Its a 1st draft. I tried really hard to not look at anybody elses designs so I wouldn't subconsciously copy their ideas. This design is purely from my mind and was a creative flow of ideas over the course of (2) 3 hour sessions. I can quickly see that some of the pages are much stronger than others but I think it's a good 1st attempt at a final design.
Please feel free to comment or provide suggestions. I can really use the feedback. Thanks!
The album design can be seen here : http://www.steadfastdesigns.com/gallery/3041442
Full Version: My 2nd Album Design...
Some of those shots are awesome. I know diddly-squat about album design, but have you checked to see what's going to get lost at the centre of the page. A couple of the images look like they might lose something if there's any gutter (I think is the word).
Great story telling with the album. I absolutely love the last page - its very "happily ever after".
On the first full page - the church spread, I would leave the church at the angle without the inset pictures, and put those elsewhere. I noticed in a couple of places you used inset photos with white borders against the sky. Something about that bugs me. Not sure if its my taste or a technical thing . . . I would be tempted to fade out the church (with the sign) on the third page and put those three shots there.
The groom getting ready page - I love the two larger pictures, but the smaller one is too similar to the one above it. Do you have another detail shot you could substitute there?
The bride's page is awesome.
Great design on the ceremony.
Page 16 - again, something bugging me about the white bordered inset shots against the blue sky. Not sure what to suggest - maybe angle the insets and fade the background?
Page 21 - I'd just take out the inset of the bride. (Sorry - I don't know if this is just me or what!) Or make her a full third of the page like the groom.
Page 24 - those insets don't bug me at all! I like those
, but on page 25 . . . you can guess how I feel!
I think there might be a few too many cake/eating the cake shots. That takes up two whole pages. Unless you know the cake is really important to them. On the second page of cake - maybe you could do some more party shots?
Whew! (I was an editor before I became a photographer - can you tell!?!)
Hope that's useful.
Overall, I think the album is great.
Page 19 is stunning
Great story telling with the album. I absolutely love the last page - its very "happily ever after".
On the first full page - the church spread, I would leave the church at the angle without the inset pictures, and put those elsewhere. I noticed in a couple of places you used inset photos with white borders against the sky. Something about that bugs me. Not sure if its my taste or a technical thing . . . I would be tempted to fade out the church (with the sign) on the third page and put those three shots there.
The groom getting ready page - I love the two larger pictures, but the smaller one is too similar to the one above it. Do you have another detail shot you could substitute there?
The bride's page is awesome.
Great design on the ceremony.
Page 16 - again, something bugging me about the white bordered inset shots against the blue sky. Not sure what to suggest - maybe angle the insets and fade the background?
Page 21 - I'd just take out the inset of the bride. (Sorry - I don't know if this is just me or what!) Or make her a full third of the page like the groom.
Page 24 - those insets don't bug me at all! I like those
, but on page 25 . . . you can guess how I feel!I think there might be a few too many cake/eating the cake shots. That takes up two whole pages. Unless you know the cake is really important to them. On the second page of cake - maybe you could do some more party shots?
Whew! (I was an editor before I became a photographer - can you tell!?!)
Hope that's useful.
Overall, I think the album is great.
Page 19 is stunning
Wow! Great feedback! Thanks so much for taking the time to critique this. I'll take all your comments into consideration.
The funny thing is that I sent the Bride a link to the album slideshow and haven't heard anything back in over a week. And she raved about the photos! Oh well... she's probably just busy.
Thanks Again!
The funny thing is that I sent the Bride a link to the album slideshow and haven't heard anything back in over a week. And she raved about the photos! Oh well... she's probably just busy.
Thanks Again!
Any other comments???
Well if you want my take:
Clean and sharp. I love the deliberate theme on 19!
I think the points where you break from the theme - like 21, and overlay something REALLY distract from the design. You can definately do it in an album design - you just can't do it without making it part of the theme of the whole book.
Page 5, same general principle - keep to the theme - you've run to the bleeding edge on all the other pages so you need to stick with that full bleed theme. There's nothing wrong with the page mind you - just that it isn't within the theme.
Page 8 - you can gently break from the theme there - but don't go and twist the photos on top of that, ya know?
And on p22 I just have to ask why? It's time for another double truck spead - do it. That blackspace is choppy - dodge up their faces a little and run it full spread.
The problem with desiging without borders is that it works great on a spread like 10 - but on 20, 22 and similars it makes it hard to look at something with such dis-similar depth and space relationsihps. It works good to show similarities - but isn't as pleasing
Like 30 - run them full blead and let the differences shine.
FWIW
Clean and sharp. I love the deliberate theme on 19!
I think the points where you break from the theme - like 21, and overlay something REALLY distract from the design. You can definately do it in an album design - you just can't do it without making it part of the theme of the whole book.
Page 5, same general principle - keep to the theme - you've run to the bleeding edge on all the other pages so you need to stick with that full bleed theme. There's nothing wrong with the page mind you - just that it isn't within the theme.
Page 8 - you can gently break from the theme there - but don't go and twist the photos on top of that, ya know?
And on p22 I just have to ask why? It's time for another double truck spead - do it. That blackspace is choppy - dodge up their faces a little and run it full spread.
The problem with desiging without borders is that it works great on a spread like 10 - but on 20, 22 and similars it makes it hard to look at something with such dis-similar depth and space relationsihps. It works good to show similarities - but isn't as pleasing
Like 30 - run them full blead and let the differences shine.
FWIW
Neil,
Thanks a bunch for taking the time to critique. All of your comments are much appreciated!
Thanks a bunch for taking the time to critique. All of your comments are much appreciated!
Lou, you have some stunning images and I think many of them get lost in a somewhat busy design. Let the images speak for themselves and don't feel pressure to include as many as you can. One stunning image will have so much more impact than one stunning image with 5 little, less stunning images floating on top of it.
Also, when you have a real winner, don't be afraid to leave a page blank next to it. You want people to savor these and negative space tells the viewer, "Stop and look at this."
If I were designing a book with the images you've shown, I would cut the number in HALF. Maybe even more.
Great work overall!
Also, when you have a real winner, don't be afraid to leave a page blank next to it. You want people to savor these and negative space tells the viewer, "Stop and look at this."
If I were designing a book with the images you've shown, I would cut the number in HALF. Maybe even more.
Great work overall!
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