As you all know, I have been branching beyond accounting (Yawn) to some side photography gigs (Whee!).
So far, I have not done a whole lot to promote myself. The first few weddings that I booked for this coming summer were from readers of my site emailing me and asking me if I would shoot their weddings. Woo! The local photo guy has been teaching me tricks, having me assist him, and sending clients my way. It’s been a slow and steady start.
One of the reasons I have not been promoting myself much was that I did not have much to actually promote myself with. I could give people the link to this site, but then they would have to wade through tales of bubbles and constipated babies to see some of my photos. I post a lot of my photos on Flickr and have made public those that would be portfolio-worthy. That is the link I have been sending to prospective clients and it has been better than nothing at least.
I know that any decent photographer nowadays needs an online portfolio. I registered my domain name and started thinking of what to do with it. There are a number of hosting companies that offer photography portfolio sites, but they (Shockingly!) are not free. Honey (the ever-wise and always-frugal one) suggested that maybe I spend money on photography accessories until the point where my gigs gave me the cushion of cash with which to pay for a professional web design/professional hosting. He’s a smart one, that Matthew.
So, I gave up the dream of a professional site. And then! A web-designer friend offered to do my site for free! A very sweet and generous offer. I figured out what galleries I wanted, and what photos to include. The weeks went by and my friend was getting more and more bogged down with people who were willing to pay him in more than accolades. I released him from his gracious offer last week and set about the task of making my domain into a portfolio.
He had suggested a theme he thought would work well. I agreed. I uploaded it, changed it from black to white, and started creating the site I had envisioned. I was wading through CSS and winning. Go me! My work weekend was in a beautiful location…
…but my days were spent teaching, and my evenings spent marking. When my brain was tired of accounting, I played with the site for an hour or so each night. On Saturday, I thought I had finally beat it into submission. It looked like I wanted! The galleries had thumbnails! Then I clicked on a thumbnail to see the enlarged version.
HUGE ERROR MESSAGE.
Something along the lines of “lkfjaklsfjaksjfaf…SYNTAX…lklakdlkalgka“. ACK!
I cried out for Twittered for help. Miss Grace (aka witchypoo) leapt to my aid. She did a bunch of tweaking on my back end. Well not my back end. My site’s back end. She did some “hybridizing” and mentioned something about “ajax”. I had NO IDEA that cleaning supplies were required. THIS IS WHY I AM NOT A WEB DESIGNER.
It took her more time than I could ever afford to pay, so I am paying her in the hugest shout-out EVER. If you need some web design done, and have cold hard cash, GO SEE HER.
I sent little snippets of time last night and tonight doing some tweaking. I have some current client photos and such that need to get on there, and a few other minor adjustments, but I’m pretty excited about what I did with it. Like when you click on that front page photo? It takes you to the gallery! And when you click on one of the Gallery photos? It takes you to that category! And then you can click on a photo to make it bigger. If you click on it again? It’s HUGE.
(If you are a web designer, you are probably having fits of giggles. This, to you, is like bookkeeping to me; I can do it in my sleep. But maybe I get an “A” for effort?)
So, um, check it out. And then come back here and tell me what you think.
http://www.angelladykstra.com/
Criticism (if constructive) is welcomed. I really want to know what you guys think.
*Crosses fingers (and toes) that you like it*
52 Comments
GO YOU! Am off to check out the site, but just from that one picture? I wish you were here, in Oregon, to shoot destination photos for me ( I work for a Convention & Visitors Bureau). Off to see your new digs!
Rhi’s last blog post..In which I do something I said I’d never do
Comment by Rhi on May 28th, 2008 @ 9:04 pmSWEET! Way to go sis!
songsinblue’s last blog post..Patience is a virtue
Comment by songsinblue on May 28th, 2008 @ 9:12 pmIt looks great!!
Hannah’s last blog post..The wrong kind of surprise
Comment by Hannah on May 28th, 2008 @ 9:17 pmIt is superb and I am amazed by your web-design prowess. I am still afraid to do a WP update. 
Amanda Brown’s last blog post..From the Ankles Down
Congratulations! I’m really excited for you - it’s awesome when something that’s your passion can even pay a few bills (or at least a few toys).
Tannis’s last blog post..Metaefficient
Comment by Tannis on May 28th, 2008 @ 9:47 pmOh, I love it! You did a great job. Maybe put a link to your Etsy shop? I found myself wanting to click over there when I was on the photo site.
Anyway, beautiful beautiful beautiful. Well worth all the hard work, I would say.
Elizabeth’s last blog post..Break
Comment by Elizabeth on May 28th, 2008 @ 9:55 pmLove the site! I like how clean it is with the white background and simple layout.
Just a note though, the link on the site to your Etsy store gives me a 404 error.
Marianne’s last blog post..YAHOO!
