Hi, I finally got my first website finished and online thanks to BluDomain, let me know what you all think. joshmcdonell.com Praise, critiques, harsh criticisms; I'll take it all. Thanks.

It looks great! I'm no expert, but I can give you my two cents.

The site was easy to navigate and I like the color scheme. However, I'm on a Mac and every Mac user I know *hates* sites that don't allow yo to open the website in the same window. With the way you have it set up, it takes up the whole entire screen and is cumbersome. Blu does offer an option to view in same window you can put on your splash page, if you're interested.

I think you might want to re-think the opening slideshow for weddings, because a few of them (the opening photo and some of the reception ones) are not as strong as some of your other work in the galleries. I like the photos, don't get me wrong, but if you have something that shines even brighter it should definitely be on that opening slideshow.

I'd re-name the gallery that's titled Rachel to something more generic. When I first saw it next to the gallery called "Weddings" my first thought was, "Uhhh, who's Rachel?" If it was called Bridals I think it might give a better impression (I know there's the problem of not having more than set of bridals to go in it, but it'll grow over time, I wouldn't worry about it). I'd call the "Misc" gallery something like "People" or "Portraits." No one wants their face to be in something labelled Miscellaneous.

I really like the first photo you used in your bio. I personally would take down the one where you're standing by the wall without the camera because it makes you look like you're a senior yourself. It's also not a as strong as the other one, that aside. I'm young too, and I can understand wanting to appeal to seniors with that...but overall I just think it'd be better with the one photo. About the one where you're holding the camera, it's important to remember that seeing someone point a big camera at you (even if it's just a picture of someone doing it) is intimidating to most people. And it doesn't say much about your personality (we already know you're a photographer!).

I think you're going in the right direction with your bio. It might be better to keep it positive though - starting out with "insert cliche here" sounds a bit cynical. You have to SHOW them that you're not like every other photographer, not tell them. Is the photographer you worked for local? If she is, I don't know if I'd be so specific in dropping her name -- as a bride I might think, "Wow, hadn't heard of her before, let's see what her work is like..." and assume that because you worked for HER, her work must be superior. Oh, and have another person proof-read your bio for you, there were a few mistakes (words missing, there instead of they're, etc.). I'd also take change the focus of it. Don't talk about how you started in so much detail, because the reader will be left with this sense that you're (still) uncertain about your profession. I personally love bios that actually say something about the photographer, bios that aren't overtly written to 'sell' your photography. What do you like to do in your spare time? What's your favorite book? Do you have any pets? I mean, take politicians for example; they don't sell themselves on what law school they went to or their first time on Capitol Hill (or even the issues, for that matter). They talk about themselves in a very real way that people can identify with in order to get people excited about their campaign.

The pricing confused me a bit. It said *starting* at such and such a price...then listed a bunch of stuff as if that was the price for a package that included those things. If it's the price of that package, say so and if you don't want to say the details of your package, don't list options they can get (it begs the question, so you had time to write all that but didn't bother to include your specific pricing?).

I'd take the calendar down, at least until you get a little more busy. That's what I'm doing, anyway. A nearly empty calendar might give people the idea that you're not sought after, and plus, you want to know how many people are considering hiring you (emailing you to ask if you're open for the date is one of the only ways you'll know).

I hope this helps. Good luck!

looks great to me! i can't find anything i dont like about it!

Wow, thanks for the extensive review Hope. I see what you mean about the pricing, it does leave room for questions. The bio was the one thing that held up the entire site. It was written/re-written/edited/started over so many times that I almost left it out. I know it’s not perfect, far from it. My wife agreed with you comments about it being more personal and less historical.

I'll look into the "same window" option from the splash. I tend to like the "new window" options on website, but then I'm an artist so I'm a little weird.

Choosing the images for the site was a painful task. My slant towards perfectionism tends to make me overly critical of my work (disliking everything). I've got a wedding coming up in Hawaii that should lend some good images for the prime slideshow. So I think I'll wait till then to replace the photos.

Thank you again for your critique Hope. You must be a very kind and caring to have taken the time really dissect my site and give me such a thorough appraisal.

No problem. I really hope it didn't come off as too critical, because I really like your site. And some of the things I mentioned are *purely* personal taste so a shaker or two of salt is probably needed. But I know how depressing it can be when you really want thorough feedback and hardly anyone takes the time to hit the reply button.

I'm having a hard time with my bio, too. I feel like I want it to be personal but it's hard to write about yourself without sounding like you're trying too hard. Gah. I'll be posting my website up when it goes live for feedback, too.

It's always surprising to hear someone who's work I really admire say they don't like it that much. I guess you're right, we're all a bunch of imperfect perfectionists. A wedding in Hawaii? Wow, that's going to be gorgeous! I'm convinced the skies in Hawaii are bluer and the light more perfect.

Too critical? Never. I've already made some of the tweaks you suggested. Criticism is one of those things that most people have a hard time taking and nice people have a hard time giving. It's easy to get tunnel vision when its "your" website and "your" bio. Having a fellow photog take a look, brings the whole picture into focus and allows one objectivity to return.

The hiding the Calendar suggestion, excellent. It made me cringe just thinking about how many brides might look at my sight, only to turn away when they see their choosen date is already booked.

Shoot me an email when your site goes live. I would love to see your work and return the kindness you gave me. Thanks again Hope and may God inpire you as you write your bio.