Finally My Photography website is finished

[bozazz]

It seems that finally my website is finished and uploaded. It's been a year now and I thought I'd never be able to do it, but thanks to yahoo I've finally got it up. The website is for my photography business. I'm trying to get into portraits rather than wedding but I just finished shooting a wedding and the photos turned out pretty good so I decided to incorporate them into the site. Any feedback, not just on the webpage design, layout, but suggestions on improving my photos would be much appreciated! I don't have a web gallery yet (though I do have a scrolling small web intro with pictures). I'm hoping to use Pictage as a means to host and sell my photos later on. Maybe someone here knows whether that's a good service to host my photos?

My Photography Website

[bozazz]

Oh just in case you're wonder I'm new to the photography business. I've always enjoyed taking pictures, but this year I brought a Nikon D80 to replace my dinky little Sony cybershot. So in terms of my experience shooting professionally I'd say it would be just under 8 months. I thought if I'm going to do it I might as well just jump right in rather than test the waters.

[JLTucker]

Is it possible for you to add an option to disable the music?

[bozazz]

Is it possible for you to add an option to disable the music?

I honestly tried. I spent a few days reading and trying out the tutorials that I could find online but it turned into a nightmare. I could stop the music but for some reason it stopped the entire movie. I'm thinking I will need some time to figure it out. If you know how I would be grateful for any help you might have.

Edit: You don't find the music too grating do you? I'm trying to gauge how people view the music. I tried to find something that resembled "elevator music" but all I have is this mp3.

[The Grim Squeaker]

Could you give me any tips perhaps? I'm on a different continent than you, so I'm not direct competition

[bozazz]

Could you give me any tips perhaps? I'm on a different continent than you, so I'm not direct competition

Me? Sure I don't mind. I'll share whatever limited knowledge I have. Even if you were in direct competition I wouldn't mind at all.

Do you want some tips on photography or flash? Flash I wouldn't be much help at all I'm afraid. I'm barely a beginner. If it's photography what kind of help can I provide?

[bozazz]

I looked at your portrait submission in the other thread. They're very good! The way the shadows highlight the face is very sensual and mysterious. You found yourself some very gorgeous models! The first one has a very symmetrical face.

[The Grim Squeaker]

Could you give me any tips perhaps? I'm on a different continent than you, so I'm not direct competition

Me? Sure I don't mind. I'll share whatever limited knowledge I have. Even if you were in direct competition I wouldn't mind at all.

Do you want some tips on photography or flash? Flash I wouldn't be much help at all I'm afraid. I'm barely a beginner. If it's photography what kind of help can I provide?

Photography and getting work with it. (I have the techy SDN members if I want to put up a photography website )

[bozazz]

Could you give me any tips perhaps? I'm on a different continent than you, so I'm not direct competition

Me? Sure I don't mind. I'll share whatever limited knowledge I have. Even if you were in direct competition I wouldn't mind at all.

Do you want some tips on photography or flash? Flash I wouldn't be much help at all I'm afraid. I'm barely a beginner. If it's photography what kind of help can I provide?

Photography and getting work with it. (I have the techy SDN members if I want to put up a photography website )

Ah. I wish I knew about these techy SDN member...I could have used their help with my webpage. Still could actually. I'd love to find a way for people to turn off the music on my website.
Anyways finding work in Photography. That's a toughie but here's what I find useful. I started off with friends who were getting married and I undercut all the other photographers. Many charge about $5000 cnd and I charge about $1000. I've increased my price recently as I feel I can charge a bit more now. But it's still $3000 less than most people. Secondly you need a fancy business cards. I make my own in InDesign. And here's something I don't think many people know but in InDesign set the parameter for the layout to be 4x7 inches. Since business cards are 2x3.5 the layout will allow you to have 4. Once you've added the graphics export it as a jpeg. Take it to a print shop and have them print the business card on 4x7 paper. It might be cheaper to print at 4x6 but you'll lose two of the cards as they will be chopped off. Now all you have to do is cut them. You now have a very high quality glossy or matted (whichever way you like it) business card. It costs be about $.10 per card to print this way versus making actual business cards for $.39. Saves a bundle and they look much better.

Now to generate business all you really have to do is score one wedding and you're set. I practically threw away my business cards at the first event. I know some people find it annoying but I try to direct conversations to photography whenever I meet people. It gives me an opportunity to introduce what I do and to give them a business card.

Finally selling stock is another way to get work with it. Since you have a studio and models it wouldn't be too difficult to dress them up as business people and take pictures of them. You might already be doing this...

So that's how I'm getting work in photography. What I'd rather do is commercial photography. That I have no answer for you if that's what you're looking for. It's a very competitive and small market. Too many photographers and not really enough work to go around. I myself am looking for tips in this area

[The Grim Squeaker]

Me? Sure I don't mind. I'll share whatever limited knowledge I have. Even if you were in direct competition I wouldn't mind at all.

Do you want some tips on photography or flash? Flash I wouldn't be much help at all I'm afraid. I'm barely a beginner. If it's photography what kind of help can I provide?

Photography and getting work with it. (I have the techy SDN members if I want to put up a photography website )

Ah. I wish I knew about these techy SDN member...I could have used their help with my webpage. Still could actually. I'd love to find a way for people to turn off the music on my website.

Make a G&C post.

