Photography Website Mock-ups

I thought I'd compare and black against a white version. To see what background makes the photography stand out. At the moment I like the black background more because it make the photo 'pop' more. I am going to have a word with the client to see where she wants to take it.

No matter what colour scheme I choose I need to change the font and overall logo design. I think It is going to be a very important part of the website to inform people about her photography and who she is. Also I could play on the title and do a little animation so it doesn't take away any emphasis from the banner . Maybe of a camera and tripod chasing each other?

I see her colours being black, white and red for a sophisicated, passionate representation of her.

This YouTube video briefly describes some of the disciplines I will take into consideration whilst designing/creating my photography website. Typography will be a good tool to use at it will enable me to keep the website simple alongside the bold photos.

Flash Inspired Photography Websites

http://www.andrewfphotography.com/

• I like this site for its smooth use of flash from each section (the dark grey part of the page moves up and down)
• I like the simple use of black white and grey
• The white title works well to draw your attention to his name

http://www.jessicahilltout.com/

• The 'hand made' feel makes it feel personal
• Also the polaroid shots make the photos look 'real', again emphasising the personal look.

http://www.bottlebellphotography.com/about.aspx

• Simple yet has a good impact with the flash introduction. Also lets teh viewr know what the website is about whilst offering tehn an interesting form of interaction

http://www.tomhoops.com/latest.html

• Simple, clean cut design with a bold edge.
• My favourite part of the website is the typography for the logo

http://www.krijtenberg.nl/

Social networking
Many photographers have a page on Facebook, or a Flickr or Twitter account.

Flash
Flash-based websites can be beautiful and effective, freeing the web designer from the limitations of HTML and CSS. The downside is that they’re expensive to create, can take time to download and aren’t good for SEO. Often used by pro photographers who will send their url to interested parties and need a spectacular showcase for their images.

HUGE photos
Photography websites are naturally dominated by images. A recent trend is to display large photos for maximum impact.

Sophisticated design
Photographers are visual artists and need the design of their websites to reflect this. Good design often works in the background by making websites quick to load, easy to navigate and search engine friendly.

Content over design
No matter how good the design, content is king. It may look pretty, but if it doesn’t inform and entertain, your visitors won’t return. Some of the most popular photography websites are nothing more than a free Blogger blog.

Arts and Organisation website

Some of Saira Macleod's photography.

My second brief entails designing and coding a 5page website, validated against WC3 standards with at least 3 interactive flash pages, widgets and banners of various sizes. I will need to include-

• Diary/journal page in CSS/XHTML that will draw on a MYSQL database using php.
• Server side scripting and database
• CSS and XHTML will work as the frame work for interactivity
• I need to consider the data that my application needs to store, key operations that the application must perform
• The client must be able to update their journal
• Display their art form
• And finally the site should be a tool for gaining further fans, customers and visitors.

I have chosen Saira Macleod, a documentary (2ND year photographer at Nottingham Trent) to be the client for my website. She currently networks both in person and digitally but wants to take digital networking to the next level with a website that focuses purely on her photography with a minimalist edge to the overall design. She uses facebook, twitter and blogger to network and track her photographic journey. See http://sairamacleod.blogspot.com/

At the moment we are discussing design plans, aims for the site, accessiblity and interactity for her site so I will keep you all updated of it's progress.

Design Exercise 14: Social Network Integration

http://www.thatindiedude.com/
http://www.madfrogdesigns.com/

Two uses of Social Network integration (research twitter and rss scripts).

At the end of the day social networking, like most things in this world comes down to money and power. Many people have become 'addicted' to Facebook through the sense of power they get from spying on peoples lives but there is something else deeper to social network integration. The RSS subscriber chooses what they want to see, and what information they wish to receive. Knowing they have full control, and that they do not have to provide any personal information to subscribe, they will be more likely to opt-in therefore social networks can be used for advertising. Advertising can be used through pop-ups or in the form of rss. RSS can be a good for of information based advertising because people are subconsciously taking in the information as a form of news that businesses can select pieces of information to influence their audiences decision whether to buy a product etc.

