Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico. USA
What kind of websites were you planning to build?
I originally established my website so many years ago I can no longer recall the exact date. I used FrontPage on a Windows machine. The software was clunky and so was the site. Eventually I graduated to Adobe GoLive, which had a long learning curve and which I never took the trouble to completely master, with the result that my site became ever more clunky. Ultimately Adobe stopped supporting GoLive, and it developed bugs such that I could no longer upload changes to my site. I had to change, so I began a search for new software that wouldn't cost a fortune, as all the Adobe products require you to rent them rather than buy them.
How did you hear about Sandvox?
In my searches, I found several favorable reviews of Sandvox, and in particular saw that it was popular with other photographers who, like me, wanted sites that looked well designed but who didn't have the time or desire to master HTML or complex design software.
What made you decide to get Sandvox?
I downloaded trial versions of Sandvox and a competing program for comparison, but after a few minutes with Sandvox it was obvious that it was the right choice. The designs looked good from the start, and they were ridiculously easy to update and modify.
Now that you have Sandvox, what do you like about it?
Sandvox has almost everything I need to maintain a professional-looking, attractive showcase for my photography. I've suggested a few changes, such as allowing the slideshow to accommodate both landscape and portrait images without cropping, but there are workarounds for these issues. I especially like the way photo galleries can be nested so that one photo gallery is a visual index for other galleries. Really, the designers of the program must have had photographers in mind, the program lends itself so easily to showcasing our work.
What would be a good way to search for a program like Sandvox?
Alan Eckert Photography
“I chose the Smooth Dark design after reviewing all the available Sandvox designs and some third party designs as well. Its muted dark gray background allows the photographs to stand out and its uncluttered design facilitates viewer navigation around the site.”
