Short next step

So what have I done.
The first thing I did was to plan out what I wanted my site to contain. I listed the things I wanted it to do. In no particular order

1. Tell the world about me / my photos
2. Allow me to sell my photos
3. Allow people to communicate with me
4. Get me to practice my Web design Skills

As I wrote more of this I began to realise more and more the limits of my own knowledge and resources.

Day two

So I have managed to carry on. As I said before this is my way of documenting my attempts to set up a website and a potential business selling photographs and prints.

On of the things I have not a lot of is cash or access to capital to buy extra things for the business so all the tools I use have to be something I already have or can get cheaply or even better free. So how do you create a web site from scratch. I could have used Word or PowerPoint or even Front Page express which used to be on some systems. I certainly could not afford buy Dreamweaver or something along those lines. I did have a look at Joomla and even got as far as downlading JSAS. After spending several days trying to work out what I was doing I gave up. I have used Content Management Systems before and will probably come back to Joomla or something similar in the long run.

To cut a long story short I decided to go back to HTML. I have used it off and on for the last 10 years and have a fair idea of what I am doing with it. In addition I was able to download Arachnophilia. This was my favourite HTML editor. I also like the idea of Careware. I had originally learned most of my coding from Joe Burns and HTMLGOODIES.

Some years ago for my birthday ( or was it Christmas )I got a copy of Adobe Photoshop Elements. It allows me to manage my library and have a play with my pictures ( more of that much much later when I get around to it).

So I sort of have all the elements to put together a website. I know what to do and have a reason to do it so I think next I need a plan.

Starting Over

This is the umpteenth time I have started to do a blog / diary and have until now not kept it up. I need to have a reason to write and maybe I have found the reason. So where to start?

I got myself a proper SLR camera about 10 years ago and found that I liked taking pictures and when 5 years ago I was able to get myself a Canon 300D. I was very happy. As time has gone on I have wanted to do something with my pictures. I discovered Fickr and others where I could upload my stuff.

I have in the past done some web development, I have worked as a Teacher / Trainer mainly in IT for the last 20 years and have developed some basic materials working at a college in including parts of the College intranet and I was the administrator of the College's Learning Resource Content Management system.

It has been a while since I had done anything and I wanted to kill several birds with one stone.

VertRouge is the name of the vehicle I am developing to sell my photos and my work as a photographer and any other derivative that we can think of. I also continue to develop my training business So the plan is to set up my web site and use this to describe what I have done and may be even get advice and guidance from those that know better.

As I go along I will at intervals write up what I have done and post it here. I already have lots of photos and ideas.