Also as we all know twitter is a good form of networking with employers for many types of jobs but it is slowly being integrated into everyday use of all websites as widgets are being worked into the design to attract people. Bringing the widgets into the design builds up momentum as more and more people start to talk about your company, product or job etc...

Relevant Social Networks For My Photography Client

www.flickr.com
http://www.photography-network.net/
http://twitter.com/photo_network

Sudden Inspiration

I am running a bit behind with my flash banner (although we haven't been set a deadline for it). So far I've found flash banner a bit dull and too annoyingly commercial. Do I want to be part of that annoying pop team?! Well anyway whilst looking for inspiration I came back to the studio-output website (that wouldn't load on Friday!) It looks really good I love the simplicity of the mouse over and the text below the title changes and the video is really vibrant and creative with a flowing energy.

The second screen shot above has made me think of interactive animations I could do for my banner as I keep changing my mind about what choice to go for. One of the USP's for the blackberry is it's GPS which fits in with the name storm so I could do a quick miniature adventure that suggests that the phone can get you through any situation.

Exercise 13 Update

Whilst I have been mind-mapping ideas for the Blackberry Storm it has got me thinking about why people will buy the phone and not a cheaper one. Well to start with it has-

• Touch screen
• 3GS
• Loads of applications
• Camera
• Sleek design
• In competition with the iPhone (might attract people who don't like apple but want a product of a similar nature to the iPhone).

Also by buying this product what will it say about them as an individual who has brought it? I think this is a good way of looking at teh product so I want to use peoples faces as interaction tools between the USP's (above) and different people therefore the point being that who ever you are, wherever you are there is a use for the Blackberry Storm.

Apple iPhone Banned By Advertising Over Misleading Internet Claims

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/aug/27/apple.apple

The non existence of the iPhone use of flash has started to bite them in the arse! They have been banned by the uk's adverting watchdog for insinuating that you can reach any part of the Internet from the iPhone however as we all know flash is a key part of the Internet that apple has chosen not to integrate into the iPhone.

"You never know which part of the Internet you'll need ... which is why all the parts of the Internet are on the iPhone," ran a voice over.

Apple said that none of the advert content was showing Flash or Java (of which it doesn't support) ans that the iPhone use of Safari is built to open Internet standards.

So what does this mean for Apple? Could this open up the market for Flash applications that we take for granted?

http://www.speakvisual.com/#/spotlight
Speak Visual is a graphics processor that is designed to make your visuals stand out and advertise peoples individual work.

http://www.gluelondon.com/
Glue specialises in production adn post-production for media. They create 3D motion graphics for online environments to interactive virals.

http://www.mono-1.com/monoface/main.html
Apart from mono-face being quite entertaining (for a few minutes anyway) is an advertising agency that lives by the moto 'simpler is better'. It has a 'Mr Potato Head' wesbite to attract people to teh interact aspect of the company and how they use it to advertise.

Design Exercise 13: Flash Banner

Scenerio: You work for a web design company that has been comisioned to develop a new campaign for a mobile phone.

The part of teh site that I need to create is a simple FLASH animation that links to a main product website and is to be deployed across a variety of websites.

It should include 6-8 different sections that include animation and interaction.

Research your phone and its current advertisement and build a new campaign banner.

Who will the audience be? By looking at the video advertisement I think the blackberry storm is aimed at men in their early twenties to thirties due to the emphasis on GPS, the PERFECT WI-FI and LOADS OF APPS (as the advert says in a deep, manly voice) with thunder and lighting in the website.
What Is the Message That Needs To Be Communicated? The phone is about the new technology being developed therefore teh advert suggests to be a 'man's man' you need this phone for strength. I could take this phone features from a different angle. It is about the touch screen technology (although it isn't as good as the iPhone).