New photo website - I hope!
Discussion
Hiya. 
I was just thinking of setting up a new photo website. I've got some photos
, a domain name, a server, Dreamweaver and Flash and all that stuff - but what I don't have are any ideas of what's acceptable on a photo website and what isn't.
So I thought I'd ask the PH massive. Can anyone give me any handy pointers on how to go about it? I've looked at loads of sites and I more or less know what I like, but other than that I'm pretty much in the dark.
So. Any and all advice, suggestions and handy hints would be very gratefully received.
I was just thinking of setting up a new photo website. I've got some photos
, a domain name, a server, Dreamweaver and Flash and all that stuff - but what I don't have are any ideas of what's acceptable on a photo website and what isn't. So I thought I'd ask the PH massive. Can anyone give me any handy pointers on how to go about it? I've looked at loads of sites and I more or less know what I like, but other than that I'm pretty much in the dark.
So. Any and all advice, suggestions and handy hints would be very gratefully received.
Edited by SGirl on Friday 29th September 10:35
I currently have two sites - I have a flash based website:
www.bendobson.co.uk/upload/
and I keep a sort of blog here:
www.skinfull.co.uk
heaven knows why as I'm sure no-one reads it!
For me the important thing is that your images aren't too large, in both dimensions and file size. Other than that, keep it clean and easy to navigate.
edit to add; Use a gallery generator if you can, writing your own gallery might seem like fun but ultimately you will curse it every time you have to update it.
I used jalbum quite a lot, you can skin it to match your overall site design and it does slideshows and thumbnails automatically.
www.bendobson.co.uk/upload/
and I keep a sort of blog here:
www.skinfull.co.uk
heaven knows why as I'm sure no-one reads it!
For me the important thing is that your images aren't too large, in both dimensions and file size. Other than that, keep it clean and easy to navigate.
edit to add; Use a gallery generator if you can, writing your own gallery might seem like fun but ultimately you will curse it every time you have to update it.
I used jalbum quite a lot, you can skin it to match your overall site design and it does slideshows and thumbnails automatically.
Edited by _dobbo_ on Friday 29th September 10:47
SGirl,
I use some open source software called "Gallery" on my web site. It's a pretty complete package (although I don't use a lot of the advanced features) It is easy to install, setup, customize and use. It may save you some time.
As I have been through the installation, if you have any questions on how to do it (W2003 Server, PHP 5, Mysql 4.x) I will be happy to help.
ErnestM
PS: www.espritv8.com/gallery/main.php
I use some open source software called "Gallery" on my web site. It's a pretty complete package (although I don't use a lot of the advanced features) It is easy to install, setup, customize and use. It may save you some time.
As I have been through the installation, if you have any questions on how to do it (W2003 Server, PHP 5, Mysql 4.x) I will be happy to help.
ErnestM
PS: www.espritv8.com/gallery/main.php
Sgirl, like ErnestM I use Gallery software which is free open source stuff. I did for a while go down the route of writing my own, but it just took too much time. So based on comments on here last month had a look at Gallery, and it's great - nicely configurable, easy to use, and easy to photos up to it and published. Should work on most linux / windows based web servers too. Still working through my site but it's here www.kantryla.net. There are loads of styles you can choose from this is carbon, but there's also flash ones too (Have a look at here), also it can link to google maps, so you can display photos by geography which is quite neat.
If you want something very simple take a look at SimpleViewer.
It's very easy to use and a tiny, free download. You can easily try it on your desktop to see what it looks like.
It's very easy to use and a tiny, free download. You can easily try it on your desktop to see what it looks like.
Captain Beaky said:
If you want something very simple take a look at SimpleViewer.
It's very easy to use and a tiny, free download. You can easily try it on your desktop to see what it looks like.
It's very easy to use and a tiny, free download. You can easily try it on your desktop to see what it looks like.
It's good enough for photobox who use it for their gallery software.
