Album Critique

[dracula02]

I'm putting together a sample album to show my clients and I wanted some opinions/critiques on flow and design.

[Debbi]

The flow of the album is good but the design seems busy - lots of pics and textures/scrolls. My eyes are having a hard time landing on one spot.

[dracula02]

Thanks Debbi! Which one did you like the best/least?

[Debbi]

I like spread #2 and #6 the best as they are very clean and classic. The others seem very busy to me. Since you have lots of pics with a background pic on each spread, I think removing the texture from the background would help a lot. Sometimes less is more. Albums are hard to design and I think the flow can be hardest. You did a good job on that.

[bryanlindsey]

I'm getting hung up on the mixture of BW and color images. You can sometimes get away with it once or twice (it works for spread #2 IMHO) The layouts themselves are pleasing, with the possible exception of spread #4.

All the images are yours, right? If so, you've got some VERY NICE shots Tommy!

[dracula02]

Yep, all the images are mine. Thanks for the kind words, Bryan! I know how picky you can be with images. I'm agreeing with a lot of what's said. Sometimes I need an unbiased opinion to get things fixed. Especially when I can't put my finger on it. I thought they were a little busy in the first place, but I wanted to see what everyone else would think. I also wanted to test out my design skills... (first album, I hope it doesn't show all that much ) I'm also building a base for future album designs. Something like my own template that I can tweak here and there and it would make this much quicker than it has been.

So far, what I'm considering changing are:

Taking out the B&W in #1
Spread 4 & 5 are bugging me and I don't know exactly what it is (just too busy and I can't think of a solution, yet)
Taking out the BG pattern in #7
Converting the B&W to color in #8
and
Reducing the number of images or making the B&W color in #9

What do you think, Bryan?

[resehop]

Are you using a software to help you? I would say it is good overall but agree that it is a little much. A lot of the backgrounds look like wallpaper that you would see on a wall somewhere. I like the patterns of most of them but they are a little busy so I would tone them down some.

I am not a fan of the faded edges photo look on spread #1 and #3. It looks a little old fashion to me.

On spread #5 I think it would look better if the pictures in the bottom left was a bit larger and you removed the square photo right above it.

[dracula02]

The only software I'm using to put it together is Photoshop. That's pretty much what those backgrounds are... Either softlighting them or lowering the opacity on them to make them blend in with the other backgrounds.

Thanks for the suggestion on #5. I'll see how that works. Just thinking about it, I think that would really help it out. As for the faded photos, I meant them to look like that. I'm just not sure how well they go with the rest of the album. I'll see if I can't tone down most of the backgrounds to see if that would help it out.

Thanks again, Sherese!

[bryanlindsey]

Originally Posted by dracula02

(1) Taking out the B&W in #1
(2) Spread 4 & 5 are bugging me and I don't know exactly what it is (just too busy and I can't think of a solution, yet)
(3) Taking out the BG pattern in #7
(4) Converting the B&W to color in #8
and
(5)Reducing the number of images or making the B&W color in #9

What do you think, Bryan?

(1) Yes
(2) 4-left is just too busy. Maybe spread the 4-right image all the way across the spread, and use smaller images above and below?
(3) The background doesn't bug me as much as the photo in the middle being B&W
(4) I think 8 is a spread where the B&W could work. I think you need to kill the mix in 4, 6, and 9
(5) # of images is fine

[PhotoDude79]

This is my opinion, but I like simple layouts. It just looks like there is to much going on. Also remember negative space is your friend. Depending on how many sides there are, if there are 20 side use 50 - 60 images. Bigger, meaning full images are better than a whole lotta small ones. That is what 4 x 6 prints are for. B & W and color never mix well, my 2 cents.

[MicWayWal]

Tommy,

There are two types of albums. Albums for show and albums for dough.

Albums for Show are used to attract and appeal to potential clients. The album should appeal to the desires, emotions, romance, and dreams of the future bride. The album should consist of the most creative images you can produce. Pictures should be displayed in very creative ways.

Albums for Dough are more practical and down to earth albums that you will construct for your current customers. Because of the input of your clients the albums will consist of more pedestrian images from the wedding day and not just your creative images.

What you have put up for critique is more geared toward the Albums for Dough category. I don't think these layouts will appeal very well to the potential bride. But if you are using it for your current clients showing what you do with your images then it may work in a limited way for your clients.

These layouts are very heavy handed and too bold in its treatment for my taste. There is no subtleness, everything is IN YOUR FACE. For the most part your images are very practical and pedestrian displayed on more normal page layouts. The layouts are dark in tone, too busy with too many images on each spread, and the changes of color and B&W are confusing to the viewer. I would go back and take the strongest and most creative two or three images from each spread and lay it out with a simple touch. Using lighter colors and tones with a subtle touch of graphics and textures.

[dracula02]

Thanks Michael! I'm in the process of revamping quite a bit of it. I felt that I went "a little overboard" on the layout. I'll post some of the changes here in a bit.

[dracula02]

Here's some updated spreads... I took out the Hot mess of BG's (I think)

Whatcha Got?

[resehop]

I would say much better. Nice. Also you might check out Foto Fusion. It helps a lot in album design (much easier then photoshop).

[bryanlindsey]

Much better. Only two things: I don't get the blue lines on spread 4 - maybe pick a color that complements the pics. Also, might want to put some borders (white, or thicker, or both) on the images in 6. Nice!