It's arrived...my very own website!

[Katianne]

:D www.katiankrafts.co.uk (http://www.katiankrafts.co.uk) :D

And now I need you comments!!! I have been working on this all weekend. I have used some of my original photos but also re-took some. Can anyone offer any advice on what looks best - just having a full photo of each mirror or having other items in the picture? Can you still see enough of the item this way?

I have used Mr Site to create the site. Again, comments are welcomed. Good, not so good, suggestions!

Look forward to reading them, you expert lot of fellow craftees! :D

[Ballerinacaz]

Wow Katianne, your site looks fab!

I like the way you have a mixture of pictures, some that are just the mirror and some that have objects with it. I think I like the picture for the
'Round Mosaic Mirror Purple and White' best coz its got a nice zoomed in image of the mirror, and some pretty flowers and stuff. But I think the clocks look best when its just a picture of the clock.

Your prices seem very reasonable, every thing just looks great!

[JBJB]

I personally don't like the watermark on the photos .... I know why you've done it ..... I just find it a bit distracting.

Can you watermark any other way?

[Katianne]

It only gave me one option for the watermark - I can take it off though if you think it's better without? I wasn't sure either. Thanks for the comments!!!

[Katianne]

Your prices seem very reasonable, every thing just looks great!


Thanks!!! Are my prices too cheap or just right? I find it hard to price. I seem to sell well online and wonder if I could charge more, but when selling at craft fairs have seen a few people put off by price. My prices at the moment mean I make a small profit, which just about covers my time.

[Chris W]

Katianne I love your products but would suggest that you try to show them off better, the watermark does make it difficult to view them. I buy wholesale
goods online for my shop and tend to return to the sites that have clear views of what they sell. I believe that the more striking and clear your images are the more likely you are to get a sale.
As for pricing this is the area I find the hardest, perhaps you could experiment with this area a little pushing the boundaries with one or two products. I tried this in my shop and found that if an item grabs someone they will pay a fair price for it.

[Katianne]

Thanks Chris!!! I have tried to remove the watermark but it won't go!!! Think I might have to load the images on again, so that'll be my job for this evening!!!

Apart from the watermarks, do people find it easy to follow and use?

[Katianne]

Katianne I love your products but would suggest that you try to show them off better, the watermark does make it difficult to view them.

Sorry, forgot to ask, is it just the watermark that makes them hard to view or are the photographs not showing them well too?

[sweet]

Hi katianne,

your webite looks great, I love your products too, so nicely done!

i saw a couple of things (spelling mistakes)

1) on the home page, prodominantly is spelt with an 'e'

2)round mirrors, irredescent is spelt iridescent

although, this wouldnt stop me personally buying from you!

but I do like your site, easy to navigate round and again nice products!

s.x

[Chris W]

Hi Katianne,
It might help you evolve your own style if you do a bit of research, why not try google image search for mirrors, see what approach you think works best? I like your colour schemes, a white background would show these off more. I think the drapery is a bit distracting and not what you would normally associate with a mirror. If it was me I would perhaps put a shapely glass vase and a single flower. However if you don't want to bother with photoshop you could experiment with a grey background which would help your camera to expose more correctly. It doesn't matter what I think though, if you feel comfortable with your own style you will enjoy the process better and it will show in the results.

[Sparklez]

Hi Katian,

Your site looks great, it's well laid out easy to navigate.

I agree with the comments on the watermarking, I find it very distracting. I think the style of your photos is great, I like the ones that have the same coloured tiles round about the mirrors, but I do think some of your pictures are a bit dark and don't show the colours as well as some of your others do.

Carol

[Katianne]

Thanks all - I am in the middle of re-taking a lot of the photos, as some of them are too dark and I agree don't show the colours very well. The ones which are taken at more of a distance are the ones I took today but I'm still not sure about them. I use a lightbox now and this seems to work well on sunny days (I used this when I took my rainbow mirror picture, which I personally really like). I think I need to buy a daylight bulb, as I've heard this gives off a better light.

I'm pleased with the coaster photos - I like the fact I can show their use in the photos. I struggle with the mirrors though I must say!!!

[ilovecrafts]

Nice products! Nice site

i have to agree about the watermark on the pots, very distracting!

I would like to know the sizes!

And why do the large round have drop down box option ofering 38cm square or 55x28 rectangle??
Not sure why either you have a blank box marked colour, when you are dispalying specific colours!

OOps.......... just spotted the sizes , on each page at the top, but missed it at first, cos one tends to scroll down to look at products.

Postage is clearly shown for each item but , i would suggest you add a T& C section, and also explain how carefully you package each item , and what postage system used. Do you only sell within UK? If so needs to be shown, if not then also needs to be shown.

Sorry if this all sounds negative, I don't mean it to be that way, just trying to be helpful!

[colourart]

Hi katianne,

i like the site fresh and clean and shows your product well.

Just a couple of things (I'm going to be honest here)

Alot of people have commented on the watermarks, I don't like these either, they are very distracting.

