new website, new style, new logo, new business

rosselliot

ChuckWC wrote:

Very nice site!

I did find one typo though: under your price list, you have:

* Traveling fees apply for all shoots > 30 miles from area code 71270

I'm assuming you mean zip code, not area code...

Thank you so much for catching that! area code.....haha!!!!! I can't believe I put that...hahahaha!!

SaltFork, What are the chances?!?!?! That's SO cool! a fellow Rustonite! LaTech is a great school, I've been living here all my life and actually grew up at A.E. Phillips - their lab school, so I have a lot of ties to it! I'm glad you took a look at my site, thanks for the compliments!! If you ever come back to your alma mater, I hope you won't hesitate to look me up!

and did you hear about the game the other day?! We were playing the Hawaiian warriors, and we were actually up at half time, something no one would have expected, then we were tied for a while, went into over time, then lost be ONE POINT!!!!! It was a very exciting game...everyone thought we were going to win once we started playing so well, but then - right in the end...ah well, bulldogs still rock - current and alum!

Thanks again everyone for your comments!!!!!!!! y'all can't imagine how much I appreciate it!

- Ross

dogwood

Ross:

Here are my comments for what it's worth. I know the music thing has been beaten to death but... I feel very strongly about this as many others do too.

I work a day job at a local radio/t.v. station. I edit audio a lot. Often, I'll take a quick break from editing and jump on the web. Sites that have music can crash when ProTools is running. Generally, if I can't quickly find the off button for the music, I back out of the site as fast as I can. Doesn't matter how good the photos, I find ANY music on websites annoying unless I'm downloading it from itunes or specifically listening to internet radio.

Then there's the licensing fees...

At home, I listen to internet radio while I work. When I come across a website with music-- again, I get out fast (I'm already listening to music, why do I need more?). I know I'm not alone in this. There are many folks who hate when audio starts up when they go to a website. Just my opinion, but I prefer an "ON" button for music rather than having to hunt down the off button. You have a lot of competition and little things like that can lose you a potential client fast-- especially if someone doesn't have the same musical tastes as you. I think you'll find most professional photographers will discourage music on a website for exactly this reason. It's just too subjective. Plus, a lot of people work in cubicles and end up surfing websitesm on computers they might not be fully familiar with. A lot of times it's faster to close the website than it is to hunt down the "off" button or figure out how to mute it.

Even the radio station where I work keeps the streaming off unless you turn it on-- and people coming to our website are already fans of our radio station. We just don't want to force feed it to them.

Okay, enough preaching from my soapbox. One other idea, and it's not really website oriented but just a business idea. I'll bet if you offer the option of an MUA (makeup artist) for senior shoots, you'll boost business over your competition. Seniors (especially the girls) like to feel like models for just a few hours anyway. Besides-- MUA's make great impromptu assistants (holding reflectors, etc).

Alright, alright, enough of my boring lecture. You have some great images and the whole design of your new site is nice.

ian408

dogwood wrote:

Okay, enough preaching from my soapbox. One other idea, and it's not really website oriented but just a business idea. I'll bet if you offer the option of an MUA (makeup artist) for senior shoots, you'll boost business over your competition. Seniors (especially the girls) like to feel like models for just a few hours anyway. Besides-- MUA's make great impromptu assistants (holding reflectors, etc).

That's a great idea and definitely sounds like something that would give you
a bit of an edge.

rosselliot

Thank you dogWood for your comments! what a great idea about the makeup artist! That would definitely set me apart!!!!

I HAVE contacted BOTH artists, one to John Mayer's manager directly, and one, I just called the contact number on Michael Buble's site and they sent me to someone....Michael's people emailed me some information on how to get the rights - I'm looking into it to see if it's worth it or not. John's people have yet to return my email, I may try again tomorrow. Please don't think I am taking this sitting down, I am really trying to do it all legally or at least find some more information on how to do so - a lot of more than most people care to do! haha. So I'll update as soon I hear more about the music rights.

- Ross

Edit: if I decide to keep the music at all....haha....that sure would simplify everything!!!

rosselliot

Well...the music is gone I actually like the silence believe it or not! haha! I'm putting the email up here that I received from Michael Buble's people (Mayer's have still not gotten back to me)

Email:

Here is tips and information from the girl that takes care of
publishing enquiries. hope this helps.
michelle
mb.com

Unfortunately licensing music is not as easy as you might hope.
There are
two types of licenses which you are required to secure before you can
use
the music on the site.

The first is a Synchronization License, this is obtained from the
owner of
the publishing on the title you are interested in (the best way to
obtain
writer/publisher information is via the www.ascap.com and/or www.bmi.com
websites). Those sites will give you the name and contact
information of
the publishing companies involved with the title. You will need to
contact
each of the publishing companies with an outline of exactly (as many
details
as possible) how you would like to use the music (they need to know
how much
of the song you would like to use, and specifically how the music
will be
featured). After they review your request they will propose a fee
for this
use.

The second license which you need to obtain is a Master Use License,
this is
obtained from the repertoire owner which in Michael's case is Warner
Brothers Records in Los Angeles. You will need to send them all of
the same
information as the publishers and they too will come up with a fee
that they
feel is appropriate for your use.

Please note that the fees for each use (Master and Synch) are always the
same (it's called Most Favored Nations) however it sometimes requires
some
negotiating back and forth to get them sorted.

I hope this is helpful information.

Regards and good luck with this,

Sandee Bathgate