Posted by Jim Erhardt on February 28, 2016 at 9:34 AM
Our goal for 2016 is to develop the Personal Galleries (PG) feature on NPN as a replacement for the PhotoPortfolios site - your NPN personal gallery will be your portfolio. At this point, with the investment we've made in upgrading the quality of presentation on NPN, and considering that PhotoPortfolios is in need of a major overhaul, we think it makes more sense spending the money to integrate it all on NPN (single log-in, streamlined photo upload, etc.). While we may not be able to include all of the functionality of PhotoPortfolios, we hope to include enough to make the NPN personal galleries a useful resource.
With that goal in mind, here is the current list of key updates we are looking into;
1. Create a listing of our members PGs. This is actually quite easy, it will be based on our current member websites page by redirecting the Portfolio link to your NPN personal gallery.
2. Add the following optional fields to the photo upload screen that will appear with the photo;
Key Words: (to enhance search of gallery)
Image Reference: (for reference purposes, an alpha-numeric designation to identify the photo instead of relying on the photo title)
Location: (where photo was taken)
File Size & Format: (size of file available of image as shown; JPEG, TIF, etc.)
Camera Gear (camera body, lens, tripod, etc.)
You will be able to edit your current photos with this information if you wish to do so. A bit different than PhotoPortfolios, the purpose of these fields is to not only supply useful information to a potential buyer, but to also provide info that is of interest for the critique process.
3. The Portfolios drop-down menu would modified (top to bottom) as follows;
All Photos = All Photos gallery
Photographer Index = listing of member PGs as described above
Featured Portfolios = Gallery of the Month
Photo Marketing = Photo Marketing forum
Photo Buyer Guide - new page with instructions on how to use site, search photos, etc.
4. Create a member biography upload (with optional photo) on the Preferences screen to produce a page like our current Staff Profiles. Your name under your gallery thumbnails will become the link to your profile page.
Next step - your feedback! We probably won't be able to implement every suggestion, but let's start a list of features that you think would be useful! Our hope is to begin the process in a few months and hopefully (as funds permit) have it completed by mid summer.
Thanks to all in advance for your questions and suggestions!
I am happy to see the new goals and objectives for PhotoPortfolios!
What will happen with the images and information a member already has in their PhotoPortfolios gallery? Will they be carried over to our Personal Galleries, or...?
I currently have 88 images in my Portfolio, some of which I no longer need. When the time comes for the merge, and assuming the images will be ported, would it be best for us to cleanup our Portfolio beforehand?
I know my questions are early on in the process, but I'd like to plan ahead if I can.
Thanks for letting us know the plan! I may have some ideas that I'll post later.
--P
Posted by Jim Erhardt on February 28, 2016 at 12:52 PM
Preston, there is no transfer of photos planned at this time, the main issue is the much larger files that can now be uploaded to NPN.
As this plan moves forward, I'm thinking the best bet is to upload new files of the photos you wish to keep over a period of time leading up to the launch of the "new portfolios."
Posted by Lon Overacker on February 28, 2016 at 1:25 PM
Jim,
This sounds great! Very glad to hear of the upcoming changes and replacement of PhotoPortfolios. I've got couple questions/comments.
From what you've written, sounds like there would be just one single "photo upload" dialogue box, right? If that's the case, then that raises a couple questions. Will the member have the ability to choose to: 1. upload only for critique, 2. upload only for Portfolios, 3. or both?
Will there be a separate PG? Currently, I like to include every image I post in my PG; kind of a historical tracking of what I've posted. However, I wouldn't necessarily want every image to be in Portfolios. So, if it's just going to be one upload and one gallery, I would like to suggest that members have a choice as to which images would be included in a public view, versus a Personal view that only paid members can see. for example, my recent images in Landscape. I'd like to have all 3 similar images visible to myself and members in the PG for reference and historical reasons all relating to them being posted for critique. But I would only want one of those images available in the Portfolios view. So that could make choice #4 above, Public or Private check box. Hope that makes sense.
I would have to log out to check, but I can't recall if our Personal Galleries are visible to the public, or non-members. I'll check in a minute.
We'll be looking forward to see how this pans out. Thanks for taking on this improvement!
Lon
Posted by Jim Erhardt on February 28, 2016 at 2:40 PM
Lon, other than the additional info that can be included with each photo, the personal galleries and the upload process will not change. Your PG will be your portfolio, so you will need to be selective which photos you want to remain after 35 days.
I like your idea of a separate portfolio and personal gallery, but that would require a major software investment to implement. Essentially, we will be using our current PGs and adding select (and reasonably affordable) enhancements as outlined in my original post so they can serve as a kind of "portfolio" as well.
