Another Album Design

[blix]

Hey guys!

I'm ready for another critique!

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Notes:

These designs are for a leather, library bound, flush mount album.

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*NOTE* This is NOT my photography, just my design.
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Please comment specifically on:

-Layout and use of the images
-Flow of "the story"
-Design elements
-Use of color

Also, I'd like your thoughts as if this was your wedding album.
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While I do appreciate "Looks good, I like it" comments, please try to convey what specifically you do and don't like. I'm trying to create the best albums I can create and specifics will help me! Thank you!

Here they are:

www.mindysonshine.com/clients/greeson/

www.leonsandoval.com/henry

Thank you!
-B

[Scott]

First link is a 404 blix.

The second one.. I think the photography is stunning!!!! The design.. eh. :)

[blix]

Fixed!

Thanks, Jolt.
-B

[Silky]

I like the setup of the second one with one complaint. There seems to be an awful lot of "dead space" on some of the pages. I know it's to let the design of the pages show through, but it seems that some of the pages have more blank space than photographs. Other than that, I think it's fabulous!

[blix]

Thanks, Silky. The photography of the second one was more elegant than I've worked with before. I was afraid of over-doing the design and not letting the images speak for themselves. I'll keep that in mind next time! ;)

-B

[Dave]

I do like the way you've used a small part of an image to make the background for the groups of images, the style is a little more prevalent in the first set than the second.

Personally I'd include something that gives people a next image/previous image prompt rather than relying on them to track the thumbnails. But that tends to distract from the overall design.

I'm also never happy with a horizontal line of images going way off the screen, that's just my preference though.

[blix]

Thanks for your take on them, Dave! I appreciate it.

Yeah, the web site is an auto web gallery from Photoshop CS. If I didn't have and incredible fear of web design, I might actually build something a little easier to navigate. I totally agree about the button and horz thumbs disappearing... ugh.

Anyway, thanks for the input!
-B

[1cowabunga]

Blix, these are very well done. For the first link, I think page 10-11 is a little too empty. Maybe enlarging the pictures would help or adding a different backdrop? Page 12-13 just seems like there's something weird about it. The blurred sand in the background is a good idea but I think the picture of her walking on the beach on the far left is distracting. My eyes make some weird movements on the page. (if that makes sense) For your second link, page 26-27 seems like the overlaying pictures get lost in your background. Also maybe 22-23. I'm not sure how you'd fix that though - they all seem like very important pictures to show. Aside from that, I think you've done a great job.

~Sam

[blix]

[QUOTE=1cowabunga]Blix, these are very well done.[/QUOTE]

Thank you, Sam!

[QUOTE=1cowabunga]
For the first link, I think page 10-11 is a little too empty. Page 12-13 just seems like there's something weird about it. The blurred sand in the background is a good idea but I think the picture of her walking on the beach on the far left is distracting. My eyes make some weird movements on the page. (if that makes sense) [/QUOTE]

Yeah, I totally agree. 12-13 is by far the weakest page. 10-11 is pretty *meh* ...

[QUOTE=1cowabunga]
For your second link, page 26-27 seems like the overlaying pictures get lost in your background. Also maybe 22-23. [/QUOTE]

Maybe I should have reduced the opacity of background image on page 22-23. I really loved the warm tones and didn't want to lose them... but you're right. The other pictures don't stand out enough. Maybe that shows what picture I liked better and subliminally decided to emphasize more. :)

Thanks again!
-B

[PDG]

In no particular order. I'm crazy that way.

The Leon album is well laid out. I believe it could be made more wedding-esque with the careful use of symbols and icons that convey sophistication and tradition (http://www.istockphoto.com/file_search.php?action=file&text=scroll&x=0&y=0). Scrolls, columns and stuff like that. In particular, there are a few plain pages (http://www.leonsandoval.com/henry/images/10-11.jpg) that do not inspire me. And then there are some (http://www.leonsandoval.com/henry/images/24-25.jpg) that do.

This page (http://www.leonsandoval.com/henry/images/22-23.jpg)is entirely too square and static. A tad boring. But it may be the photographer's fault for taking such straight-ahead photos. Still you may want to experiment with diagonal layouts to break up the squareness.

Place your strongest compositions at the beginning (http://www.leonsandoval.com/henry/images/02-03.jpg). This is the 1st impact the bride will have. Wow em early and they'll forgive a poor ending (even though there isn't a poor ending...just a generalization). That page I isolated is a bit plain on the left and I'm not picking up the story behind it. I initially thought "Why is he starting with the Honeymoon?"

I love the layouts with the big pictures in the background. It places you somewhere and the smaller pictures tell the story within that place. The ones with generic designs (http://www.leonsandoval.com/henry/images/16-17.jpg)need to do the same.

The mindysonshine album is also good but needs a bit of work. Btw, the photographer needs to invest in a softbox for his flash.(www.lumiquest.com) Shadows on the sunset pic are harsh. Sorry, that's the photographer coming out. You are once again doing the same thing. (And I do this ALL the time.) You start out a tad weak and build stronger compositions as you progress throughout the book and throughout the project. I see very plain pages at the beginning and wonderful collages near the end. Perhaps you should start working in reverse? Seriously...sometimes it helps. This is sincere advice...nothing bad meant by it. The only image that bugs me is this one (http://www.mindysonshine.com/clients/greeson/images/20-21.jpg). Clone out the No parking sign and zoom in on the couple a bit if possible. Also, the building in the background kinda clashes with the beach mood. Looks too much like a convention center to me.

These are my favorites from that album. Roses (http://www.mindysonshine.com/clients/greeson/images/18-19.jpg), I do (http://www.mindysonshine.com/clients/greeson/images/08-09.jpg), Ride (http://www.mindysonshine.com/clients/greeson/images/24-25.jpg). Why are they my favorites? Because they tell a story just by looking at it for a second.

Is the photographer giving you detailed info on the events that transpired? Maybe getting more stories from the bride and groom will inspire more personalized albums? Maybe there was a small inside joke you could implement that would make the album extra special. Just some thoughts. I hope this was helpful. You're work inspires me to get off my ass and call some local photogs ;)

By the way, you rock!

[blix]

Wow, PDG. Mass respect, homie. That took some time to do! I'm just leaving the office now, but I'll get back to you with some thoughts/answers.

Dang, dude. That's cool. Thanks.
-B

[blix]

OK, PDG. All I've got to say is I'm going to take your advice. :)

I really do appreaciate all the time and effort it took to put that critique together. Being a part of a community like this is huge!

Thanks again to Sam, Dave and Silky for the reviews. (Thanks Jolt. I know in your own special way what you were saying!) You guys are helping my business for years to come.

-B

[Dave]

[QUOTE=blix]OK, PDG. All I've got to say is I'm going to take your advice. :)

I really do appreaciate all the time and effort it took to put that critique together. Being a part of a community like this is huge!

Thanks again to Sam, Dave and Silky for the reviews. (Thanks Jolt. I know in your own special way what you were saying!) You guys are helping my business for years to come.

-B[/QUOTE]Now about my fee .... :)

I tell you what though I've seen other forums offering critiques but none match what you get here. PA is the tops!