Looking for friendly pay-as-you-go developer for consultancy

Hello

Budget: between $200 and $1000 depending on how it pans out. Most probably $500 in total. Future work possible.
Time: a couple of evenings to start with.
Abstract: create a client area for the website of a UK photographer (me). Purely architectural, no templating, CSS, content, or site design.
Person: super friendly coder who knows modx very well. Ideally someone from the forums here, who is well-regarded. For up-front payment, will require references and/or a high post-count on this forum.
IP: I’m happy for the result to be released as a module.

A wordy brief:

I’m a photographer looking to implement a new client area for my website.

As I have a background in IT, I have already built myself a custom PHP client area. The existing one has worked for two years or so and it allows clients to log on securely (SSL), view and download documents from their own area (such as quotations), and of course view photo galleries and download files. The idea is that it’s a "VIP" area, as I treat every client individually and write custom text on pages, etc. My current client area is not really integrated into my main site (in terms of architecture), but it has the exact same look and feel.

But to be honest, it’s a bit of a hassle creating new clients. I don’t quite have the time to have myself a control panel or a centralised management area, or even a way of automating creation of new client areas.

And I want something a little less ’custom’.

As you can tell, I do all the templating and CSS myself and I’m very proficient in this area. But I have limited PHP and programming skills.

Being a sole trader, my budget is not huge, however I don’t imagine the work will be intense. I’m in the UK but am fine with remote work (over Skype / IM).

I guess I’m looking for some friendly advice, someone to bounce around ideas, and someone to actually do some of the work too.

I know the scope of work is not exactly tight, but I am realistic about payment and prepared to pay for what I get. In my past life as IT Manager, I’ve commissioned projects from £250 to £5000, so I know the gig.

I’d like the work commitment to be quite organic, no huge up-front fees or big promises.

In honesty, it may be that I pay $200 for a couple of discussions over Skype where someone says "you need to combine these 5 existing modules" plus helps with a few bits and pieces of 10 minute custom coding work. Although if you convince me there are better ways to do things or nice features to include, it can essentially be up to $1000.

Realistically I’m prepared to pay up to $500 initially for a few discussions and help sessions over a period of days, and perhaps another $500 later to take the project to a polished state.

Any takers?

Dunno how "well-regarded" I am (shameless ego fishing expedition), but I think I’m pretty well conversant with MODx, am generally held to be friendly and helpful, and while I would imagine my post count is impressive enough I don’t require up-front payment.

You can email me at [email protected].

Hi Mr Matt,

I’m a UK developer based in Leeds if proximity helps in any way.

Mike

Hello all

Thanks so much for the replies and PMs, they are great offers for help.

I’m currently considering all my options whilst trying to learn as much as I possibly can about modx in a short space of time... I may hit the forums to start with and come back to various people with various micro bounties for smaller coding jobs as and when.

Thanks again!

Mat