. IE 8 and Firefox v3.5.

[geofftelforduk]

Originally Posted by shotokan101

Just checked the site in IE (was using Firefox before) and I can see the images now so "problem worked around if not solved yet"

Anyone else viewing site o.k. with Firefox ?

Jim

Yeah I can view it in Firefox (and Safari for what its worth)! Possibly something to do with your firewall in FF!

[shotokan101]

Originally Posted by geofftelforduk

Yeah I can view it in Firefox (and Safari for what its worth)! Possibly something to do with your firewall in FF!

Sorted - needed a Java upgrade (bit like myself this morning)

Jim

[geofftelforduk]

Originally Posted by shotokan101

Sorted - needed a Java upgrade (bit like myself this morning)

Jim

Nice one! Java in the morning is always a winner!!!

[allymac123]

On the weddings prices page

Pre-wedding consultation (approx. 2-4 weddings before the date)

Presumably weeks not weddings?



Lifestyle portraits price

Proof images presented on an online gallery for you to share with however you wish.

[geofftelforduk]

Originally Posted by allymac123

On the weddings prices page



Presumably weeks not weddings?



Lifestyle portraits price

Thanks Ally!!

Sorted now Ally thanks to iPhone LogMeIn Ignition!!!! It rocks!!

[jumpt_upmunky]

gettin picky now but the first group of bullet points in the portrait prices end in full stops the others don't.

[shotokan101]

On the Portraits page I think that the prices link should take you directly to the portraits pricing menu and not the wedding prices menu.

Jim

[geofftelforduk]

Originally Posted by shotokan101

On the Portraits page I think that the prices link should take you directly to the portraits pricing menu and not the wedding prices menu.

Jim

I agree Jim! Not sure if its possible with the Dreamweaver Spry Objects! I shall investigate!!

[electrolyte]

Hi Geoff. I think your site looks pretty good and professional. You seem to be at the stage I was a couple of months ago when I updated mine.

Like the others I think the slideshow is too quick. There are some stunning photos lurking in your wedding section eg the b&w photo of the bride looking down which perhaps should be showcased on the opening slideshow.

You should integrate your blog better within your site. It is easy to get lost in the blog with no easy way to get back to your main site. On your blog I assumed that the wedding tab would take me back but it didn't. If you look at my site and click on blog even though my blog is hosted elsewhere it is a seamless transistion with all the menus and headers all identical. I have even used a sub-domain of blog.simonbutlerphotography.com to point my blog to so the illusion to any visitor is complete. I have to say I prefer the design of your blog to that of the main site.

I wouldn't worry about designing your site for 1650x1080 as most of your vsitors will be using lower res.

Hope this helps.

[geofftelforduk]

Originally Posted by electrolyte

Hi Geoff. I think your site looks pretty good and professional. You seem to be at the stage I was a couple of months ago when I updated mine.

Like the others I think the slideshow is too quick. There are some stunning photos lurking in your wedding section eg the b&w photo of the bride looking down which perhaps should be showcased on the opening slideshow.

Thanks Simon!

Originally Posted by electrolyte

You should integrate your blog better within your site. It is easy to get lost in the blog with no easy way to get back to your main site. On your blog I assumed that the wedding tab would take me back but it didn't. If you look at my site and click on blog even though my blog is hosted elsewhere it is a seamless transistion with all the menus and headers all identical. I have even used a sub-domain of blog.simonbutlerphotography.com to point my blog to so the illusion to any visitor is complete. I have to say I prefer the design of your blog to that of the main site.

I wouldn't worry about designing your site for 1650x1080 as most of your vsitors will be using lower res.

Hope this helps.

I see where you are coming from, but at the moment I want to keep them as two separate entities! I might integrate them more in the future!

Thanks for your comments, and hope you are well BTW!!

[nikonuser11]

picky is good imo, I think the OP would rather we were picky rather than his paying customers

Firstly well done on setting up your business, I wish you well, scary and exciting

I agree with most re the home page size, let it fill the screen, also when you click an image (nice images BTW) that should also fill the screen or close to it.

On a positive note I really like the way the sample story book portrays

If I was picky I would say that on the prices page I would do the 'selling' first then the cost ie sell the complete package in detail so they see its a lot then show the price, currently I read it as £750 for 30 pictures in an album had to read the rest to see what I got for my money.

Just small points but hopefully all these points help you have a great website and business.

Good luck!

[geofftelforduk]

Originally Posted by cherokee1111

picky is good imo, I think the OP would rather we were picky rather than his paying customers

Firstly well done on setting up your business, I wish you well, scary and exciting

I agree with most re the home page size, let it fill the screen, also when you click an image (nice images BTW) that should also fill the screen or close to it.

On a positive note I really like the way the sample story book portrays

If I was picky I would say that on the prices page I would do the 'selling' first then the cost ie sell the complete package in detail so they see its a lot then show the price, currently I read it as £750 for 30 pictures in an album had to read the rest to see what I got for my money.

Just small points but hopefully all these points help you have a great website and business.

Good luck!

Cherokee

Some excellent points there, especially the last one! Shall definately do that!!

To be honest, I am not a fan of full page / floating web pages, but I suppose thats just my opinion!!

Thanks

[willj12]

On line 80 column 22 you have forgotten to close the list, great site and photos!

<li><a href="http://www.geofftelfordsblog.co.uk" target="_blank" >blog</a></li>

[geofftelforduk]

Originally Posted by willj12

On line 80 column 22 you have forgotten to close the list, great site and photos!

<li><a href="http://www.geofftelfordsblog.co.uk" target="_blank" >blog</a></li>

Sorted now! Thanks!