Hey guys,
I'm going to be putting together a website for a photographer.
I've managed my own e-commerce sites for the last several years so I've been out of the loop. This guy is a friend and he really wants me to do it.
So... I want to do it right.
So far I've asked for any and all media he has made for him logo, branding whatever, and also wanted him to provide me with a group of his favorite shots that show the look and style of hip photography that he wants conveyed in his website.
Are there some other specific questions or maybe a form of questions that I should be asking and information I sould be gathering from him ahead of time to get a good feel for the direction I"m going to take the project?
Thanks!
One of the best things you can do for communication is to outline your assumptions of what the project is going to be like:
- I assume you will be providing media for me in X format
- I assume that you will provide all the copy for the site
- I assume that payment will be 50% up front and 50% on completion
etc. . . .
Originally posted by: CaseyWhitcher This guy is a friend and he really wants me to do it. Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!
Stinky is right: managing expectations for the final product is key. The more work you do to nail those down now the happier both of you will be in the end.
And yeah, just like the good Baron says—friends are a complete fucking minefield. Don't do the job.
But since we all do it anyway... Keep it simple. Don't offer a custom CMS. Find a way to limit the number of times he asks you to revise your comps. Have him suggest sites that he likes. Agree to provide a small subset of the simplest features from those sites. Sell him on the idea that you'll be saving him money while providing a solid foundation for expansion down the road.
Say it with me now: "That's a great idea, [friend]. Fantastic. Stupendous, even. Oodles of potential. Let's save it for Phase 2 when we can be sure it's done right."
Phase 2 is your friend... especially when it comes to friends.
Even better? Not doing the job.
Yeah, working with friends is for suckers.
I'll see your
and raise you a "working with family is for SUPER-suckaz"!