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 07/19/2004 05:05:11 PM · #1
None of the photo links work yet, But looking for feedback on the main page design.

www.brentwardphoto.com
 07/19/2004 05:07:04 PM · #2
I think that's a very neat and cool design. I like it.
 07/19/2004 05:08:20 PM · #3
Impressive...most impressive. :o)
 07/19/2004 05:11:37 PM · #4
Looks very good. The only thing I'd say is the little lock bottom right isn't very self-explanatory, so I can see you having to explain where customers need to click. I'd be tempted to move the mail and lock icons into the centre and having text next to them for 'contact' and 'galleries'.
 07/19/2004 05:19:10 PM · #5
Clean, simple, and straightforward.
 07/19/2004 05:27:28 PM · #6
Nice design overall. I agreee with the earlier comment about the lock icon not being immediately intuitive. I think the biggest thing it needs is a bit more bandwidth :) Took a L O N G time to load the home page (via cable modem).
 07/19/2004 05:33:51 PM · #7
Originally posted by cghubbell:
Nice design overall. I agreee with the earlier comment about the lock icon not being immediately intuitive. I think the biggest thing it needs is a bit more bandwidth :) Took a L O N G time to load the home page (via cable modem).


Really, it's maxed out. Has anybody else had this problem? I'm even in Cincinnati for photoshoot right now and it's not slow for me.

Thanks for all the feedback! :D
 07/19/2004 05:40:04 PM · #8
It came up immediately for me via cable. I like the layout very much.
 07/19/2004 05:45:47 PM · #9
You've got a nice start going, but I have some suggestions:
- Never have clickable images that are not labelled, indicating where you are taking the user (if that's what those images are intended to do)
- Your site will look pretty bland if Javascript is turned off on the browser (i.e. no rollover and thus no change to color in your images). So, you may want to make sure to provide alternative HTML for scriptless browsing.
- Having text embedded in an image prevents indexing and will not be found by most search engines. Also, the title of your site should not be the URL, unless that's what you think people are going to search for. More likely, they'll type your name with a space as "Brent Ward" and so I would suggest changing your title to Brent Ward Photography.
- Too much white space at the top, makes me scroll when my browser is not maximized.
- The cryptic icons in the bottom right should be accompanied by labels indicating what to expect when you click them.
- Never use "mailto:" hyperlinks if at all possible, as many users do not have the email programs they use set to the default email program in their browser. Also, I believe these links only work in IE-based browsers. It's much more useful to have a form that the user submits, allowing you to validate the values they enter as well.

Overall, I like the simplicity of the design and the choice of simple grey and black navigational elements will put the emphasis where it belongs, on the photos. Good start.
 07/19/2004 05:53:53 PM · #10
Originally posted by bledford:
You've got a nice start going, but I have some suggestions:
- Never have clickable images that are not labelled, indicating where you are taking the user (if that's what those images are intended to do)
- Your site will look pretty bland if Javascript is turned off on the browser (i.e. no rollover and thus no change to color in your images). So, you may want to make sure to provide alternative HTML for scriptless browsing.
- Having text embedded in an image prevents indexing and will not be found by most search engines. Also, the title of your site should not be the URL, unless that's what you think people are going to search for. More likely, they'll type your name with a space as "Brent Ward" and so I would suggest changing your title to Brent Ward Photography.
- Too much white space at the top, makes me scroll when my browser is not maximized.
- The cryptic icons in the bottom right should be accompanied by labels indicating what to expect when you click them.
- Never use "mailto:" hyperlinks if at all possible, as many users do not have the email programs they use set to the default email program in their browser. Also, I believe these links only work in IE-based browsers. It's much more useful to have a form that the user submits, allowing you to validate the values they enter as well.

Overall, I like the simplicity of the design and the choice of simple grey and black navigational elements will put the emphasis where it belongs, on the photos. Good start.


Once the other pages are finished the links will be different. Thats why I put the no links working to warn people. ;D

I'm on a Mac using safari, and the rollovers work fine. The site is centered in the white space for a screen res of 800x600. The clients (ad agencies) that will be using this site, will be using much higher screen resoltutions than this.

The lock icon is for a password only gallery. If I give out the password, then they will know what to click on to see there photos. I kept it subtle for that very reason.

Thanks, for the title feedback. It will be the name of the biz, plus featured catagories that I shoot.
 07/19/2004 06:06:02 PM · #11
Originally posted by MeThoS:
I'm on a Mac using safari, and the rollovers work fine.
They work for me too, I'm just saying that if anyone browsing happens to not have Javascript enabled, they will not see the colored versions of your links. ;)
 07/19/2004 06:12:15 PM · #12
Originally posted by bledford:
Originally posted by MeThoS:
I'm on a Mac using safari, and the rollovers work fine.
They work for me too, I'm just saying that if anyone browsing happens to not have Javascript enabled, they will not see the colored versions of your links. ;)


