OVERVIEW

After running a photography business as a side gig for almost ten years, Ruth wanted to expand her businesss and create an online presence that would reach beyond her existing network.

PROJECT TYPE

Branding
Web design & development

DATE

2019

DESIGN PROCESS

UNDERSTAND

Putting people at ease and creating an enjoyable experience is one of Ruth's greatest strengths as a photographer, but that ease did not extend to the researching and booking stages of the client experience. Ruth's existing Weebly site was outdated and posed multiple challenges for potential clients. Creating a smooth and effortless experience from start to finish was the first goal of the redesign.

The second goal was to develop a visual style that complimented Ruth's work. Collecting feedback from a number of clients gave us a clear understanding of Ruth's personality as a photographer, and the feelings that her clients took away from their experience.

IDEATE & ITERATE

I began with paper sketches to map out the site structure and content flow.

As I moved to wireframes, I realized that the layouts were too text focused. I simplified the designs to create a modern, uncomplicated style that let Ruth's photography speak for itself.

I also worked with Ruth to refine the copy and create clear calls to action.

BUILD

Using Webflow, I built a fully responsive site that works across any device. The overarching design and navigation of the finished site is uncomplicated and clean.

BEFORE & AFTER

HOME - BEFORE

Dark, overlapping elements

Homepage is not scrollable, forcing clients to search through the navigation right away.

HOME - AFTER

Bright and clean

Scrolling through the homepage lets viewers easily discover more about Ruth and her work.

PORTFOLIO

Photos are hidden in a carousel view, forcing the viewer to click through one by one.

PORTFOLIO

A grid layout allows viewers to capture a sense of Ruth’s style and experience at a glance.

TESTAMONIALS

Testimonials are located in a dropdown under the home page, making them difficult to find.

Reviews are lengthy and not engaging.

TESTAMONIALS

Testimonials are accesable from the home page and from the main nav.

Accompanying photos strengthen the reviews and let viewers put a face with a name.

FROM THE CLIENT

"Claire took my ideas and turned them into something user-friendly, polished, and intuitive. Since then, I've gained more website traffic and booked more clients."

Photographer