Tips : We Create Custom Online Portfolio Websites for Artists
WORKING
PRACTICE FOR ARTISTS WORKING WITH CREATE
FOLIOS:
Tips on how to produce your online portfolio in the most painless way:
We understand and appreciate that many artists work by thinking and doing, but the best results won't come from stream of consciousness emails to me. Better, rather, to mind dump into a text file, or into one email, or make hand written notes, then look it over and edit out the unnecessary bits at the end of the day, and send them out to us then. This will save us from having to rebuild things three times a day, and will save you from being billed for hours of over-run time on your site [it's reasonable for a client to change their mind about which image on the home page, even twice, or to edit the odd line with something forgotten in the CV or statement, but if a client changes the images, the layout, content, etc etc, repeatedly, and we have already built that content, then we have no choice but to charge for the edits. You could end up with an unnecessarily expensive site that way, and I wouldn't be happy with that.
The hardest thing of all [many of our artist clients find this] is the introspective nature of putting together a portfolio site. Firstly, when gathering material for your stylish new online portfolio, you have to look at your own work until it feels like it makes no sense. You see it with weary eyes, eyes that have stared at it through the making process, and now again, when usually, you send it out into the world, only this time, you stare harder, more analytically, you question is it good enough for the portfolio. Pick a representative selection of work, with the end viewer in mind [usually a gallerist or curator, but also, the art buyer]. Yet again, edit your selection, even re-edit, but at that point, you have to let it go and move on. Believe us, you will never be 100% satisfied with it. There will always be something you want to change, but for every change you make, there is another hiding around the corner, waiting to spring out and surprise you!
So, on that note, some rather dull notes to help you get it right [from our experience as artists, art directors, lecturers and project managers, we're in the process of building some new sections to the site, which will have guidance notes, aimed at helping first timers like yourself, which will mean a whole new blog, and links section.
Communications:
We'll email you whenever we've have completed an update [major] of the site, for you to proof check it for errors, or to feed back on any other errors. Sometimes, you will receive a number of emails in a day, when we have completed a number of sections of your site. We then need feedback / approval before we can continue with the site build. On your part, as we've already explained above, but will repeat here: best, rather, to mind dump into a text file, or into one email, then look it over and edit out the unnecessary bits, before sending it out at the end of the day. We'll answer any questions you have for us!
Text content [bio, statement etc]:
It's best for you to work on your artist's statement until you are happy with it, set it aside, don't look at it again after your final edit, then send it to me, then I will build that page of the site. There are a couple of reasons for this, one is that if you keep going over it, you will keep changing it. Secondly, if you were applying for a show or a job or preparing a catalogue, you would write it, edit it, re-edit it, then email or post it. You would not be able to edit it further. This is how it needs to work with me. When you send me content, it needs to be ready for me to process and publish. If it's not ready to publish, I don't need to see it! I do offer editing services, as you will see on the services page of my site, but these too are additionally chargeable services. Let me know if you wish to use them!
Image content [front page, home page, plus any images for bio section]:
The same goes for the front page and galleries. You need to organise your content for us [i.e. don't send us stuff you're not going to use], even if you just send us an email with a structure or handwritten notes or printouts with the CDs. In theory, we can rebuild as often as you like, but it incurs additional costs for you, and plays havoc with our scheduling of work.
Home Page Notes: Choose a single image, or 3 -5 small images for the front page / home page of your site, as representative of your work. No one image is likely to represent your whole folio, so just choose something recent that you already know looks good, and that people like. It will work. If you need help choosing an image for the front page, then send us your shortlist of images, and we'll be happy to help you select, it's all part of the service.
Don't forget, this is just the front door, the cover to your portfolio, not the gallery. Don't get hung up on it, focus your main efforts on what structure you want for your gallery, and what images you want in there. Your images will be plenty large enough and clear enough in the gallery, which will usually be the next place that a visitor to your site will head. Visitors will look [we have site statistics for this] at your front page for between 1 and 3 seconds, no more, as they have come to your site to view your work, not your front page. A portfolio web site is a very specific type of web site.
