hello all,

I've just finished and published my website.

http://www.photo-makeover.biz.

I would be happy to receive all your comments.


many thanks

regards

sergio

Sergio, welcome to RetouchPRO.

JMHO... The thumbs are too small and I find your site difficult to navigate. Generic icons for links to various services? I don't know, but overall navigation was confusing to me.

Your work.... critique... I found my way to your sample where you move a couple out of a bar and into an "estate" ball room setting. They just didn't seem to fit there. The lighting and coloring, especially of the man, were too blue and the setting you put him in is casing red glows. Detail, detail, detail.

Also, on your opening page with the gentleman in kilts image. The colors were "fake" to me. Lime green jacket on a period (date sensitive) photo? Not real.

Sergio, welcome to RetouchPRO.

JMHO... The thumbs are too small and I find your site difficult to navigate. Generic icons for links to various services? I don't know, but overall navigation was confusing to me.

Your work.... critique... I found my way to your sample where you move a couple out of a bar and into an "estate" ball room setting. They just didn't seem to fit there. The lighting and coloring, especially of the man, were too blue and the setting you put him in is casing red glows. Detail, detail, detail.

Also, on your opening page with the gentleman in kilts image. The colors were "fake" to me. Lime green jacket on a period (date sensitive) photo? Not real.

hi swampy

thanks for your comment , could you please be a bit more specific i don't quiet understand your criticism, i use an album to put all the photos in instead of navigation bars, perhaps i need to explaing how to navigate it. pls explain more about which man were too blue. i wait your reply, any comment is welcome.

thanks

regards

sergio

This is the blue man... He needs color correcting to match his suroundings. So does the woman for that matter. They both are reflecting blue and the room lighting is casting warm reds.

I'm also posting the page of icons that bothers me. People can get lost here because everything looks the same. You are advertising different services, but they all look the same and the text is very small.

hi,
well here my 2 cents worth but keep in mind i am novice about somethings...
1. the general look and feel of the site I found to be fine..
2. I had no problems navagating....
3. the gallery I llike, it simple straight forward.. pictures are side by side... I like the idea of significant contrast of the before and after pictures..
4. as far as that picture on the home page.. the colors always a bone of contentions..smile... do you go for natural or to enphasize the colors? ... however.....the sodier's jacket is to me too green and the same with the kilt.... in that era the jacket would be like a olive green or drab olive green..... and the kelt would be a dark navy blue not a bright blue. especially for the regular uniform...which tends to always be plainer/subdued.. I search around for pictures of that era and came up with this... the olive color seems to be a constant for all the scottish regiments...
http://www.liverpoolscottish.org.uk/highlandim1.htm

the gallery
5.
a. meging gallery.. i like the way the plane picture was done... but the guy and gal... I was expecting to see the bottom half of the guy...thru the chair backing.... and i didn't... hences it sort of look unnatural

b. the montage...didn't work for me, i thought the horse was to dominent.. it in the middle of the picture, it grab your attention much more so than the kid! .... and that shot of half a kid.. smile... didn't look natural that horizontal cut bother me... maybe bluring heavyly the bottom would work better.... , one idea.. put the horse shadow in the middle then put one of the kids shot on top of it and then put the two shots of the kid on the sides and make them alittle smaller.. that just an idea... oh.. I can't find it right now... there a thread, on this board on a montage using a western background... if i can find it that would maybe give youmore ideas on that... it a good thread..
c. the color enhancment gallery... didn't do anything for me... changing b/w to color..... that picture on the home page, if it was in this section, would really show what you can do with color enhancment...

well anyway those are my 2 cents worth..... overall i like your site.



hello all,

I've just finished and published my website.

http://www.photo-makeover.biz.

I would be happy to receive all your comments.


many thanks

regards

sergio

This is the blue man... He needs color correcting to match his suroundings. So does the woman for that matter. They both are reflecting blue and the room lighting is casting warm reds.

