OK, please review my pix.
Thanks www.mcrphotography.com

the about me and contact pages aren't working.

Yes, the text appears and then disappears.

Otherwise you have some great shots in there, although I do have some issues with the design of the site:

I don't like the grey rectangle that appears with the caption or title of the photographs.
It overlaps the image itself and is disturbing.

Also when you go from a thumbnail page to the index ( MCR Photography ),when this is popping up it also overlaps both text and images. It's not always legible.
And lastly I would sometimes like to look at a certain image for a while, but the slide show starts automatically. It took me a while to figure out to click on the "Pause" button. Maybe you should consider turning this around. Leave it standard in "single mode" unless the viewer starts the slide show?

This is all meant as constructive criticism, I hope you don't take offense as some here tend to do.

Keep up the good work!

Peter

No offense taken, that was what I was looking for, although I mostly want opnions on the caliber of the pix. I will adjust site with some of the suggestions.
Thanks,
Mike

The pics are good quality. It's hard to say more without knowing what your goals are. Alot of the people here are commercial and editorial photographers and what your portfolio says about you is that you are a generalists whose client is the public. If that's your goal, then your pics are good. Nothing too edgy, all exposed correctly, etc.

If that's not your goal, then you have some work to do. And the first step is finding out who you are and what your vision is. You are all over the place with subject matter. You creativity will start to soar when you start specializing in YOUR vision.

So now you've changed from thumbnails to scrolling...
I'm not sure I like that more.
Personally I like seeing an overview at a glance and then decide which photographs I want to take a closer look at, instead of waiting for them to float by. Again, my personal opinion.
You've got some nice work in there, I like your wedding shots and I think you can do very well commercially in that area. Along with portraits.
You obviously have a way with people that some seem to lack.
It wasn't clear from your bio, are you already making a living of photography or just starting out?

Anyway, keep up the good work.

Peter

Thanks for the comments. As of now I'm a manager at a printing company making decent money, but I love photography and do a few weddings a year, just had 3 local gallery shows this year. But as usual always just doubt myself as to how far along I am, so just basically wanted to hear honest opinions of other photogs, regardless of profession. I thank all of you who have offered me their opinion.
thanks again,
Michael

first tip... don't make three different threads about the same website. It's hard to follow what has been given as advice and what hasn't been said yet.

And I agree that the scrolling is more distracting than thumbs. Remember, most of the people who have enough money to hire you are older people. This scrolling may be too awkward/confusing for them.

your Bio page needs work...have someone else write it...never do it yourself...

You know your around a camera and make good pics. Definitely marketable. It was said above, but I think you might need to focus your goals a little. Are you after the wedding / portrait market or everything? Everything will get you everywhere slowly. Sure you can shoot lots of subjects, practically everyone on the forum can to. You need make your self stand out from the crowd. Once you get a client you can show them your other skills. Also consider marketing different segments differently.

Site wise I'm not a big fan of the description window, actually I hate it. I know a 35MPH speed sign when I see it and when a bride and groom are kissing, you don't need to tell me. I find it very distracting.

quote:

Originally posted by Alan Farkas:
[qb] You know your around a camera and make good pics. Definitely marketable. It was said above, but I think you might need to focus your goals a little. Are you after the wedding / portrait market or everything? Everything will get you everywhere slowly. Sure you can shoot lots of subjects, practically everyone on the forum can to. You need make your self stand out from the crowd. Once you get a client you can show them your other skills. Also consider marketing different segments differently.

Site wise I'm not a big fan of the description window, actually I hate it. I know a 35MPH speed sign when I see it and when a bride and groom are kissing, you don't need to tell me. I find it very distracting. [/qb]

interesting. I agree with some parts and disagree with other parts... I totally agree about the "Everything will get you everywhere slowly" comment. Instead, focus on getting great at one thing, and then branch out after you are KNOWN for one thing. I get wedding gigs BECAUSE people know me as one of the best music shooters in North TX. I had a harder time getting gigs years ago when I showed a little bit of everything.

If you MUST post a portfolio for the other things, buy a second and/or third domain name and show the wedding stuff (or whatever will be your secondary shooting focus) on a seperate site. Just add a link to it in your external links page (assuming you have a links page. I do with links to my fav photo gear manufactures, magazines I shoot for, etc).

Now, I disagree about the no captions comment. I've had several editors ask about captions on my old site, which had no info. Of course, they were all people who work at publications and deal with captions for a living. Maybe corporate clients or retail clients may think differently.

quote:

Now, I disagree about the no captions comment. I've had several editors ask about captions on my old site, which had no info. Of course, they were all people who work at publications and deal with captions for a living. Maybe corporate clients or retail clients may think differently.

Captions that offer something are worth while. Show me a pic of a 35 MPH speed limit sign and the caption says "35MPH" is redundant and adds nothing. Show a pic of a CEO and a caption with a name & company adds value & context. So yes I will agree they have value, Just not as they are used on the site of discussion.

quote:

Originally posted by Alan Farkas:
[qb]

quote:

Now, I disagree about the no captions comment. I've had several editors ask about captions on my old site, which had no info. Of course, they were all people who work at publications and deal with captions for a living. Maybe corporate clients or retail clients may think differently.

Captions that offer something are worth while. Show me a pic of a 35 MPH speed limit sign and the caption says "35MPH" is redundant and adds nothing. Show a pic of a CEO and a caption with a name & company adds value & context. So yes I will agree they have value, Just not as they are used on the site of discussion. [/qb]

very good point. I didn't look at his captions, just read your post. I agree that a caption needs to support the image without being redundant.

all you have to do is close the caption when it comes up and they should stay closed unless you click on the info button

I tried that- clicking on close but the captions pop up every time.