Instead of trying to update the PhotoPortfolios site, I see the following advantages to this approach;
Single log-in, single photo upload
Leverage the incredible SEO of NPN
Leverage the photo display enhancements we've made to NPN
Greatly simplify updating and management (one site to maintain instead of two)
Simplified navigation
BTW, the PGs can be viewed by the public, no log-in required.
Posted by John Launstein on February 28, 2016 at 7:58 PM
Jim - tied to your point 2 above, I think images in the PhotoPortfolios were discoverable by internet searches (i.e. Google et al)? Maybe I'm wrong but I thought I remembered noticing that several years ago. It seems that our posts and therefore gallery images within the NPN infrastructure are NOT discoverable by internet searches. I think there would be a lot of upside to posts being discoverable by Google, etc, but if that's not possible due to forum protocols and search engine algorithms, at the very least incorporating keyword searching as per your original post above would be a great addition.
Jim. I currently have photo portfolios on all my business cards. Is there a way to use that as a key word to flip over to the galleries? Also, I post non nature images on portfolio and don't in the galleries. Can that still be done without the image critique?
Right now, Photo Portfolios is my only on-line showcase.
Also, I post non nature images on portfolio and don't in the galleries. Can that still be done without the image critique?
That is a very good question, Pat.
My suggestion would be to have two options on the image upload page: "For Critique" and "Showcase". If the "Showcase" option is chosen, the comment box would not be displayed.
I have 22 images that are currently in my PPN portfolio that are not in my PG. With the current 1 image per 24 hours posting limit, it would take three weeks for me to post all of them. Any thoughts on how this might be handled more efficiently?
--P
Posted by Jim Erhardt on March 13, 2016 at 7:56 AM
One of the advantages of having PPN as a separate site is that the software can be 100% dedicated to th mission of the site, something that cannot be done on NPN without me hitting Powerball. Which leads me to this: Plan B would be to update the looks of PPN to be more consistent with NPN without any software updates. So, it would remain functionally as-is but look and feel just like NPN.
Would it be possible to upload a 720 pixels/500 KB image and a large version (1600 pixels/1 MB) and also have the image viewer as we currently have it in the NPN galleries?
I believe having this ability would mean we would only have to create two files instead of the current three (One 640px/300 KB for PPN, and the two for NPN). These files could then be uploaded to PPN and/ or NPN.
As Lon mentioned above, would it be possible to have a single LogIn for PPN and NPN? It would be easier for members, but I am OK with the two separate log ins if having a single log in would be difficult to implement.
I really like the way NPN looks and feels since you and DtP did the major upgrade! If PPN looks and works as NPN does, that would be excellent!
--P
Posted by Lon Overacker on March 16, 2016 at 3:37 PM
Jim,
I too like the idea of Plan B. Just bringing PP up to the visual level as what NPN is now after the last updates.
As Preston mentions, I think the biggest improvement besides aesthetics would be to have a consistent file size between the 2 sites.
I don't know if this would require winning PowerBall... but wouldn't it be nice to have 1 Upload dialog that could feed both sites.... that may be asking a lot though. ;-)
Thanks in advance for future updates with Portfolios. That should motivate me to update mine!
Just curious as to where we are with "Plan B" for Photo Portfolios?
Plan B would be to update the looks of PPN to be more consistent with NPN without any software updates. So, it would remain functionally as-is but look and feel just like NPN.
Plan B would be to update the looks of PPN to be more consistent with NPN without any software updates. So, it would remain functionally as-is but look and feel just like NPN.
Hi Jim, I have a couple of questions.
Will we be able to upload two files to PPN--720 pixels/500 KB image and a large version (1600 pixels/1 MB) as we currently do on NPN? Or, will we be restricted to a single 640px/ 200MB image at PPN as it currently is configured?
Discussion
12 repliesWith that goal in mind, here is the current list of key updates we are looking into;
1. Create a listing of our members PGs. This is actually quite easy, it will be based on our current member websites page by redirecting the Portfolio link to your NPN personal gallery.
2. Add the following optional fields to the photo upload screen that will appear with the photo;
- Key Words: (to enhance search of gallery)
- Image Reference: (for reference purposes, an alpha-numeric designation to identify the photo instead of relying on the photo title)
- Location: (where photo was taken)
- File Size & Format: (size of file available of image as shown; JPEG, TIF, etc.)
- Camera Gear (camera body, lens, tripod, etc.)
You will be able to edit your current photos with this information if you wish to do so. A bit different than PhotoPortfolios, the purpose of these fields is to not only supply useful information to a potential buyer, but to also provide info that is of interest for the critique process.3. The Portfolios drop-down menu would modified (top to bottom) as follows;
- All Photos = All Photos gallery
- Photographer Index = listing of member PGs as described above
- Featured Portfolios = Gallery of the Month
- Photo Marketing = Photo Marketing forum
- Photo Buyer Guide - new page with instructions on how to use site, search photos, etc.