I'm also posting the page of icons that bothers me. People can get lost here because everything looks the same. You are advertising different services, but they all look the same and the text is very small.


Hi Swampy

thanks for your comment but so far you seems to be the only one that has problem navigating my website. Please see the comments of Jerryb it speak volume i am glad i have a comment like him because the website was meant to be straight forward i chose to use a gallery for my services instead of nav bar i can't understand how you can get lost unless you can't read english to see there are different services written there. you are telling me i am advertising different services but they are all the same, how did you work that out, would you say the digital image surgery e.g. replacing a tooth, removing freckles are the same services as my colorizing old black and white photos, i don't think so. there must be something wrong with your pc as i have done the text size 16. anyway overall i am satisfied with my website thats what it is all about i have designed my website myself in DW8 and photo editing using photoshop cs2 for a newbie that has learn photoshop in 3 weeks i would say it's good. as for the blue man the couple was satisfied with the result it was exactly what they were after an estate room with chandelier as long as my client is happy i am happy. I show my clients the result of any work done before they have to pay anything when they are fully satisfied then i get the work done the photo came out quiet nice as i use a good printing shop to print all my photos. As for the green fake color you mentioned i think the jacket meant to be some green colour, i am proud of my coloring they don't look sprayed on, pls visit my site again and see, i've seen worst coloring than mine. for a newbie i am happy and proud.


regards

sergio

hi,
well here my 2 cents worth but keep in mind i am novice about somethings...
1. the general look and feel of the site I found to be fine..
2. I had no problems navagating....
3. the gallery I llike, it simple straight forward.. pictures are side by side... I like the idea of significant contrast of the before and after pictures..
4. as far as that picture on the home page.. the colors always a bone of contentions..smile... do you go for natural or to enphasize the colors? ... however.....the sodier's jacket is to me too green and the same with the kilt.... in that era the jacket would be like a olive green or drab olive green..... and the kelt would be a dark navy blue not a bright blue. especially for the regular uniform...which tends to always be plainer/subdued.. I search around for pictures of that era and came up with this... the olive color seems to be a constant for all the scottish regiments...
http://www.liverpoolscottish.org.uk/highlandim1.htm

the gallery
5.
a. meging gallery.. i like the way the plane picture was done... but the guy and gal... I was expecting to see the bottom half of the guy...thru the chair backing.... and i didn't... hences it sort of look unnatural

b. the montage...didn't work for me, i thought the horse was to dominent.. it in the middle of the picture, it grab your attention much more so than the kid! .... and that shot of half a kid.. smile... didn't look natural that horizontal cut bother me... maybe bluring heavyly the bottom would work better.... , one idea.. put the horse shadow in the middle then put one of the kids shot on top of it and then put the two shots of the kid on the sides and make them alittle smaller.. that just an idea... oh.. I can't find it right now... there a thread, on this board on a montage using a western background... if i can find it that would maybe give youmore ideas on that... it a good thread..
c. the color enhancment gallery... didn't do anything for me... changing b/w to color..... that picture on the home page, if it was in this section, would really show what you can do with color enhancment...

well anyway those are my 2 cents worth..... overall i like your site.

Hi JerryB

Thanks very much for your lovely comments what you said is exactly what i was trying to achieve, i use a gallery for my services instead of nav bar i thought the gallery would be more neater for the photos. i took notes of each comment and appreciate it very much i shall do a re-think. thanks for the link for the scottish regiment uniform i've searched google but came across one that was fairly green like the jacket i've done i have also ask for the colour from a scottish war website which i am waiting for the result then i shall colorize the soldier again. i have got the soldier in my color blk and white photo section, i shall stick to just colorize old black and white photo in my colour manipulation section though i do like the color combination between grascal and full color. the guy and gal picture was merged as they requested it, the guy photo is half that's the original way the photo was taken. Both the couple chose those specific photos of themselves to be merged as they were both 18 yrs old in their photos and the pics were taken before they met hence the mentioned of it on the page as for the montage i shall search forum for the tutorial on photo montage.

again jerryb thanks very much for your comments, after the first comment i got yours was a breath of fresh air.

my regards


sergio

Sergio

Retouching is not my forte, but I've seen much better examples done by others. Take a look at any of the tumbnails on the top row of John Steele's portfolio over on NAPP. http://www.photoshopuser.com/members/portfolios/view/image/49357
Or browse around some of the galleries done by members of this forum who do fantastic retouching work.

