critique my portfolio layout

[msbarnes]

-The women in your photos and their friends and families could be the main audience for your work.

-The layout of your website should help to give your photos maximum impact.

-The website should also reflect what kind of photographer you're, in other words, the more professional it looks the better impression it gives to visitors.

-The photos in your website are the main reason people will visit and look around.

Based on those points you can come up with a plan.

Thank you, those are very good points! I am erring towards the mroe professional side now. getting rid of unnecessary links (e.g. flickr) and informtion (names, locations) to start. And then a domain probably.

 

[msbarnes]

My preference is a couple versions back -- the one with thumbnails below the main image. No scrolling at all in that case. Everything feels direct and precise.

I'm viewing on an iPad and the vertical scrolling of the main section behaves strangely. Scrolling drags somewhat and the images moves horizontally.

Nice photos and overall a very fine look.

John

thanks! I will perhaps make another version and ask people which they prefer.

 

[msbarnes]

I know you didn't ask for content critique but I quite like that overexposed color look, might give it a try myself

thanks! I don't mind some discussion on the content as it is very important but I didn't want the main focus to be on my images. I'm almost done with my site but I think I'm more or less happy with my current layout.

 

[msbarnes]

scrolling?
http://cargocollective.com/RolleiPortraits/Marilyn
or thumbnails?
http://cargocollective.com/RolleiPortraits/Alice

any strong opinions on either one? (ignore spacing issues atm).

 

[newsgrunt]

much smaller (and tighter spaced) subject thumbs at left and horizontal scroll vs vertical. consider this: screens are (unless you're in printed page design) landscape orientation so try taking advantage of it for this series.

 

[msbarnes]

much smaller (and tighter spaced) subject thumbs at left and horizontal scroll vs vertical. consider this: screens are (unless you're in printed page design) landscape orientation so try taking advantage of it for this series.

excellent point on the landscape orientation!

 

[msbarnes]

http://cargocollective.com/RolleiPortraits/Asiana

I tried horizontal scroll here. It seems to fill the space better..

I almost feel that these images are better when viewed side-by-side too..a little more narrative. i can probably select and arrange the images accordingly.

I'll probably mess with the image sizing and spacing.

 

[newsgrunt]

much better. play with the spacing (more at the top of main images) and remember to keep elements from competing for attention (thumbs vs full image)

 

[NicoM]

According to everyone. This is, as I stated, something the web design industry has spent a lot of time and money studying. I do this professionally; I know what I'm talking about. As I often have to tell my students: stop arguing and listen when someone who knows the material is trying to teach you. You might learn something.

I'm currently in school or graphic design and I'm going to have to disagree with you. With the way content is vied in todays world (tablets, phones, etc.), side scrolling CAN makes sense. There are, of course, many other factors that contribute to the decision of using it, but not having side scrolling is definitely not a "rule".

 

[raphaelaaron]

im going to go ahead and jump in on this and agree that side scrolling isn't necessarily a sin.

forgive me for generalizing, but it seems the people who support it tend to be younger than those who have been against it on this thread. not trying to start anything, but it may just be a taste particular to a certain generation, or since it could be considered "hip" now.

i've done some design work in the past and even made a few websites and definitely have seen a good amount of side scrolling from many successful artists. also with the advent UI of tablets and touchscreen computers from Windows, Apple, Android, HP, etc. the side scrolling idea is not necessarily alien.

now i'm a little late in seeing the various changes to the page, but when i saw the latest draft, i thought it was quite nice, layout-wise. the work complements the use of space, and i found no trouble getting accustomed to it.

 

[newsgrunt]

I'm on the wrong side of Hipsterville but I don't believe it's sacrosanct that the web MUST be viewed top to bottom or vice versa. That's just inflexibility and why some people/companies etc. are left in the dust.

Some horizontal scrolls make my eyes hurt but most work and leveraging the screen real estate is a black art imo. It's trite but rules ARE made to be broken.