|
Name: Michelle Talley
Web Addresses:
www.fashionimage.com
www.r-lmodels.com
www.emelle.net
Why
did you get on the web?
I already had experience in designing promotional materials for businesses and political candidates. Plus I am a fiction writer, and was a feature writer for my college newspaper. I wrote restaurant reviews, blurbs on local businesses, and I even reviewed the epic play Tantalus.
My father is a professional photographer and needed a web presence for his work. I basically offered to do the job, because it sounded like fun to create something that I could immediately see the results to. I practiced on his site awhile, and it went through a few incarnations. I went from basic amateur page, to "look at all these neat and wonderful things I can add", to a site that was functional, and not such a download hog. In essence, I am self-taught through trial and error. The final version of his site, fashionimage.com, generated plenty of interest for him, and he eventually ended up in NYC. He bought R&L Model and Talent Management, Inc. I am now webmaster for the R&L site as well,
r-lmodels.com. The first site generated some interest for me too, as I have built more sites since then.
What services do you offer?
Well, my actual day job is freelance makeup artist. But for the web, I set up portfolio designs for people in the entertainment industry. I can work with the artist to get photos or artwork scanned in, cropped, and adequately compressed for web viewing. I can also write a profile on the artist to help him/her advertise themselves within their site, or to edit their own text. I can help find hosting, and even help with the advertisement of the site through search engines and related website forums. If more specialized goodies are needed, such as Flash, I can contact whoever I know that can do that part of the job.
What
you like most about the web?
I like the accessibility to information from around the world. I like getting news from countries I’ve never heard of. With snail mail, I used to keep in touch with long distance friends about once a year. Now I can keep up with them daily.
What
you like least about the web?
Spam. And when they tell you that you can opt out of a mailing list you didn’t even join, that should be true. Unfortunately, it is not.
What for you is the most useful web technology?
Email - truly. Through email I can introduce myself to potential clients and point them to my website. The receivers have my services in writing, and they can view a sample of my work, and agreements can then be made about future work without having spent time or money pounding the literal pavement. For my makeup work, emelle.net, they can see the work I have already done, and they can judge for themselves - on their own time - whether they wish to hire me for future photo shoots or special events. For website development, any site I have built speaks for itself.
Why
do you use Fusion?
My first try at building my father’s website was with Frontpage. It was easy to learn, and functional for what I needed at the time. As I got more familiar with designing, I was able to devise my own wish list of things I wanted the program to do. At some point, I heard of Fusion, and realized it contained the items on my list. I bought it, played with it, and had a Zen-like moment. I haven’t touched another program since.
Your
favorite web site?
1) Fashion Only Forum:
This place is a safe haven for
people in the fashion world.
2) The Dent:
A site any Tori Amos fan should visit. It
caters to the rabid fan quite nicely, but is also very
helpful for those just getting to know her and her
music.
3) The Spark:
This site appeals to my sense of humor,
but I'm not about to share my results on any of their
tests!
Do
you think the web will change the world?
It already has. And it will continue to change. Information is more accessible, making surfers more dangerous, whether the surfer is becoming well-educated, or misinformed. As the cliché goes, knowledge is power, and more people have access to more power.
What
do you do for fun?
I chat online, read books, write fiction stories, travel, and hang out with good friends.
Thanks Michelle!
[
go to top of page ]
|
