March 9th, 2010
Baker’s Kitchen is a Wedding and Special Events Bakery in Richmond, Va. As a wedding photographer in Richmond I have had plenty of opportunities to sample the products of local bakeries, and rarely does the chance for free cake get passed by. In the past it was not uncommon for the creators of these towering fondant-covered confections to remain unknown to me- until I started planning my own wedding. Then I asked brides everywhere about the details of their vendors that I found enjoyable (and those that were not so enjoyable too, in order to avoid them). Baker’s Kitchen was a top answer from brides whose cakes were a treat to both look at and devour. It was not until November 2008, when my sister-in-law tied the knot, that I became more familiar with Baker’s Kitchen.
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Posted in Baker's Kitchen, Clients, client profile, dmfoto, graphic design, logo design, web design | 1 Comment »
March 4th, 2010
No, not these tools.
In addition to online and print resources, web design requires a good deal of technical equipment as well. From my computer to my camera with all the accessories that go with them, I have a small but powerful design arsenal here in my office. Some of these gadgets are travel-friendly, while others require me to to be securely fastened into my office chair before utilizing their abilities. Read on for a photo of my office and the details that make it work for me.
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Posted in graphic design, links, photography, resources, web design | 1 Comment »
February 24th, 2010
Help is on the way
I blogged recently about my favorite distractions on the web, and today I’m going to talk about the other end of the spectrum: resources. Both online and off, there are a plethora of inspiring and informative resources for web designers and business owners. I have broken this post into four categories of resources: inspiration, education, design tools, and performance.
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Posted in graphic design, links, resources, web design | 1 Comment »
February 10th, 2010
One of the little known plagues of web designers everywhere is browser compatibility. When you view a website on your computer you take for granted that the website will look the same no matter what computer, browser, platform, etc. that you view it in, right? Wrong. There are many variables involved in how a website will appear on your screen. Screen resolution (the size of your monitor), computer updates, browser type, browser updates…all of these things and more determine the appearance of any given website. As web designers we are faced with the challenge of not only creating for you the perfect website to best showcase your company, portfolio or extensive rock collection, but we must do so in a way that will allow an immense range of viewers to see it. Undoubtedly, the biggest obstacle in achieving this is browser variations.
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Posted in resources, tips and tricks, web design | No Comments »
February 2nd, 2010
What does a creative camera buff with an affinity for web design do when she’s not working? Take photos and put them on her website, of course! I know, what a bucket of fun I am, right? But with new camera toys and a blog to post photos to, I just couldn’t help myself. Not to mention the works of art created during one of our traditional Friday night pizza extravaganzas- they were just asking to be documented.
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Posted in Photo Essay, food, photography | 1 Comment »
January 27th, 2010
During my experience working from home, I have found there are numerous advantages and disadvantages to a home office. One of the biggest pros and cons is the hours: the flexibility is great, but the fact that you never really “leave” work can lead to too many late nights. When I’m feeling overworked, especially if I’ve been focusing on one large project, I welcome a certain amount of distraction to clear my head before I revisit a design.
As with any creative field, I think that taking your mind off a project for a brief time can make the editing process more effective once you return to the task at hand. I find that editing improves with this method not only for design layouts, but also with photography and especially copy writing. Ideally I like to have multiple clients at varying stages of the design process, so that I do not spend 3 days straight designing logos. But, when business is slow or monotonous I have a collection of sites that I visit to keep me from burning out. So, without further ado here are a few of my favorite distractions. (Bonus: Some of these “distractions” can actually lead to productivity on another level!)
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Posted in distractions, dmfoto, facebook, food, links, photography, resources, web design | 2 Comments »
January 22nd, 2010
After getting permission from some clients I’ve worked with in the past, I thought it would be fun to show some before and after screen shots of websites that have been redesigned by
GetCreative. The amount of change varies depending on the needs of each client, some receiving an entire new look while others just needed an update. Enjoy!
Before
After
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Posted in Amber Grove, Argus Computer, Before & After, Quality Calibrations Inc, dmfoto, links, new look, web design | No Comments »
January 21st, 2010
We have moved away from our temporary home at Blogger.com and customized a Wordpress theme to better fit the functional and stylistic needs of our ever-growing web log.
Some benefits of Wordpress software include full editing capabilities with access to all CSS and PHP files via FTP uploader or their own functional text Editor, among other technical goodies for the geek in all of us. The blog is also now incorporated into the GetCreative web site, so no more linking externally to read the blog. Thank goodness!
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Posted in GetCreative updates, graphic design, links, new look, web design | No Comments »
January 18th, 2010
All About Family, Inc. is a personal assistance and companion care agency in Richmond, Va. One of the great things about my job is the opportunity to work with a variety of companies in any industry. I was essentially unfamiliar with the job that All About Family (AAF) does in the community, but after learning about their work I can imagine that their services would be invaluable to almost anyone at some point in their lives. I am reminded to be thankful for the lack of monotony present in my day-to-day work with such a varied group of clients.
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Posted in all about family, client profile, logo design, web design | No Comments »
December 21st, 2009
Tips & Tricks is a section in which I will share some of the techniques and helpful hints of design that I have learned over the years. In doing so I hope to share more about the GetCreative design process, and help clients to get the most out of their websites. Today, we’ll start with choosing a Color Palette.
Winter scenes are made of a few color palettes unique to this time of year. There is the white and blue and silver winter wonderland that Mother Nature has bestowed upon us this week in central Virgina, and there are the reds, greens and golds of holiday decorations. Color has a greater effect on us that most people realize…colors can influence our mood, our appetite, and our opinions. This influence makes choosing the right colors for your website all the more important. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in color, links, resources, tips and tricks | No Comments »