Fixed! Thanks
Good job! That’s a big deal to tackle a whole site by yourself, with a little help. And it looks great.
bethany actually’s last blog post..Dotty circles are still fun to paint
Comment by bethany actually on May 28th, 2008 @ 10:17 pmlooks good, but the etsy link does not work as someone else has mentioned as well. Keep it up:)
A lurker delurking:)
Comment by Karen on May 28th, 2008 @ 10:20 pmIt looks great!
Kristin’s last blog post..Our Handsome Little Man.
Comment by Kristin on May 28th, 2008 @ 10:21 pmLooking good to me. :o)
Shalet’s last blog post..Freaking Out
Comment by Shalet on May 28th, 2008 @ 10:29 pmAWESOME!!!!!!
Wild applause
Victoria’s last blog post..Points
Angella, that is awesome! So exciting! I’m not sure if maybe I missed it or not, but is there a way that when you’re looking at the pictures you can arrow through them? I don’t know if that makes sense and like I said maybe I just missed it. Looks great though!!! Keep up the good work!
Comment by Michele on May 28th, 2008 @ 10:41 pmWow - it looks phenomenal! Fantastic job!
I noticed that there’s a grammar mistake in the “About Me” section. At least, I think it might be. You wrote “I have access to AN professional studio.” My brain is wanting it to say “I have access to A professional studio.” If I’m wrong, feel free to ignore, but I thought I’d point it out, just in case.
I love the site - it’s so crisp and clean looking!
Sharon’s last blog post..Free stuff is fantastic!
Comment by Sharon on May 28th, 2008 @ 11:01 pmCongrats on the new site!
180/360’s last blog post..Weekend Update: Will the Real 180 Please Stand Up?
Comment by 180/360 on May 28th, 2008 @ 11:22 pmYay! It looks amazing, and I’m so proud of you for (cliche alert!) making your dream a reality. Now, if only I could figure out a way to pay you to fly you to NY to do a shoot…
metalia’s last blog post..Your Burning Questions
Comment by metalia on May 29th, 2008 @ 3:19 amCongratulations on the site. You did a really nice job. I have two suggestions for you though. First would be a cohesive font and colour of font. Your galleries have a very bold black text that does not appear to have the same font as your menu or name which are also a different colour being grey, although I don’t mind the name being different and a little more artsy.
The second would be as someone else suggested where you could arrow through the photos, it might help with the difference in image orientation and size.
Hope that helps, I didn’t want to sound too critical you did an amazing job. I wouldn’t even know where to start to make a web page.
excellent!!!! lookin’ sharp… you must be over the moon!!!
Comment by Holly on May 29th, 2008 @ 7:01 amThe arrow option isn’t available for this site, sorry!
I will be happy to change the font colours to whatever you want them to be. The web developer does what the client wants!
witchypoo’s last blog post..My Bitches
Comment by witchypoo on May 29th, 2008 @ 7:45 amHoly cow! It’s awesome. You should be so proud!
Kristie’s last blog post..Busting it out old skool style.
Comment by Kristie on May 29th, 2008 @ 7:51 amCongrats on taking this step! It’s great…
One little bit of constructive criticism - The mouseover effect on your main navigation has the text turn the same color as the background. That’s not really good for usability as the user should be able to read what the link is even when hovering over the text! Not a huge deal though, just an issue of best practices!
Jill - GlossyVeneer’s last blog post..Cancun Recap
The new site looks great! Congrats, girl!
Marcie’s last blog post..Registration for the 08/09 School Year
Comment by Marcie on May 29th, 2008 @ 8:57 amIt’s a beautiful site. I enjoyed looking at the pictures. Your work gives me chills.
Renee Daniels (aka Indygirl)’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #4 - Music
Comment by Renee Daniels (aka Indygirl) on May 29th, 2008 @ 10:17 amWhat a cool project. Constructive criticism e-mailed…
Comment by Jeremy on May 29th, 2008 @ 10:31 amYippeee! Twitfriends rock! Isn’t the blogging community amazing.
CSS makes my skin crawl and my brain bleed.
rachel’s last blog post..Bebe and The Brain Cancel
Comment by rachel on May 29th, 2008 @ 10:35 amIt is gorgeous. The home page is beautiful, absolutely beautiful. I love the favourites with the bubbles.
They’re all gorgeous and the site is awesome.
Congratulations!!!
rachel’s last blog post..Bebe and The Brain Cancel
Comment by rachel on May 29th, 2008 @ 10:37 amIt all looks fantastic Angella, there is nothing you can’t do!
I am happy that you are getting to branch out of accounting, GO YOU!
Kami’s last blog post..Whew and Yay
Comment by Kami on May 29th, 2008 @ 11:41 amConstructive criticism!
1. It looks FABULOUS!
2. In the FAVORITES album, it would be cool to switch the top right photo with the one that’s third from the bottom on the left. Maybe it’s just me, I like symmetry. (Ignore this if my analness is too much.) … and maybe in all the albums the portraits view photos could be in a row with other portrait view photos, and the landscape with landscapes … seriously, I’m too anal.
