So I pulled this out of another thread so as not to hijack the thread (again). In context this comment was about how "normal" people don't like flash sites. But I'm really curious. What, exactly, is a "normal" person in this context?

karen

I really find it hard to believe becuase every "normal" couple I have had a meeting with sure loves my flash site... that being said I have an HTML version for those people at work etc that don't have flash. I do think flash can get over done and bloated, but if it is simple, and works right then it's an awesome way to showcase your work.

a client, perhaps? Depends on the context of the thread and post that you're quoting, I guess.

Shall we request another sub-forum: Flash vs HTML?

Karen,
I'm going to jump on this right away so that nobody takes this and runs in a wrong direction with it. What I meant was, Non-photographers. I think you should have asked that question over there. My "normal" people were made up of friends with an age range of 20 to 33, couples, married, engaged and dating. I asked them to all pretend they were looking for a wedding photographer, and along the way take note of things they liked and disliked. I didn't want input from photographers for my site design because I'm not selling to photographers but selling to "normal people" or non-photographers and wanted to make them feel as comfortable as possible. I thought that would be apparent, but I guess not. Did I make you mad or something? I certainly hope not.

Mark

Wow, that was fast, people jumped faster than I antisipated. I have a feeling this is going to get blown way out of shape. Oh boy, here we go.

Mark - I didn't post it over in the other thread, because that thread had already gotten pulled off topic once with the music discussion! I am not mad at all and I'm not sure why you'd assume that. I'm just curious what you meant by "normal" people.

Honestly I think it's a bad idea to make a blanket statement that "normal" people prefer X. Becuase really ... well ... your normal and my normal might not be the same thing. In my circle of non-photographer friends, everyone has high speed access at home and at work. No one I know cares whether a site is HTML or Flash ... all they want to know is, is it easy to navigate, are the photos pretty, and can I get the information I want.

I think making the delivery method an issue is really focusing on the trees, and not seeing the forest.

IMO, of course.

karen

i have a cheezy do-it yourself (myself, actually) website. and my clients love my site. i think it's hilarious! photographers will think it's low end, but my clients tell me how fast it loads and how easy it is to use. i put everything online - everything. so there is a TON of content. i think this is what they like, based on the replies.

i think that 'normal' just means non-photogs.

i think photogs worry too much about impressing photogs and not enough about listening to and impressing their clients. ( i know i fall into this sometimes)



my $0.02

I'm not sure why I'm responding to this because everyone disagreed with me a year ago when this was talked about before the big crash. I don't know why this is such a big deal. Wonderful, your friends all have DSL, great, so do I, and so do all the people I polled. I asked them and this is what they told me. I'm just reporting what they told me. If this is what's going to happen each time, I'm definatly going to stop. If anyone wants to light me up over this please just PM me instead. I got blasted over this once before, I don't need it again. I never thought I'd have to defend something like this. I gotta get back to work. Please everyone, don't get all crazy over this. It's really not worth it.

Have a great day!

Mark

Wow, Mark. I didn't read the other thread pre-crash but I say don't take things personal Let out a few giggles (because I know you have them in there) and ease up or you'll just get an ulcer

My new site is FLASHY. It's cool looking but I can see how non-photog's (i.e. normal people) could get put off by it if their machines didn't load it as fast as mine does. My site doesn't have an option for an HTML version (or if there is I don't know about it) so I got what I got and hope my potential clients like what they see.

P.S. One of the main comments I get after someone see's my site is that it "fits" me and my style. So I guess HTML might not showcase my style as well as the flash. Besides, I like bling and I guess Flash is blingy

Goodness. Mark, if you don't want your comments responded to, then why do you post things like "normal people don't like flash". I mean, seriously now ... don't you think that's asking someone to respond and then getting all upset when they do? "Normal people don't like flash" is a pretty sweeping statement you know. It further implies that anyone who does like it is not 'normal' (whatever normal is).

I guess I don't get why you posted it if you didn't want someone to respond.

Karen

Dear Silly OSPers,

I don't think Karen meant to be controversial with her original post, and I don't think anything got blown out of proportion. Since our website is a huge form of communication with our clients, knowing the best method of delivery is a great idea.

Of course, doing market research as Mark seems to have done is a great idea. In my market of younger, Silicon-Valley, tech savy nerds (who could write an HTML site in their sleep)....a flash site goes over well. The key is to remember than "normal people" will vary from market to market, and the research should be localized.

Mark and Karen, lets not overreact so much. You are both valuable and intelligent members of the community, and you are allowed to have opposing opinions without taking it personally.

Sincerely,
Miss Jillian

+100000

Oh boy, here we go.

I didn't post it for comment. I was posting my comment to give input to Gino. When you pulled that quote out and started a thread using that quote, though my name wasn't attached, anyone who had read it might take it out of context and oh look guess what happened.

Hi Shannon! Long time no type. Hope all is well. Glad you're site is doing well for you. Did you see my new site? The guy that made it made the blog apart of the site. I think it's really cool. Check it out sometime. Talk to you soon!

I'm certainly not taking anything personally or overreacting. Seriously ... um ... I'm a little baffled as to what is happening here. Mark's response seems to be really adversarial, given that all I wanted to know was what he meant by "normal people". As you pointed out, Jillian, "normal" is something that varies from market to market - and even within subsets of markets. I was just curious what he meant by the comment.

Mark - respectfully, beginning every thread with some variation of "oh boy here we go" sort of implies that you're looking for an argument. If you don't want to argue about it, then ... well ... don't. I asked a simple question and you sort of freaked out on me. If you post something on a public board, then why would you not expect someone to comment on it.

Karen

I would assume that 'normal' to me/you meant your intended market. It would be really hard to shoot a wedding thinking, "Jeez! They are just NOT normal."

Although these days when applying to someone the title of normal automatically groups others unlike them as 'not normal'- and could cause hurt feelings to say the least.

I think if the flash gets in the way of viewing the WORK, than yes, I hate them too. Like, when I have to sit through someone's flash "commercial" before viewing their images it gets a little um... like I want to change the channel. However, when flash is used to make it EASIER to view the images... than it's cool. I think bludomain has done a great job of making flash work FOR the site and the photographer, rather than getting in the way. But that's me, and now I'm 2 pennies poorer.

I don't see the point of starting this thread. Why not just PM the author of that quote and ask them? This has nothing to do with anyone else.

I'm normal and I don't like flashers, it scares me and it scares the kids. Most times I just yell "Why don't you buy some undies to wear under that overcoat!!!" and take the kids to another park.




where were we?