Website Critique

[Mattsbagger]

We put up a website from Shopify. I wonder if some of you with more experience could look at it and see what you think. We have had a problem getting good pics. We have a high dollar camera and looked at tutorials on taking pics. We have tried cell phone pics and end editing also.

Thank you.

https://www.smithcustomleather.com/

[JLSleather]

Dude your site SUCKS

Kidding, kidding .... looks pretty good.  I aint big on bright white, but that could be my age showing? 

Looks pretty straight forward. I might have put "customizable products" last in the list -- likely more people to see it.  But, the fact I would have done it that way MAY mean it's right the way it is

+ Loads quick 

+ Keeps the shopper on the page - easy to get back to main page

+ Menu always accessible

+ Points out delay in ship time

- Email link isn't a link?

+/- "could" be a phone number helps.  IF you're going to use a phone number, get a number that is FOR your business.

 

[Northmount]

I see lots of reflections and shadows.  Try using a light tent, or photograph outside in the shade.  You want diffused lighting to reduce reflections and provide the same amount of light overall.  Take a look at this thread

There are others that you can search out both here and on many other websites.  You need good resolution on your camera, but don't need high resolution (large file) when you post.  In general, skip the smart phone as you have less control.  (But some are really good too!)  Make sure your camera is well supported, no jiggles, especially when taking photos without a flash.

Tom

[kgg]

Overall very nice, clean to the point, price right there under each item and pages load fast. My threshold is under 3 seconds load-time or I'm gone. I would suggest:

1. Providing contact info like address and phone number.

2. Reduce information about the type of leather used. If you use  "Wickett & Craig full-grain leather" put it on the front page rather then in each item unless you use something different.

 

[TonySFLDLTHR]

The price of the camera has little to do with how good your pictures turn out. In my former life I owned my own photography business.

Here is a shopify link: https://www.shopify.com/blog/12206313-the-ultimate-diy-guide-to-beautiful-product-photography

My thoughts are that you really need to decide what you are taking your pictures on and keep the background consistent. JLS has given his thoughts on the white background and I can see that stance as well...it is kind of boring.

But why to use it...it creates consistency, it highlights the product, it makes color balance easy.

Now it looks like the background to your site is not true white (#ffffff) which is fine, you could just use the hex number for the background of your site to file the image. 

I know you are just a store front and that is fine, but a static home page with some attention getting images will get someone to stay on your site. That is the key...you only have around 5 seconds of someones attention before they move on.

How we do that is the trick that everyone is trying to figure out. You have to make some sort of connection to them and them to you. Why should I be looking at your site? In all honesty it took me about 6 seconds to scroll your link and then I was done.

So, I will say that you need a home page that incorporates your logo...right now your logo stands out in a bad way because it is a white box on your site. Draws the wrong attention.

Next you need to make an about page the helps people see who and what you are...and how you got there. Help them connect to you.

The last page is a contact us page that has a contact form on it. That way you aren't just sticking an email address up there.

When you get that you might look into: return or exchange page, privacy policy, terms and conditions and the likes.

 

[Mattsbagger]

Thank you guys. Pictures are our nemesis.lol We have shot over and over with light tents, no tent, camera, phone. Will keep working on it.

[TonySFLDLTHR]

43 minutes ago, Mattsbagger said:

Thank you guys. Pictures are our nemesis.lol We have shot over and over with light tents, no tent, camera, phone. Will keep working on it.

Ok So let me see if I can show you my work flow. I open in Lightroom and do the heavy adjustments and then pull it into Photoshop to get the background pure white.

First here is the setup I use here for now. Were are in the process of construction...so my space is in flux.

So in Photoshop it is, use wand tool and then shift+click to ad to the selection. Sometimes I have to use pen tool to get a closer more exact selection. Then shift+f6 to pull up the feather selection (in the menu Select>Modify>Feather

Hopefully this link works:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1tjrXI0tA96F8niFbqJV5rvK4JswsxMAg

I will put the pictures here that I edited in the video.

[Mattsbagger]

We have Photoshop express not the big full blown one. My wife does the computer stuff. Everything we look at is like use this setting or that setting the adust  in photoshop.  But then she want to slam her head on the table because using photoshop express not the same and can’t seem to get good results. All that stuff you just said is Greek to me @TonySFLDLTHR. Lol

[TonySFLDLTHR]

You can still get the same results in Express. All I am doing is selecting an area and replacing the color.

If she needs any help accomplishing it, just PM me and we will figure out how to make it happen.

 

Maybe I am thinking elements and not express.

Edited November 12, 2018 by TonySFLDLTHR

[LatigoAmigo]

You may not be interested, but there are various ways to gain access to Photoshop and Lightroom at a reasonable price. This link shows several options. Check the Students and Teachers section for discounted student pricing.

https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html