3. I LOVE your flower pictures. Especially the white and blue one.
4. LOVE LOVE LOVE the PLACES folder!
5. WordPress does websites, not just blogs? How cool is that!?!
That’s it. That’s all I have for you. Praise and analness. Have a great day!
Jen’s last blog post..To the park!
Comment by Jen on May 29th, 2008 @ 12:18 pmWow. It looks amazing. I love the bubble machine picture. You must be so happy…
Don Mills Diva’s last blog post..I have my standards
Comment by Don Mills Diva on May 29th, 2008 @ 12:45 pmI like that the home page is in b/w.
I agree with the poster above in that the rollover causes the word to blend in the background. Maybe a little more contrast/different color?
Also, in the About section, the paragraph width exceeded my screen width, which means I had to use the l/r scroll to read it. Can you make the margins a little wider?
Rock on!
It’s wonderful and congrats on the site. I would be scared crapless to do anything on my own.
Comment by gorillabuns on May 29th, 2008 @ 2:29 pmCongrats! This is fabulous!
slynnro’s last blog post..Today’s Special Guest: MY VOICE.
Comment by slynnro on May 29th, 2008 @ 3:33 pmAWESOME girl!! Site looks great:) So excited for you!
Randi’s last blog post..All Kinds Of Goodness
Comment by Randi on May 29th, 2008 @ 3:40 pmWoo Hoo! Lookin Good.
christy’s last blog post..On the Backburner.
Comment by christy on May 29th, 2008 @ 6:11 pmIt’s simple and clean and easy to look at - you realize I’m also talking about you, right? (No harm meant. I’m sure you’re clean and simple in a GOOD way. Mos def you are easy to look at!)
I can’t wait to see where this goes for you. What a great creative outlet for you.
Mocha’s last blog post..Newsletter: Month Two Hundred Sixty-Four
Comment by Mocha on May 29th, 2008 @ 8:36 pmvery nice Angella!
Elizabeth’s last blog post..On the up ?n up
Comment by Elizabeth on May 29th, 2008 @ 9:30 pmNice work for a non-web designer! I am impressed.
Comment by red lotus mama on May 29th, 2008 @ 9:31 pmWhat a great start! And the real you comes through just beautifully in the words and images, a real plus. Websites need continual tweaking and fresh input. Go on like you’ve started! Best wishes for this new venture.
Comment by Fred Vanderbom on May 30th, 2008 @ 12:48 amThe site looks great! Your talent shines through….I love the bubble photos of the kids.
Ashley’s last blog post..Take Off - to 2010!
Comment by Ashley on May 30th, 2008 @ 9:50 am[...] that note, you guys are awesome (per usual). I got some great feedback via comments as well as email. It is a work in process, as I said, and I even managed to do a bit of tweaking [...]
Comment by Dutch Blitz » Photo This, Photo That on May 30th, 2008 @ 9:58 amJust lovely—very VERY well done, Angella! Wishing you the best of luck, but like your Honey says, “Everything you touch turns to gold,” so you probably won’t need it
The Over-Thinker’s last blog post..There are Winners, there are Losers and there are people who enter contests for Chocolate Tea, Cupcakes and Books about Ugly Food
Angella, the site looks great! I can’t wait to see more as you add to your portfolio! Good luck!
Meg’s last blog post..Up and down, back and forth
Comment by Meg on May 30th, 2008 @ 4:35 pmReally cool, Angella…I seriously don’t know how you manage to find time to do it all…I would love to pursue photography and have a site and still manage my three wild children, but alas, I cannot.
But anyway! congratulations on the new site, it looks great and was easy to operate.
verrry cool!
looks great!
Karen’s last blog post..boo wordpress.
Comment by Karen on May 31st, 2008 @ 5:03 pmI really like the photography website. You take lovely photos.
But you might not want to trust my opinion. I spent the first five minutes trying to figure out why you called your domain name angel lady kstra. “Kstra?” I thought. “What’s a kstra? Angel, I get. Lady, I get. But Kstra? Why would she have two real words then one makey-uppy word?”
Then I clicked on your “About Me” page and I got about 24 IQ points smarter.
Comment by deirdre on May 31st, 2008 @ 8:25 pmTotally sweet digs, my friend. Clean, sharp and easy to navigate. You rock!
The only teensy tiny thing I noticed, and it may just be my laptop screen, but when I hoover over the top navigation links, the text is super light, and it’s hard to see.
Karla’s last blog post..Unhip and unchic in Las Vegas
Comment by Karla on June 3rd, 2008 @ 3:30 amIt is awesome! Congrats!
Witchypoo helped me with my site too! She’s a genius!
Kristabella’s last blog post..SF: It Isn’t All Fog And Taxi Cab Accidents
Comment by Kristabella on June 3rd, 2008 @ 7:16 am[...] few months ago I announced my photography site with great [...]
Comment by Dutch Blitz » A Whole New Me on September 5th, 2008 @ 12:05 am
It’s lovely just like you.
sizzle’s last blog post..Productivity: Thy Name is Paint
Comment by sizzle on May 28th, 2008 @ 9:00 pm