Design for a photographic website

[_JB_]

Hi there, I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this post - mods feel free to move it if necessary.

I'm in the process of creating a photographic website to publicise my own pictures, mainly landscape photography.

Now I've read that photos are generally best displayed with a black background, yet to have a website that has a black background is considered a bit naff?

Does anyone have an opinion on this or experience with their own image website?

[Tyler Banfield]

Are your pictures in color or black and white?

[_JB_]

Thanks for the response RTB.

My images are in colour.

JB

[Tyler Banfield]

Personally, I think an all black background would be a little too intense.

If you like the idea of a dark background, consider using gray, navy blue, forest green, etc.

[_JB_]

Thanks for the feedback RTB.

I was considering matching the background to the image so may be for a forest shot I would go with a 'forest green' background. In fact enabling the user to change the background colour is an option I would consider so they could see how the image looks against different framing.

However just for the initial reaction on my homepage having a black background for a random image - would it be too much for the average surfer today who is more used to blogs and the like where the background is mainly white.

I know that the kind of person I'm trying to attract may not really care that much about the background, but would a black (or dark) background be a turn off to the average surfer today?

[Tyler Banfield]

How much text are you planning to put on your homepage?

[_JB_]

LOL. That's something else I'm not too sure about. Probably not a lot.

[Tyler Banfield]

I really think it is just something you will have to create and then experiment with. However, I would recommend that you NOT use a black background for any page with a lot of text. It can be extremely hard on many visitors' eyes.

[_JB_]

Thanks for your feedback RTB

I think you are quite right - a suck it and see approach. I never planned to do the lots of text on black background thing, I was just worried that a black background for a website was a big user turn off these days.

Thanks again!

Cheers JB

[candidindia]

I differ from the opinion that a black background is sucking. Infact, since you plan a website which has more of images/pictures, photographs, a black background may help you give a common platform to have more bright images.

You may visit amedeverre.com and look for yourself. Also, try clicking on any of the products on the Home page to see how the image looks with a black background.

[brian394]

The entire page doesn't have to have a black background. Maybe you can think about just adding a black border around each of the individual images.