Hi guys! Well, the new site has been up for almost five weeks now and it’s been a blast so far! It is such a departure from the previous “static” design that I had with SmugMug. But, don’t scream ‘traitor!’ just yet. SmugMug is still a partner but more on that later.
So what do ya’ll think so far? Do you like it? If I were to ask you what the best change has been what would you say? If you ask me, I think my favorites so far are the sizes of the photos in every post and the little “Join In” tab on the left. If you haven’t done so, click that little tab on the left. It’ll show you a photo of Ollie and my daily updates on Twitter. There is also a link for you to register on the site. There are a lot of surprises so feel free to browse the site. Stay for a while.
So is it a blog? It sure is! But why a blog you might ask? It’s simple. The blog format allows me to create constant updates about my activities which I can post and share with everyone. It allows me to give you guys a “sneak peek” preview of the shoots. It’s relaxed and has a casual feel to it which is exactly what a static site doesn’t have. Sure it has all the pretty photos but managing those galleries takes time… a lot of time. This seems a lot easier and, hopefully, it comes across that I’m an easy going person to work with as well (with crossed fingers).
You might ask why I named this post“the rebranding process (again)…”.If you remember a few months ago, I went through an initial rebranding process but it was mostly for the logo, colors, and feel of the graphics. My wife, Melissa, a talented graphic designer and fashion/design blogger, helped me through the aches and pains of choosing just the right look for my business.
However, this time the focus was more on the client and visitor experiences rather than the graphics. Of course, the new look wouldn’t have been possible without the folks from ProPhoto Blogs. The templates they create and sell are powered by WordPress. I bought the template from ProPhoto after I found them through my search for wedding photographers.
Melissa and I found Joey Reyna, a fantastic photographer, during our search for our upcoming Philippine wedding in October later this year. I was so impressed not only with his photos but also by his blog that I started thinking about my own website. After a few days of discussing whether or not I should purchase the template, I finally decided to spring for the cash and dive right in. I think what impressed me the most was the ability to customize the blog to my heart’s content knowing my site will look unique.
Why the change? A lot of people have asked me why I made the switch and if I was still partnered with SmugMug. Yes. I still work with them. The old site, which is now known as PrintsByRikki, serves as my shopping cart and proofing page for my clients and for those who would like to purchase my prints.
So, that’s basically the story of how I got to this point. Thanks to everyone who helped along the way. Thanks to those who send me constant feedback to let me know what works and what doesn’t about the site. Thanks to those who call me back time and again to help capture their memories. Thank you, too, to those who have told their friends and family what it’s like to work with me. Thank you for letting me in your lives.
I like it. It’s simple, clean, and most of all, it’s a reflection of my personality. It’s me!
