Since first year, I had my first website using WIX, it was free and very easy to use. However since entering second year, I have had a tutorial on how to appear more professional online to gain more clients. The first step in this process is to buy a domain, this is cheap and easy, I brought www.baileykidd.co.uk for just 99p for one year. The hard part was linking this to an actual website, we were given free choice between many web design platforms but I went for Square Space as I have seen them advertised everywhere. SS is a lot harder to use than WIX, but I enjoy a challenge and learning a new software.
I thought the first website I made was the best deign I could come up with, however I quickly found out that a website should be a always changing process with my best work displayed on the front page. Here are some pointers that I learnt from my tutor;
No one likes to scroll - have a collage of images on your opening page
The basic - tabs at the top, clear font, repeated theme
Since making my website and including it in the emails is send to possible clients, I have definitely seen an increase in the amount of replies, now this could be a coincidence but I really doubt it. My website was - https://baileykidd0.wixsite.com/baileykiddphotos. This looks cheap and no one really took me as a professional content creator, but having a domain that doesn’t have any other branding in it has helped me grow as a photographer / videographer.
I am excited to build my website with each major shoot I go on, at the moment (29th November) I have the tabs; Home, Gallery, Video, Blog, Prints, Social, Contact. I think these 7 tabs cover all the content I want to add, and I think anymore that that could be too much. I have also eventually found out how to add a drop down menu under “Gallery” to my different work, I currently have landscape, 35mm, live music for public view. However, I also have some private galleries up for a while of family events so my relatives can see the images all in one place
I have had a lot of thought over how I want my blog to be read and designed. obviously I want the blog post from important University lectures, but I have found I receive more photo passes when I talk about bands on my website. A few of my peers have said I should keep my University and person blog posts separate, however I think it is good practice to have all my work in one place, this way, anyone who wants to go through my blog posts doesn’t need to visit two different sites. I may end up changing this in the future, but right now it works for me.
In conclusion, my website is some of the proudest work I have produced thus far, it was difficult to get the hang of and I am still learning the basics. When first opening my website, it is very clear that I am a live music photographer with a very concise editing style. For managers and promoters, it is very easy for them to see my work and contact me from my website. This is essentially what a website for; to display your best work, have a blog, and be able to contact the owner.
www.baileykidd.co.uk