Online galleries for clients

[mdshaw55]

Having blown a considerable amount of money on P45+ etc etc, it irritates me that my current preview website for clients is 800 x 600.

So... what I want is something to output a gallery which I can upload to the server and which will force the client to view at full screen.

I've seen the Lightroom & Expression Media galleries, but nothing seems to force viewing at full screen.

Would need to be pretty slick to use as I output shoots every two weeks or so.

Oh, would also prefer non-Flash...
 
Regards,

Matthew

[pcunite]

Having blown a considerable amount of money on P45+ etc etc, it irritates me that my current preview website for clients is 800 x 600.
So... what I want is something to output a gallery which I can upload to the server and which will force the client to view at full screen.

Full screen is a problem because of format, 16:9, 16:10, etc, also I don't surf the web with my browser maximized and do NOT like it when it is forced that way... I am thinking about this issue as well. One approach is to just ask the user what size they want to view the images at, I mean offer them a choice of two. 800x600 and then 1400x1000, then send them to the html or java script that can load those sized images.

[LiamStrain]

Speaking from the standpoint of someone who hires photographers (as well as being one). I resent any site or gallery that hijacks my browser and "forces" full screen.

I know the decision has been made at that point to hire you, but if your portfolio did that, it's a strike against. If a client gallery does that, it's annoying at the very least.

Also - you'll run into a few things.
1. Fullscreen for you, is different than fullscreen for me (and is different on my laptop, vs. my work machine, etc.) ... so it will have to autoscale, and that will sacrifice details and sharpness.
2. What benefit, from their standpoint is a fullscreen image? Is that how they will be displaying them ultimately? Are these final files or just proof galleries? How are they using them?
3. Larger files = slower load times. Annoying
4. Depending on their computer, 800x600 may already be fullscreen.

Flash is the most reliable way to do this and retain control.
You could write a script to force a new window to open, and FF and some other browsers will automatically resize images that are too large, down to fit in the window (and still allow them to click in and view them larger if you wish).

All in all, I would ask your audience what they want first.

[tom b]

There is nothing wrong with fFash as long as you don't have long download times.

The major problem with any site is… click wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait… image. Click wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait… image. Click wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait… image. Click wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait… image.

The first point of call I would suggest is that you visit similar sites to what you want and see what works and what doesn't. That is, put yourself in the customers chair and see through their eyes what is important.

Having visited a number of photography sites recently my top three musts are:

1 Good navigation

2 A minimal number of clicks

3 Good download times.

Flash is not the problem. Good design is and you should be willing to pay for it, just like you expect clients to pay for your skills.

Cheers,

[OnyimBob]

Try Livebooks. There is a client login setup where you can put galleries for their eyes only.
Uses Flash. Maximum image size I think is 920 x 562 px.
Have a look. (I have no connection with Livebooks other than a user.)

[ctz]

Thanks everyone- some good points. A few extra details:

1/ It has to be non-Flash; 3 of my clients have bulk bought iPads for staff & I expect more to follow, so anything not running there is a non-starter.
2/ These are client galleries, ie the shoot is done & they want to discuss final selection. Full screen is a bonus, not a problem.
3/ Some of them are tech-savy, some aren't; that's why I want to force it to go full frame & not just have a little button to give the option.
4/ Most of the images go into print, some full page, some at drop-in size.
5/ Speed is important but not a deal breaker.

I think the issue is to find a non-Flash way to go full screen and adapt for the different viewing resolutions. At the moment, I'm looking at Slideshow Pro which at least has an option to go full screen and seems to resize on the fly... but only seems to be Flash only.

Will have a look at Livebooks.

Matthew

In another LL thread I've found www.adammork.dk, a very good example of 100% non-Flash quality webdesign.
Great HTML5 implemntation (and also great photography, by the way).

HTH

[buzzski]

I proof to clients using Photoshelter (I also use them for selling and distributing images) My images preview at 950px I think and I've had no negative feedback from anyone re size or quality. There is a flash slideshow option that fills the screen but images remain centered. The basic functionality is HTML based though. I like it - alot. $1 gets you a trial for a month. If you do go for it I've got a Photoshelter Promo Code that'll get you money off HERE

[revaaron]

if you go over 800x600 for clients, it's good enough for them to grab and print themselves.

