Please check out our new web site!

02/22/2007 10:18:26 PM · #1

I finally got my butt into gear and put together a new web site for our business. There's still a couple of things I need to do but it's just about there I think. Would love some feedback on it from everyone!

Here's the link!

A BIG special thanks to

howzit for going above and beyond in helping me with some coding as well as

Judi and

lentil for their valuable advice.

Thanks everyone!

TechnoShroom

02/22/2007 10:40:04 PM · #2

At 30 seconds it was only 72% loaded. If it was just any website I would have left. Attractive site but all the fluff, noise, and slow loading images is a little off putting.

Elvis_L

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

02/22/2007 10:45:43 PM · #3

yea it loaded VERY slow for me. over 1 minute before it came up. It looks very nice though.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4.0G IF-ED

02/22/2007 10:46:03 PM · #4

Originally posted by TechnoShroom:

At 30 seconds it was only 72% loaded. If it was just any website I would have left. Attractive site but all the fluff, noise, and slow loading images is a little off putting.

Perhaps I should make the gallery images smaller?

jenesis

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/22/2007 10:48:46 PM · #5

It did take a bit to load for me as well the first time. I visited a second and it loaded right away. The galleries also take a while to load. I can see the little thumbs loading on the side but it takes a while for the larger versions to come up. Also, I keep wanting to make the pop-up thingy that comes up over the photos go away. Is there a way to do that if I want to see the photos? It's just a tiny bit annoying. Other than that, it looks pretty nice.

PS - Nevermind about the pop-up thingy. I found the little 'x' at the top of the box on my third visit. So, I guess that was user error on my part. May want to make the 'x' a little more prominent or visible for slow folks like me though. :-)

jbsmithana

Nikon D300

02/22/2007 10:49:34 PM · #6

Yup - nice but slow. Maybe you should consider a simpler Home Page to get people in and then jazz it up when they choose to look at the different portfolios?

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

02/22/2007 10:49:41 PM · #7

I agree, slow loading. The images didn't seem too large, it made me think it was a server bandwidth issue instead.

Anyway, I thought the idea of the changing images behind the text was pretty intriguing. I have to admit that I kept wanting to try to get rid of the text so that I could see the pictures. But still, it was interesting how visible they were in spite of the text on top.

TechnoShroom

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

02/22/2007 10:49:48 PM · #8

Originally posted by Makka:

Originally posted by TechnoShroom:
At 30 seconds it was only 72% loaded. If it was just any website I would have left. Attractive site but all the fluff, noise, and slow loading images is a little off putting.

Perhaps I should make the gallery images smaller?

It was the main page that took that long to load. If you could scale that back it would be much better. The galleries are more bearable because you can start looking at the thumbs but yes, the individual images could stand to be a little lighter as they take awhile to load as well.

Message edited by author 2007-02-22 22:50:56.

SDW

Canon EOS-60D

02/22/2007 10:49:48 PM · #9

It took 55 sec for the site to load and when I went to the galleries it took about 30 sec for the thumbs to load. When I clicked on the wedding gallery it takes about 5 to 10 sec. to load depending on the pic. Most people will not wait more than 5 sec for a page to load.

The design and layout looks great. And you have some great work. But the site being so slow will hurt, IMO.

I checked my connection and it was 7mb down/500 up. so I know it was not my connection.

I hope this is helpful.

Scott

boysetsfire

Canon EOS-5D

02/22/2007 10:51:20 PM · #10

-I want to bea able to scroll through the images rather than having to click on each thumb.
-Personally I don't like the EAP i understand what it means but is it required? because it is the first thing that loads i read eeeaap not E A P and it doesnt feel good.

It loaded fine for me.

