BIG NEWS!!! Well, for me anyway...
I am currently designing several new websites to improve the web presence of my studio. The plan is to build a custom website for the studio based on PHP, CSS, AJAX and MYSQL database backend.This is a departure for me from the usual technologies with which I use for professional development; mainly, Microsoft C#.NET, ASP.NET and SQL Server 2005. To make the site more portable, that is to find more economical hosting I have decided to go open source on this project.
This site will be the crux of the web presence and will include a custom Flash animated intro, custom Flash animated splash page that will link to the custom studio site, four bludomain template sites (Wedding, Portrait, Event and Commercial), a PickPic client proofing site, this blog and a personal site that will share family images, my poetry, my writings and other personal information.
The studio site will be a very content rich site. It will provide clients information about photography services, the rates for these services, information about additional products and their pricing, information about wedding and portrait package prices, information about what attire is recommended for portrait sessions, portrait location recommendations for clients wanting really unique images, a database driven calendar that will show studio and photographer availability, password protected client areas for private slideshows & galleries beyond what is available via the PickPic client proofing site, general studio contact information, recommended vendor information, photographer biographies & awards and a private online studio management section for authorized system users.
I estimate, given my current work schedule, the development will be completed and the new sites will go live in late September 2008. This is a significant investment in time and money, but I really expect the improvements to be something clients will appreciate and potential clients will recognize as a true value add as they search for a photographer.
I want to give a huge shout out to Samantha at www.bludomain.com for all her assistance in the planning and purchasing of the new sites; if you would like to check out her gorgeous photography visit her website at www.xenstudio.com. Any professional photographer or videographer who is building a web presence and needs professional services in this arena should take a look at the new templates that Bludomain has to offer; compare prices and services with the other companies offering these services and you will likely discover that Bludomain is a great solution. I have been a Bludomain customer for more than a year now and I think they offer a world class solution to my needs.
I will be posting updates on my progress and some images of the pages as they develop over the next few weeks. I cannot wait to finish the studio site development and to flesh out the design and content of the new Bludomain sites. This is going to be a labor of love and a journey of technical discovery; the studio is growing and so is our web presence.
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