Trust us, we're the designers! That's the reason to hire us rather than any old techie geeks who would give you anything you wanted, and leave you with a site looking like a dogs dinner! Not good. We'll build the front page when you have sent / identified the images for the layout. We need to get it built, and move onto the core of the site. It will look great!
Gallery Notes: The gallery is the main core of a portfolio site. Your gallery section can be in the form of a single gallery, or a number of sections or sub galleries. Look at our web folio for some ideas on how you might structure it. Seek our advice if you're stuck.
It's not appropriate for us to select the images for your folio, that is one job that only you can do. We can give you guidance on section building and layout etc, but the final selection is a job for you the artist. The front page is different. You select some images, then we select from them to make a front page that looks great, and entices people into your site. Remember, the average visitor will spend only 1 - 3 seconds before clicking on gallery, or they leave, which we don't want to happen!
A portfolio is like a visual resume. Your online portfolio is no different. It should contain your best work, representative of your style and approach. It may display the development of key ideas, or your breadth of style, depending on the intended viewer.
Audio content:
Yes, we can do that too! Send us the audio files you have, with notes on how you would like to use them, such as what part of the site [sounds usually should have their own section of the gallery?] and we'll process the files, convert them and upload them to a new section of the gallery, which we will build.
Getting things done:
So you need help with your GTD skils? [GTD = Getting Things Done] Check out these links for further info:
http://freelanceswitch.com/start/get-things-started-simpler-than-gtd/
http://www.myuninstalledlife.com/gtd-onepageversion
How to be a good good client
Yes really! Before you go...you might like to read this entertaining but oh so accurate account of "how to be a good client" [.pdf will open in a new window] from number17.com, a design agency. You can bet we'll soon be releasing our own!
Finally...
Don't worry! We'll get you and your online portfolio shaped up and shipped out, and all on schedule at that!
Now, let's get cracking!!! Fingers are at the keyboard, ready to roll...contact us!
Tips on how to produce your online portfolio in the most painless way:
We understand and appreciate that many artists work by thinking and doing, but the best results won't come from stream of consciousness emails to me. Better, rather, to mind dump into a text file, or into one email, or make hand written notes, then look it over and edit out the unnecessary bits at the end of the day, and send them out to us then. This will save us from having to rebuild things three times a day, and will save you from being billed for hours of over-run time on your site [it's reasonable for a client to change their mind about which image on the home page, even twice, or to edit the odd line with something forgotten in the CV or statement, but if a client changes the images, the layout, content, etc etc, repeatedly, and we have already built that content, then we have no choice but to charge for the edits. You could end up with an unnecessarily expensive site that way, and I wouldn't be happy with that.
The hardest thing of all [many of our artist clients find this] is the introspective nature of putting together a portfolio site. Firstly, when gathering material for your stylish new online portfolio, you have to look at your own work until it feels like it makes no sense. You see it with weary eyes, eyes that have stared at it through the making process, and now again, when usually, you send it out into the world, only this time, you stare harder, more analytically, you question is it good enough for the portfolio. Pick a representative selection of work, with the end viewer in mind [usually a gallerist or curator, but also, the art buyer]. Yet again, edit your selection, even re-edit, but at that point, you have to let it go and move on. Believe us, you will never be 100% satisfied with it. There will always be something you want to change, but for every change you make, there is another hiding around the corner, waiting to spring out and surprise you!
So, on that note, some rather dull notes to help you get it right [from our experience as artists, art directors, lecturers and project managers, we're in the process of building some new sections to the site, which will have guidance notes, aimed at helping first timers like yourself, which will mean a whole new blog, and links section.
