Please choose from the following categories, or scroll for all project lists & testimonials.

Web Design | Photography | Instructional & E-Learning Design | Other

ENVIRO International
http://www.enviro-international.com

Renowned Green Building Architect Safwat Malek sought a cleaner and more modern and updated for his website - while gaining even better ranking / results in Google and other search results.

These goals were met with a combination of flash animations, cleaner graphics and improving key text and inbound/outbound links.

ENVIRO International / Safwat Malek Developments
http://www.21mentone.com
http://www.solarhomecarmel.com

In order to quickly showcase two of his homes on the market, Safwat Malek wanted custom web sites that could incorporate movies, images, and the best search engine optimization.

By using Wordpress as a base, editing the common template to have a more unique look and feel, and working with his real estate and marketing partners, two sites were built in record-time and appeared quickly at the top of Google search results after submitting.

Maison Du Soleil has since been sold.

The Green Dragon Media Project
http://www.greendragonfilm.org/

An in-depth online multimedia report to accompany The Green Dragon, a documentary film about the potential for expanding sustainable construction and development in China.

The Green Dragon Media Project needed virtual representation for raising capital, promoting the project & film, and raising awareness by sharing project findings online. Minimal budget was available, and turnover would be very quick.

Phase 1 for the project was informative in nature and included ~6 HTML pages. Phase 2 (the current site) was created again using HTML, yet much broader in scope. With the help of the creative director of the project, over 14 pages of storyboards were translated and developed into the website in under ten days. While an external sponsor hosts the video clips, the 45+ films are streamed through and hosted on this server.

Watch for additional projects to come from this exciting documentary....

Straw Building in Rural China
http://www.greendragonfilm.org/strawbale

To assist in a campaign in collecting donations for Straw Bale building training and equipment in China, Green Building consultant Max Perelman requested a brochure-style site to be created in under a week.

The page was to include a platform for taking donations, as well as an extensive FAQ (frequently asked questions) page.

A Convenient Truth: Urban Solutions from Curitiba, Brazil
(a supplemental website for the documentary film)

After attending a documentary screening in Monterey at the East Village Cafe, I was able to speak with producer Maria Vaz about the concept and many benefits of "wrapping a website around a documentary" and being able to both promote the film and collect donations for their efforts.

We have sinced partnered in building a simple and effective website that will promote the documentary through an event calendar, platform for collecting donations, a possible blog, and film clips.

A demonstration of the site or finished product will be posted here soon.

eMotion Pictures

Filmmaker Caroline Harrison requested a higher-end website to promote her business of creating documentary-style wedding films - eMotion Pictures.

To save on budget, Caroline supplied the required images and layouts to be used on the site - freeing my time to bring the site to life with animations and actionscript programming.

Dr. Lee Jampolsky, Author
www.jampolsky.com

Dr. Lee is an author specializing in Inspiration Psychology and has written over 6 books, including Smile for No Good Reason and Healing the Addictive Personality. Lee resides in Carmel Valley, CA.

Dr. Lee came looking for more than a website - the goal is to redesign the current website (www.drleejampolsky.com) to include random quotes, newsletter signup, a protected membership area, e-learning modules, a shopping module, blog, and much more.

The Words of Wisdom newsletter is delivered weekly via HTML email over DadaMail, which was installed on the server. Each newsletter has a random quotation, which is displayed using PHP and a database of quotations.

Sand City Opera Company
http://www.sandcityoperacompany.com

Artist, Designer and denizen of Sand City's West End district Susan Collins (Suzka, www.suzkaworld.com) worked with Al Harris, the creative mind behind the Sand City Opera Company - to design a website look and feel. After repeated and failed attempts to find a reliable developer, Suzka found me via Safwat Malek.

Within two days, I had developed the site with over 20 pages, three audio clips and various archived stories. This was possible because Suzka had already designed storyboards in Photoshop, which were used as the website templates.

Dante Rondo Fine Art & Photography
http://www.danterondo.com/

Dante Rondo is a local painter and photographer, and continues to teach painting in Pacific Grove, CA.

Dante came to me with a hope to increase the income from his artwork by not only representing it online, but also by including an option to purchase online. Budget was minimal, resulting –via barter – in my ability to proudly display his works on my office walls!

To keep development time to a minimum and allow for rapid development, two media packages were chosen: a gallery program, and shopping cart program - time-intensive to install but allowed Dante to manage them after release.

Additional HTML and Flash were used to put together a solution in which Dante can sell online but still retain control of communication and shipping.

Harrison Furniture
http://www.harrisonfurniture.com/

Harrison Furniture, located in Monterey CA, specializes in creative, custom-made furniture and other wood products using reclaimed or sustainable wood.

With little to no marketing, Harrison Furniture had no presence for current or potential clients. A highly creative site was needed for promoting the company and showcasing work already completed.

Harrison Furniture provided detailed storyboards, graphics and colors that were translated to a functional website in Flash. The site, more artistic in design, takes advantage of many Flash elements, including animations and Actionscript programming.

Monterey IT Solutions
http://montereyitsolutions.com/

Monterey IT Solutions is a unique technology training and facility rental center for the Monterey Peninsula. Regular classes are held for basic computing through continuing professional development, while custom and creative courses are added monthly.

I came to Monterey IT Solutions in January '08 and quickly developed the site to drive more business - and to have a virtual sandbox to be practicing the things I'd be teaching!

