Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Website Critique

profile picture
SamColby
Posts: 644 - Karma: 2,006
Here is my new website. Let me know what you think of the layout/ design/ images. I made the home page logo myself and used 4ormat to make the site. Let me know what you think.

Jun 27 2013 1:49PM
1 0
profile picture
Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
I'd maybe cut the "splash" page, seems a bit unnecessary

scrolling across images was a little confusing, sure it only took me maybe 5 seconds to figure out the scrolling bar I was supposed to use was the one on my browser itself, but others probably wouldn't realise.

Add either buttons for left to right or a scroll bar next to the images themselves, rather than having an extremely wide page.
Jun 27 2013 2:02PM
0 0
profile picture
[NT]
Posts: 96 - Karma: 705
I really like it. You have some killer photos. Only thing i can think of is maybe filter out a couple shots. you have a great style with a lot of your photos that is shared throughout some of your best..but then there are a few that i would call just average. try putting out the best of your best in your opinion.
check out my 4ormat site! http://nicktenneymedia.4ormat.com/home
Jun 30 2013 12:21AM
0 0
profile picture
SamColby
Posts: 644 - Karma: 2,006
how coincidental that we have such similar logos. Nice site! i also hope to incorporate video work eventually, as well as a print shop. I will watch your videos later for sure, nice photos!
Jun 30 2013 10:13AM
0 0
profile picture
technique.
Posts: 1538 - Karma: 308
i would up the opacity on your nav bar. it gets hard to reference back to that once you've scrolled over a darker picture.

im not familiar with 4ormat, but do they have other options with their javascript? the lack of animation when using the arrow keys is a little hard to look at. not a huge deal though because the scrolling is really nice

and in your about page... "in front" not "infront".

Also people often tend to overlook the importance of the "about me" when writing it. I get that your going for minimalism, but i'm not really sure what it says about you and how it distinguishes you from other photographers. What are your goals of the website? Are you a freelance photographer? just like to share your work as a hobby? portfolio to get a job or into a school? It doesn't need to be explicit, just clear.

hope that helps! your work is really nice. you should be proud of it



Jun 30 2013 12:50PM
0 0
profile picture
SamColby
Posts: 644 - Karma: 2,006
alright thanks, ill definitely look into the "about" section. I wasnt sure what to write there quite yet, as the site is still under construction. Im actually having some troubles with payments for the 4ormat subscription and with using my own free-standing domain name rather than the .4ormat extension....so if anyone has troubles viewing the site i'm working on it
Jun 30 2013 10:09PM
0 0
profile picture
raymondcabral
Posts: 747 - Karma: 1,094
I really liked it! The only thing I would maybe change is that opening page you get to when you open the website. But other than that it's perfect!!
Jul 1 2013 9:21AM
0 0
profile picture
EastShoreDrive
Posts: 188 - Karma: 862
I would kill the splash page as they tend to increase the bounce rate. Give people what they are coming to the website for with the least clicks possible.

What is acting as your "Home" button (Sam Colby circle logo) brings people back to the splash page. I would relink this to the "Everyday" page as this is essentially acting as the homepage.

I would also buy your own domain so you don't have the .4ormat.com suffix if possible.

How do you plan on driving traffic to the website?
Jul 1 2013 9:54AM
0 0
profile picture
SamColby
Posts: 644 - Karma: 2,006
I actually am working on all of these things. I have a domain name (samcolbyphotography.com) but I'm sorting out payment issues with 4ormat. After that I will link up my domain name with 4ormat.
Jul 1 2013 10:34AM
0 0
profile picture
SamColby
Posts: 644 - Karma: 2,006
Sorry for double post, forgot to add... 4ormat also offers you to use tags and what not for google searches, I have yet to write anything in these sections, but I'm going to investigate more about how to get more web traffic
Jul 1 2013 11:10AM
0 0
profile picture
MartianMan
Posts: 1101 - Karma: 2,099
Looks great, very professional. I didn't have a huge problem with the splash just because of its look of simplicity, but I can see how it would hurt traffic. I love the photo sliders, and your photos are very creative.
Jul 1 2013 11:30AM
0 0
profile picture
SamColby
Posts: 644 - Karma: 2,006
I added a print purchasing page, i was unable to integrate a shopping cart software, but i think the system i am currently using will work out. if you guys could please tell me if the print purchase makes sense to you, and if you want, even buy a print!

Jul 7 2013 8:31PM
0 0
profile picture
MLeone
Posts: 725 - Karma: 72
Nice man I really really like it. Personally I like the splash page. You have great work dude but I do agree about filtering shots. I'd say find a better balance between quality and quantity. Also it took me a lil to figure out the scrolling... couldn't imagine how long it would take an older person haha. Great site though... I really like your work.
Jul 7 2013 9:58PM
0 0
profile picture
SamColby
Posts: 644 - Karma: 2,006
what do you think of the print shop? i'm trying to figure out if it's too confusing
Jul 7 2013 10:39PM
0 0
profile picture
MLeone
Posts: 725 - Karma: 72
I thought it was alright, still the scroll thing though.
Jul 8 2013 12:18PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)