feedback on this promo peice please...

tell me what you guys think about this image?

Too complex and for some people probably not so easy to read the text and phone number. For me at any rate it is too much image.

I would remove the bottom left mirror image and centre the present bottom right image. Then I would lighten the whole image by a very small amount.

Also you have an orphaned "@mac.com" in white in the middle, and above that the telephone number, I would remove them because this duplicates what you have at the bottom (tel and email) and at the same time make bolder the telephone number and email address at the bottom so it stands out more.

Same as above, I can't read some of the text, colour is to similar to background and is lost.

I've got a background in disabilities and like high contrast plain text that is easy to read.

I have a strong bias against fancy fonts though so take what I say with a pinch of salt.

I would do one large image, leaving a neutral background for strong, easily read text. I work on the premise that 90% or more of an audience will have a visual impairment of some sort, even if it's just older people who's eyesight is starting to blur.

The tones are very nice and the composition of the image is excellent. The text does tend to merge somewhat.

I think it's highly commercial and would suit a poster advertising your services or maybe a book cover. As an image for Mum and Dad, it's not something we see much of in the UK and harks back to the "babies chasing bubbles" pictures of the 1950s and 1960s - not sure that it would be the one that sold.

Admittedly not my sort of style, but highly competent and I keep enjoying the superb colour.

Thanx alot guys....
I think the problem lies with the text also...will try angling it, embossing it and blend moding it into the image a little more to etch it in there without it distracting too much.
I'm also considering pulling out one of the images and replacing it with another from the set with his eyes open.
what do you think about those ideas?
ps JR, I'm making this one with the intent of having it printed on foil, has anybody any experiance with that type of printing process? it has a metallic base that looks like chrome, that I hope will really pop the metal and copper tones in this series of images.....

I think this will make the text as hard to read or even harder for people with visual problems.

I think embossing works best on a much less busy background.

I have tried this, albeit many years ago, and I was very disppointed in the low contrast, unexciting results. If the metallic finish is the same colour as the image tones, won't that just make it very dark and drab?

I would certainly try it and see, but I have my doubts that the result will be what you expect.

Don't forget to let us know what actually happens...

Given the purpose is promotion the question needs qualifying with some information about target group, what you hope to achieve with them, where you will use this image, for how long and so on. Looking at your website you appear to have a fairly wide client group, so exactly where is this aimed?

Surely the question should be 'what do you think the punters will think about this image?'

Michael

We need to offer a broad range, we are in a smaller sized market with feirce competition....not alot of room for specialists. Most talented photographers leave this area to try Toronto or Vancover.

The purpose of this peice is to hand out (3.5x5, with info on the back) at community events (childrens feastval, parades, etc) where we are covering (with video, and photography) to hand out to parents with children.
The goal is to market one service with this peice...Child Portraits.
When sponsers of events get us to cover the events, people see a traditional (journalistic) image. Our hope is people will call us when they want to book studio portraits.

Hi Don

Speaking from a graphic designers point of view… it aint too bad at all, I like everything about it except the text. I would (humbly) suggest removing all superfluous text from the image and use a sans serif text like Gill Sans to keep all the contact info and branding at the bottom. As you mentioned yourself, you could also swap the two smaller portraits for slightly different ones to show more variety.

I wouldn't emboss, I wouldn't print on foil but I would use a lovely matt varnish on a 200g (or thereabouts) stock (the matt varnish adds extra weight and a super professional finish). 'KISS' (keep it simple stupid) - no insult intended.

Great work and thanks for sharing!

Batty

Well I suppose as everyone else had had their two penneth I should stick my oar in as well...though what pennies and oars have in common I have no idea!

Anyway, I agree with the text issue, from a consumers point of view, if I cant easilly read the text I dont bother.

The only other thing that puts me off, and this is my own personal opinion and may be well off track and out of touch with what passes for acceptable......But I dont like the repetition of the same image, perhaps the same theme but different shots may have been better as insets, even the same little chap but from another angle? or am I just barking up trees?

Quick Edit......I suppose I should get into the habit of reading ALL the replies before posting myself, apologies to Batty for repeating his suggestions.

Don,

Given the subject matter I had assumed it was connected with kids' portraits, but it seemed prudent to check.

I'm always wary about commenting about style too much as tastes vary and there is a danger that well-meaning expressions of personal opinion lead to a horse designed by a panel of experts (or do I mean, in this case, run the risk of throwing the baby out with the bath water?). Having said that I agree that the three pics of the kid are too much and might prefer two - a large one with a small one, perhaps in a frame to demonstrate the product.

The size you are talking about is quite small, the image I get on my monitor is about twice the size of the finished product. That has implications for the amount you can get on the front and especially for legibility (UK parents are notorious for not wearing their glasses, don't know about Canada).

I know you will be putting detailed information on the back, but you can't guarantee that people will turn over so need to get three main points across: the product (mention kids' portraits), your name, a means of contact (perhaps only one given the space limitation - possibly phone number?).

The point has been made about contrast of type. The use of a serif face on this sort of background has implications for legibility, but I think use of a sans serif face would be quite inappropriate for this application, the feel is wrong. However if you have a defined typeface as your housestyle (which you should have) use that.

Michael