I understand threads like this are pretty easily ignored, so thanks for even making it this far. I'm hoping that some of you may be more inclined to lend a hand because I'm young and fairly new to this.
In the last few months, I've put up a website at www.alexmody.com. I'm still working out the kinks and getting comfortable with it. The one thing I struggle most with is that I feel like I don't have enough content on the site. I'm working up a few dozen images from a recent trip, so I'll feel like I have enough photographs up there. It's just that the rest of the site feels a bit empty to me.
Does anybody have any tips or suggestions that may help to improve the site? If so, please let me know. I'm very open minded with this and anxious to see what suggestions some of you may have.
I think your website looks really REALLY good. You've got enough on there to convince me that you've got some great skills and talent. I think the site looks clean, simple and elegant with space to breathe and that's really important.
What do you want people to do once they've checked out your site? If you want them to take a certain action, then you might want to add content (copy, headlines, shopping cart, more images, etc.) to get them to take that action. Otherwise, I think just adding a few more galleries as you get them will be great.
Oh, just one tiny thing - the photo on the home page changes, but it takes awhile to do so. Maybe that could be sped up a bit for the person who is visiting the site for the first time and is about to start clicking around before seeing the photo change.
Thanks for the quick and helpful response. I think one of the issues I'm facing here is that I don't know what exactly I want visitors to do. I'm not really trying to sell anything at this point. I do offer prints on the site, but that's more of a "just in case" kind of thing. I do plan to add some additional galleries. As soon as I finish processing this latest bunch, I'm considering doing four galleries: Landscapes of the East, West, Avian, and Fauna.
And about the homepage. No, I can't change the speed. I'd like to be able to though. The site I used to build this doesn't have that as an option.
It's a good looking site. Content levels are good, and more galleries are all that's really needed. Let the photos do the talking.
My main suggestion is that you increase the font size. While small font sizes look better from a design point of view, they're brutal from a usability point of view. For instance, I gave up on trying to read your bio, as it's just a bit too hard to read paragraphs of such a small font, and it's not like I have poor eyesight. Besides, you've got plenty of space for a larger font, without making the page look cluttered...
Clean and fast loading. It really is a good looking site.
Your grammar and spelling are perfect. Poor English skills with native speakers really bothers me at other sites that I visit, but not yours.
I wanted to comment on the type size myself.
I have good vision, and I had to struggle to read much of what you wrote.
If this is the worst of your problems, then you're in great shape!
If I ever get a website, I would want it to look like yours.
Hi Alex - I think your site looks very nice! It's quite classic and elegant IMO. The last thing I would worry about is quantity of content. Just worry about quality of content and everything will fall into place and continue to run smoothly, and your content will build in time. Patience!
I do have one suggestion though. The font of the interior writing (Bio, etc) is way too small IMO. Immediately I had to go search for my glasses, and even then it was a strain. Great looking site though. I really like the slide show on the title page.
Thank you all for the helpful comments so far. I was skeptical as to whether or not anybody would even respond to this!
I guess it's a bit relieving to see that you're saying content levels are good. The galleries are certainly growing, slowly but surely.
I changed the type face for the text on the site, bumped it up a size, and made it one gray shade lighter (#444444,) to give it a little more contrast from the background. Does it read better now?
Also Alex, depending on your intents for the site, it may be better to limit the galleries somewhat. Having too many pictures can be overwhelming for viewers sometimes, and may make them move on. I'd say for each of the two individual galleries you have now, I wouldn't go past one page of thumbnails as you currently have it set. Ideally you'll showcase your best stuff, and not just dump everything up there that someone might like.
I do not plan on letting any individual galleries to past one page of thumbnails, which it would do if there are more than 30 images in the gallery.. Once I finish processing a bunch of photos from the last month, I will up it to four galleries: Landscapes of the East, Landscapes of the West, Avian, and Fauna. I don't plan on any of the galleries having more than 30 images each.
I feel like it'd be very counterproductive to feature anything other than what I feel is my best.
Alex, the new font size and color are MUCH better, however there is a code error or something on your Bio page because I'm actually seeing font size = "2 at the beginning of the script.
Discussion
11 repliesI understand threads like this are pretty easily ignored, so thanks for even making it this far. I'm hoping that some of you may be more inclined to lend a hand because I'm young and fairly new to this.
In the last few months, I've put up a website at www.alexmody.com. I'm still working out the kinks and getting comfortable with it. The one thing I struggle most with is that I feel like I don't have enough content on the site. I'm working up a few dozen images from a recent trip, so I'll feel like I have enough photographs up there. It's just that the rest of the site feels a bit empty to me.
Does anybody have any tips or suggestions that may help to improve the site? If so, please let me know. I'm very open minded with this and anxious to see what suggestions some of you may have.
Thanks,
-Alex Mody
I think your website looks really REALLY good. You've got enough on there to convince me that you've got some great skills and talent. I think the site looks clean, simple and elegant with space to breathe and that's really important.
What do you want people to do once they've checked out your site? If you want them to take a certain action, then you might want to add content (copy, headlines, shopping cart, more images, etc.) to get them to take that action. Otherwise, I think just adding a few more galleries as you get them will be great.
Oh, just one tiny thing - the photo on the home page changes, but it takes awhile to do so. Maybe that could be sped up a bit for the person who is visiting the site for the first time and is about to start clicking around before seeing the photo change.
Nancy
Thanks for the quick and helpful response. I think one of the issues I'm facing here is that I don't know what exactly I want visitors to do. I'm not really trying to sell anything at this point. I do offer prints on the site, but that's more of a "just in case" kind of thing. I do plan to add some additional galleries. As soon as I finish processing this latest bunch, I'm considering doing four galleries: Landscapes of the East, West, Avian, and Fauna.
And about the homepage. No, I can't change the speed. I'd like to be able to though. The site I used to build this doesn't have that as an option.
Thanks,
-Alex
My main suggestion is that you increase the font size. While small font sizes look better from a design point of view, they're brutal from a usability point of view. For instance, I gave up on trying to read your bio, as it's just a bit too hard to read paragraphs of such a small font, and it's not like I have poor eyesight. Besides, you've got plenty of space for a larger font, without making the page look cluttered...
Your grammar and spelling are perfect. Poor English skills with native speakers really bothers me at other sites that I visit, but not yours.
I wanted to comment on the type size myself.
I have good vision, and I had to struggle to read much of what you wrote.
If this is the worst of your problems, then you're in great shape!
If I ever get a website, I would want it to look like yours.
I do have one suggestion though. The font of the interior writing (Bio, etc) is way too small IMO. Immediately I had to go search for my glasses, and even then it was a strain. Great looking site though. I really like the slide show on the title page.
I guess it's a bit relieving to see that you're saying content levels are good. The galleries are certainly growing, slowly but surely.
I changed the type face for the text on the site, bumped it up a size, and made it one gray shade lighter (#444444,) to give it a little more contrast from the background. Does it read better now?
I do not plan on letting any individual galleries to past one page of thumbnails, which it would do if there are more than 30 images in the gallery.. Once I finish processing a bunch of photos from the last month, I will up it to four galleries: Landscapes of the East, Landscapes of the West, Avian, and Fauna. I don't plan on any of the galleries having more than 30 images each.
I feel like it'd be very counterproductive to feature anything other than what I feel is my best.
You've created a great showcase for your photos. Keep up the great work.
Jon