My website now finally launched, critiques please

05/14/2008 05:33:55 PM · #1

After about two years, my website for ProShot Images was launched about an hour ago. I would greatly appreciate it if you would check it out and let me know what you think of it and, most importantly, what you think could be improved.

The primary goal of the website is to sell prints. We haven't wasted any resources on flash shows or anything that would slow the loading of the pages.

Please let me know if you think the website is effective for selling prints and what you think could be done to improve it.

Thanks a lot.

yanko

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

05/14/2008 05:43:20 PM · #2

Looks good to me. Of course it helps to have good photos to display which you have. The only thing I would change is the home page graphic should be sliced up rather than just the one graphic that includes the text. That would make it a little faster to load plus the text will give the search engines something to see if it's not in a graphic and thus your site will rank better. That said, I'm currently not doing that myself but will when I get around to redesigning the site.

ETA: Speaking of the search engines, your page title's at the top (i.e. ...) could be a lot better with keywords in them. Currently you just have "Proshot Images" something nobody would use as a search term. What would be better is "Proshot Images - Fine Art Photography by Robert P. Sullivan".

Message edited by author 2008-05-14 17:46:36.

smurfguy

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/14/2008 05:48:09 PM · #3

Well, the 400kb front-page image seems a little... ehh, but once I got in the site was pretty nice. And the photos were simply incredible!

I'd replace the current homepage with a section that looks like the rest of the site (maybe like the FAQ section with your current homepage text and collage in box on the right).

I'd also add a bit of margin around the text sections, like the FAQ and Contact pages.

This looks like a prebuilt package - do you define the HTML that goes in that box? If so, I can help you implement my suggestions.

Looks great! Good luck!

-Jeff

jeger

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

05/14/2008 05:48:29 PM · #4

First of all, I just wanted to say that you have some very nice photographs. :D

The only thing I am not to keen on is the home page. I think it is the patterned background that I don't like. It makes the website look dated in my opinion. I would prefer if it were a solid color, or if it matched the style of the rest of the website.

Other than that, looks good.

Best of luck!

pamelasue

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

05/14/2008 05:51:33 PM · #5

Ditto ... awesome images ... homepage background doesn't mesh well with the rest of the site ...

Originally posted by jeger:

smurfguy

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/14/2008 05:52:32 PM · #6

One more thing: While your self-portraits are very cool, I'd put them in your "contact" or "about me" section, and put a selection from your Favorites album on the homepage. Those images are stunning - don't make them dig to find them. You could leave one SP. =)

ETA: Maybe I'm completely wrong with this suggestion - looking again, those are really cool. But then, that's an amateur photog's perspective, not so much a potential buyer. =)

Message edited by author 2008-05-14 17:54:56.

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

05/14/2008 05:54:39 PM · #7

I'd tend to agree with what's being said. The front page looks straight out of the early 90's style of bad web design.
The rest of the site looks quite good, but that first page almost made me not even go any further.

I noticed once I got to the further pages that the alignment shifts slightly between each page, particularly for
the title image, worth fixing that up and getting a more in theme front page I think.

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

05/14/2008 05:55:13 PM · #8

Well its about damn time. ;)

05/14/2008 05:55:18 PM · #9

Originally posted by yanko:

the home page graphic should be sliced up rather than just the one graphic that includes the text. That would make it a little faster to load plus the text will give the search engines something to see if it's not in a graphic and thus your site will rank better.

ETA: Speaking of the search engines, your page title's at the top (i.e. ...) could be a lot better with keywords in them. Currently you just have "Proshot Images" something nobody would use as a search term. What would be better is "Proshot Images - Fine Art Photography by Robert P. Sullivan".

I should have mentioned that this is exactly what our intentions are. My brother asked me to create what I think the homepage should look like and now that I have done so he intends to replace the text (which is currently an image) with actual text that search engines can read.

Once I completed the final piece of the puzzle on my end my brother decided that there is no need to wait for him to do the web designer's work for this to go live. The changes that you are suggesting should be done by tomorrow.

Thank you very much.

05/14/2008 05:59:53 PM · #10

Originally posted by idnic:

Well its about damn time. ;)

Yeah! I know that I told you about this well over a year ago and we've actually been working on it since we decided to build it well over two years ago.

Not that we did two years of work on it. We both had a lot of things in life crop up that prevented us from staying on top of this project (like making a living) and often this took back seat to other priorities.

I am so relieved to be done with this now (other than acting on constructive criticism) and look forward to marketing this site and my work. I've gotten tired of handing out business cards when asked for them and having to explain that "the website isn't quite up and running yet, but it will be soon".

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

05/14/2008 06:06:42 PM · #11

Originally posted by smurfguy:

Using this quote to respond to all the commments about the front page...

Other than the actual photographs within the website, the front page is pretty much the only thing that I designed...and I thought it looked good!

With the concensus regarding the front page I will have to reconsider my judgement and either redesign it or ask my brother to redesign it to look more like the rest of the site.

This is why I have asked for your input and why it is so valuable to me.

Thank you all very much.

rob_smith

Nikon D300

05/14/2008 07:55:05 PM · #12

On the front page, remove the textured background and remove the images of yourself. No offence but seeing you in your shorts doesn't make me want to buy fine art.

I would also change the text to something more professional. "I've been interested in photography", "I've been studying", and "I ... strive to set my work apart" make you sound like an amateur, which you're obviously not as your photography is amazing. You need to chage the text to make it much more sales orientated IMHO, big yourself up!!

:)

Look at this guy:

//www.matthowell.co.uk/

He even calls his company "Outstanding media images"!

"Whatever your needs, from a single studio-shot image of your new product, to a week-long press launch on the far side of the planet, you'll be guaranteed the same high level of customer service.

Using only the latest high-end digital equipment, producing huge resolution images, you'll get a rapid turnaround and stunning quality."

Now that's how to sell!

Also if you click on "checkout" on the front page you get, "Your shopping cart is currently empty. This is the topic Named: emptycarttext. You edit this in the ADMIN site." Don't know if you can disable this or not, also why put the checkout on the front page, surely you have to look at what there is to buy first?

The "Home" link takes you to //208.101.57.137/default.aspx which shows up in the address bar.

And on this banner (and possibly the whole site):
//208.101.57.137/skins/skin_1/images/JupiterBanner4a.jpg

I would either use your name, or the Proshot name, but both can be a bit confusing if you are trying to get people to recognise a brand. Personally I think using your own name would be better.

regards
Rob

Message edited by author 2008-05-14 19:55:57.