>>have designed my website myself in DW8 and photo editing using photoshop cs2 for a newbie that has learn photoshop in 3 weeks i would say it's good

If you have managed to learn Photoshop in three weeks, then you are an absolute genius! I've been Photoshopping for about 25 years and still feel I have MUCH to learn.

>there must be something wrong with your pc as i have done the text size 16.

Nothing wrong with my PC, but did you consider the differences in video display between PC and Mac when you set up your web page? The text on your services page is smaller than on your welcome page and my 65 year old eyes find it hard to read at 1680x1050 screen resolution.

I'm not looking to be negative, Sergio. You asked for a critique and I'm just giving you my honest opinion.

Swampy, it seems Sergio does not want any criticism.

Sergio: The gallery is not a gallery, just the same icon with diferent titles, you need thumbnails and I think that's what Swampy meant.

I don't like your work, I think the repair is simple and sloppy cloning and your colorations skills are far from perfect.

Where's Ant now? He could have something to say too, I'm sure :)

I advice you to take a look at Vikki's work. http://www.pbase.com/vhansen/colorings&page=1

Now SHE IS GOOD

Don't proud your self because you're new, if you are new, you shouldn't charge anything, if you have a professional web site and charge ppl to do the work, then you should be judged as a PROFESSIONAL.

And one more thing... DON'T ASK FOR C&C IF YOU CAN'T TAKE IT!

Have a nice day and keep working, practise is everything :)

Good luck

Natalia

Swampy, it seems Sergio does not want any criticism.

Sergio: The gallery is not a gallery, just the same icon with diferent titles, you need thumbnails and I think that's what Swampy meant.

I don't like your work, I think the repair is simple and sloppy cloning and your colorations skills are far from perfect.

Where's Ant now? He could have something to say too, I'm sure :)

I advice you to take a look at Vikki's work. http://www.pbase.com/vhansen/colorings&page=1

Now SHE IS GOOD

Don't proud your self because you're new, if you are new, you shouldn't charge anything, if you have a professional web site and charge ppl to do the work, then you should be judged as a PROFESSIONAL.

And one more thing... DON'T ASK FOR C&C IF YOU CAN'T TAKE IT!

Have a nice day and keep working, practise is everything :)

Good luck

Natalia

Hi Godmother

yes i can take criticism and i appreciate all the comments, we are all different we all work in our way, like i said i don't take peoples' money unless they are satisfied, by the way i've seen vikki's work and i know where she learnt her photo colorize too, i am doing my homework regarding photo retouching and colorize. if i am going to go around looking at other peoples' work and then want to be like them i will never finished, i take on board every day to improve my business, we are all different some are better than others, i repeat again what satisfied my clients satisfied me. i've seen website worst off than mine too. I am proud for what i've achieved for me i have a right to say i am proud of myself in the real world, we can't all be like vikki I WILL ADMIT 100% SHE IS PERFECT but i will work to my ability not vikki's. it takes a poor man to get rich not the other way round, as a lone mum with 2 boys with not enough money to go by plus fitting my time between them, domestic etc, ducking and diving, i taught myself website design then the photo retouching and colorize, i intend to grow with my business. i didn't expect a prize winning, you win some you loose some, well i have had a possible feedback so i am happy with that.

thanks again for all your comments.

sergio

Sergio

Retouching is not my forte, but I've seen much better examples done by others. Take a look at any of the tumbnails on the top row of John Steele's portfolio over on NAPP. http://www.photoshopuser.com/members/portfolios/view/image/49357
Or browse around some of the galleries done by members of this forum who do fantastic retouching work.