Communications:
We'll email you whenever we've have completed an update [major] of the site, for you to proof check it for errors, or to feed back on any other errors. Sometimes, you will receive a number of emails in a day, when we have completed a number of sections of your site. We then need feedback / approval before we can continue with the site build. On your part, as we've already explained above, but will repeat here: best, rather, to mind dump into a text file, or into one email, then look it over and edit out the unnecessary bits, before sending it out at the end of the day. We'll answer any questions you have for us!
Text content [bio, statement etc]:
It's best for you to work on your artist's statement until you are happy with it, set it aside, don't look at it again after your final edit, then send it to me, then I will build that page of the site. There are a couple of reasons for this, one is that if you keep going over it, you will keep changing it. Secondly, if you were applying for a show or a job or preparing a catalogue, you would write it, edit it, re-edit it, then email or post it. You would not be able to edit it further. This is how it needs to work with me. When you send me content, it needs to be ready for me to process and publish. If it's not ready to publish, I don't need to see it! I do offer editing services, as you will see on the services page of my site, but these too are additionally chargeable services. Let me know if you wish to use them!
Image content [front page, home page, plus any images for bio section]:
The same goes for the front page and galleries. You need to organise your content for us [i.e. don't send us stuff you're not going to use], even if you just send us an email with a structure or handwritten notes or printouts with the CDs. In theory, we can rebuild as often as you like, but it incurs additional costs for you, and plays havoc with our scheduling of work.
Home Page Notes: Choose a single image, or 3 -5 small images for the front page / home page of your site, as representative of your work. No one image is likely to represent your whole folio, so just choose something recent that you already know looks good, and that people like. It will work. If you need help choosing an image for the front page, then send us your shortlist of images, and we'll be happy to help you select, it's all part of the service.
Don't forget, this is just the front door, the cover to your portfolio, not the gallery. Don't get hung up on it, focus your main efforts on what structure you want for your gallery, and what images you want in there. Your images will be plenty large enough and clear enough in the gallery, which will usually be the next place that a visitor to your site will head. Visitors will look [we have site statistics for this] at your front page for between 1 and 3 seconds, no more, as they have come to your site to view your work, not your front page. A portfolio web site is a very specific type of web site.
Trust us, we're the designers! That's the reason to hire us rather than any old techie geeks who would give you anything you wanted, and leave you with a site looking like a dogs dinner! Not good. We'll build the front page when you have sent / identified the images for the layout. We need to get it built, and move onto the core of the site. It will look great!
Gallery Notes: The gallery is the main core of a portfolio site. Your gallery section can be in the form of a single gallery, or a number of sections or sub galleries. Look at our web folio for some ideas on how you might structure it. Seek our advice if you're stuck.
It's not appropriate for us to select the images for your folio, that is one job that only you can do. We can give you guidance on section building and layout etc, but the final selection is a job for you the artist. The front page is different. You select some images, then we select from them to make a front page that looks great, and entices people into your site. Remember, the average visitor will spend only 1 - 3 seconds before clicking on gallery, or they leave, which we don't want to happen!
A portfolio is like a visual resume. Your online portfolio is no different. It should contain your best work, representative of your style and approach. It may display the development of key ideas, or your breadth of style, depending on the intended viewer.
Audio content:
Yes, we can do that too! Send us the audio files you have, with notes on how you would like to use them, such as what part of the site [sounds usually should have their own section of the gallery?] and we'll process the files, convert them and upload them to a new section of the gallery, which we will build.
Getting things done:
So you need help with your GTD skils? [GTD = Getting Things Done] Check out these links for further info:
http://freelanceswitch.com/start/get-things-started-simpler-than-gtd/
http://www.myuninstalledlife.com/gtd-onepageversion
How to be a good good client
Yes really! Before you go...you might like to read this entertaining but oh so accurate account of "how to be a good client" [.pdf will open in a new window] from number17.com, a design agency. You can bet we'll soon be releasing our own!
Finally...
Don't worry! We'll get you and your online portfolio shaped up and shipped out, and all on schedule at that!
Now, let's get cracking!!! Fingers are at the keyboard, ready to roll...contact us!