Constructive criticism

I have been working on a website, and it's about 3/4 complete. I'm feeling insecure that it doesn't look professional enough. Would someone be gracious enough to review it, and provide me pointers on how I can improve it? This is my first website, and I'm a little self-conscious about it. Thank you.



Adam

www.adamhirschphotography.com

Beautiful work and beautiful site. What I would do is reduce the size of the your name in the right hand corner and avoid multiple link areas for your site. Possibly eliminate the links on the right side? Keeping the link area consistent with all your pages in your site will avoid confusion with navigation. Keep up the good work!

adam,

i randomly opened a file and please do yourself a favor and don't post anything that hasn't been spotted. I know this is about the photo not the website, but if i had come aupon this by accident i would have left and not brothered with looking at anything else let alone purchase a print . i believe it was no. 68

Thank you for your input; I will take your advice.


Adam

Hi, Adam. I type this while looking at your site on another browser tab.

First, on your home page, you have some portrait oriented photographs that are stretched to fit the landscape photograph windows. Need to fix that.

On your gallery main page. What's with
"Abstract
Drinking
Glasses
Modern"
Throws off the viewer big time. Might want to rethink that layout and the purpose for that hyperlink. Go with text or the images. The two do not mix.

Now this is a personal thing because of the way I learned to compose. Some of the Cabo photographs seem like they could have included more or been tightened up. I say that to say this. And I do the same for myself. BE YOUR OWN WORST CRITIC. I have shots that I like and am proud of. But I look at them in a purely objective light and find that not many people would like to look at it. If it were an art/vision kind of website then the old 'That's what I want on there' train of thought would fly. But if you're selling, put only your ABSOLUTE BEST on there so when someone comes on, they don't see a few awesome shots surrounded by a bunch of good photographs. Better to have fewer AWESOME photographs than to have many GOOD shots.

Technical. "All the images seen, here, were taken with a camera." If you're gonna have a technical section then include some actual info. And if this is intended to be a professional site, edit your punctuation, as well as everything else.

"All about Adam." Leave a Reply. Doesn't show the browsing customer what they hit that link for.

"Other services I can supply. Leave a Reply.

Your FAQ is redundant. They can click on How to Buy.


You say you're three quarters done. There is still some work to do. I do like the layout direction that your site is taking. Nice background choice. Easy navigation. But it needs some work, not just fine tuning. Fine tooth comb it. If this is to be a professional site, it needs to be professional in every appearance. But keep going. I think you have the right idea.

Chris,


Thank you for your input. FWIW, when I said 3/4 done, I meant the layout done by the website designer. I should have been more specific as to what remains to be completed: I have not included ANYTHING as of yet, under Technical information, my blog, or Services. I intend to have these completed this week. Your point is well taken on those tags to the left of the picture-thanks. Regarding the Cabo pictures, I agree-I think there are two or three pictures that stand above the rest. This is new to me, and yours and everyone else's criticism is appreciated.


Adam

I'm glad you took it in the spirit it was intended. I always hedge at this sort of thing and I saw what could be and I hope you roll with it. Thanks for asking.

It looks like the thumbnails along the bottom of the mainpage are not maintaining the correct aspect ration. A shot of the moon looked distinctly oval when it scrolled by, but it is not obvious with the images that don't contain square or circular objects.

EDIT

Looks like this applies to all of the thumbnails Dead Link Removed

Randy,

Does this apply to the pictures, AFTER you click on them? Thanks,

Adam

They look fine after you click on them and in the large view on the front page.

Thanks. Other than that issue, and the fact that I haven't completed my bio/pricing, tech, size info, etc... are there other problems/issues that I should be aware of? Sorry to take up your time...I'm new, but, I want this site to be as professional-looking as possible. Thanks.

Adam

If anyone would review my site and off er some constructive criticism, I would really appreciate it. Thank you.


Adam

Ok, I'll bite. I have built a few web pages so I know something about design.
The front page is very beautiful.
Two things:
1. Your gallery is a bit confusing. You really should name all the pictures and not use 9547.jpg and such. Also you should have lesser pictures and only your very best ones (with names). These you can rotate on a 6-month basis. Your gallery categories does not make sense to me. I do not get the Abstract Drinking glasses Modern. I suppose it should be "Drinking glasses" but the hover-bar on the right indicates that "glasses" is a separate category.

2. Your FAQ. You should NOT start with telling visitors how to buy. Tell about yourself, your process, your pictures.... If you use film tell them why. THEN you can add a point about ordering.

Just my 0.02€

r

Mats

hi adam

try to standardize the website " large " print size ( the image after it is clicked on )
i have a large monitor and portrait oriented images i don't bother to scroll down if they don't fit on my screen.
i don't think i am alone ... the web-image is just to give an idea of what the final print looks like,
it doesn't have to be gigantic, just big enough to see ...
i know someone who insists on having HUGE scans on his website, he insists people want to see gigantic scans to see the "quality" ...
no yours aren't anywhere as big as his ( and that's good! )
... but just the same easy make the scans big enough to see the image easily on the screen, without scrolling .. scrolling is a PITA

good luck!
john

jnanian said:

hi adam

try to standardize the website " large " print size ( the image after it is clicked on )
i have a large monitor and portrait oriented images i don't bother to scroll down if they don't fit on my screen.
i don't think i am alone ... the web-image is just to give an idea of what the final print looks like,
it doesn't have to be gigantic, just big enough to see ...
i know someone who insists on having HUGE scans on his website, he insists people want to see gigantic scans to see the "quality" ...
no yours aren't anywhere as big as his ( and that's good! )
... but just the same easy make the scans big enough to see the image easily on the screen, without scrolling .. scrolling is a PITA

good luck!
john

Click to expand...

John,


I appreciate your advice. You're right; I'll standardize the "large" print sizes to eliminate the need for scrolling. Thank you for taking the time to review.

Adam

By taking a quick look at it I have to guess that this is your first website. Exactly what do you want to accomplish with it?