Boudoir site.

[BrianShaw]

I like your photography (even the self-portrait) a lot. The blog format doesn't bother me so much but I was immediately wondering who "we" and "our" is. Are you plural?

Nice play with the innuendo about your home base of SLC. Folks always seem to have an impression of Utah. Your photography elevates that impression to new heights!

[MenacingTourist]

Agree with the above statements regarding the blog domain.
I would add that allowing comments makes me worry a little bit. Quotes from customers are one thing, random comments by unknowns are another.

Images look very well done.

Alan.

[elekm]

I tend to agree with this too. A free blog doesn't seem to be the way to go with this type of site that showcases your excellent work.

I also would encourage you to build a regular site under its own domain name.

You put a lot of energy into creating your images, and your Web site should be a reflection of that. It will cost you money, but not too much, but you will have complete control over the look and feel.

Don't take this the wrong way, but a free blog to me says, "I'm too cheap to pay for my own site." That's not the message that you want to project, because I think the photos you have displayed are excellent.

[phc]

I don't think the design of the site looks right J. Your work is very subtle and clearly takes a lot of thought, but the site looks like it came from a standard template. You pictures are worth much more.

Cheers, Paul.

[monkeytumble]

Having grown up in southern Idaho, seeing the blog name, and encountering the adult content warning, I expected to see multiple women in each photograph and interacting with each other in a manner that bordered on internet style adult content. That wasn't what was found... instead it was about a fine art photographer offering fine art boudoir photography who has a sense of humor.

I would encourage you to consider keeping the blog posting information for two audiences, photographers and people, women primarily, who might be considering being the subject of boudoir photography. If your blog contained information that describes how you work with your subjects, the sequence of and what happens during the shoot, and how you deal with body issues, e.g., stretch marks, it could help your business and be a good information resource to photographers who might venture (rather than stumble) into this type of work.

[JBrunner]

Great input everyone...

Here's what I can act on...

I can point the bog to a custom domain. When I get it populated and looking tight, that is exactly what I intend to do.

I switched to a black background... might work better for the images, and look a little less canned, or at least more what folks are used to.

I shut off the warning page. May put it back up. I'm in Utah, advertising to a Utah audience, plenty of liberal people, and underserved in this kind of work, but also the community that had a Rodin exhibit draped, and a replica of Michelangelo's David declared pornography.

Comments are fully moderated. Only what I approve will show.

I would much rather have a custom site, and hope to down the road, but right now I have zero money, as in zilch. Once it's formed I'll sell something and put an add in the paper. I have enough paper and chemistry to conduct business, and that's about it. I haven't a real gig since the end of November.
Not complaining or whining, just that's whats up right now. Been here before, still have the T-shirt from last time. I agree about the custom site, dead right, but I'm stuck with this, or something like this for right now.

Brian, you are right about the plurality. I need to figure that out.

The points of monkeytumble and 2F/2F I must consider as well, and everything else that has been contributed thus far. It is all very lucid, a question of weaving remains.

[BobNewYork]

As it's a development tool the "blog" is immaterial. As a sales tool I have to agree that a stand-alone domain would be better. I rather like the use of boudoir. I suspect it will resonate better with potential clients than fine art nude. I know us lot on the inside tend to think of boudoir as synonymous with cheesecake, (dating myself!!!) but for the intended market boudoir works better I think.

The work itself is awesome and conveys exactly the right degree of sensuality for the target market.

There may be a little too much technical information for the prospective clients. We Apuggers love that stuff, but I wonder if clients understand or care. Is there another way to get across the depth of craft that goes into the production of these images that is somewhat less technical? The technicals are bread and butter to us but they are probably too esoteric for the clients.

Great idea. wonderful and unique gift for husbands and boyfriends; and it is the "uniqueness" of it which should command a premium.

Go for it man.............and good luck.

Bob H

[JBrunner]

Thanks Bob,

Switched to white.. IDK.. Condensed the sizes dialogue...

The techie stuff I have to find a balance....

I need the Banana... he's a sooper jenious at this stuff.

[Gary Holliday]

The approach is great, but I would agree that the blog makes it look like a hobby site. If you wanted the ease and cheapness of a blog, consider wordpress and the 100s of free themes out there that make it less blog like.

Mine needs some tweaking with the layout, but here's an example of a Graph Paper Press theme :
http://www.natural-light-cambridge.co.uk/wordpress/

[df cardwell]

J

This might be a quibble, but I don't think so.

Fine Art vs Commercial Art.

If I buy a picture at a gallery to hang on my wall, its Fine Art.
If I pay a gunslinger to take a picture, its Commercial Art.

I guess I don't care who is wearing clothes,
but I don't believe there is any shame in saying that what we do is Commercial Art.
It becomes double talk when we clothe ourselves as artistes,
and look down our nose at fellow photographers who are in it for the money.

It isn't right to say, "Well, I'll take your picture, and accept your money,
to make a boudoir portrait, but I am purer and finer than the guy down the road who
charges money to take pictures of naked women !"

Bruner = Fine Artist
Cardwell = Commercial Hack

???????????????????????

Just a thought. Good luck.

d