Masthead header

Watch my brutally honest critique of a photographer’s website!

Tuesday, August 21, 2012 Posted inBUSINESS,CHATTY TUESDAYS

Hey you,

They say that to achieve greatness you have to consistently work at an extremely high level of excellence.

Day in and day out, no matter how tired you are, no matter how many times you fail, no matter what. If you want to achieve greatness you’ve got to set a standard for excellence. 

To be honest with you, last week was not a week of excellence for me. My calendar was jam packed, back to front – but I still found myself only doing the bare minimum, only doing what was required of me. I found myself complacent, going with the flow.

To be blunt, there was no level of excellence last week. And it made me sad because I know I’m better than that. We all are.

Today’s video blog was created in the name of excellence. I feel like I pushed my own boundaries for Chatty Tuesday, and I really believe it will help inspire you to better understand how to bring your own flavour of excellence to your website.

The video is a little longer than usual, but I give a brutally honest critique of a photographer’s real website - it’s unmissable!

Watch this awesome video to find out: 

1) The five questions you should ask yourself when critiquing your website
2) Whose opinion matters most when it comes to your website
3) What you must do to turn visitors into customers


I hope this video has inspired you to always be at a true level of absolute excellence. Always be the absolute best you can be. Are you answering an email? Answer it to the best of your ability. Are you editing a photograph? Edit it to the best of your ability. Are you sending your clients their images? Send those photos to the best of your ability.

Why?

Because .. haven’t you heard? Excellence is the key to greatness. And who doesn’t want to be the greatest they can be? :)

Big love, big hugs
xoxo

P.S. Love this video? SEND IT TO YOUR FABULOUS FRIENDS! Come on, I dare you – send this blog post to at least THREE friends!

Posted inBUSINESS,CHATTY TUESDAYS

  • http://www.shawnabielatphotography.com Shawna Bielat

    Eeek that music!! :P Alex you are so right, if something doesn’t enhance your website, brand, message, or give it clarity, it should probably just not be there! I always say the simpler the better! Thank you so much for this critique! I definitely want to apply these strategies to my website! xoxo Shawna

  • http://www.asinglephoto.net Angela

    I loved watching you critique this website and would be completely open to you doing mine if you like. I totally agree with you on the music part but I am sure it was insightful for him as much as it was for me. It is hard looking at your own site and trying to figure out what others may like especially when you are shooting for clients outside of your price range.

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hey Angela!

    Thanks so much for your comment and for your willingness to be the next website critique! I will definitely keep you in mind if this video is well accepted and if it helps a lot of people :)

    I’m incredibly happy that you found this video insightful, really and truly, thank you for commenting and letting me know! I really hope Steven found this insightful as well, and REALLY hope that I didn’t come across as too critical! My intent was to be brutally honest, but in a loving way :)

    I have checked out his site this morning and can see he has already made changes! Loving it and REALLY hope this video will help him bring more business!

    BIG HUGS
    xoxo

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Shawna!

    Thanks so much for the comment! I’m loving that Steven is so dedicated to success that he was up for being critiqued publicly like this, he is AWESOME!

    I think the music was definitely intended to be calm and relaxing, which at first it seems to be – but further into the song it gets a bit eery, which is definitely not the message you want to be sending to potential clients! I love what you said about your website enhancing your brand and message with clarity! Beautifully said!

    I’m beyond happy that you found this helpful, and that you have some new strategies to apply to your own website! Thank you for letting me know – I always LOVE feedback!

    BIG HUGS
    xoxo

  • http://www.imaginaledesign.com Alejandra Vidal

    Alex!! LOVE this blogpost so much! There’s just nothing like actually walking through a site and showing the individual what the client experience is like. I think it’s a great exercise for all of us to do. Awesome stuff!

    xo
    Ale

  • http://www.bloggakpphoto.net AKP Photography

    Great video Alex!! I noticed a few thing i can do to improve my website as well.

    I am wondering what you do to make the email window pop up like that?

    Thank you for making all of these great videos :D

  • http://www.photosbyanahy.com Anahy

    A good photographer does not have to be expensive, but a photograher that is trying to make a living off photography alone WILL have to charge enough to make a living.
    Also your laugh scared my baby, lol, hilarious.

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Anahy – you hit the nail on the head with what you said! I really wanted to dive into that, but then this video would have been hours long haha! But I’m in total agreement with you and I’m so glad you brought it up :) Thanks for your comment! xoxo

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    P.S. your poor baby hahahaha! ;)

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hey,

    Thanks so much for your comment, I’m so happy that you took value from it! Yes, you definitely want to LINK to your contact email address! Check out how to do it with HTML here: http://www.echoecho.com/htmllinks11.htm

    Good luck and big hugs!
    xoxo

  • http://www.carolinaguzik.com/blog Carolina

    Hi Alex, this was great! What I love the most is your positive attitude! :) Keep up the great work!

