Check out what I made.
I am so excited to announce that my new and refreshed website is live. The updated site includes easier navigation, a redesigned home page, a new client gallery, a photographers section, a simplified contact form, and up-to-date beautiful portraits. I have also improved the structure of my blog, Just Jackie. There’s a whole host of smaller but impactful changes, all to make your experience of my site that much better. Let's take a look!
Brand New Navigation
I tried to be different and unique on my last website with cute names for my menus, but it became very clear to me that those cute menu names were confusing for people and hard for search engines to find. I have replaced the menu names with common words and made the navigation of my whole website easier to use.
Slideshow Galleries
I wanted to create a website that was easy to use, but I also wanted my website to be simple and clean. I have created slideshow galleries to showcase my beautiful photographs. If a picture says a thousand words, I don't need to say much more.
A Video
That's right! You read it. If you've ever met me you know I always say that I don't capture moving pictures. I will still tell you that I don't do videos, but I did give it my best shot for my new website. ( Ha, Ha, Pun intended!) Creating this video took so many hours of shooting and editing. It's two minutes of my blood, sweat and tears. I am super proud of it and I don't think I'll be adding video to my services anytime soon.
Client Gallery Access
My business has gone through so many different media types for portrait review and delivery. Back in the day it was all about burning CDs, then DVDs, to USB flash drives, to my own app that my loving husband made for me. Welcome to the future where you can access your gallery whenever you want right from my website. No more digging for email links, messing with Dropbox or loosing your flash drive. This is also why I am a huge fan of printing your portraits, but that's another blog post. I am so excited about how easy this will be for everyone, but I am also super excited about how much security has been put into this particular page. Every gallery has a cover page that is public but each and every gallery is password protected and totally secure. Once inside your gallery you can order prints, wall art or cards. Download digital images you've purchased with ease and share the portraits you love on your social media pages.
Just Jackie, My Blog
Here's the real deal. I have always blogged but I always had trouble getting them posted on my old website in a timely manner and so they would just end up as a newsletter to be emailed out. My new website has an easy to use blog that I can update on my own and do it quickly. I am a creative person so I am hoping to channel some of that creativity into writing. It's like I am starting over with a blank slate and now I get to be a whole new voice. I plan to write about photography tips, locations and my current photography adventures. If you have any ideas or questions you'd like answered feel free to email me and I can turn it into a blog post. A little background on the name Just Jackie. I was about to do some headshots for a wonderful writer named Margret at my studio. While she was getting her hair and makeup done by Mrs. Piper we were all chatting about my blogging aspirations and Margret just came out and said "Just Jackie would be the perfect name for your blog!" I totally loved her suggestion and here we are. Thank you Margret!
Photography Classes
For as long as I have been doing photography, people have asked me if I teach classes. To be honest, I never thought I knew enough about photography to be able to teach it to people. Last summer I had my friend Tay ask me to show her how to use her new camera before she went to Africa for a month on a walking tour. Walking! She is amazing. Anyways, when she got back from her trip she was so proud of her photos and I was delighted to have helped someone so profoundly. With my new found confidence in teaching I created a week long Snap Camp for kids to teach them the basics of photography. It was a blast and now I am hooked on teaching. Now you can check out and register for any classes I will be teaching right from my website. I also included a little space for all of my favorite photography resources, including my stylist, Mrs. Piper!
Testimonials
I get a lot of compliments on my photography. I also get a ton of positivity and praise for my easy going nature. I did have a few testimonials up on my older website but since it was hard for me to update I just never posted them. Fast forward to today, I now have full control and the ability to post all those wonderful compliments. They are also wonderfully displayed now too. I will take one of my favorite moments from your photography session and overlay it with your words. It looks beautiful along with letting other people know your a real person and not an internet robot. If you have ever been in front of my camera lens and you want to submit your experience with me, I would greatly appreciate it. You can just click the type of session we had and write your story in the message box on my contact form.
Contact Form
The last page I figured out and one of the most important on a website. My last contact form was a little confusing for people to use. I definitely had way to many photography session options for you to choose from and I asked way to many questions. Along with the crazy way I had the back end set up to email me, sometimes it would send the wrong person a response to a shoot they didn't even want. I have come to the conclusion that less is definitely more, so this simpler form is more accurate and organized for everyone involved. I can't wait to see it used.
My website wouldn't be complete without a quote, so it's up and it's still my favorite. Thank you to everyone who has supported me through all of my transitions. You are the best! Now go read everything, click every link on my new website and use my contact form. I need all the proof reading and bug checking I can get!
Cheers,
Jackie
