CC appreciated on 1st Advertisement

[missy_kay]

<p>Hello all,<br>

I designed an Advertisement to run in a bridal magazine and I would love to get feedback to do changes before I submit it next week.<br>

<br />Thank you so much</p>

<p><3</p>

<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3491/3864104533_99b9c981d5_o.jpg" alt="" width="365" height="580" /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3491/3864104533_99b9c981d5_o.jpg"></a></p>

[david_schilling___chicago_]

<p>Suggest you change the wording: "on our website" to "available on website".</p>

[silverdae]

<p>I would make the top and bottom pink areas equal height to frame the teal area more, or make the bottom pink area larger and the top smaller so the middle has something to "rest" on. I would also rethink the order of information- I might try putting the paragraph in the middle with "Published in.." and move the contact info to the bottom. I think this would be a better flow- top to bottom- big image, then selling your business concept, then providing contact information. I also agree with the "available on our website" suggestion. You could also change that around entirely-<br>

(Top area)<br>

Published in USA today<br>

Wedding and Lifestyle... ... destination weddings.</p>

<p>(Bottom area)<br>

Information (not info) and Pricing available at:<br>

www.kayenglish..<br>

http://kayenglish...<br>

email</p>

<p> </p>

[jennifer_spencer]

<p>I agree with the previous poster that you want your message to be in the center or on the top - not in the "fine print" at the bottom. People might stop reading if they see all those ...::///@'s in the middle, you know? </p>

<p>I think all those lovely blue skies in the background of the lower set of pictures tend to blend with the turquoise color block. I am not sure if that is a good thing - the images should "pop" out a little more, IMHO. They would need to contrast against the background color (turquoise, here) to do that. Are you committed to that turquoise color or those specific images? Or maybe a black border on that collage section would help? </p>

<p>Right now, for me the turquoise against the pink is providing a whole lot of contrast, and that is jumping out at me more than the images at first glance. I am not sure that's what you want to be doing the jumping. But possibly great images won't stand out as much in a magazine full of glossy images, so contrasty graphic colors may be what you need after all. Just wanted to point it out.</p>

[rayt]

<p>Put a small frame around the images, possibly with a slight shadow to make the stand out more.</p>

<p>Do you have the permission of the people in the pictures to use their images in your advertisement? Not really required as there is no explicit or implied endorsement but it may be a good idea.</p>

[markus maurer]

<p>You have your own website but a business mail adress at gmail, why that? And a blog address as well, that is confusing for me. The groom looks to big for my taste compared to the bride in the first photo, I would exchange that image. I dislike that background and the different fonts. Honestly I would let it sit for a day and redo it completely.</p>

[catalin_stanciulescu]

<p>Kay , not bad photos but, for me, terrible packeging.The way you associate colors are not the happiest one, in my opinion.<br>

Warm regards,</p>

[ed_lemko]

<p>too much writing. gmail address looks amateurish (i'm just saying-- devil's advicate..).<br>

why have blog, web, email, but no phone? If someone's on your site, then they are just a click away from your blog or email, right? stick to ONE address- the website, and a phone number. this way- less reading, and more room for maybe larger or more sample pics.<br>

and the pink thing is bothering me, although you probably did it to appeal to women. so why the aqua background? does it match any colors in your main photo, from a design perspective? what about black or white. or hell, the while background pink, with all-white lettering?<br>

just throwing it out there, brainstorming style. good luck!</p>

[silverdae]

<p>Kay, I know people have commented on your color scheme, but I think that is keeping with your brand, right? Don't you use those colors on everything? I'm thinking you do... at least I thought you did... I thought first off "It looks like her brand." Anyway...</p>

<p>I agree about there being so many web listings. One webadress and a phone number seem like better idea to me. If I go to your web address, I can get to your blog and your email, but what if I want to call you if I don't have web. Just a thought. Like what was said before, all the :://www.... stuff blends together when you skim it. I would simplify it. Use the text to sell yourself then the other block to give them ways to contact you: web and phone at least.</p>

[missy_kay]

<p>Thanks everyone for your advice! As soon as I get home from my day job I will try re-editing using the advice above :)</p>

<p>The only thing is- I don't want to use my #. I only have one # and it's not a business phone. Is that a bad thing?</p>

[david_schilling___chicago_]

<p>A dedicated cell phone for your studio is tax deductable and will be perceived as much more professional than simply using your home phone. The cell phone is absolutely essential for wedding/event coverage as well.</p>

[think27]

<p>Excuse the very super quick and dirty - you'll still see the tourqoise in the lettering and I'd also change the word color (not pink or red but black or dark green)</p>

<p> </p><div></div>

[missy_kay]

<p>Maryball- I like the green! It does make all the images pop. I just tried to revise with the black edits and I dont really like it...</p>

<p><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2596/3866172964_18d0e5f5f3_o.jpg" alt="" width="362" height="579" /></p>

[missy_kay]

<p>Ok I tried it again but with a little of MaryBall's idea-</p>

<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3612/3865508137_8e79de1827_o.jpg" alt="" width="362" height="577" /></p>

[missy_kay]

<p>Final try?<br>

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2512/3866323112_1f90e185dd_o.jpg" alt="" width="368" height="578" /></p>

[wedding-photography-denver]

<p>A bit verbose IMO.</p>

<p>I would not say "published in" but rather "as seen in". On the information part, I agree with the others saying essentially to word that as "Information and pricing available at www.KEP.com" or similar. If I were having it in my ad, I would simply put the site name alone, then make your content about what you do, not where you do it (people will ask if they want you to travel in my experience). One more thing, how about your top line reading "Kay English" with a smaller font just below reading "extraordinary photographer"?</p>

<p>Just thoughts.</p>

[Ian Taylor]

<p>The USA Today bit is too large IMO.<br>

I would state it, not yell it.</p>

[savagesax]

It looks OK, you have some nice shots, but it's really busy looking. Too much for my taste. Maybe less words, maybe a black and white, maybe add borders around the prints. The top image actually bothers me because it's not centered. If you don't want it centered move it over even more. The brides dress is also blown out, if you like that look leave it alone. I'm not a huge fan of blown out dresses.