>>have designed my website myself in DW8 and photo editing using photoshop cs2 for a newbie that has learn photoshop in 3 weeks i would say it's good

If you have managed to learn Photoshop in three weeks, then you are an absolute genius! I've been Photoshopping for about 25 years and still feel I have MUCH to learn.

>there must be something wrong with your pc as i have done the text size 16.

Nothing wrong with my PC, but did you consider the differences in video display between PC and Mac when you set up your web page? The text on your services page is smaller than on your welcome page and my 65 year old eyes find it hard to read at 1680x1050 screen resolution.

I'm not looking to be negative, Sergio. You asked for a critique and I'm just giving you my honest opinion.

Hi swampy

Thanks for your comment i appreciate it. i took a look at John Steele's website it look good and that's the way he works and i have my own way of working, again if my clients are happy so I am, i am not saying i know photoshop 100% but enough to satisfied the need for my work.

swampy i very much appreciate your comments and thanks again

regards

sergio

I agree, replace the icon page with thumbnails. Even if the pictures are small, they would grab my attention much more than icons. Somehow the page looks unfinished. This would be fine if it were a private gallery, but the more a potential customer sees your work, the better.

I agree, replace the icon page with thumbnails. Even if the pictures are small, they would grab my attention much more than icons. Somehow the page looks unfinished. This would be fine if it were a private gallery, but the more a potential customer sees your work, the better.


Hi Winsunn

thanks very much for your comment i appreciate it, the icon are there because there are more than one photos in each services so i put them in a folder hence the grey look without the appearance of the thumbnails, if there is only 1 photo then it would appear as thumbnail as you would have seen when navigating further within the gallery. i had all pics as thumbnails on the main gallery/index page but they were everywhere and my user would have to go through all the thumbnails to see what they are so i categories all my services and put them in their appropriate folders to save my users time and quickly get to the services they wish for.

i've ask the experts where i got the gallery software from for their comments on my gallery/index page so i see what they say.


thanks again winsunn for your comment.

cheers

sergio

I think what we are trying to say is... "A picture is worth 1000 words"

Your gallery page serves as an index of the services you offer. If removing red eye is one of your services, then do a closeup icon size JPG of a photo with a red eye problem. Then when your viewer clicks on that icon they go to a page that has 6 samples of red eye correction.

The index (gallery page) is dull and boring.

I think what we are trying to say is... "A picture is worth 1000 words"

Your gallery page serves as an index of the services you offer. If removing red eye is one of your services, then do a closeup icon size JPG of a photo with a red eye problem. Then when your viewer clicks on that icon they go to a page that has 6 samples of red eye correction.

The index (gallery page) is dull and boring.

thanks again swampy, why need 6 samples of red eyes people will be yawning by the time they finished viewing the six samples once is enough to let someone know i can remove red eye, us here in england we work in a different way. i like my gallery i certainly dont want flash, or bright sparks across my gallery/index page, us english just don't like dramas we like things simple. by the way i visited your website i thought i could learn photoshop from the expert when i click on the link of photoshop tutorials i get bridal shower (if you say to someone in england about bridal shower they laugh at you) hence! the difference between our countries , wallpapers, family recipe which one of us is deceiving our viewers, as for my work i intend to grow with it and if i can make money whilst learning why not, i do not force anyone to give me their money i just show my work if they want me to restore their photos i just do it, as for your john steele's work i pressumed he has years of experience to my 3 weeks of photoshop isn't it obvious he is world apart from me i shall look at others and learn, by the way as i am 22 years your junior i have plenty room for improvement.

end of chapter of this critique for me dear swampy i have must to learn and do.

