livebooks blog

Photo-stylist Lisi has an incredibly bright, colorful, and eye-catching website. We just love the pop in her images and the way it draws us in and makes us keep clicking – we had to share it with you as our featured website this week.

Check out the sneak peak below and head on over to www.lisidesigns.com to see the full site!

Q: How would you describe the aesthetic of your website in three words?

LD: I would describe my website as colorful, simple-clean, and stylish.

Q: How do you choose the photos that you display on your homepage?

LD: I select images that represent me. As a stylist I receive images from different sources and for that reason, I have two ways of selecting the images that will go on my site. When the images are either from a client or a photographer I make my selection when I feel a profound connection with the image. I don’t necessarily select an image because I worked on it or even because it’s published. Sometimes in the same story there is an overwhelming amount of variations of the same image so I select the image that speaks to me…the one that makes me the happiest. When there is an image that I personally photographed and styled, I choose the image that I connect with and that feels good. I call it “complete” when I don’t get tired of staring at it. I also use the same strategy when I rotate images out of the website. If I’m tired of looking at the image, it’s time to rotate it or time to replace it.

Q: How often do you update your website?

LD: As soon as I finish a job that I’m super proud of, I just cannot wait to add the new images to my site. So, with that being said, as soon as the images are ready I make the time to include them in the site. Sometimes as often as weekly.

Q: What is your favorite feature that liveBooks offers?

LD: My favorite feature that liveBooks offers has to be the editSuite and the navigation. In my industry when looking for talent you only have a minute to look through hundreds of websites, so having an easy-to-navigate structure is a plus for a client; you really want that person to concentrate on the illustrated work.

Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d offer to someone designing their website?

LD: To somebody designing their website I would suggest to look at sites that they like and gather a list of “whys.” Then contact a support specialist at liveBooks to discuss the design. liveBooks has an incredible amount of great templates that are simple and easy to manage. Another piece of advice is to keep the web design simple. At times a simply designed template and a good support specialist is all that’s needed or at least a great start.

Have a website you’d like us to feature? Email us at social@livebooks.com!

Guest post by liveBooks client Kike Calvo. 

This post is the latest in the Drones and Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Special Series, which profiles interesting information, thoughts and research into using drones, UAVs or remotely piloted vehicles for journalism and photography, that I learn about during my travels.

Pictured: Upgraded DJI Phantom 1. Photo © Nano Calvo.

If there is a question that gets asked over and over in the many emails I get in response to my Drones and Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Special Series, it is “What gear and components do you use in your on-going process of becoming a proficient aerial photographer and filmmaker?” I will devote today’s column to discussing one of my basic rigs.

One of my unmanned vehicles of choice is the DJI Phantom, both Phantom 1 and Phantom 2. My decision is based on size, portability, and reliability. With the knowledge that experts from DSLRpros bring to the table, I have upgraded my system to include the following:

Photo © Nano Calvo

Futaba Control Radio

“The Futaba remote control gives the Phantom nearly twice the range of the standard RC remote,” said DSLRpros Associate Josh Hohendorf. “In addition to increasing range, the connection with the craft is much stronger and reduces interference from foreign frequencies that would otherwise disrupt the flight of the craft. It offers a variety of programmable controls that photographers and cinematographers alike can customize their remote to suit their specific shooting needs.”

“The Futaba can save an unlimited number of settings for any unlimited number of crafts. Controlling the camera is also superior to the standard RC system. There are two range selectors. One knob for large-scale range selection and another wheel for smooth, fine tuning within that range.”

Photo © Nano Calvo

Carbon Fiber Propellers

For awhile I debated whether I should be adding these or not. I finally went with them. “Carbon Fiber props are a must have for anyone using the phantom to capture visual content,” said Hohendorf. “The props are far superior to the standard plastic propellers in every way. Their rigidity prevents them from bending and warping like the plastic propellers. In addition, the rigid design translates into overall handling performances of the craft. It can achieve faster speed, harder maneuvers, and greater altitudes. The propellers are also precision balanced. This results in a far greater efficiency over the standard plastic propellers. The craft will fly several minutes longer with the lighter and more balanced propeller. A standard propeller will produce a great deal of vibration into the frame of the craft. This means that the video being recorded will display these vibrations in the form of ‘jello’ on the screen. The balanced carbon propeller will eliminate any vibration into the craft and result in clean and clear visual content.”

Warning: I suggest not installing carbon fiber propellers until you have become a proficient pilot, with a thorough understanding of the dynamics and operations of your craft, as these propellers can be more dangerous than plastic ones due to their superior strength.

To read the full article, check out the original source: So You Want to Shoot Aerial Photography Using Drones?

To learn more about drones, please visit: Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

Eric Smith, an award-winning director, designer, and photographer, has not only gorgeous images but an incredibly clean and focused website that we are honored to feature this week.

Q: What type of work do you specialize in?

ES: I am a professional photographer working for EcoMedia, a division of CBS, but I have a passion for fine art photography and wanted a place to showcase that aspect of my work. Image making is my life and liveBooks helped me to bring a beautiful website to life without enormous expense or weeks of work.

Q: Did you use a pre-designed template or was it custom-built?

ES: I used a pre-designed template with some customization.

Q: How long did it take you to create your site?

ES: 1-2 weeks to generate all the content. The actual launch of the site took about a week.

Q: What’s your favorite aspect of your site thus far?

ES: I love that the site is clean and not overly designed. The images are the stars. I have also gotten feedback that the site is really easy to navigate. The rotating images on the homepage keep the site fresh. I’m also a fan of how easily the CMS allows me to add content. Uploading a new photo set is a breeze, so the name liveBooks is very appropriate. www.esmithimages.com is truly a living catalog of my craft.

Have a website you’d like us to feature? Email us at social@liveBooks.com.

Are you traveling somewhere really fun and exciting this summer? Are you taking photos along the way? If so – then our Instagram contest is definitely for you!

Open to all – current liveBooks clients and non-liveBooks clients – we want to give you a free website for a year!

All you have to do is follow three easy steps:

1. Follow us on Instagram – @liveBookswebsites

2. Tag us in a fun and unique travel photo from this summer

3. Use the hashtag #LBPicStop

Three winners will be chosen. Contest runs from July 21st – August 21st.

Terms and conditions.

Questions? Email us at social@livebooks.com.