 

I hope you don't feel I'm being unfair here. I pretty much feel your advertising shots need to fall into the PERFECT - blow me away with quality - range, so selecting really great photos is the key to attracting clients. So ask yourself are these images the best you have, are they better than your competition, would you as a future bride want to get on the phone right away to make an appointment?

 

Yes, get a business line, even a cell phone.

[jessica_caradona]

<p>I am a magazine publisher and would like to offer my two cents. The ad colors that I would go with are the black background and pink and white lettering. This is very bold and will stand out on the page among other ads.We've used a similar color scheme to promote some of our own events and the response has been remarkable. These colors are hot right now.<br>

Keep your text short and sweet. Be as brief as possible. The middle section can be cut way down, maybe to just:<br>

"Wedding and Lifestyle Photography - serving NY, NJ & PA"</p>

<p>Go with the advice to change to "as seen in" instead of "published in" and make this line smaller.</p>

<p>I would suggest keep the web address and lose the email, but make sure that it is very easy to find your contact info on your website. Adding a phone number would be wise. It adds credibility. Don't worry if it's a cell phone...most photographers are on the move and brides understand that they can't be tied to a landline.<br>

For your company name, the non-script font is easier to read.<br>

The photos are beautiful and work very well together.</p>

[manuel barrera houston,]

<p>One of the reasons that our founding fathers required 12 people to make the decision on a criminal trial is because of the difficulty in getting 12 people to agree on any thing. Having said that some of the suggestions above are certainly worth considering.</p>

[fotografz]

<p>This ad is to chopped up, with to many equal elements fighting for attention forcing the viewer's eye to wander all over ... so it'll usually wander off to another ad, or the viewer will just flip the page.</p>

<p>This is what I do for a living Kay ... so here's some advice to consider:</p>

<p>Control how the viewer reacts to the flow of both the visual and verbal information. You need a grabber headline, some visuals that targets the viewer emotionally yet provides information they are seeking about a wedding photographer. Lastly, keep consistent with your other marketing materials ... which builds brand recognition over time while. This includes color schemes and especially your logo name. These are the elements of your "Brand Personality" and contributes to what is called your "Page Personality or Presence".</p>

<p>I did a quick layout as an example which I've attached below.</p>

<p>Your grabber headline is a no-brainer. "As Seen In USA" acts to sort of elevate you from the pack, making you at least be worthy of a look on the part of the viewer.</p>

<p>The images I selected from your website are for a purpose. The main one is of a Bride because that's who's looking for the photographer ... and it's the main image on your website, so the continuity is there should the viewer go there. The Lighthouse shot supports the destination idea, the group shot tells the viewer that you do groups (not all PJ shooters do formals), and the dance shot shows more coverage, and that you do B&W. So the client is informed at a glance.</p>

<p>Your signature should be at the bottom of the ad because that's where people expect it to be. In a print ad, viewers look for "what's in it for them" (headline/images) ... then look for who can provide it (logo/contact info) </p>

<p>I would provide a phone number for those wishing to contact you immediately ... but the web address is probably the most important. I'd skip the blog address and e-mail in favor of getting them to the website in an ad this small. Less is more. </p>

<p> </p><div></div>

[fotografz]

<p>BTW, if the ad is actually as small as originally shown here ... then I'd beef up the headline.</p>

<p>Like this:</p>

<p> </p><div></div>

[missy_kay]

<p>Marc, wow! Thank you so much... I really appreciate it that you would go out of your way like that and it looks fantastic! In the first one, may I ask how you got the shadowing behind the white "As seen in USA Today"? I love the layout of the Ad you did, I'm just not crazy about my picture on top of the bride. It started as one of my favorites but now I don't like it as much after 5 weddings. I was thinking of changing it to the bride looking down in the first ad. Thank you so much again!!! Its amazing!</p>

[kevin_swan1]

<p>This isn't meant as a physical criticism, but in your original ad, my first impression was that the pose makes the groom look like he's got a big gut. I'd consider selecting a better photo.</p>

<p>I'm also not a fan of the bright, florescent colours. I think the pink text on a turquoise background would be hard on the eyes. I'd recommend something with a lot more contrast.</p>

<p>Just some objective comments, worth what you paid for them. :)</p>

[fotografz]

<p>Well, Kay one thing to consider is that while you may grow tired of a shot from seeing it so many times, new prospects are coming with a fresh eye.</p>

<p>However, you have to select what represents your way of seeing things ... after all that's what you are selling : -) I just used that photo for its synergy with the web page. I do like the shot for what that's worth. I like the other shot you mentioned also. </p>

<p>Type was done on a layer in PS so you can move it around and resize it ... as a layer you can go to > Layer in the menu bar > scroll to Layer Style > Drop Shadow ... and play with the sliders.</p>

<p> </p>