Personalized Wedding Theme via Smugmug

[jerryr]

Hi !

I recently photographed a wedding for my best friends neice. To make a log story short, there was a lot of family dynamics so I did them a favor and step up as the main photographer. The groom served two 'tours of duty in Iraq' and I thought to myself what else 'special' could I do for them.

Plain and simple, through the use of smugmug I created the bride and groom their own 'theme'. Instead of just placing the galleries on my site for viewing, I basically made a sub-site on my site for them. I used the colors of the wedding and fonts for the sites colors and fonts.

Kim from KB Remember Me Photography and Design (www.kbrememberme.com (http://www.kbrememberme.com)) did an outstanding job at assisting with
some of the image editing as well as created the couple a wonderful on-line story book (thank you again Kim!).

My point - can this same 'theory' of a sub-site for a bride/groom be done again ? Absolutely!

Even other content be added to the site, such as bridal shower information, registery information, other pictures - like engagement and bridal shower,
wedding day information (locations and times) and, yep, on-line RSVPs!!
What bride/groom would pass up an opportunity like this ? Their own customized theme web site for their special day where guests can view
pictures as well as find out more information. I know there is other 'wedding web sites' for couples, but as a photographer for a bride and groom, this can be something which can offer that has more of a 'personalized touch' to it. Plus, its great 'PR' for the photographer.

I just spoke to a bride last week who is 'shopping/comparing' photographers for her upcoming wedding. She is getting married in July in Florida and will have a reception in August in Michigan. She is looking for a photographer that can photograph the reception. She like the fact that she can have her own personalized web site as well as I am willing to host her July wedding pictures for viewing only (yep - she already got
approval from the Florida photographer). Now her family and friends can view the wedding pictures as well as the reception pictures.
Definately through the use of smugmug, I can provide a few features that other photographers in the area cannot. Yea smugmug!

Check it out - questions - please let me know - jr

www.jrphotosandwebdesign.com/rebeccaandryan (http://www.jrphotosandwebdesign.com/rebeccaandryan)

[Scott_Quier]

That's pretty cool. I really like the vanity URL and the "sub-site" unique menu bar. I do have some questions/thoughts:
Even though it's not showing, I believe your slide show is still running when you are viewing pages other than the home page. Something is running as the throbber on my browser never stops running.
I haven't looked yet, but have you made the customizations available int the Customization forum?
How scalable is this? It appears you have a lot of custom CSS and HTML. If you have another wedding and wish to do the samething, how much of the HTML and CSS is re-usable?

[JimM]

This is very cool! I did not know you could sub-brand a gallery.

[jerryr]

Hi - Thanks for the compliments...
Basically how I did it was I created a theme (wed-rebecca and ryan) with specific 'classes' and 'divs' for the galleries. In the header area, I have the banner and nav bar and basically display it for the wed-rebecca and ryan theme. I simply apply the theme to the galleries that I have set up for rebecca and ryan.
Now I have a 'wed-rebecca and ryan' theme, with the specific fonts and colors. When I wish to create a new theme, I can simply copy the theme and change the fonts, colors, etc for the new theme. I also create the banner and nav bar and display it with the new theme. Yea, the first 'theme' took some thought but now it is set up for a 'copy/paste/change' thus making it easy for future 'wedding themes'.
I have done something similar with the football pictures -
www.jrphotosandwebdesign.com/shelbylions (http://www.jrphotosandwebdesign.com/shelbylions)

thanks again for the questions - jr

[JimM]

I have wanted to do something similar for Brighton Football Photos (http://www.brightonfootballphotos.com), as you can see, I set up a website, but everything links back to galleries I have set up on my personal Smugmug site. I would love it to be more cohesive. You definitely have me thinking. I don't know anything about CSS, but it might be time for me to learn.

[jerryr]

Hi Jim - I did different themes for sports pictures I take as well - Shelby Lions and Carpathia Kickers. The parents/family members love it since
I 'branded' the site (so to speak) to match the team colors, logos, etc, etc... The focus therefore is on the team and not the rest of my
site. I dont know if that is a pro or a con, but I do know that a few
other coaches indicated that they would be contacting me for spring
portraits due to the fact they like the 'branding', 'no packages/obligations' and 'family members can easier order on-line'

Need some help- please let me know - thanks :) jr

[JimM]

I might just take you up on that. I now know I need to learn how to do the CSS to make themes. The question becomes finding time.

I think I would really like to learn, but I will throw this out there, do you know if anyone on DGRIN makes custom themes for a fee?