Masuda Rahmati Real Estate
http://masudarahmati.com/

Masuda was using a template with free hosting that was 'clunky' and didn't allow for the custom look and feel she wished for. The free hosting was set to expire, so she required rapid development for a site that was functional and could be built on in the future.

Using simple tables and graphic elements, her site was created and hosted (via topherpages.com) within half of a day.

Rotary Club of Monterey International
http://mintrotary.org/

Although the local Rotary chapters are well represented through an IRC (Information Resource Center), it was difficult to direct more of the community to the site and communicate the efforts of this newly chartered club.

The solution has included a new domain to forward to the IRC, as well as crafting a new weekly bulletin to be delivered via a free newsletter program online. New and exciting online solutions are being invented monthly for this young organization.

Update: Emails have been created for all club officials, and the site is being managed on the Rotary IRC (their content management system) at www.mintrotary.org. An archive has been created for the bulletin, and a new forum was implemented.

DHC / Developing Human Capital
http://dhc-global.com/

In bringing its leadership services and opportunities to be headquartered in the Monterey area, DHC sought a local solution for maintaining the company's website. Also - a simple, no-cost newsletter solution (called The Branch) was added in March '08.

As DHC continues to grow, the site will grow further into its template - and will be redesigned in the future.

Manseau Fine Photography
http://www.manseuaphotography.com

Local photographer Jenny Manseau sought a low-cost way to have her art more visible on the web.

Using templates and a gallery program that already existed on www.topherpages.com, Jenny had her new website in 6 days and is able to manage the site - managing and arranging her photos - using an online interface.

Robert Talbott sought a graphic designer to provide logo editing and placement on photography used for upcoming catalogues. Working closely with the editor, over 200 images were manipulated in short time.

Elect Jane Parker Campaign
The Jane Parker Campaign (for supervisor of Monterey County) requested candid images for marketing materials. Current work includes a photoshoot during one of Jane's many house visits in Marina, CA. Future events are scheduled for photographing.

Thank you so much for the pictures, they look great! You have such a way with lighting.... - Lisa Raville, Campaign Manager

Spence - Yates Wedding, Carmel CA
This wedding included over 5 hours behind the camera and included the groomsmen preparing, the ceremony, and the reception. A DVD and website of images were prepared for the couple, and several prints were requested and framed.

Topher took pictures of several nonprofit events for me. Later I hired him to photograph my wedding and do family portraits during a reunion. He is the most professional photographer I've ever worked with, producing top-quality results while maintaining a positive and friendly approach with his clients. I wholeheartedly endorse him for any and all of your creative needs. ~ Lisa Spence

Plunkett Wedding, Monterey CA
Another local photographer was scheduled to capture this wedding; however, she was not available due to a last-minute emergency. I was available to step in for the same rate for digital photography.

Images from this beautiful wedding included bride and groom preparation, off-site posed images in Pacific Grove and Monterey, cermony, and reception. The end package included a DVD of processed images.

Reynolds Wedding, Monterey CA
This wedding in Monterey CA included captures in Pacific Grove and Monterey. The family and bridal party posed before and after the event, with the help of a family member to coordinate the large groups.

Both a digital SLR camera and medium-format film camera were used to capture the afternoon and evening. A DVD of images files and some prints were provided for the couple.

Weigle/Baer Wedding, Carmel Valley, CA
This wedding in Carmel Valley CA consisted of a 3-hour package with additional hours at a reasonable cost.

Because the mother of the bride was looking for a lower-cost solution, only a DVD of original, high-resolution images were provided as a deliverable, with many images being copied in sepia and/or black&white versions.

As an added bonus, an online album was created to allow friends and family to browse the photos while the family was to print the photos at their leisure.

The option to own the original images on CD or DVD remains the most popular package - however, I am able to provide proof sheets, albums, DVD galleries, online shopping solutions, and much more for weddings!

Team In Training, Head Run Coach - Monterey, CA
I have been involved with Team In Training (TNT) since 2002. As head running coach from 2007 to date, I have helped over 125 participants complete their running goal to complete a full or half marathon.

TNT is an 'arm' of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Chris "Topher " Mueller clearly articulates the vision and mission of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training campaign by serving as Head Run Coach for the Monterey Marathon Run Team. He creates an environment that encourages trust which is a crucial component to being a coach. Topher listens to the concerns and issues that participants raise along with setting an example of what he expects from others. His sense of presence and self-assurance is strong and he is an overall exceptional leader. Along with these strengths, Topher respects and appreciates individual differences in perspective and background and is always able to remain calm and clear-headed under high stress or during a crisis. It is this sense of presence and self-assurance that draws runners to his team season after season! By being such a wonderful person and coach; he is able to motivate and energize others! I look forward to working together with Topher as he continues to creatively integrate different ideas and perspectives in keeping with the Society's mission to fund research, aid patient services, and to ultimately find a cure for blood related cancer.
  ~ Melissa McKenzie, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, TNT Monterey Manager

Zebaah in Carmel
In tandem with opening their doors for business very quickly, Zebaah needed a product brochure that was professional-grade yet easy to distribute, share and print.

To accomplish this, over 250 images were edited to include pricing and published with Adobe Acrobat Pro. The 30+ page file exists online where it can be prepared on-the-spot at any local printing service.