|
Building A Photography Website
Pt 2 - Site Under Construction
By Jeremy Cuff
In the Part 1 of this series, published in the previous edition of "In Focus", we looked at the internet in general, the reasons why a photographer might want a website, and some general issues that will need consideration. If you've decided that a website is for you, the next step is to create one…
We’ve all seen that "Site Under Construction" message on the internet and in some ways, creating a website is rather like undertaking a building project.
It starts with yourself clutching the original, raw idea. Then the designer enters the fray as the "architect", to help you shape and mould it. The domain name and hosting is the "plot of land" where the site will sit. And then there's the visitors themselves - they'll be the critics, whose "first impression" test you have to pass. They'll decide if your site is a Sydney Opera House or a Soviet style tower block. What they think in the first few seconds will probably determine whether they stay on the site or move on elsewhere.
To get the ball rolling, you need to register a domain name and associated email accounts which form the site's address. It's now fairly cheap to do this, a far cry from the dotcom hysteria of a few years back when catchy domain names would change hands for megabucks. Many companies that offer domain registration also offer hosting packages which you will also need to arrange. But make sure that you do it through a reputable company - take advice from your designer or from computer magazines.
That done, you can start creating the site itself. There are many issues to consider as touched on in Part 1 of this series. It's important to get your inspiration and ideas together. Look at other websites - and not necessarily photo sites. Ideas are all over the web. Replicate the "essence" of what you like in other sites and make it work in your own.
Before commencing any design work, you must, of course, choose the content for the site. It's not an easy process and can be quite time consuming, especially if you've got a lot of materials to draw from. It's important to be discerning for "quality control" reasons and also to keep the size of the site to a reasonable level.
Large sites are fine if they're well managed and thought out, but it can be often be "like building a pyramid" in terms of time spent and can be quite expensive. If you've got a lot of content, expect the entire process to take months, unless you and your web designer can dedicate a lot of time.
You will also need to consider any site functionality. For example, do you need a search facility? The answer is that it's up to you. Functionality such as a search facilities will need programming and therefore mean more time and expense, so it's up to you to weigh up the pros and cons. A well sorted and categorised website may not need a search facility. Don't forget, a search facility is only as good as the programming - so if you can'’t do it well, best not bother.
My own taste for web design is that "back button" usage should be unnecessary in order to navigate the site, and that "flash animation" is kept to a minimum, but it's ultimately up to the individual to determine what is "good for you" and is acceptable.
Relevant to photo sites in particular is whether the images should appear in "pop ups" or be "embedded" into the site. These days, I would suggest that the images are "embedded" as many internet security programs are designed to block pop ups. This decision will inherently affect the design and layout of the site, so it's important to make your mind up before commencing the design work.
Details and refinements are important, too. However subtle, people respond to the "thought and effort" that has gone into a site. For example, a "today’s date" which can be driven by a bit of programming, gives the site a "present tense" feel about it. You get the impression that the site is updated each day, even if it isn't.
Try to ensure that your work is difficult to steal. I risk it with some stories which are easy to "cut and paste" from the site but that's the chance you take if want to publish samples of your work. Images are easier to protect, as they can be of a sufficiently low resolution as to render them useless for commercial print. Caveats such as copyright information are also small but important "must haves" for any site.
It's also important to think about where the site is going, and how it's going to grow. An ability to expand and grow the site without a major re-design is a real advantage, and a cost saver, too!
To build the site itself, you'll need to enlist some help unless you're already a graphic designer. Like choosing a good builder for your house extension, the same is true for choosing a designer tasked with building your website. Get yourself a good designer. It's essential. You might also require a programmer if your site includes functionality - most web designers can recommend associates if they can't do the programming themselves.
But what is a good designer? It can be a bit of lottery in order to find out, and it's easy to find out the hard way. There's a lot a designers out there, so it's important to get one that you can work with and can relate to.
The "common sense" factor is useful in the selection process as there are several "indicators" that you can look for. Firstly, ask yourself "Can I work with this person?" If you can't, then find someone else. Is the designer busy? If the answer is yes, it's usually a good sign. Personal recommendation can count for a lot, so ask around for anyone who's worked with a good web designer or web design company. Also, ask to see a portfolio of work - this should tell you whether they are capable of producing what you want, or whether their design style is to your taste. Finally, enquire about costs, so you're clear about the basis upon which you'll be charged. If you're still unsure, ask a few more questions.
Be wary of designers who "know what you want" before they've even listened to you.
It's easy to get caught up with a designer who sees your website purely as a means to flex his creative muscles. If that's his agenda, he may well be sacrificing practicality, and a website has to have a practical element to it. The internet, if anything, is about instant access. Don't prevent a visitor to your website from getting to the part he or she is interested in. Web patience is proven to be short in numerous surveys.
On the flipside, a mistake I often see is a client being not prepared to listen to the suggestions of the designer - a good designer's views should be respected and form part of the finished result. After all, that's why you've employed him.
Rarely can bad designers produce good work but I've often seen good designers produce rubbish, purely because that's what the client has insisted on them producing. It has to be a healthy "push and pull", in effect, a creative partnership.
One sure way of not getting what you want is to be vague about the brief - it may sound obvious but it happens so often. The way that websites are built means that major afterthoughts and u-turns are a designer's nightmare. Get a direction that you're happy with early on. If you're not happy with the initial interpretations, produce more ideas before adding in all the content. It's essential to get a design style that you're happy with. If it isn't working, think about getting another designer or keep trying until you hit the sweet spot. But be careful, you might still get a bill unless you've made it clear that you won't pay unless you actually use the designs.
So, to summarize, provide a good, clear and well explained brief. It also helps if you explain some background about the reasons for needing the site and a little history about its content, so that the designers can understand and relate to the material they'll be working with. That way, you're less likely to "end up" with a website other than the one you imagined. You'll also minimise wide "interpretational differences" that are inherent in transferring what is in your "minds-eye" to another individual.
It's a good idea to ask your designer to put the "Site Under Construction" on a test address, so that you can see the work as it progresses. You can also ask family and friends for their feedback at this stage. Perhaps ask them to find something specific and see how easy it is for them to get to the right web page. Second opinions are well worth having, as it's easy to get too "emotionally attached" to the project.
Once you've got the completed website, don't put it live straight away. It's always a good idea to check it first. You literally have to test every page and link. That way you can find any mistakes before someone else does and make any necessary amendments. And with that done, you can finally put it live on the internet.
Oh, and give yourself a deadline. The work can have the habit of "expanding into infinity", especially if the site is big.
In the next edition, we'll look at managing the site in terms of content and updates.
November 2006
Back to Top
Back to Text Menu
|