regards

sergio

thanks again swampy, why need 6 samples of red eyes people will be yawning by the time they finished viewing the six samples once is enough to let someone know i can remove red eye, us here in england we work in a different way. i like my gallery i certainly dont want flash, or bright sparks across my gallery/index page, us english just don't like dramas we like things simple. by the way i visited your website i thought i could learn photoshop from the expert when i click on the link of photoshop tutorials i get bridal shower (if you say to someone in england about bridal shower they laugh at you) hence! the difference between our countries , wallpapers, family recipe which one of us is deceiving our viewers, as for my work i intend to grow with it and if i can make money whilst learning why not, i do not force anyone to give me their money i just show my work if they want me to restore their photos i just do it, as for your john steele's work i pressumed he has years of experience to my 3 weeks of photoshop isn't it obvious he is world apart from me i shall look at others and learn, by the way as i am 22 years your junior i have plenty room for improvement.

end of chapter of this critique for me dear swampy i have must to learn and do.

regards

sergio

YOU ARE AN ARS
I thought you were 15 but 22 makes sense too.

I work (mostly) for england and I think you don't have any idea of what you're talking about, you are just a kid sensible about his work.
Again, don't ask for comment.

It's ovbious Swampy was using the red eye thing as an example... the point is: USE A THUMBNAIL as a SAMPLE of what you're going to see inside the gallery.

You really don't see why having 3 weeks of learning experience is deceiving your "clients" (people who obviously don't have something to compare your work with)??? YOU ARE, because they think you know better, they think you are a pro and you are not, like you say, you are just a newbie and you really shouldn't be selling your work unless you are telling ppl about your "expertise" other wise is JUST PLAIN WRONG.

You sure are cocky for a newbie.

Stop that! Lose the cocky attitude and you will learn a lot more from ppl who are kind in off to TEACH YOU and share.

You have no idea how you scared off (with your defensive and agresive attitud) many experienced folks here.

Good luck again
Natalia

Sergio...

>>>by the way i visited your website i thought i could learn photoshop from the expert when i click on the link of photoshop tutorials i get bridal shower (if you say to someone in england about bridal shower they laugh at you) hence! the difference between our countries , wallpapers, family recipe which one of us is deceiving our viewers,

I've had over 1000 hits on my Photoshop tutorials in the past month so other people are finding them easily enough. The opening page "Photoshop Tutorials" link takes you to my personal home page and yes, there are family recipes, wallpapers, some pics of my neice's bridal shower, but the WHOLE RIGHT SIDE of the page, in table format and clearly identified are the Photoshop tutorials. There is no deception there. It is a PERSONAL home page, not intended to sell a product or service. I'm really confused as to why you didn't see the tutorials?

It seems that you are happy with the way things are, then fine leave it at that. Why ask for critique when all you want is praise? Ok then, congrats on your new website that you built yourself!

Always remember that different opinions are what makes one learn and grow.

YOU ARE AN ARS
I thought you were 15 but 22 makes sense too.

I work (mostly) for england and I think you don't have any idea of what you're talking about, you are just a kid sensible about his work.
Again, don't ask for comment.

It's ovbious Swampy was using the red eye thing as an example... the point is: USE A THUMBNAIL as a SAMPLE of what you're going to see inside the gallery.

You really don't see why having 3 weeks of learning experience is deceiving your "clients" (people who obviously don't have something to compare your work with)??? YOU ARE, because they think you know better, they think you are a pro and you are not, like you say, you are just a newbie and you really shouldn't be selling your work unless you are telling ppl about your "expertise" other wise is JUST PLAIN WRONG.

You sure are cocky for a newbie.

Stop that! Lose the cocky attitude and you will learn a lot more from ppl who are kind in off to TEACH YOU and share.

You have no idea how you scared off (with your defensive and agresive attitud) many experienced folks here.

Good luck again
Natalia

i am a 44 yrs old woman you obviously didn't read my thread to you as you are so busy telling me about my crappy business. i might be new to photo restore but not new to running a business. we all have to start somewhere, i let you know i've done many photo restores without taking any penny i was using my own money for prints etc. i show my client the finished product of their photos if they like it they pay i don't force anyone to pay for what they are not happy with. yawn yawn guys i get the messages chapter closed.

you guys get on with your life let me get on with mine.