Cam

Sony DSC-F717

02/22/2007 10:52:18 PM · #11

I think the welcome, and about us page should be on the side...or somewhere else where it does not distract from the photos. Its just sorta stuck right in front of your wonderful shots.

boysetsfire

Canon EOS-5D

02/22/2007 10:54:08 PM · #12

Originally posted by Cam:

I think the welcome, and about us page should be on the side...or somewhere else where it does not distract from the photos. Its just sorta stuck right in front of your wonderful shots.

yup aha

Curious

Canon EOS-600D/T3i Rebel

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

02/22/2007 11:01:49 PM · #13

It could be the music that takes so long to load. It does add a nice atmosphere but removing it might speed it up.

I would put your logo or name above the preloader so its there while the site loads.

Its a nice looking site and the photos are great.

edit: To spel beter

Message edited by author 2007-02-22 23:38:03.

Beetle

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/22/2007 11:06:09 PM · #14

Not only did it take forever to load, but then it played music at me that I didn't ask for - I HATE THAT!!!

Never even got to look at the photos, closed it right away :-(

I remember from previous website discussions that I'm certainly not the only one who feels that way about unwanted music/noise. Some food for thought, perhaps?

jenesis

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/22/2007 11:09:13 PM · #15

Originally posted by Beetle:

I keep the sound on my computer muted just for this reason.

TechnoShroom

02/22/2007 11:12:25 PM · #16

Originally posted by jenesis:

Originally posted by Beetle:
Not only did it take forever to load, but then it played music at me that I didn't ask for - I HATE THAT!!!

Never even got to look at the photos, closed it right away :-(

I remember from previous website discussions that I'm certainly not the only one who feels that way about unwanted music/noise. Some food for thought, perhaps?

I keep the sound on my computer muted just for this reason.

On the upside there is a method of turning it on and off built into the site which is much preferred to having no control.

Beetle

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/22/2007 11:13:54 PM · #17

Originally posted by jenesis:

I keep the sound on my computer muted just for this reason.

That would help, but I often voice chat or listen to the satellite radio via my computer, so that isn't an option.

02/22/2007 11:15:35 PM · #18

Originally posted by Beetle:

Originally posted by jenesis:

I keep the sound on my computer muted just for this reason.

That would help, but I often voice chat or listen to the satellite radio via my computer, so that isn't an option.

You can click the bottom left to turn it off if you like!

Message edited by author 2007-02-22 23:15:49.

Bosborne

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

02/22/2007 11:18:10 PM · #19

Took way too long to load. I don't wait past 20 seconds. If it takes that long to load then the whole site will be slow. And please NO MUSIC! Personally, I don't like music or sounds on a site. It doesn't help the photos. They should speak for themselves IMO.
Edit to add:
The welcome page is blocking your portfolio right off the bat! I would like to select the ''welcome'' button myself after I have viewed the moving photos.
Nice shots tho!

Message edited by author 2007-02-23 00:39:24.

jenesis

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/22/2007 11:20:13 PM · #20

Having the option to turn it off is nice. I wasn't able to hear the music, but I'm sure it was something easy on the ears as that is usually the case for most portrait/wedding sites I've visited. And the majority of them do seem to have some sort of music, so it's pretty common and usually expected.

RayEthier

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

02/22/2007 11:31:32 PM · #21

I fear that I will echo the comments already made:
- Took a long time to load;
- I don't care for loud music, and trying to turn it off aggravated me;
- The various components also took a long time to load; but
- The images were stunning.

Hope this helps a bit.

Ray

bex85

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

02/22/2007 11:35:53 PM · #22

I have pretty much the same comments as everyone else. The site took a really long time for me to load, and the music was somewhat annoying. Having the name of your business on the loading screen would be good so that whay people know that they have right site. However the pictures are very beautiful!

Judi

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

02/22/2007 11:37:54 PM · #23

Hey.....I finally got back on line after more than 24 hours with no internet service...grrr! Damn mouse in the wheel setup...I must upgrade to a guinea pig one day.

But anyways...congrats you two on a beautiful website....you both deserve it. You have come along way and I know you both have a bright future. All the best.