Funny you mention this I was looking at super simple gallery generators/photo blogs the other night . . . playing around with pixelpost which is very simple and clean : www.ziplockk.com/photoblog/ as an example . . . you do need MYSQL and PHP tho' . . .
Fd
Fd
fergusd said:
Funny you mention this I was looking at super simple gallery generators/photo blogs the other night . . . playing around with pixelpost which is very simple and clean : www.ziplockk.com/photoblog/ as an example . . . you do need MYSQL and PHP tho' . . .
Fd
Fd
That's the beauty of SimpleViewer, even the lamest web provider can support it.
Some hosting services will automatically install the most troublesome/fully-featured gallery software for you so you don't need to get involved with the PHP & MySQL stuff directly. It's worth checking with the provider before you try to teach yourself to speak geek.
Wow! Lots to think about there. Thanks everybody. 
I'm with Register1, so I have Gallery already installed on my server. Thing is, I don't know how to use it to make it look like the websites above! All I've been able to do so far is just create a "collection" of photos - no nice page layout or anything, just photo after photo in the gallery.
If anyone knows where I can find a decent online manual for Gallery, that would be great. I don't do Computers, so it needs to be quite straightforward and ideally, not mention PHP.
I'm with Register1, so I have Gallery already installed on my server. Thing is, I don't know how to use it to make it look like the websites above! All I've been able to do so far is just create a "collection" of photos - no nice page layout or anything, just photo after photo in the gallery.
If anyone knows where I can find a decent online manual for Gallery, that would be great. I don't do Computers, so it needs to be quite straightforward and ideally, not mention PHP.
SGirl said:
Wow! Lots to think about there. Thanks everybody.
I'm with Register1, so I have Gallery already installed on my server. Thing is, I don't know how to use it to make it look like the websites above! All I've been able to do so far is just create a "collection" of photos - no nice page layout or anything, just photo after photo in the gallery.
If anyone knows where I can find a decent online manual for Gallery, that would be great. I don't do Computers, so it needs to be quite straightforward and ideally, not mention PHP.
I'm with Register1, so I have Gallery already installed on my server. Thing is, I don't know how to use it to make it look like the websites above! All I've been able to do so far is just create a "collection" of photos - no nice page layout or anything, just photo after photo in the gallery.
If anyone knows where I can find a decent online manual for Gallery, that would be great. I don't do Computers, so it needs to be quite straightforward and ideally, not mention PHP.
Gallery - http://codex.gallery2.org/index.php/M
PHP - www.php.net/manual/en/
ErnestM
The Gallery manual is cool, that'll come in very useful. But I think I'm about to develop an allergy to PHP. Having faffed around with lots of formats, I've eventually settled for decent sized thumbnails linking to big versions of each pic (easy to do in Dreamweaver).
Some like this format, others don't... but hey - it's easy!
clicky >> www.stevecarter.com/2005/2005-0.htm
Steve
Some like this format, others don't... but hey - it's easy!
clicky >> www.stevecarter.com/2005/2005-0.htm
Steve
SGirl said:
Do you just have the one page, or a set of pages?
a whole bunch I'm afraid...
www.SteveCarter.com
Modifying a Gallery theme is not hard. I recently gave my website an updated look and feel and then modified my gallery theme (matrix) to match...
www.espritv8.com - main website
www.espritv8.com/gallery/main.php - gallery
I even modified gallery's menu so that it clicked back to the main site when "website home" is selected. A working knowledge of html, css and modern browser issues helps. My next project is to do the same with the wiki software for a V8 knowledgebase. God help me.
ErnestM
www.espritv8.com - main website
www.espritv8.com/gallery/main.php - gallery
I even modified gallery's menu so that it clicked back to the main site when "website home" is selected. A working knowledge of html, css and modern browser issues helps. My next project is to do the same with the wiki software for a V8 knowledgebase. God help me.
ErnestM
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