[AldoMurillo]

Try http://www.viewbook.com/ ... it's great and easy to use,  it's also compatible with iPad and iPhone.   I've been using it for 6 months now with no problem... it has full screen mode, you can show your images in really high res (for large monitors) you can make password protected galleries for clients, also with original download if you want to.

[Steve Weldon]

Having blown a considerable amount of money on P45+ etc etc, it irritates me that my current preview website for clients is 800 x 600.

So... what I want is something to output a gallery which I can upload to the server and which will force the client to view at full screen.

I've seen the Lightroom & Expression Media galleries, but nothing seems to force viewing at full screen.

Would need to be pretty slick to use as I output shoots every two weeks or so.

Oh, would also prefer non-Flash...
 
Regards,

Matthew

Many galleries offer different sizes to the viewer. My site galleries (not my sites user galleries) start off with a small thumbs, click on one and it goes to 800x600, and then you have a choice of clicking on another icon to go full screen where they're currently 1600x1200.. and I must say at 1600x1200 you can certainly see the image the way it was intended much closer than with a small image.

Once in "full screen" mode you have the choice of turning on/off exfil or other data (narratives of events, product descriptions, why you chose a certain lighting style, how you could modify the image differently) you choose to display including captions, activating a slide show, music, anything you may want.. though it defaults without any of that because I find that stuff annoying at best.

Those are viewing galleries.  For a private client gallery I can use basically the same thing and/but set it up into different looks from modern to classic, and then turn on an additional option which allows a client to download a full size image for more detailed viewing or printing.   For weddings, events, nudes, anything the client wants his privacy with I'll alway use a separate domain with several layers of security.   For weddings and events a client might like to share the gallery link with friends and family and each different viewer might want music, slide show capabilities, full screen, or again to download full size images for detailed viewing or printing.  Clients love their family being able to download their own files and go make their own prints.. it relieves them of the responsibility.  Especially as many of my clients are geographically separated from their respective families.

Anyway.. there's no need to only display one image size or force anyone into full screen without their choosing to do so.  Offer choices and make them simple and clean.. and above all make them fast!  If you're going to go full screen put the site on a fast (dedicated) server so they're waiting no longer than a second or two between images and if you're going to make a 3-6mb jpeg image download available this becomes even more important.  Sometimes clients want tiff's or PSD's and the server has to be able to handle reasonable speeds.. at least in the 10mbps range or preferably higher.

There are tons of pre-made gallery software available for your websites.. and even something simple like Slideshow Pro for Lightroom or Slideshow Pro for Flash or the standalone.. provides a ton of choices.  I'll match backgrounds to wedding theme colors, backgrounds to product them colors, and the same with fonts.. none of this is hard to do using available gallery software.  You can even choose between flash and HTML galleries though the best galleries I've found, and I've very recently reviewed over 50 of the top ones, I think flash offers the most.  I'll never build another 100% flash website.. you lose way too many people that way.. but a HTML front end, blogs, etc, and flash galleries works out quite well.

Offer choices, simple easy to use choices.  I'm constantly refining my galleries based on customer feedback looking for that magic formula.. not sure there is one.. but I like to try..

[ziocan]

Speaking from the standpoint of someone who hires photographers (as well as being one). I resent any site or gallery that hijacks my browser and "forces" full screen.

I know the decision has been made at that point to hire you, but if your portfolio did that, it's a strike against. If a client gallery does that, it's annoying at the very least.

   

[Zerui]

Have a look at "A Photo Portfolio"
http://aphotofolio.com/
Zerui

[Chairman Bill]

Put them on Flickr. You can set it so that only 'friends' can view your work (for 'friends' read 'clients'), and it gives a range of image sizes. It gives a facility for comments, which might be useful, plus it's free.

[Imaginara]

if you go over 800x600 for clients, it's good enough for them to grab and print themselves.

If your client does that, you know where to send the bill with the copyrightviolation attached =)

[AndrewDyer]

Here is another vote for Slideshow Pro.
http://slideshowpro.net/

I have just bought the Slideshow Pro Director application that sits on the server and will play the images within your predefined size...
or if you click the full screen button, it will re-generate on the fly new images to fill your screen.
This is a Flash based interface but you can also try the new Beta version that will at the same time make an iphone or ipad and now android show on the fly.

Might be worth a look.

all the best.

Andrew

Edit... here is a link to the mobile page.
http://slideshowpro.net/news/archive/2010/...pro-mobile.php/