My new website - Reviews welcomed.

10/16/2004 11:12:55 PM · #1

Hi Everyone,

I've been working on building a website for a couple months which is photography related, and I'm looking for comments on how you like it.

Although the site is geared to selling prints, I've tried to keep it as non-commercial feeling as possible with more of a gallery type feel as much as possible.

Chris's Website

Let me know how you like it:

* Is it easy to navigate through the various pages and galleries?

* How do you like the color scheme? Would a darker color scheme such as a grey background be better, instead of the white background?

* Are any particular galleries missing that you are interested in?

* Are the images "up to par" as far as other similar sites you've seen? As I go, I'll remove some images and add better ones.

* Are the prices too high or too low? I've noticed that similar sites sell 8 x 10 prints for $35 to $50, but since I realize that my photos aren't on the same level yet as some of those sites I will have a lower price for now.

* Is the checkout process easy to use?

* What changes would you suggest if any on any aspect of the site? What features would you add or remove, or possibly rearrange?

* Would selling the original image be a good idea? Pay and then download kind of thing?

Any comments are appreciated!

just-married

Canon EOS-10D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

10/16/2004 11:29:17 PM · #2

short reply: having to click the thumbnail to get to another thumbnail is annoying. I wanna see the enlarged version before I'm asked to purchase it.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

10/16/2004 11:56:33 PM · #3

Thanks Just-Married, I've thought about that also. It is a little annoying to have to click to see the larger image. I'm trying to keep bandwidth down but I may change this. How do you like the rest of the site?

Sonifo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

10/17/2004 12:20:23 AM · #4

I love it!

Was it easy to set up?

Message edited by author 2004-10-17 00:21:41.

imagesloyola

10/17/2004 12:28:23 AM · #5

hi cris, the site is cool and user friendly...
below are my answers to your questions.

Is it easy to navigate through the various pages and galleries?

.... yup, got no problem to navigate your pages... the overall design is simple but great...

* How do you like the color scheme? Would a darker color scheme such as a grey background be better, instead of the white background?

.... i like the overall color scheme, it is cool and pleasing to my eyes, your logo is unique and very creative...nice name too...

* Are any particular galleries missing that you are interested in?

...none

* Are the images "up to par" as far as other similar sites you've seen? As I go, I'll remove some images and add better ones.

....honestly,i do like some images but you can add a better ones...

* Are the prices too high or too low? I've noticed that similar sites sell 8 x 10 prints for $35 to $50, but since I realize that my photos aren't on the same level yet as some of those sites I will have a lower price for now.

....regarding prices,35 still okay...

* Is the checkout process easy to use?

....just fine with me.

* What changes would you suggest if any on any aspect of the site? What features would you add or remove, or possibly rearrange?

... no need to change anything..

* Would selling the original image be a good idea? Pay and then download kind of thing?

... not sure about this one...

10/17/2004 12:28:58 AM · #6

Hi Sonifo!

Yes it was easy to setup initially since it's a "open-source" ecommerce website that is free to anyone to use. You just download the website code, etc., and then install it on your webserver.

The hard part (or fun part for me anyway) is customizing it so that it looks the way you want, and fits your theme (in my case photography). I've added a lot of "contributions" that are available from community users to enhance features of the original work. Really fun stuff. :)

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

10/17/2004 12:30:46 AM · #7

Thanks imagesloyola, your comments are appreciated! :)

caba

Nikon D800

10/17/2004 12:31:24 AM · #8

It's hard to see the price on the image, maybe you could put that with the size box. I would like to see a cover page with something that grabs my attention and want me to click to this page for more. It loads quickly with my cable ISP, I'm not sure about dial-up speed. But, nice images there, good luck, let us know if you get good sales.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

10/17/2004 12:46:49 AM · #9

Caba,

I've thought a LOT about bandwidth... since I have cable also, during dev I realized that modem users will not get the same quick loading experience that I do so I've tried to optimize .jpg size as much as possible.

However since this a photography/gallery website, I have to show thumbnail images at a larger size (200 x 160) and larger images at 60% quality at 500 x 400. No other option for me. Dial up users are going to suffer a little but I have to keep thumbnail and larger image quality up for this site.

Sonifo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

10/17/2004 12:49:41 AM · #10

Originally posted by ChrisW123:

I tried to download it but winzip just gives me a bunch of files. hmm..

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

10/17/2004 12:53:56 AM · #11

Originally posted by Sonifo:

I tried to download it but winzip just gives me a bunch of files. hmm..

Yes, that's what it should be. You have to configure it yourself.

Spitfire

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

10/17/2004 12:54:16 AM · #12

Layout looks good however in the airplane section:

is a P40 warhawk not a p51 mustang

Message edited by author 2004-10-17 00:54:56.

Sonifo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

10/17/2004 12:59:03 AM · #13

Originally posted by mk:

Originally posted by Sonifo:

I tried to download it but winzip just gives me a bunch of files. hmm..

Yes, that's what it should be. You have to configure it yourself.

How on earth do I do that?

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

10/17/2004 01:08:45 AM · #14

Well, there's instructions in the Install file but if you're not familiar with editing html, configuring permissions, etc., it may be a bit difficult.

If your host uses Fantastico (if it doesn't, fantastico is an option that automatically installs a number of features for you), then oscommerce is usually one of those options.

10/17/2004 01:20:39 AM · #15

Thanks Spitfire!

I love airplanes but I will admit, I don't usually know the type of airplane after I take the picture. :( I have changed the description of this pic to "P40 WarHawk". Thanks!

Message edited by author 2004-10-17 01:24:26.