Professional Practice: Website Research
Woelfel is one of the first photographers I remember seeing on youtube that managed to create a perfect instagram feed, run a youtube channel and maintain a website. He photographs the so called instagram and tumblr aesthetics that are so popular now. When it comes to reaching his target audience he has hit the nail on the head, the modern celebrity influencers flock to him for their promo shots and it is no wonder why. There is no shortage of work for woelfel and I certainly wouldn’t mind being rushed off my feet with work like he is.
So when you first go to Brandon Woelfel’s website (found at https://www.brandonwoelfel.com/) you are greeted with this very sweet and romantic image of a couple under a lit up umbrella, something that could be considered a classic Woelfel. The opening page is already grabbing your attention and giving you an idea of what is to come. It is this opening page that will draw you in further and makes people want to know more. When it comes to building your website you want to grab people very quickly, first impressions really do matter, it is that first look that could decide whether or not they hire you for a project. By taking one of your best images and displaying that, standalone, in such a straightforward way will clearly show just what your style is.
Added with the very simple information in the bottom centre, people are getting all the information they need. It shows where he is based, which can help people make a very quick decision of if he is a suitable choice for their project. It is followed up by his email address which means that he can be quickly contacted without having to spend ages scrolling for contact information. If you wanted to get further into the website to see more examples of his work you can follow the portfolio and instagram links and icons to take you to all of his social media line the bottom in tiny bubbles.
The very first thing that grabs my attention when you navigate to Woelfel’s ain page is his name/logo. With his first name in a simple bold font and the word “photography” in the same font just a tad smaller and plain, his surname Woelfel stands out all the more. The soft cursive script is a great representation of his style and I have never seen someone make that choice before. Using typography isn’t something photographers often think about that, they say a picture speaks 1000 words but sometimes they way a word is written can say more than a photo ever can and this is something that should be utilised. You want the people that visit your website to remember your name so if they or anyone they know is looking for a photographer, your name pops into their head, by using a unique typography you are one step closer to being remembered and building a client base.
What I found really interesting was his choice to include a section of before and afters. Not many photographers are willing to let people view their raws and fewer that will let you see how they make their adjustments to get their unique look. With someone like Brandon Woelfel he has a very clear style, one that is instantly recognisable but he isn’t secretive about how he achieves it and allows people to recreate his look. It has got him known enough that recreations are known as Woelfel aesthetic and this positive contribution to the community makes one more sought after and admirable.
I think the big thing about Woelfel’s and indeed most photography websites is they offer some insight into the personal. In this case it is the before and after shots and the section you see above that shows you what equipment it is that he uses frequently. This little insight makes the viewer feel like they know who created the website. As a photographer you are offering a service where often you are working very directly with whoever contacted you and saw your website so letting them know a little about you can make all the difference. This is especially vital in smaller commissions where the client may feel a little nervous about meeting someone who they don’t know, by showing your personality they will relax and be more open through the process and keeping your clients comfortable is always the top priority. In the case of Woelfel using his sharing of his gear, while I appreciate the idea that isn’t what I would use to go about getting this effect. I feel something like a blog would be far more suited to me and my style.
What Will I be Implementing
Looking at this website the one thing I noticed that I didn’t go into detail about above was the very simple colour scheme. When I created my website I went for colours I felt best reflected my practice, however after looking at this website, I feel that it would be best to simplify. By taking back the colour scheme to something easier the images will only stand out more and that is what we want at the end of the day.
The other thing I would like to try is the kind of introduction page. I want to highlight one image that I feel really reflects my work and grabs people’s attention. Something that will draw them further into my website which will greatly contribute to me finding some work. At the moment I am unsure what image I would use from my current portfolio or if I will go out and take one specifically for this use, that is something that will require more research. Unfortunately most of the images I take are portrait images so they won’t really fit and while it would work for the mobile version of the site it won’t suit a desktop view which is the priority.
Woelfel’s website has also inspired me to have a section of the website that whilst still professional is a touch more personal and shows some of my personality. It has always been important to me that everyone feels comfortable with me and feels like they are working with a friend. When people feel comfortable they are more open to sharing opinions and ideas which helps create a better final piece that everyone is satisfied with. As such if I can share a bit about me, how I work and show how my personality plays into that everything can be more collaborative and benefit both the client and myself.
