SPECIAL FEATURE
I look at a lot of photographer's websites. I estimate that I view at least 10 for every one I post. Considering I've made over 1500 blog posts, allowing for duplications, etc. I estimate that I've viewed well over 10,000 photo sites! (My head is starting to hurt just thinking about it.)
Now, I think that this kind of experience qualifies me share some advice to photographers about website design. In other words, it's time to cut loose a bit, and rant about some of my pet peeves. I apologize in advance to anyone who's feelings I bruise, but trust me, if I'm saying it, others are thinking it. The following, in no particular order, are my personal top 9 things that really get up my nose when visiting photo sites. Feel free to add your own in the comments section. I'm only one away from making this a top 10 list!
1) Overly ponderous flash sitesYes, it looks all cool and animated, but if I have to watch a 30 second opening animation, I've lost interest by second 6. If I do manage to wait it out, only to find an interface filled with animated gimmicks and images that take 10 seconds each to load, I'm gone.
2) Galleries that you can only see one image at a time, in sequenceIf you've got 50 images without thumbnails and I can only get to them by clicking "Next" 50 times, I'm not going to make it past image 3, especially if I have no idea how many images there are. Let ME decide what I want to see and when.
3) The dreaded flash slide show without overrideThis is the much, much uglier cousin of the one image at a time gallery. If you expect me or anyone else to sit back with a cup of tea and watch your 10 minute powerpoint show, you're wrong, Wrong, WRONG!
4) Embedded Sound TracksYou know what? Some people don't like your taste in music. I'm one of them.
5) Out of date & ugly site designNothing says "I haven't updated since 1997" quite like a site covered with animated gifs, frames, and featuring a colour scheme inspired by a box of Crayolas.
6) Banner links to various "erotica" sites right on your front pageYes, link exchanges are good and send traffic your way, but do you think a big banner promising "Hot Teens" on your front page increases your legitimacy as a fine art photographer?
7) Obtrusive watermarks right across the center of your images.
First, how does a photographer bring him/herself to vandalize their work like that? Second, most people who do this are fooling themselves that anyone would want to steal their images anyway.
8) Little tiny imagesI want to actually
see the photos dammit! A 300 x 500 pixel image isn't much better than a thumbnail. How are people supposed to appreciate your work when it's the size of a postage stamp?
9) Ridiculously grandiose or flakey bio's written in the 3rd person"Joe Blow's unique artistic vision is truly transcendent. He considers his work as a spiritual journey and exploration of the sacred feminine... blah, blah, blah..." You think people read this stuff and go, "Oooh, what a great artist!" In fact, they're thinking, "What a tool."
We now resume our regularly scheduled programming.
