Check It Out

I wanted to get away from a traditional HTML, or flash site for 2008. Flexible, and can be updated form anywhere in a snap. Now my blog and entire site is integrated, easily backed up, and easy to change.

I started with a theme, and spent a lot of time revamping it. I had a lot of browser compat issue (especially IE6) and I need them all.

Finally today after months of hassle I finally got it. It's not live for the client yet, but I just need to do a bit of final proofing and tidying up.

It should work in all major browsers, but IE6 is so bad that it does not look quite as pretty. Still works properly though even there and that's what I have been pulling my hair out for for months.

I did a quick look and I like it, I think I seen someone else that had an all blog site and I thought it was neat idea too.

Hey Gavin!

You did a good job on customizing the wordpress interface.

I like it except for the font that show up in my browser.
All I see is all caps and bold - so it makes it very hard to read.
I could not read all the text.

I do like how you integrated show-it into it though.

Gavin,

Nice work on the Wordpress customization... that takes some know-how, and it seems to be working well. May I provide a few small stylistic critiques? Clearly these are all matters of taste and others might completely disagree, but for what it's worth:

1. I like the subtle patterned background. Nice colors.
2. I'm not a fan of the Comic Sans font... it just looks rather scrapbook-y and homemade. The photo you've chosen for your main page is elegant and dramatic... the fonts you use for your menu and text remind me of elementary school workbooks. There are plenty of simple, modern, timeless fonts out there that would work better, I believe.
3. Again, love the image on your header, but the edges kind of make it look like one of those clocks from the 1970's with a nature scene painted onto a piece of wood and varnished over. I think a clean border would do it more justice.
4. Drop down menus - the text is centered on the first three, but on the "latest bloggin" menu it's left-justified. I think uniformity would be better.
5. I admit I've never been a fan of Show-It Web as a means to show a portfolio rather than slideshows, but you've pulled it off about as well as I've seen. Nice work.
6. I'm seeing some broken links under the "See Your Photos" page.
7. I definitely like the way your blog integrates right with your site.
8. I know you said you still need to proof the site and make some final tweaks, so you may have been planning on doing some of these things already. I didn't read all the text on your pages, but on the "Meet Gavin" page I noticed the following: "Hi, I’m Gavin, a photographer from Central Washington State. I started my own photography business at age 17, and have grown to where I am now at age 22 I started doing photography as a real interest at about age twelve." My inner grammar police detects a run-on sentence. I'm such a nerd.

I know Philadelphia is a different market from Washington so perhaps you have exactly the look and feel necessary to attract the brides in your market... just thought I'd pass on some random thoughts that might help. I appreciate the time you take to provide resources to photographers, and hope this does some of the same for you.

Thanks for the input. Johnny what browser are you getting caps in?

On the font note you guys may be right. I might try switching to something else. I'll play with it a but, as well ad tidy up the nav justifications.

I spend hours trying the header in various ways. At first it was just rounded. I kinda like the rough edge, but I have it set up so I can easily go back if it gets tiresome.

Gav

I use Firefox v2.0.0.11

I would also do the header image like Ryan suggested.
The brushed edge does not fit the overall look I think you're going for.

OK cleaned it up a bit. Think I about ready to launch this puppy.

I'm so excited about getting away from traditional design. WP is so powerful and flexible.

Right now it seems you are linking to a directory. If I go back to your root I get to your site it seems.

Same here. No site, just the directory.

wordpress is great - but you should also look into removing its seo that wordpress pumps throughout the code.

also you should stick a splash page up on your link until the wordpress is up as i can see your whole directory folder right now! :s

look forward to seeing the final product.

Looks good. I built my site all on Textpattern and it works well also.

I'm in Safari and all I see is the directory of folders.

Not sure what the deal was. Everything's working well. I've been using all wordpress for a few months now and I love it. Ease, control, and great SEO.

www.seimphotography.com

Proof read ALL text for spelling and grammar errors. I found too many to point out, so have someone else (fresh pair of eyes) nit pick through the whole site.