4. Create a member biography upload (with optional photo) on the Preferences screen to produce a page like our current Staff Profiles. Your name under your gallery thumbnails will become the link to your profile page.Example: Gallery of Jim Erhardt
Next step - your feedback! We probably won't be able to implement every suggestion, but let's start a list of features that you think would be useful! Our hope is to begin the process in a few months and hopefully (as funds permit) have it completed by mid summer.
Thanks to all in advance for your questions and suggestions!
I am happy to see the new goals and objectives for PhotoPortfolios!
What will happen with the images and information a member already has in their PhotoPortfolios gallery? Will they be carried over to our Personal Galleries, or...?
I currently have 88 images in my Portfolio, some of which I no longer need. When the time comes for the merge, and assuming the images will be ported, would it be best for us to cleanup our Portfolio beforehand?
I know my questions are early on in the process, but I'd like to plan ahead if I can.
Thanks for letting us know the plan! I may have some ideas that I'll post later.
--P
As this plan moves forward, I'm thinking the best bet is to upload new files of the photos you wish to keep over a period of time leading up to the launch of the "new portfolios."
This sounds great! Very glad to hear of the upcoming changes and replacement of PhotoPortfolios. I've got couple questions/comments.
From what you've written, sounds like there would be just one single "photo upload" dialogue box, right? If that's the case, then that raises a couple questions. Will the member have the ability to choose to: 1. upload only for critique, 2. upload only for Portfolios, 3. or both?
Will there be a separate PG? Currently, I like to include every image I post in my PG; kind of a historical tracking of what I've posted. However, I wouldn't necessarily want every image to be in Portfolios. So, if it's just going to be one upload and one gallery, I would like to suggest that members have a choice as to which images would be included in a public view, versus a Personal view that only paid members can see. for example, my recent images in Landscape. I'd like to have all 3 similar images visible to myself and members in the PG for reference and historical reasons all relating to them being posted for critique. But I would only want one of those images available in the Portfolios view. So that could make choice #4 above, Public or Private check box. Hope that makes sense.
I would have to log out to check, but I can't recall if our Personal Galleries are visible to the public, or non-members. I'll check in a minute.
We'll be looking forward to see how this pans out. Thanks for taking on this improvement!
Lon
I like your idea of a separate portfolio and personal gallery, but that would require a major software investment to implement. Essentially, we will be using our current PGs and adding select (and reasonably affordable) enhancements as outlined in my original post so they can serve as a kind of "portfolio" as well.
Instead of trying to update the PhotoPortfolios site, I see the following advantages to this approach;
- Single log-in, single photo upload
- Leverage the incredible SEO of NPN
- Leverage the photo display enhancements we've made to NPN
- Greatly simplify updating and management (one site to maintain instead of two)
- Simplified navigation
BTW, the PGs can be viewed by the public, no log-in required.Right now, Photo Portfolios is my only on-line showcase.
Pat
My suggestion would be to have two options on the image upload page: "For Critique" and "Showcase". If the "Showcase" option is chosen, the comment box would not be displayed.
I have 22 images that are currently in my PPN portfolio that are not in my PG. With the current 1 image per 24 hours posting limit, it would take three weeks for me to post all of them. Any thoughts on how this might be handled more efficiently?
--P
Thoughts?
I like Plan B!
Would it be possible to upload a 720 pixels/500 KB image and a large version (1600 pixels/1 MB) and also have the image viewer as we currently have it in the NPN galleries?
I believe having this ability would mean we would only have to create two files instead of the current three (One 640px/300 KB for PPN, and the two for NPN). These files could then be uploaded to PPN and/ or NPN.
As Lon mentioned above, would it be possible to have a single LogIn for PPN and NPN? It would be easier for members, but I am OK with the two separate log ins if having a single log in would be difficult to implement.
I really like the way NPN looks and feels since you and DtP did the major upgrade! If PPN looks and works as NPN does, that would be excellent!
--P
I too like the idea of Plan B. Just bringing PP up to the visual level as what NPN is now after the last updates.
As Preston mentions, I think the biggest improvement besides aesthetics would be to have a consistent file size between the 2 sites.
I don't know if this would require winning PowerBall... but wouldn't it be nice to have 1 Upload dialog that could feed both sites.... that may be asking a lot though. ;-)
Thanks in advance for future updates with Portfolios. That should motivate me to update mine!
Lon
Just curious as to where we are with "Plan B" for Photo Portfolios? --P
- Will we be able to upload two files to PPN--720 pixels/500 KB image and a large version (1600 pixels/1 MB) as we currently do on NPN? Or, will we be restricted to a single 640px/ 200MB image at PPN as it currently is configured?
- When do you plan to do the update of PPN?
Thank you, sir!--P