The web site is OK. It has an "amateur" look and I know you stated you are a beginner. The "Changing Scenery" photo is not good. The man's white shirt is green. Try Auto in Curves or Levels. Your people skills are pretty poor; good luck dealing with your customers. My post doesn't require a long reply about my criticism or attitude. You asked for C & C.
Good Luck

Hi Sergio, I've been following the comments regarding your website and think you have coped very well with all thats been thrown at you. I think your site is fine and I think I like it because it is different. I have seen far, far worse out there. I had no problem with navigating the site and if there is any criticism maybe the enlargements should be of a similar size. Just believe in yourself and forge ahead. Good luck.
Vicky.

Hi Sergio, I've been following the comments regarding your website and think you have coped very well with all thats been thrown at you. I think your site is fine and I think I like it because it is different. I have seen far, far worse out there. I had no problem with navigating the site and if there is any criticism maybe the enlargements should be of a similar size. Just believe in yourself and forge ahead. Good luck.
Vicky.

The web site is OK. It has an "amateur" look and I know you stated you are a beginner. The "Changing Scenery" photo is not good. The man's white shirt is green. Try Auto in Curves or Levels. Your people skills are pretty poor; good luck dealing with your customers. My post doesn't require a long reply about my criticism or attitude. You asked for C & C.
Good Luck

Hi smak,

i thank you for your comments i appreciates your criticism at least you have an educated way of putting things, i have design several websites for my work but in the end i chose the site you've visited i quiet like it and feels comfortable with it though the site is on host i haven't promote it yet as i am going by what comments and critiques i get then i shall take all on board and make corrections where necessary.

I obviously need to sort out the photos, from my pc every looks fine but i've learnt now all pcs are different with different sizes. the man you mentioned with the green shirt look white from my pc hence the unawareness of whats going on out there. i have taken time and thought thoroughly before i've done my work but as a self taught person i will learn the hard way i accept but glad of the comment i get.

thanks again smak for your comment.

regards

sergio

Hi Sergio, I've been following the comments regarding your website and think you have coped very well with all thats been thrown at you. I think your site is fine and I think I like it because it is different. I have seen far, far worse out there. I had no problem with navigating the site and if there is any criticism maybe the enlargements should be of a similar size. Just believe in yourself and forge ahead. Good luck.
Vicky.

Hi Vicky,

Thank you ever so much for your comment. I too have seen far far worse out there but all in all I am coping very well i've had worse in my life believe me so i can cope with anything that's thrown at me there is one thing with a bad critique there is another of almost being slap in the face with insults i was gobsmacked. someone told me my work is crap that's fine i can take that, but when they wrote (i wonder what so and so would say about this site) that was not quiet the word that was written but something in that region also to COMPARE ME with the master of coloration VICKY HANSEN had me laughing especially when i mentioned that i was a newbie with photoshop.

There are two people that seems to be having problem with me making money with my photo restores, the people who is paying me are close friends and neighbours i show them a proof of my work a photo of 6X4 which i pay for prints myself those people are my ginea pigs i have to start somewhere photos that i have done for my families i took no money at all though i am not working full time at present. i suppose i gave a wrong impression of myself perhaps with the name SERGIO which happened to be my 16 yrs old beautiful persian male cat's name i wonder if i am being persive as a bloke who is ripping people off in the real world i am a mum with 2 boys who is making a new career for herself i am tired of working for people i've worked since i was 10 yrs old as nanny in my country of origin working 7 days a week up to 2 years ago when i gave up my full time city job and taught myself web design. I like my website too as i mentioned to smak it's what i feel comfortable with though the website is on host i haven't promote it not until everything is 100% when i get more possitive good critique with my work then i will promote it.


thanks again vicky i must say it is nice to have a nice comment and the sting from the slaps on my face is easing off LOL.

in my country as we say (cent temps pour le voleur un jour pour le maitre).

regards

sergio