Posted by Anne K. Rusk on July 7, 2011 at 10:07 PM
So I primarily shoot flora and I have a website. To get it running, I used portfolios of specific flower types to manage the galleries. Since there are a gazillion different flowers, I am quickly realizing this is not an efficient way to organize the galleries. I'd like some sort of organization, but am having a problem finding a better way. I don't have a search option on the site (programming problem I am dealing with) so I need some way to break down the images into manageable pieces. What do you recommend? Separating by colors? Have some basic galleries (roses, tulips, wildflowers) and some less specific galleries? What have you seen that you like?
All recommendations are welcome!
Thanks,
Anne
www.anneruskphotography.com
I've read (Photoshelter survey) that you probably shouldn't have any more than about 5 galleries (although I didn't flollow that advice on my own website). Breaking it down into specific types of flowers could get cumbersome.
Here's a suggestion: Wildflowers, Still Life/Studio, Garden/Arboretum, Abstract, Black & White (if you do that kind of thing....)
I struggled with this part of my website more than any other but ultimately I'm not sure it makes much difference.
I'm not following Photoshelter Survey. My website is also my photo album, threfore I'm keeping many different galleries in my website. I've divided my Flower-Gallery http://www.mrs-photoworld.com/2-Flowers.htm into:
1. Wildflowers of the Temperate World
2. Garden and Cultivated Field Flowers of the Temperate World
3. Tropical Flowers, and ...
4. Flowering Shrubs and Trees
IMO the separation by colours is the worst choice (example roses or tulips-red, yellow, pink, rosa, white, etc.....)
I don't know if this is of help to you.
I've been thinking the same for awhile but my gallery isn't big enough yet - maybe next year. I believe most will be okay with color. Clients base their buying decisions on many factors but color is right near the top in most cases. Here's a couple examples I came across and really like - http://henrydomke.com/ and http://www.grafphoto.com/ Both have extensive galleries that make sense (at least to me) Hope this helps! - Vince
I think my recommendation is just a generalization of what's already been said but at the risk of stating the obvious:
I'd organize the site according to its perceived function, which I think means its anticipated audience. If you're audience is comprised of multiple segments, then you need some type of scheme that allows for audience selection at the beginning of your display process. If your audience is relatively uniform, then you need to know whether that audience tends to have a standard way of classifying images (color, size, common name, room for advertisement, mood, etc...) and organize accordingly. Or you may want to classify your images as if you're the dominant audience segment and organize the images so that the system is most logical for your use.
A highly flexible design adds some overhead to your web design and coding and may/may not be worthwhile depending on your intended use. So for instance, you can associate some set of attributes with each of your images in your database, then present the user with the list and let them select the attributes they're interested in and the priority. You then select and sort for display according to the user's preferences. If you're audience's interests tend to be fixed, you don't need the dynamic approach I've just described but rather some fixed set of image attributes and priority scheme ( like a predefined set of galleries).
I think understanding your intended audience's use of the site is the main driver for your design. Also, if you know what that audience is, look at other sites that successfully attract that audience and mimic/improve their image organization schema.
Sounds like you may have already decided that you want a fixed gallery scheme though.
pat
Posted by Anne K. Rusk on July 10, 2011 at 7:39 PM
Thanks so much for your input, everyone! It gives me food for thought. Pat, I like the idea of a dynamic gallery, but I don't think I'm able to do that just yet. For now I will stay fixed, and you all have given me valuable advice to move forward with my organization! Thanks so much for taking the time to respond
Discussion
5 repliesAll recommendations are welcome!
Thanks,
Anne
www.anneruskphotography.com
Here's a suggestion: Wildflowers, Still Life/Studio, Garden/Arboretum, Abstract, Black & White (if you do that kind of thing....)
I struggled with this part of my website more than any other but ultimately I'm not sure it makes much difference.
1. Wildflowers of the Temperate World
2. Garden and Cultivated Field Flowers of the Temperate World
3. Tropical Flowers, and ...
4. Flowering Shrubs and Trees
IMO the separation by colours is the worst choice (example roses or tulips-red, yellow, pink, rosa, white, etc.....)
I don't know if this is of help to you.
I think my recommendation is just a generalization of what's already been said but at the risk of stating the obvious:
I'd organize the site according to its perceived function, which I think means its anticipated audience. If you're audience is comprised of multiple segments, then you need some type of scheme that allows for audience selection at the beginning of your display process. If your audience is relatively uniform, then you need to know whether that audience tends to have a standard way of classifying images (color, size, common name, room for advertisement, mood, etc...) and organize accordingly. Or you may want to classify your images as if you're the dominant audience segment and organize the images so that the system is most logical for your use.
A highly flexible design adds some overhead to your web design and coding and may/may not be worthwhile depending on your intended use. So for instance, you can associate some set of attributes with each of your images in your database, then present the user with the list and let them select the attributes they're interested in and the priority. You then select and sort for display according to the user's preferences. If you're audience's interests tend to be fixed, you don't need the dynamic approach I've just described but rather some fixed set of image attributes and priority scheme ( like a predefined set of galleries).
I think understanding your intended audience's use of the site is the main driver for your design. Also, if you know what that audience is, look at other sites that successfully attract that audience and mimic/improve their image organization schema.
Sounds like you may have already decided that you want a fixed gallery scheme though.
pat