Websites

[AcadieLibre]

The bane of my existence. I through together some really simple websites for my two sites 2+years ago and never really advertised the sites except for when I needed to and the only work that has been done to them is when I made some changes really haphazardly. Now I have come to conclude that at this point it is time to actually sit down and do proper websites. I used to design websites years ago but in the time that has passed more has changed and I need to upgrade some of my skills which I have been doing dutifully for the last several weeks from 7 am to 9 am so I don't put it off like I have a habit of doing with anything to do with my websites.

Since I also have decided to do a 3rd site I now it is time to sit my rear end down and get them down. I still have to wait until I move my computers and crap over to the new place to start doing them but I have an outline for the sites done and just working on a template of my own that will work across three sites with variations such as fonts, etc. The other issue is the 3rd site I have yet to come up with a name for.

The difference now is some of my photography work and some ideas I want to try out needs a web presence unlike my fine art photography site did not really require a site.

1: So how many have a website?

2: Did you design and build it yourself?

3: Did you pay someone and if you can who did you get to do it?

4: Do you just use a social networking site such as flickr, facebook, google+, etc.?

5: How strongly do those who do it as a profession or even a part time profession feel the need to have a web presence?

6: Do you do it just to show your work and/or to generate business?

7: Do you prefer simple and/or unique, populated but not overly busy or so you prefer a site that makes a big splash?

7a: depending on your desire does it make a difference what kind of photography you are doing the site for?

No one really needs to answer any of queries but I really would like to know from a group this diverse that ranges from amateurs, hobbyists, semi pros and pros on how you feel about the whole having a website. When I am done this time I will post links to them, I have even set a deadline for the completion of them.


After this test I will mark each of your scores and grade you, lmaooo, just kidding it looks like test hahhaha. Seriously I would like a few opinions of from the people here.

One final irritant of web design is choosing a font, that drives me crazy.

[Kawarthabob]

For me I have a facebook page and also use blogspot because they are free and I have no idea on how to build my own site with the preferences i want. Maybe i should take a course on that eh? facebook is primarily to get my name out to friends of friends and have had some interest in buying from that. My blog is more of a wildlife photo blog that i try and inform people about concerns in wildlife and maybe edumacate others. hope that helps.

[Iguanasan]

I'm only doing photography for enjoyment and I'm not selling anything... of course, no one is offering either ;)

In any event, I use this site, of course. I also use Flickr and I have a blog for fun. If I was looking to market though I'd consider using SquareSpace.com as I've heard many good things about it. You can try it for free if you want.

[asnow]

I'm the same as Iggy. "I'm only doing photography for enjoyment and I'm not selling anything... of course, no one is offering either"

Except for this site none of my stuff is posted on the web. I have NO social media site accounts (except this forum if you want to call it that). No Flickr, No Facebook, No Twitter, No Web Sites or Blogs. And IT support is my job at work .... go figure.

[thoughton]

I am a web designer and developer. I think unless you really need something unusual you would save a few thousand on design and build fees by going for one of the template-style places that cater to photographers. Redbubble, for instance. I've seen some nice sites hosted with them, and they take care of the ecommerce side for you. There are several outfits that specialise in photographers and/or artists.

[Wicked Dark]

you may want to check out sites like smugmug. their pro level site is something like $150US annually and is very customizable. it has shopping cart functionality and relationships with a few key printers. you can probably turn out something you like pretty easily. I think it's all CSS work. if you don't already have a user name there, I can get you a code that I think gives you a few bucks off. as long as you own your url name you can route it to them and their name won't appear in your web address.

[AcadieLibre]

I will be doing my own site, I am hard pressed to pay someone for something I am fully and competently capable of doing but I am that way with anything. I was curious what others do and what they use and what they want their web presence for. Also a one of kind template is very expensive and I want full artistic control over the site so I need to do it myself, just I don't want to but I know if I don't I will hate myself for having someone else do it. I think a blog is a great way for a hobbyist or amateur to have a web presence. Thanks for the responses. Once I finish the template which is most of the work I can use it across all three sites and I want each part of my photography to be separate from the other.

[Marko]

A.L. it's my pleasure to share my experience with you, but a phone call is way better on my unskilled fingers. Feel free to PM me for my number if you'd like, my pleasure.

[AcadieLibre]

I will, did you change it? I still have one for you if not I will pm you for it later.

[Greg_R]

T

1: So how many have a website?

Yes, I have one. (See below in the signature line)

2: Did you design and build it yourself?

A little from column A, a little from column B. I use Weebly, a free service (with a paid option) that has 80+ templates. I chose a template that I liked and added pages etc. as I see fit. You can customize the templates if you're familiar with css and html. That's a little beyond my skill set so I just left it as is. I'm an amateur and do this strictly for my own enjoyment (although work has been getting in the way lately, lol). I wanted a space to display my photos for friends and family.

3: Did you pay someone and if you can who did you get to do it?

See above. I use the free option however Weebly will design one for you.

4: Do you just use a social networking site such as flickr, facebook, google+, etc.?

I post links to my website on Facebook. I tried flickr and picassa, but wasn't really happy with them. I wanted more control of the page layout than they offered.

5: How strongly do those who do it as a profession or even a part time profession feel the need to have a web presence?

N/A

6: Do you do it just to show your work and/or to generate business?

Just to show work

7: Do you prefer simple and/or unique, populated but not overly busy or so you prefer a site that makes a big splash?

Simple.

7a: depending on your desire does it make a difference what kind of photography you are doing the site for?

Whatever I take a picture of that I'm proud of. My site is set up more like a blog. After I spend a day shooting a particular location or event then I post them with some background text.

No one really needs to answer any of queries but I really would like to know from a group this diverse that ranges from amateurs, hobbyists, semi pros and pros on how you feel about the whole having a website. When I am done this time I will post links to them, I have even set a deadline for the completion of them.


After this test I will mark each of your scores and grade you, lmaooo, just kidding it looks like test hahhaha. Seriously I would like a few opinions of from the people here.

One final irritant of web design is choosing a font, that drives me crazy.

What did I score?

[AcadieLibre]

What did I score?.

Well over all the effort was there so a 9.0 I think is fair, you are by far head of the class. You might even make Valedictorian. :D Oh and thanks appreciate the info.

[jude01]

I use social media sights. I like to show my work to friends and family but with the intent of accumulating a larger audience/following . I use flicker, Photobucket, facebook and youtube. The one I use the most is my facebook page (see signature). It is easy to upload to and navigate, and i can share between it and my personal page. I try to link everything together as much as possible. Right now photography is a hobby so these sights do the trick, but in the future if i ever start making some cash off it, ill get my own sight. Ive been involved in a photo contest sight for 2 years so direct traffic/votes by sending people to my sights so they can see a greater body of my work. An example : I posted a new album to my fb page 2 days ago and its had over 1000 views, all by directing traffic there. I also tag everything I post with "Selena Rhodes Scofield Photography"
So if someone Googles me...well it all shows up!

[AcadieLibre]

As I have mentioned before this in their TOS should be enough to keep any artist from posting or displaying any photos, paintings or other visual art from facebook.

For content that is covered by intellectual property rights, like photos and videos (IP content), you specifically give us the following permission, subject to your privacy and application settings: you grant us a non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, worldwide license to use any IP content that you post on or in connection with Facebook (IP License). This IP License ends when you delete your IP content or your account unless your content has been shared with others, and they have not deleted it.

I am trying Google+ plus as far as social media goes I am finding it just may not be for me and Google+ does not make any such claims in their TOS. The facebook TOS would lose in a court battle if you could afford to fight them.