I recently created my own website of my photography for friends and family to view my work. I would love some feedback on my photos, website, and photography contracts. I am just starting out and would like to improve my work as a photographer and also cover my butt! I love photography and have been asked by friends to take pictures for their families and birthdays and would love to improve my skills. Thanksl
www.mianophotography.com
I also would like to know how I can add a link to my info...
Firstly, your photos - your landscape and architecture is stronger than your portraiture. You need to watch your (distracting) backgrounds more and avoid things like poles and branches sticking out of people's heads. Also watch your in-camera framing, to avoid chopping off people's feet. I would also say, go easier on the vignetting and the gaussian blur - used properly they are fantastic tools, but heavy-handed use is another distraction. Use your light - get those eyes sparkling - and watch your angles (shots up noses are generally not so flattering). Of course, don't take all this to heart - I am not saying your photos are terrible! Just keep working on the little things. I do suggest not taking on high-pressure jobs like weddings until your portraiture is second-nature and of a high standard.
Your website - it's a little cluttered and disorderly, in relation to the presentation of your photos. You may be best to look at a template (there are many hundreds available), or a blogsite may suit you better (check out Wordpress templates). Clean, simple designs often work best. And, of course, you want to make the most of your photos. Still, your site is far better than many I've seen. I suggest adding a photo of yourself on your contact or "about me" pages too, so people can put a face to the name - it often helps.
I'm not sure what feedback you want about contracts - I couldn't see any links to your contracts on your page (and, generally, that should be the case - you don't make that stuff publicly available). Talk to your country's professional photographer body about that kind of advice, if you are wanting suggestions / wording etc.
I'm also not sure what you mean about adding a link (you have lots of links in your site already). If you need some HTML try this site: http://www.w3schools.com/html/default.asp
I like the overall style of the site - it has quite a contemporary look and feel to it.
But I do think there are too many images on the home page. People know it's a photography site, 'cause it says so at the top - having that many pictures on the index page clutters it a little, I feel, and also means that your introduction text gets a bit lost.
Put one or two of your best photographs on the home page, and a little bit of a description of who you are, and what you do. Keep the design looking clean and simple, get people interested in you, and let them navigate around if they want to see more.
Also, I'm not sure I would've gone with the "purple fade" thing, with the background - I would probably just have solid black, or dark grey, behind the content - but that's just a small issue of personal preference, and doesn't really affect the usability of the site at all.
I'm not really qualified to give you feedback on your photos, but once you click on "Enter Website," the music is REALLY distracting and made me want to leave it. (Just my opinion, I'm not keen on any music when it comes to websites)
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Firstly, your photos - your landscape and architecture is stronger than your portraiture. You need to watch your (distracting) backgrounds more and avoid things like poles and branches sticking out of people's heads. Also watch your in-camera framing, to avoid chopping off people's feet. I would also say, go easier on the vignetting and the gaussian blur - used properly they are fantastic tools, but heavy-handed use is another distraction. Use your light - get those eyes sparkling - and watch your angles (shots up noses are generally not so flattering). Of course, don't take all this to heart - I am not saying your photos are terrible! Just keep working on the little things. I do suggest not taking on high-pressure jobs like weddings until your portraiture is second-nature and of a high standard.
Your website - it's a little cluttered and disorderly, in relation to the presentation of your photos. You may be best to look at a template (there are many hundreds available), or a blogsite may suit you better (check out Wordpress templates). Clean, simple designs often work best. And, of course, you want to make the most of your photos. Still, your site is far better than many I've seen. I suggest adding a photo of yourself on your contact or "about me" pages too, so people can put a face to the name - it often helps.
I'm not sure what feedback you want about contracts - I couldn't see any links to your contracts on your page (and, generally, that should be the case - you don't make that stuff publicly available). Talk to your country's professional photographer body about that kind of advice, if you are wanting suggestions / wording etc.
I'm also not sure what you mean about adding a link (you have lots of links in your site already). If you need some HTML try this site: http://www.w3schools.com/html/default.asp
And good luck!
But I do think there are too many images on the home page. People know it's a photography site, 'cause it says so at the top - having that many pictures on the index page clutters it a little, I feel, and also means that your introduction text gets a bit lost.
Put one or two of your best photographs on the home page, and a little bit of a description of who you are, and what you do. Keep the design looking clean and simple, get people interested in you, and let them navigate around if they want to see more.
Also, I'm not sure I would've gone with the "purple fade" thing, with the background - I would probably just have solid black, or dark grey, behind the content - but that's just a small issue of personal preference, and doesn't really affect the usability of the site at all.
Any help, at all?