Cool. I'll check into it. Thanks again.
 07/19/2004 06:18:49 PM · #13
Very nice design. I like the white space and horizontal blend of the logotype. Rather than "fixing" the table size you might consider setting the width and height to 100% so that it will center itself regardless of the monitor/window size. Unless you are in the unique position where search engines are of no concern, you need to at least utilize meta-tags, Alt img tags or have visible html text somewhere on the page. Also, change the page title to Brent Anthony Ward Photography rather than "brentwardphoto.com". This will increase your keyword relevance for your name and "photography". 99% of search engines can't see the separate words in brentwardphoto.com. Lose the "- =" & "=" as well since they will just confuse the search engines and don't really serve a purpose. Good luck and happy coding!
 07/19/2004 06:30:25 PM · #14
Originally posted by pfellner:
Very nice design. I like the white space and horizontal blend of the logotype. Rather than "fixing" the table size you might consider setting the width and height to 100% so that it will center itself regardless of the monitor/window size. Unless you are in the unique position where search engines are of no concern, you need to at least utilize meta-tags, Alt img tags or have visible html text somewhere on the page. Also, change the page title to Brent Anthony Ward Photography rather than "brentwardphoto.com". This will increase your keyword relevance for your name and "photography". 99% of search engines can't see the separate words in brentwardphoto.com. Lose the "- =" & "=" as well since they will just confuse the search engines and don't really serve a purpose. Good luck and happy coding!


How about this for my page title?

Brent Ward Photography: Digital Retouching Product Lifestyle Commercial Fashion Nature Wildlife Aviation Architecture Stock Assignment Travel Photography
 07/19/2004 08:22:22 PM · #15
HA! Nice try. It's not that easy. By including all of your keywords in the title you reduce the effectiveness of each of them. In effect, you're watering all of them down. Stick with 3 or 4 main keywords in the title.
 07/20/2004 12:09:56 AM · #16
Originally posted by pfellner:
HA! Nice try. It's not that easy. By including all of your keywords in the title you reduce the effectiveness of each of them. In effect, you're watering all of them down. Stick with 3 or 4 main keywords in the title.


There going to be meta tags.
 07/20/2004 12:32:36 AM · #17
Really nice, clean simple, let the image speak....
Forget about flash animation if you like everybody to be able to see it, but java is a must for some interesting interaction... even more if you can write some programmation lines....

I bookmark it, as i will check to see all your work

Ciao
 07/20/2004 12:37:28 AM · #18
Hi Brent! I also have a website but it's not nearly as creative as yours. I didn't have alot to go off of though either. I only had certain templates to pick from.
My website is //wilkinsonartwork.com
I really like the design of your front page. Wish I would have had something like that to go off of.
Thanks for sharing!
 07/20/2004 11:12:07 AM · #19
Originally posted by crazycrystal1977:
Hi Brent! I also have a website but it's not nearly as creative as yours. I didn't have alot to go off of though either. I only had certain templates to pick from.
My website is //wilkinsonartwork.com
I really like the design of your front page. Wish I would have had something like that to go off of.
Thanks for sharing!


I designed mine from scratch. It helps I'm also an Art Director... ;D

Your site looks pretty good though, just keep working on it.
 07/20/2004 11:16:50 AM · #20
Originally posted by crazycrystal1977:
Hi Brent! I also have a website but it's not nearly as creative as yours. I didn't have alot to go off of though either. I only had certain templates to pick from.
My website is //wilkinsonartwork.com
I really like the design of your front page. Wish I would have had something like that to go off of.
Thanks for sharing!


Hi Crazy,

Where is the photo on the front page of the two islands from? Looks like a place near me but i live in the Channel Islands so i guess its not!!
 07/20/2004 11:31:02 AM · #21
I really like that! I love how the pictures are b/w and turn color when you move your mouse over them.
07/20/2004 11:38:28 AM · #22
I like the simple clean stright forward home page. But why the roll overs? Why not let your photos stand out in color? Maybe this is just a personal preferance.

btw It loaded fine for me on dial-up.

You might want to add some copyright info as well.

Message edited by author 2004-07-20 11:40:00.
 07/20/2004 01:53:59 PM · #23
good looking start - the top part may be a bit overwhelming.
the BW mouseOvers look alright to me.
how do plan on feeding the photos?

EDIT: the one mouseOver that stays BW seems out of place.
and the grill is subtle as well.


Message edited by author 2004-07-20 13:55:19.
 07/20/2004 02:52:12 PM · #24
Crystal

Just and FYI

What most people forget to do is to add or fill in the title to their website code.

I notice yours is blank, so when I go to bookmark your website I get the following:

http--wilkinsonartwork.com-index.cfm-Home

Visitors that want to bookmark your website will have to stop and retype the title for the site.

But that is just MHO. I keep a very extensive favorites list :)

Originally posted by crazycrystal1977:
Hi Brent! I also have a website but it's not nearly as creative as yours. I didn't have alot to go off of though either. I only had certain templates to pick from.
My website is //wilkinsonartwork.com
I really like the design of your front page. Wish I would have had something like that to go off of.
Thanks for sharing!

07/20/2004 06:32:15 PM · #25
Thanks for that info, Calvus.
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