Should I change my website to be more commercial?

A link to your site would help to decide :)

A link would help.

I didn’t link to keep it conceptual, my website looks pretty cool but its just not specialized towards businesses ya know? hmmm i guess a link would help but I was hoping to know what people think about unorthodox approach to servicing companies. If you want to see it: http://tinyurl.com/5l2s2p

@foran, I haven’t dug into your pages, but my first impression of the site (coming from 20 years in advertising) is pretty favorable. I think I would consider changing the About Us, News and Your Photos to a bit more subdued color, and lose the turquoise type. Also, the fact that the About Us and the News sections have a different background color than the Your Photos looks like either a mistake or that you’re throwing in some sort of gimmick. You have enough motion going on, and you’re a good shooter and have really nice work, so don’t distract from it.

Less is more.

Your page seems to lead with events imagery, but your portrait pieces are really strong. Multi-age imagery?

less is more! I always try to go by that… I appreciate your response (being a veteran and all!) I didn’t realize the gimmick about the colors, and will rethink minimizing the differences.
I assume that you thought the design was favorable, but not necessarily the content, which is what my thought is about. To remove the content that is not directed to commercial clients, or keep it for the sake of eye candy?

Honestly.. Just because you can make stuff slide around that doesn’t mean you should. The navigation is confusing. Click on Services. Where did “about us” just slide off to? It is all Flash.. The back button is broken and Search engines won’t index your site(Google might).

I’m no professional, but I like the look of your site and the content. I did notice one little thing you might want to change: under ‘About Us’, you used the word upmost…it should be utmost.

And here is what the site looks like for Firefox users with Flashblock installed. Pic

Yeah. That’s not cool.

I think there is some really strong work that speaks for itself. The majority of the site just gets in the way of that.

I’d say tone it down so its more focused on the images instead of flash effects, slides, and clicks.

I love Flash as much as the next designer, but I never trust that everyone in your intended audience can see it (as johnpowell demonstrates).

The challenge, as I tell my students, is to create something engaging using tools that apply to the lowest common denominator.

In other words, HTML, CSS. If you must, Flash VERY sparingly.

****Please don’t hate me for this**** I am not a a designer nor artistic in any way so I don’t have much to add except say I enjoyed the photography.

here comes the “don’t hate me” part Who is the absolutely stunning women in the fourth picture in the “Special Events” section? Oh my. Very nice picture. Very nice.

Well, I’d answer, but I’m still waiting for the site to load…..

…Ok, so now I’m wondering what happened to the image I was looking at while it loaded.

…Now I’ve gotten distracted by your Portfolio landing page.

Great imagery…but I keep forgetting that there are other portfolio sections.

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To answer your question: If your aim is corporate clients, then put together a clean simple portfolio for them to review where the focus of the site in on your images. Right now the focus is not on your images and it is distracting.

@sprgett adn cprevite: Thanks for the imput on flash, Its going to take some more negative things to convince me to convert it to HTML but I am considering it.

@Sueanne: She also sings! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz7touo-q-o

I agree with a lot of what has been said. Just because you can make something slide around or animate doesn’t mean you should. However, if you want to stand out why conform to the standard that everyone else is using.

Nothing stops you from having two front end’s for the smae company. One can be the corporate/commercial look that has simple navigation and gets to the point. One can be flashy and have the WOW factor. If the backend is done well you can update one place and both sites reflec the changes. You’d be surprised how the same content presented differently can attract completely different groups of clients.

@kullervo
yea I have been leaning towards two sites, working on it as we speak!

if anyone is interested, here is the revamp: link. No more flash, I decided wordpress based was the best way to go. Thanks for your answers!

Much better, now your photography is the focus.
You also look like a much bigger and more professional company.
Nice work.

Good job!