livebooks blog

Erin Derby discovered photography in high school, and the second she walked out of the darkroom with her first GOOD photo, she was hooked. Derby knew it’s what she would do with her life. In college, she was the photo editor of the daily university paper, and after college she moved to NY where she pursued both art and commercial photography.

Erin Derby feels lucky to be able to shoot various subjects that really interest her, rather than being forced to only pick one genre.

Q&A with Erin Derby

Q1: How would you describe the aesthetic of your website in three words?

ED: Modern, bright, dynamic.

Q2: How often do you typically update your website?

ED: I do a major update every year, which involves a total overhaul. And then throughout the year I do mini-updates…Approximately every month or so. Depends on what new work I want to share.

Q3: How do you choose the photos that you display on your homepage?

ED: I pick something that is new and that I’m personally really excited about, and can’t wait to share. It also needs to be big and bold and striking. It needs to really set the tone for the site. And it needs to be NEW!

Q4: What is your favorite feature of liveBooks?

ED: My TWO favorite things are that the site looks so professional and polished without any effort, and updating it is extremely easy and immediate.

Q5. What’s one piece of advice you’d offer to someone designing their website?

ED: Don’t overthink it. Don’t spend months debating and delaying it. Just get it up there. You can always make changes.

Erin Derby has been with liveBooks since 2007! See more of her work here: www.erinderby.com

Instagram Monthly Sweepstakes

Do you want the chance to win a FREE year towards your next subscription? On the second Monday of EVERY month we’re giving you the chance to win! Here’s how to win:

1. Follow @liveBookswebsites on Instagram.
2. “Like” our post announcing the monthly contest. May’s post here.
3. Answer our question of the month in the comments. Comment here.

Don’t forget to tag a friend because they are eligible to win a free year, too!

Official Rules: http://blog.livebooks.com/2018/04/livebooks-instagram-rules/

With the number of users on social media websites and platforms consistently growing every year, it’s no surprise that businesses have jumped on the train as well — and for good reason! It’s a fun way to engage with potential customers and increase your reach.

However, far too many entrepreneurs have started to rely almost entirely on social media to grow their business, instead of reaping the benefits from building an effective and informative website.

If you’ve ever heard the saying, “Don’t build your property on someone else’s land,” then you may understand what we’re getting at here.

Here’s the truth: every business needs an impactful website to reach potential customers. And for wedding professionals, this isn’t just a guessing game . . it’s fact.

The Latest in Wedding Industry Data

According to WeddingWire’s 2018 Newlywed Report, which utilizes information from almost 18,000 newlyweds who said their vows in 2017, 83% of wedding planning is now done online.

Additionally, the top sources for finding wedding vendors were wedding-related websites and online searches.

What does this mean for wedding professionals? In short, this data suggests that those who offer the most assistance and access to potential couples on the web are more likely to win the competition against those who don’t.

And if that isn’t enough to convince you, here’s a list of other fantastic reasons why your wedding company needs a website that sells.

1. You own it.

That’s right: not Facebook, not Youtube, not any other fancy social media platform that rises to the top in upcoming years. Your website is yours to keep.

The best part? You can customize your website the way you’d like, and show off your craft in a way that isn’t limited by the algorithms and boring profile settings of any social platform.

2. Websites are the perfect way to spotlight your portfolio.

Wedding couples love seeing specific examples of previous work. Whether you’re a wedding designer who’s got a knack for everything vintage or you’re an up-and-coming videographer with a unique editing style, your website is the best chance you have of showcasing what you love so much about being in the industry.

3. You can use your website as the foundation to all of your other marketing and sales efforts.

Think of your website like a “city center”: you may have interstates and roads extending out in other directions, but they all can help drive traffic back to the core.

Instead of seeing your social media handles, your networking events, and any wedding shows you attend as being solitary, start to look at them like a connected web, with your site at the center.

This means that the focus becomes less about convincing potential clients to buy solely through that one channel, but instead about cycling them through the buyer’s journey.

For example, if you have someone who sees a post on Instagram and loves your work, they can view your profile, begin to explore your website, and follow other areas where you’re engaged (such as your blog, your Youtube channel, your Pinterest boards, etc.).

Looking for an easy-to-use platform to build the perfect website for your wedding company?

liveBooks offers stunning, customizable website templates for wedding industry professionals and creatives.

Not only will you feel empowered and excited to show off your website, but you can be confident that they’ll look great on any device. Fully mobile-ready and responsive in all the best ways.

We’ve also got a top-notch support team who’s here to help you every step of the way. Start for free today! 

Jean Karotkin is a self-taught documentary/portrait photographer. Born in Texas and New York-based, she began my career relatively late in life. Jean’s work explores different subcultures of women, including women in Cuba, drag queens, inmates in the largest women’s prison in the world. Her current project is Women Behind the Lens, important living female photographers to inspire the next generation. More »