8-5-07 Album critique please

Apologies for the watermark. I'd most like critique and suggestions on the layout, the B&W conversions are rough at the moment and color temp not quite spot on. Can't really make the album any bigger, might have to reduce the size as it is. It's a 14x10" Queensberry album. C&C appreciated.

Click here.

NB:this is an old thread, the album has been produced and delivered to the customer. The link has been updated to show the final version. Critique is still ok as i'm always happy to learn

I like it - it's simple and clean. Your logo is sort of distracting though. I'm not so crazy about the selective coloring on the ring shot at the end. I also don't know why - but I don't like when there's a page of just sepia and black and white. The other thing that I notice is that you normally use some sort of background in your albums don't you? - like flowers or the horizon. This one just looks a lot more simple than others I've seen from you. It's not a bad thing though - just different. Will it be an asukabooK?

Hi Tim - just some of my initial reactions

page 5 - the last image ( groom in church) IMPO needs to be straightened - also I would try to match subjects size in the 2 center images (using the transform tool)

page 10 - it's hard to tell but are you using the same image on the left and the bottom right? - IMPO I would change that up.

page 14 - IMPO I would maybe try to match the subjects izes in the 2 center images. The Men's seems too small in relation to the girls's.

page 15 - the Bride's image on the right - IMPO looks alittle too top heavy. IMPO I would maybe crop out some of the trees and bring up the subjects center closer to the center of the page.

Thanks for the critique so far keep it coming I'll keep this proof up online for a day or so, then i'll take it down.

islandphoto wrote in post #3169356
I like it - it's simple and clean. Your logo is sort of distracting though. I'm not so crazy about the selective coloring on the ring shot at the end. I also don't know why - but I don't like when there's a page of just sepia and black and white. The other thing that I notice is that you normally use some sort of background in your albums don't you? - like flowers or the horizon. This one just looks a lot more simple than others I've seen from you. It's not a bad thing though - just different. Will it be an asukabooK?

My logo is just for the public internet proof. It's a 14x10" Queensberry digital album - similar I guess to the Asukabook but much higher end. Made to last.

I agree on the sepia with B&W, haven't gotten around to changing it yet. I sometimes use backgrounds, but on this album my theme is "clean, simple, with plenty of white space".

Palladium wrote in post #3169396
Hi Tim - just some of my initial reactions

page 5 - the last image ( groom in church) IMPO needs to be straightened

page 14 - IMPO I would maybe try to match the head sizes in the 2 center images. The Men's seems too small in relation to the girls's.

#5 I see your point will think about it. #14 good point - done in my master copy

Palladium wrote in post #3169396
page 10 - it's hard to tell but are you using the same image on the left and the bottom right? - IMPO I would change that up.

Noticed your edit - it's a different photo but quite similar, I might remove it thanks.

ooh i love that spread with the rings in the middle, very nice; and what lens did you use to take that super wide group photo?

overall i think the general layout/style is nice - but i like it better when you mix it up, having some full-page images opposite some centered with white space, and the background image effect with the rings was great, you could stand to add a few more backgrounds to some of the layouts i think.

i like the final shot of the sepia hands with the rings, thats a nice ending and again the combo of 2 different styles is good.

my favourite pages based on layout and overall impact are: page 10 (though the 3 smaller photos are a bit repetitive: same framing same angles same zoom same colours); page 20, page 13, page 8 (though i would reverse the 2 images' positions and make the couple shot slightly larger)

im not sure about page 19, the left image seems to have slid off the page as it's higher than centered and bleeds off one side only. another idea might be to offset the positions of any images which occupy a single page together, rather than lining them up perfectly horizontally and vertically in columns and rows; and vary the sizes of the images for impact in the way you have already varied the colourways.

your actual photos are lovely as always - i keep coming back to page 10 because that shallow image of the rings really is beautiful: more images of details like that (ie bouquet, veil ribbon, corsage, bride shoes, cake with fork etc) even added as photos rather than backgrounds would really add interest and difference i feel. i always like that sense when looking at some albums that you're getting a peek at little details that maybe you didnt notice on the day but when they are isolated and showcased really bring back the feel of the event.

hope that critique was helpful - i had fun looking, always enjoy seeing another photographer's work

I love the rings spread too... great looking album Tim. Clean cut, and excellent shots. Really captures the day eh?

I really like it - it's simple and clean but not at all boring in it's layout. I like the way you mix over-the-midway images with smaller ones (like 7 and 8).

The only one I'm not keen on is 17 as I think the images detract from each other rather than complement - I look at it and immediately start to compare them.

Nice though, very nice.

