When Elise Sullivan, a talented photographer and scientist based in New Hampshire, approached me to design her website, she had a clear vision: to create an online portfolio that reflects her passion for capturing the interactions between humans and the natural world.
Elise wanted her website to not only showcase her photography but also serve as a tool to connect her with ideal clients… science-based organizations, nature-focused businesses, and non-profits who could benefit from her stunning visual storytelling.
The result? A minimalistic, visually striking website that truly brings her photography and mission to life.
The Challenge: From Scattered Ideas to a Cohesive Story
Before starting the project, Elise had experience in photography but wanted to pivot her business to align more closely with her interests and background in marine biology. While she had a strong sense of her work’s purpose, she was unsure how to translate it into a website that could connect her with the right clients.
Her goals included:
- Showcasing her photography in an organized and visually appealing way.
- Highlighting her expertise in “story-telling photography” to appeal to institutions and non-profits.
- Creating a portfolio that feels cohesive and reflects her love of science and nature.
- Offering potential clients a seamless way to explore her work and contact her.
Elise shared, “My original idea was much more scattered and would not have been as effective at connecting me to the right type of client.”
The Solution: A Website That Reflects Elise’s Vision
The new website for Elise Sullivan Photography was designed with her unique background and goals in mind. Every element, from the layout to the fonts and colors, was intentionally crafted to tell a cohesive story that would resonate with Elise’s ideal clients.
1. A Gallery That Tells a Story
Elise’s photography is more than just beautiful images, it’s visual storytelling. I created a gallery structure that organizes her work into clearly defined categories, such as “Story-Telling Images” and other portfolios. This differentiation highlights her ability to create narrative-driven collections of photos, which is key for attracting clients like science institutions and nature-based organizations.
Elise noted, “The gallery section of my website will make the biggest impact. It showcases my work in a way that influences which potential clients will be drawn to me.”
2. A Design Inspired by Nature
To reflect Elise’s focus on human connections with nature, I designed her site to feel minimalistic, soothing, and refreshing. Her love of nature shines through in the design, with clean fonts and a custom color palette inspired by organic blues and greens. These choices create a welcoming space that feels both professional and creative.
Elise described the font and color decision-making process as unexpected and eye-opening, saying, “I found it interesting to consider how these decisions influence mood.”
3. Putting Elise’s Expertise Front and Center
One of Elise’s strengths is her background as a Ph.D. in marine biology, which gives her a unique edge as a photographer for science and nature-focused organizations. To communicate her expertise, I worked her bio into the website to highlight her ability to combine scientific understanding with artistic expression. Her about page is a blend of her professional story and her passion for connecting people to nature through photography. It’s clear, authentic, and perfectly aligned with the clients she wants to attract.
4. Seamless Functionality
Elise’s goal was to create a site where potential clients could easily view her work and contact her. The simple navigation and contact page make this process straightforward and user-friendly. Whether it’s a local non-profit looking for promotional images or a science-based institution seeking a storytelling photographer, visitors can easily explore Elise’s portfolio and reach out to start a collaboration.
The Impact: Confidence and Connection
After launching her new website, Elise shared that she feels “much more confident about promoting [her] photography business” now that she has a professionally designed portfolio. The structure and design of the site help clearly communicate her expertise and focus, giving her a solid foundation to grow her business.
Elise also found the process of working together to be valuable. The initial questionnaire helped her clarify her goals and vision, and the design process allowed her to discover new ways to organize and present her work. She said, “You did a much better job showcasing my work than I would have. The structure makes it easy to add or change galleries if I decide to rearrange things in the future.”
One unexpected highlight for Elise was how her site evolved beyond a simple portfolio. She explained, “I realized as we designed the website and split out the ‘story-telling’ images from the other galleries, it would be interesting to see how people respond to that differentiation.”
Highlights of Elise Sullivan’s New Website
- A Clean, Minimalistic Design: Reflects her connection to nature and keeps the focus on her photography.
- Organized Portfolio Galleries: Tailored to showcase her storytelling ability and attract ideal clients.
- Compelling Bio: Highlights her unique background as both a scientist and an artist.
- Easy Navigation: Allows visitors to explore her work and connect with her seamlessly.
- Flexible Structure: Makes it easy for Elise to add new projects or update her portfolio as her business grows.
Elise’s Feedback
Here’s what Elise had to say about her experience working with me:
“I feel much more confident about promoting my photography business now that I have a professionally designed website that clearly shows my specific areas of expertise and interests. You did a much better job showcasing my work than I would have.”
She also appreciated the video updates during the process, which made it easy for her to follow along at her convenience. “The availability of design platforms allows anyone to create a website, but there would have been a big difference in overall quality if I had done it myself.”
A Website That’s Just the Beginning
The new website for Elise Sullivan Photography is more than just an online portfolio… it’s a platform that connects Elise with the people and organizations that share her passion for nature and storytelling. Whether she’s working with a marine research team or documenting the stories of local farmers, her site is the perfect foundation to grow her business.
If you’re ready to create a website that showcases your unique talents and connects you with your ideal clients, let’s chat! Together, we’ll design something that reflects your vision and takes your business to the next level.
