Photography Portfolio Websites – What Clients Want
Arguably there are few more vital sales vehicles than a web portfolio yet too often they are aimed more at other people in the industry than at clients. If you’re a photographer, you’re in luck because PhotoShelter – a company that provides a variety of services for photographers including portfolios – has put together a detailed survey and report asking clients what they want out of a portfolio.
The survey was of 550 image buyers, everyone from creative directors to photo editors, and asks them questions about what formats they prefer, how they react to Flash and what they are looking for in a portfolio, even whether they prefer a background to a plain look. The results are illuminating and very worth reading.
Some Amusing Buyer Comments
Photographers spend WAYAY too much time making sites look cool rather than focusing on functionality.
Also, please make your contact info clear, easy to find, in a point size seven or higher.
I hate automatic music. If I want music I will go to iTunes or play my iPod.
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I guess use a simple website without flash or java script is something a lot people should think about as well… better SEO and pretty sure thing that almost everyone sees it.
I am using no script and there is nothing more annoying than having to allow a certain site and then not seeing the use to build that site on flash/js anyways…
Ahh, yes.
That’s why portfolios are easy money. =]
Feels like more of a commercial/an advertise than an article…
Yeah, I think I would have preferred to see the report online, rather than having to download something. A nice idea, though!
I use no flash on my home page, with direct links into the various image galleries along with a image search function. Not fancy, but functional.
Sure hell it’s an advertisement for their site, but the report itself looks interesting and in case you are into creating and selling stock it might be worth checking out.
“I hate automatic music. If I want music I will go to iTunes or play my iPod.”
I don’t find that amusing at all. I feel the exact same way. If I open a website and there is sound, I close it. Don’t even bother. I usually have iTunes or Hulu running at my desk, and that random noise from some website pisses me off.
I would like to add that Flash should NOT be overused. Flash can make a site great. But the chance of a site being great with lots of Flash is so slim that it should just be avoided completely.
I downloaded the report. Good stuff in there, and I’m planning on putting it to work on my website.
Flash is great in moderation, used in subtle creative ways. I’m with the 96% of people that hate flash intros and music.
Great report, lots of usable information in here for web professionals.
very interesting – i used almost exclusively work with commercial photographers and it is shocking that the most widely used web template service are ones like livebooks, blue domain and neon sky (all flash based)
I agree wit hthe flash thing…I think flash is a bad idea if you’re trying to promote your work. You don’t want people annoyed by flashing crap on the screen you want them to see your work front and center.
Thanks !