Hey Tim - just to start nice work but thats what we expect.
A quick question when they bind the book is there space allowed for the images that appear to be right on the edge of the pages. (say page 2)

It takes 6 pages to find any colour images then for the next 14 pages we get maybe 3 sepia / bw images - maybe mix them up a little.

page 12 - the sepia shot - the selective colour on the eyes IMO not required - looks good as a straight sepia shot

pages 16 - 17 look to cluttered the other pages have some good white spaces where these page have none. maybe loss an image of page 16. and reduce the size of the images 17 to give some white space.

Page 19 - the cake cutting image. not a big fan of that shot. big shadow and a busy background. Also not very flattering on the bride.

and last of all page 20 - anyway of removing the lines on the background - just find them a little distracting.

Not thinking I can really critique any of your work Tim, but I did want to comment. I like your work and you have a very creative eye....

I love the way your book comes together...the ring shot is awesome on page 10.

I see your idea of simple and not crowded in your book layouts now.

The group shot...AWESOME..how do you set something up like that...?? HEY everyone come to the center of the stairs..I want to take Your picture? How long does it take to set up?

page 12, the bride shot? not sure about it....maybe some PP or vignette

the ring shot on page 20 is really nice...

and the colors on the same page opposite side..wow..WOW... green and turqouise wow.

Tim,

Most of the suggestions have been made. I feel very strongly about page 17 - it just doesn't seem to work. The couple with the cake - you must have a better shot than that.

And the selective coloured ring shot is too big perhaps - it overwhelms the page next to it.

I like the clean layout. Nice job.

I like the concept and the open feel to the pages .. not cluttered at all which is good.

#3 - follows #2 (groom getting ready) but does not show the bride getting ready.
#10 - would like to see more variety in the shots, they are all similar.
#20 - assuming the rings are the couples' it does not seem to go well with the accompanying photo (of the parents?).
#21 - would like to see more than one photo on the page.

These are my humble comments, I've not read any of the others so maybe it's all been said before. On balance a very nice album design with great photos.
Mike

Tim I like the layout ... one caveat

"The wedding of ..." doesn't roll of the tongue for me...perhaps just their names followed by the date

Jim & Kate
April 10, 2007

just a thought...

Cheers,

First I want to thank everyone for the very useful critique, it's been very helpful. Between this and critique of my current sample album at my local professional organisation (NZIPP) yesterday i'm going to make quite a few changes to this album.

General thoughts: some images too large, some images repeated, album definitely too large. I've compacted things, and taken out a few pages like the ring page - which while liked doesn't fit so well and wastes space. I'll post a version sooner or later, i've had enough of it for now.

SomethingSimple - thanks for all your feedback, very handy. For that group shot I used the 17-55 F2.8 IS at F8, 1/125th, and 18mm. There was a huge courtyard for me to work with, I probably should've gone back a bit more and tried more like 24mm, and I wasn't parallel with the building which is a bit of a pain but oh well.

Re page 8 switching the images, the right hand side of the page is what's seen when someone opens the page, so the shot you want to highlight should be there, I like it like that.

I think page 10 is a bit of a waste with that huge ring shot, I like it but pages aren't cheap. I'll fiddle a little, and remove the almost-duplicate images I think.

Page 19 - I see what you mean, i'll have to see it in print (5x7" proofs) before I decide if I like it.

Agree re details, i'll add some in when I work out where...

NZShrimper
Page2 is full bleed, the edges will be lost but that's by design.
Re color/b&w, I tend to like B&W early on and color later. There's a few b&w/sepia later don't see any I could really change.
Re p16 cluttered, I agree, they need to be smaller. I might try to cut them down too, pages are expensive for the couple.
I agree re the cake cutting image, flash was most likely bounced but still managed to get side shadow. Not the best image but it's the best of the bunch unfortunately.
p20 should be able to remove the lines.

Rakefet
Not so hard to set up that group shot. Announce it in a loud voice, then go around groups and ask them to move to the area now please. Have groomsmen help you, or family, or whatever. This was a huge wedding, usually someone with a loud voice announcing it's enough. With this many people took 5-10 minutes because there was no real hurry, usually it only takes me a few minutes to organise something like this.

p12 bride shot already has a vignette.

Leanne/Wedding Shooter - thanks for the comments will keep them in mind, I mostly agree.

mmahoney - bride was shy, went into her room and came out completely dressed and finishing touches done. Nothing I could do unfortunately. Agree re p 10/20. Re 21 I like to have a single strong image on the last page, personal taste.

Symes - will think about that, thanks.

tim, i like the page layout, simple yet elegant...