Past Projects
South Gippsland Dog Sitting
Developing the South Gippsland Dog Sitting website was my most extensive project to date, built to enable customers to easily book stays for their dogs on the client’s farm. Using Django alongside vanilla JavaScript, CSS, and HTML, I created a robust system that could manage booking details, collect necessary customer information, and handle payments through Stripe. Learning Stripe’s API and integrating payment processing was an essential part of the project, especially as we needed to support both an initial 10% deposit and a follow-up payment option for the remaining balance, offering flexibility for customers.
To enhance the booking experience, I also implemented a unique system to estimate dog sizes based on breed. I created a JSON file containing essential breed information, which doubled as the backend for a custom search feature within the booking form, allowing customers to select their dog’s breed and automatically provide relevant details. Since dog sizes directly impacted pricing, I built a custom pricing calculator to dynamically adjust based on breed, stay duration, and optional extras.
Streamlining the complex booking form was another challenge, as it required extensive information. To keep the process intuitive, I split it into sections, allowing customers to input details gradually. The form covered kennel type selection, drop-off and pick-up dates, optional extras like fresh dog food, and customer and dog information, displaying a final quote before checkout. This approach ensured a seamless booking flow that provided transparency and convenience for all users.
DM Photography
Building the DM Photography portfolio website was an exciting project focused on creating a sleek, functional platform to showcase the client’s diverse work. The client, a Melbourne-based photographer, specializes in events, headshots, advertising, and studio shoots and needed a dynamic website to present their portfolio to potential clients. One of the main objectives was to give them the ability to upload, manage, and remove photos easily, while also organizing them into specific albums to enhance browsing and ensure a polished, professional presentation.
I built the application using Django along with vanilla JavaScript, CSS, and HTML to ensure a responsive and lightweight experience. One of the significant challenges was balancing the number of photos displayed on each page with optimal page load times. To maintain speed without compromising aesthetics, I chose to display the photos in a clean, grid-like format. However, the grid layout introduced issues with alignment, as important elements in some photos weren’t fully visible within the grid constraints. To address this, I added a manual alignment tool, allowing the client to adjust how each photo appears within the limited grid space, so the essence of every shot is fully preserved.
Another critical feature was optimizing image formats. I implemented a function that automatically converts photos to JPEG format on upload, reducing the data load and improving loading speed on browsers. This was especially important for pages with multiple images, ensuring that potential clients could seamlessly browse the portfolio without delays.
Advanced Power Electrical & Solar
I built a clean, modern website for Advanced Power Electrical & Solar, a business specializing in solar panel installation and maintenance for both residential and commercial properties. The site was designed to establish a professional online presence and help generate new leads. Using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, I customized an existing template to suit the client's branding and ensured full responsiveness across devices. While the site’s structure was intentionally simple, I included technical SEO best practices and now manage the hosting and ongoing maintenance post-launch. The final result is a straightforward, reliable platform that reflects the professionalism of the business and makes it easy for potential customers to get in touch.