SB Captures is a portfolio website designed to showcase the photography of Sandis, a developer who entrusted me with creating a platform dedicated to his visual work. With photography as a primary hobby, Sandis sought a custom solution that would allow him to share his artistic vision in an engaging, user-friendly format, leading to the development of SB Captures. Visit SB Captures

Project Scope & Challenges
The SB Captures project required a robust yet flexible solution that combined seamless content management with an engaging user experience, particularly for an image-heavy site. Key features of the project include:
- Backend Flexibility with Strapi: For content management, Strapi was chosen as the backend engine, allowing Sandis to easily upload and manage his photo collections. This setup supports smooth updates and flexibility for future content additions.
- Frontend Optimization with Nuxt and GraphQL Integration: Nuxt was utilized on the frontend to ensure an optimized, responsive user experience. The interaction between Strapi and Nuxt is managed through GraphQL, enabling efficient data retrieval and a flexible connection between the backend and frontend components.
- Mobile-First Design and Responsiveness: The site follows a mobile-first approach, ensuring the gallery and other features adapt seamlessly across devices. This design choice was essential for offering a smooth experience for mobile users, aligning with modern browsing preferences.
- Challenges in Image Handling and Access Control: Given the extensive collection of high-resolution images, optimizing load times and managing data flow were primary concerns. Additionally, Sandis required specific galleries to be restricted by password protection, introducing an additional layer of complexity to balance user experience with privacy.
Key Achievements
- Performance and Privacy Solutions: To address image load efficiency, I implemented a page-by-page loading mechanism, which enhanced performance by reducing load times and enabling a smoother user experience. Password-protected galleries were also introduced, ensuring Sandis could share select images privately and securely.
- Custom Gallery with Touch Support: Developing a custom gallery with touch-enabled functionality aligned with Sandis’ vision for an intuitive browsing experience, particularly for mobile and tablet users. This feature enhanced the portfolio’s usability and engagement, making it easier for users to interact with the images.
- End-to-End Project Management: I managed all phases of the project, from initial planning and design to development, testing, server setup, and deployment. The comprehensive management approach ensured a consistent vision and quality throughout, delivering a polished, responsive platform.
Conclusion
SB Captures stands as an example of my ability to deliver tailored web solutions that address specific client needs, from technical optimizations to custom feature implementation. This project highlights my approach to creating visually compelling, user-centered platforms that are efficient, secure, and easy to manage.
Client Review
Working with Maksims was an absolutely remarkable experience. We embarked on our project with just a concept, and I conveyed my vision for my website. Within a matter of weeks, I found myself immersed in a development environment where I could witness my ideas come to life. The entire communication process flowed effortlessly and seamlessly. Any necessary adjustments and bug fixes were promptly addressed without hesitation.