  • http://www.facebook.com/rca.photography Amanda

    Oh wow! I would LOVE to have a photographer of your stature come and critique my page/website! More so on the business/marketing side of things! I have yet to find a photographer willing to do that! GREAT video! A lot of information I can use! :)

  • http://www.bloggakpphoto.net AKP Photography

    Thank you for your help♥

    Big hugs back!

    xoxo

  • http://www.elisitaphotography.net Elisita Photography

    This was a great post! I also find it very hard to find my brand. Though I know my editing style, and my target market, it is still very hard to create it in a website! I really liked your suggestion to direct your clients where they want to go! It was such an easy explanation of what needs to be done. I also would love a critique if you are interested. Like you said it’s always a work in progress when you are designing your own website… especially with kids and family and life!! Thanks :)

  • http://girlwiththepinkleopardbag.com Girl with the pink leopard bag

    I love this video! I first thought, “Oh, it’s about photography. It’ doesn’t really apply to me,” but by two minutes in, I realized it DOES apply to me. Your commentary as you were looking around the website made me evaluate my own website as well as consider what my customers might be thinking as they explore (or not) my content.

    I made a list of what I will change, and I plan to make those changes this week! I’m so excited. It’s like suddenly what I need to do has become so clear. THANK YOU! :)

    Christine

  • http://www.leahartmanphotography.com Lea

    Wow! Kudos to Steven. I’ve never been brave enough to ask for critique on anything – not my images or my website! That takes serious guts!

  • Kayce

    Hi Alex! I really liked this video. I am a full time worker like Stephen and am also trying to build my own photography business. I am not as far as Stephen is yet but I am definately getting there. I recently have thought about building my own website to help me market my work and build a client base and this video has given me lots of ideas as well as helpful tips for when I do get my website going. Thank you for all of your advice and hopefully when I get everything up and running you could do a critique for me someday.

    Thanks. Peace and love.

  • http://www.landrumstudios.com Jessica Landrum

    Alex, I loved this Chatty Tuesday. I thought it was very informative and helpful. It also helped me step back and look at my own website. It’s always great to have another person’s perspective. Here is my website if you ever want to evaluate anther one. http://www.landrumstudios.com

    Thank you!

  • http://www.ericahouckphotography.com Erica

    I really loved this Chatty Tuesdays episode. It was so helpful and informative. It really had me question who my target audience is and how to reflect it through my website. I loved the approach you took by critiquing as if you are a potential client. We should always take a step back to reevaluate ourselves through a client’s perspective when applying things to our business. You are so right about people being lazy and needing to make it as easy as possible for them. I had never given that a thought until you showed how to see it through the viewers eyes. I was reminded just how lazy I am myself. haha Great stuff! I would love the opportunity for you to critique mine for another time! :)

    Thanks so much! xoxo
    Erica

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hey Carolina!

    Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting! I’m really glad that you enjoyed the video, and glad you found me positive about it! That’s awesome :)

    Big hugs!
    xoxo

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Amanda!

    I am thrilled that you loved this video and were able to take a few things away to apply to your own website! That is awesome! Thank you for taking the time to comment, and if you’re interested in having your website critiqued next, just send me an email and I’ll add you to the list :)

    Big hugs!
    xoxo

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hey Elisita (you have such a beautiful name!),

    I think it’s a difficult for everyone to “find” their brand! It’s definitely something that is a constant work in process, something that you build – day by day – through everything you do/say/make your customers feel! You’ve inspired me to do a video diving deeper into “Branding” and what it means to find your brand! Thank you :)

    If you’re interested in a critique of your website, send me an email and I’ll add you to the list :) And I totally agree with you – life always gets in the way, no one is perfect, and we’ve just got to do the best we can :)

    Big hugs and thanks so much for your thoughtful comment, I love it!
    xoxo

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Hey Christine!

    I am always thrilled when people who AREN’T photographers get value from my content, because you’re right – a lot of the information applies no matter who you are or what you do. Each website has a reason for existing, and we each need to take responsibility for the purpose of our website, and try to capitalise on it. The best way for me to do that has always been to put myself in the shoes of my customer! I am SO EXCITED that this video gave you so much clarity on what changes you need to make to your own website, it helped me a lot to! The thanks definitely goes to Steven for being so willing!

    BIG HUGS and thank you so much for your comment, it was amazing to read!
    xoxo

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Lea! I agree with you – major kudos! Steven deserves an award or something, I am so grateful to him for allowing me to do this, and I can tell through the comment section that this has helped so many people already! So it definitely hasn’t gone to waste! Thank you for acknowledging him :) Big hugs! xoxo

  • http://www.alexbeadonphotography.com Alex Beadon

    Kayce,

    Thanks so much for stopping by. I’m so happy that you enjoyed the video! I give major props to anyone who is pursuing their passion for photography as a business while working full time – that takes some major dedication and commitment – I LOVE IT!

    You should definitely build your own website, it would be well worth your time if you are planning on being a full time professional photographer! :)

    Big hugs and thanks so much for your comment!
    xoxo

  • http://www.alibeephotography.com Ali

    Thanks to Steven for allowing you to critique his website! It’d be awesome if you could link us to his website and facebook page :)