You mention candle holders but I can't find them anywhere, maybe its just me not finding them, but it would be frustrating if you can't find them or they're not there.

Finally and this is maybe personal taste but I don't like the mugs you have used to photo the coasters, they are quite child like and your product to me is grown up. I think its a good idea to use a mug but perhaps a more disctrect one, after all the coasters are for sale. They are the stars of the show!!

That all said its a great site, good luck I'm sure you'll do well as you have a great product. Hope you don't mind my honesty.

[Katianne]

Thanks everyone for the advice and being so honest, that's excatly what I need so please don't worry about saying if there's something you don't like.

I am working one the website tonight so wil make a lot of the changes you've suggested, once again thanks.

Re the coaster photos: I haven't got any other mugs (very limited collection!!!) but will have a look out for some others tomorrow, so once I've got them wil re-take the photos.

Keep the comments coming!!!

[Fair Do]

Hi,

Love it!

It's clean, informative and easy to navigate ...just what an online shopper wants!

Regarding the mug issue ...do you even need them in the shot? Would suggest using a plain white mug or cup & saucer if you feel it really needs them.

Watermarks ...it's important to protect your images so I can see whay you did it ...personally I can see past them, so although they are a bit heavy it wouldn't put me off too much.

My only suggestion is that the landing page seems a bit plain due to not showing product. I don't use MrSite myself so I don't know the answer to this ...but would it be possible to run the gallery on the landing page?

Just a thought.

Best wishes for loads of sales!

Regards.
Fair Do

[SusieQ]

Lovely Katianne!!!! Lovely site and lovely products!!!! Sue xx:mf:

[Focus on Life]

Oh I'm a bit late, sorry :mad:

I really like the colour scheme of your site, lovely and fresh

Re your mirrors alone or mirrors with items Q? I think havng looked through both, my own preference is for the mirrors on their own, nice close up shots like you've done, it shows them of really nicely

I like a mug being on the coasters, just to get an idea of their size, but yeah maybe a simple plain mug would look a little bit nicer

Well done, I think it all looks really clean and crisp, like it a lot :)

Shaz x

[Katianne]

Hi,
My only suggestion is that the landing page seems a bit plain due to not showing product.

Hi Fair Do and thank you for your comements :D. Re: the landing page, I think I must have been updating it when you looked - I removed the images I had one their originally to replace them with the ones on there now. How does this look?

[Katianne]

Oh I'm a bit late, sorry :mad:

I really like the colour scheme of your site, lovely and fresh

Re your mirrors alone or mirrors with items Q? I think havng looked through both, my own preference is for the mirrors on their own, nice close up shots like you've done, it shows them of really nicely

I like a mug being on the coasters, just to get an idea of their size, but yeah maybe a simple plain mug would look a little bit nicer

Well done, I think it all looks really clean and crisp, like it a lot :)

Shaz x

Thanks Shaz! I think I agree wit you about the mirrors being on their own and close up. There are mixed views on this but I'm a bit of a close up girl! I have just been playing around with a few images and have managed to crop the ones on my home page so they just show the item, no background. I quite like it but what do other people think?

I agree with you about having a mug - it's nice to show the size of the coasters. I will lok out for something plainer tomorrow.

Keep them coming, this is all really helpful, much appreciated!

[wendy]

I like your site, it's fresh and clean looking, and easy to navigate.

I agree with others about the watermarking. I know why it's done, but it does distract from what you are trying to show off, and I'd be inclined to look less at pics with heavy watermarking. My eyes get strained sometimes (possibly my age) and there must be others like me!

I like the photos taken closer, as it shows more of the mirrors, etc., but I also like how you've put some mosaic tiles in front of the mirrors.

I think you probably need a terms and conditions page. Think about protecting yourself as well as your customer. (Postage, returns, etc.)What about a frequently asked questions page? Perhaps you could answer some mosaic-craft questions?

Anyway, well done, it looks lovely and very professional.

[kipper workshops]

Hi Kate,

Sorry, got to this post late...

I'm really pleased for you that you have got your website up and running.
I like the colour scheme and layout, nice and simple.

I have a few comments to add to the mix of what has
already been said.


1. Defo on the watermarks, personally I think they are distracting.
2. The lighter images look great, there are some that I think are a bit dark and don't show off the colours as well as they could. Although I know you are working on these. I think the sheet is creating a greyness to the images that is washing out your colours a little. For me, the best way to show off your mirrors would be to hang them on a wall. If this was possible I think it would be the best way. Show them as they will be used. You could have one hook in your house and just swap in the relevant mirror as needed!

3. I would include a terms and conditions page as soon as you can. I find that the more info the customer has the better. It stops any confusion and also may help improve the stikiness of your site, they stay longer!

4. Perhaps also have a more detailed 'about us' page too?

I think the site looks great in general, and as is always the way with websites, you will develop and tweak it all the time.

Good work!