Anyways finding work in Photography. That's a toughie but here's what I find useful. I started off with friends who were getting married and I undercut all the other photographers. Many charge about $5000 cnd and I charge about $1000

Eeep. Most work I've done so far is volunteer work, a few (volunteer) conventions and one birthday party for pay. (less than 90$).
I don't have an external flash yet, I'd buy one if I could justify it with the workflow first. (But there's no flow). 1,000$? Dang...
How did you convince them to let you work the first time? That's a heck of a lot of cash, and a lot of trust for something that's once in a life time.

. I've increased my price recently as I feel I can charge a bit more now. But it's still $3000 less than most people.

Most people who have a lot of experience .

Secondly you need a fancy business cards.

A pity I lack the templates I built in photoshop in my old job, I had some nice simple cards there..

I make my own in InDesign.

Have you ever made promotional flyers or board signs? I want to make one or two to hang up on boards around the village in hopes of finding some work, styling tips or ideas or (best) an example would be helpful and would save me work.

Now to generate business all you really have to do is score one wedding and you're set. I practically threw away my business cards at the first event.

Interesting...

I know some people find it annoying but I try to direct conversations to photography whenever I meet people. It gives me an opportunity to introduce what I do and to give them a business card.

I prefer it as a social networking tool. ("Hey, give me your email and facebook then")

Finally selling stock is another way to get work with it. Since you have a studio and models it wouldn't be too difficult to dress them up as business people and take pictures of them. You might already be doing this...

No... Never thought of that or seen it. (I was only in the studio once in my life as part of a photography course).

So that's how I'm getting work in photography. What I'd rather do is commercial photography. That I have no answer for you if that's what you're looking for. It's a very competitive and small market. Too many photographers and not really enough work to go around. I myself am looking for tips in this area

Tell me if you get any tips .

[lukexcom]

I'm hoping to use Pictage as a means to host and sell my photos later on. Maybe someone here knows whether that's a good service to host my photos?

I'm personally planning to one day sell prints using smugmug.com and their Pro accounts ($150/year). The costs-per-print seem ok, and I could up-charge from there by whatever I think is reasonable. Off of the profit itself, they skim 15%. Note that I wouldn't dream of leaving my day job to become a pro for obvious financial reasons, so photography would only be used as a supplemental "hey thanks for buying my prints, I'm flattered!" income.

EDIT: fixed 2nd link format

[bozazz]

Eeep. Most work I've done so far is volunteer work, a few (volunteer) conventions and one birthday party for pay. (less than 90$).
I don't have an external flash yet, I'd buy one if I could justify it with the workflow first. (But there's no flow). 1,000$? Dang...
How did you convince them to let you work the first time? That's a heck of a lot of cash, and a lot of trust for something that's once in a life time.

I don't know. I'm in Alberta so there's a lot of money flowing around. They were looking around for photographers and found $5000 too pricey so I guess $1000 sounds pretty cheap. Try doing some outdoor portraits first. That will bulk up your portfolio quite substantially. I started off my portfolio by offering to do family portraits for free. People usually like that if they get some nice photos out of it and you get to add some nice photos to your portfolio to show new clients.

A pity I lack the templates I built in photoshop in my old job, I had some nice simple cards there..

Well you can use my template as a starting point if you like. It's what I use for my business cards. Hereis the template in Indesign. Hereis what it would look like once you've exported it as a jpeg.

Have you ever made promotional flyers or board signs? I want to make one or two to hang up on boards around the village in hopes of finding some work, styling tips or ideas or (best) an example would be helpful and would save me work.

I haven't done one yet for my business but I have made flyers and posters before. Here is an example. I actually was planning to do something similar for my business. I like making posters nice and clean. That way the image pops out, and since you're selling your photography skills an advertisement should always focus on your photos and make them more noticeable. Here is what I was planning and feel free to copy it if you'd like. In the poster where the hand and strawberry is located I would replace it with a photo of a model that has been cut out. The background would still be white. My logo would replace the one in the poster and I will quickly describe the type of work I do, so portraits and weddings. Maybe another blurb about capturing the essence of joy and happiness in every image.

As for stock photography I sell to iStock. I'm working towards being an exclusive member. Not there yet since I don't have the minimum required downloads yet. They will pay you more if you only make your photos available on their website. This could supplement your income as a photographer but it'll probably won't be enough to replace your other revenue sources. It hasn't for me, but I might be the exception.

I will certainly let you know if I stumble across any tips. I got a feeling though that the photographers who gets into to fashion aren't about to spill any beans so to speak. It's a very small market so there's not much room. I can see them trying to eliminate any competition that they have

[bozazz]

I'm hoping to use Pictage as a means to host and sell my photos later on. Maybe someone here knows whether that's a good service to host my photos?

I'm personally planning to one day sell prints using smugmug.com and their Pro accounts ($150/year). The costs-per-print seem ok, and I could up-charge from there by whatever I think is reasonable. Off of the profit itself, they skim 15%. Note that I wouldn't dream of leaving my day job to become a pro for obvious financial reasons, so photography would only be used as a supplemental "hey thanks for buying my prints, I'm flattered!" income.

EDIT: fixed 2nd link format

Precisely. That's why I have a day job! It really is hard to make a living as a photographer and wedding only bring in so much. The only ones I booked is a year in advance. But thanks for the link. It was very informative. I will have to check out smugmug.com. I've been debating whether to continue to just give cd's to people with the photos in order to save time, money and energy.