Steve :):):)

[Katianne]

Are the watermarks still there??? I removed them over the weekend and they're not coming up when I go into the site?????

[ethel&edna]

Watermarks are just on a couple of items in the Gallery section. Photo frames and 1 other mirror.

Well done you! Lookin' good. I agree - the round rainbow mirror picture is perfect. I think they would all look great done in this format. Cropped nice and close and clear.
Colours look gorgeous.:D

[Katianne]

Thanks!!! Will change those so all is watermark free! So, think I'm going to re-take all my photos so they are close up. I personally prefer that too so pleased about that :D. Do you think I should take them hung up (so reflecting the opposite wall) or should I take them and then crop around them (as I have doen with the pics on my homepage?). Sorry to kepp asking questions, its just this is all very helpful - thanks!

[ethel&edna]

Hmmm... Personally I think on the wall might be better. The only problem with the cropped ones is the reflection of the draped fabric is still left in the mirror and it's a bit funny :confused: - if you want to be REALLY picky that is. :D

[Fair Do]

Hi,

That's a lot better with the products on the front page ...it brings it to life somehow ...and makes the visitor want to see/know more.

Best of luck with it!

Fair Do

[Katianne]

How about if I take a few pics, post them here and ask for opinions - would that be ok? Thanks again everyone, will have to add a credits page to my site too!!!!

[ethel&edna]

Yeah do it! It must be easier to post 'em here first thank adding 'em to 'site and then changing again.

[Ian Beckerton]

Hi Katianne,

The front page is much better but from a professional view point you are over cropping the image. A round object should have a square crop, a square object should have a oblong or a square crop but if it’s oblong then the object shouldn’t be central, it should be biased toward the top. You can use oblong crops for round items but the item shouldn’t be central you should have more space at the top or bottom, it can be either. I think I understand that!!

One thing you do need to watch is the exposure all the images you have here are under exposed. And finally the mirror or clock should be on a wall, the clock should be taken face on and the mirror for obvious reasons at an angle. Mirrors should be showing something otherwise they just look blank and uninteresting.

Have fun

I..

[Katianne]

Thanks Ian!!! The clocks are taken hanging on a wall, face on - doesn't it look like they are, or is it because I've cropped the black and white one that it doesn't sppear this way? Re: the exposure - how do I get this right - is it something to do with the flash? Sorry, don't know anything about photography!!!

I will take on everyone's advice and retake the the photos and post them for opinions...watch this thread!!!

[brad]

Hi Katianne

Good luck with your site, it look good.

I do a bit with websites and alway find the the about us page is very popular. I would also consider putting a contact phone number on .

I know I do not buy from a website that does not have a phone number and the about page just adds credit to you site.

Hope this helps

Kind regards

Brad

[icecreamgirl]

Hiya,Well done with the site, it's very eay to find your way around and i like the colours.I would say you just need to fiddle with the photos and believe me i know what a headache that can be!!I agree about the coasters, i don't like the mugs in the photos. Have you tried piling the coasters up and wrapping them up in ribbon maybe have just one loose at the side or something? This would suggest that they come nicely packaged always a bonus!!With the mirrors.. i would imagine they are quite a headache to photograph...but if i could just say i have a tiny problem with the reflection, it's a bit odd looking with the sheet there, especially with the square ones, the sheet is quite creased in some of them.I like the pics you've done of the photo frames, with the coloured 'stuff' in front of them, if you could do something like that with the mirrors that might look good, once you've had a play with the photos it's all looking fab!!good luck!

[Ian Beckerton]

Hi Katianne,
Exposure,
Flash I would stay away from as really you need to understand it to get the best out of it. I have written a note about exposure elsewhere, it’s worth reading but I would say that wouldn’t I!

When you are shooting against light colours the camera will always have a tendency to underexpose, so you need to correct that. There are two ways you can do this with a digital camera. One is to adjust the white balance (look at the instruction book for that) and the other is to use manual settings, this would be my preferred way.

Take an image of what you want to photograph. When you do this the camera will tell you what exposure it thinks is the right one, make a note of these two readings. One will be the speed that it thinks is needs to work at and the other will be the aperture, this is the size of hole that the camera will let the light through the lens,

Put the camera into manual mode (instruction book) and transfer these two settings to the camera. Once you have done that take another image, it should be the same as the first one you took. Now, hopefully you have the camera on a tripod because you now need to change one of the settings. I would chose the speed setting because if the camera is on a tripod then changing the speed will not make any difference to the crispness of the image (it doesn’t change the focus). If you adjust the speed up the image will get darker and likewise if you slow the speed down it will get lighter. What you see on the camera should be more or less what you see in real life.

To be more certain of the exposure take the first image with the camera pointing at a mid to light grey surface but you have to have the same lighting conditions as you are using to take the mirror or clock. This will set the camera up quite accurately and all you have to do is transfer these settings to the manual controls for adjustment if required.

It sounds complicated but once you have done it there will be no holding you back. It is a fundamental element of photography.

Give it a try,
I..