Thursday, March 13, 2008

3.13.08 : : My Blog Readers are Fabulous!


Now that I've buttered y'all up, I'm going to ask for a little help from all of you ;)


I need your help in choosing an ad design I've been working on for a magazine that the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel publishes and distributes. The deadline is coming due and I'm completely stuck.

I'm not 100% sure these are the pictures/content I'll be using, but what I'm most concerned with is the layout. Do you like the simplicity of the first ad, or the variety of pictures with the second?

I like a nice, clean and simple design, but I would also like to get the most 'bang for my buck' and showcase more than one picture. What do you all think? Which ad draws you in?

Help a frustrated girl out!

37 comments:

kelly said...

love the simple one...my eye was really drawn to. the other was too busy for my preference. hope this helps!

Anonymous said...

I too like the nice clean look, but my vote is for #2. In case people don't make it to your website, at least they get a sneak peak at your work on the ad.

-Kerry

Daisy Jean said...

hands down #1 !!!

Aletha | Pearls Events said...

honestly, i like #1 better. less is more for sure. esp. with that great photo of s + d. :)

Anonymous said...

I like #2 better. When I am looking for a photographer, I want to see a few more pics in the ad.
-Allie

Amanda said...

Both are great, but as an ad, I would go for #2

Anonymous said...

Both of them are very good but I vote for the simplicity of #1.

Anonymous said...

Well, obviously I love both because Dan and I are in them, but I vote for #2. I agree with Allie - I'd want to see more of the photog's work. I don't think you can go wrong with either, though!

Anonymous said...

I think I like #2. The simple design of #1 is beautiful, but I've also seen quite a bit of your work. I think you need to show a little bit more of what you offer to draw in those who are not familiar with your work. Both are beautiful, though!

-Alex :)

Anonymous said...

As a bride getting married very soon (YEA!), I like #1. When I was looking for photographers, I really just needed to see one picture before I went to their website. Your #1 draws me in b/c it's a different and unique picture. #2 I've seen so many times before. Too much. I'll see all that when I go to the website. Just my thoughts - but I love your #1 style!!

Rach said...

#1 for sure.
Brides are doing EXTENSIVE research, and are more than willing to check you out online. This of it this way... #1 is so awesome, it will have them online in seconds. #2 is so-so, and because you're showing everything there up front, they may not bother to dig deeper.

It's a tough call, and while I don't know tons about print ads, I do think less is more. Just think of all the other ads that will be near yours. You don't want to blend in with a jumbled mess of ads, you want to stand out. HTH!

Angie Brooks Photography said...

I don't know ... they are both great! I do like the simple design of #1 however, being that it is a full page ad, I almost wonder if by just having the one picture it would be to bare, ya know. If it was a half page I would say to the simple #1. But, being that it is a full page, I almost think you are going to have plenty of room to showcase a little more of your work. But honestly, I don't think you could go wrong with either.

Anonymous said...

Definitely #1

Amy Carroll said...

You are all seriously fabulous! Thanks everyone for the help...it looks like the vote is leaning toward the first ad!

Anonymous said...

A little late, but I definatley like #2. I actually don't like one at all, doesn't showcase your work as well. I think we had the conversation before that people like the "different and unique" pics but never order/print them, they always go with the traditional, therefore I think showing you can do both is very important. I know you said your weren't stuck with the photos you have shown, but the top pic just isn't my cup of tea.

Anonymous said...

What one did you choose? Pleae let us know when you make up your mind!

Heather said...

I vote for #1.... I love the simplicity of it - and it would definitely make me want to head to your website to see more!

Anonymous said...

At first I was going to say #2 just because it shows off a little more of your work.

But then I got to thinking about it, and thinking about some of my friends who have done a photographer search themselves. Most of them really enjoyed looking at all the photographers work and doing the research.

That's why I'm going to say #1 now, because it leaves them wanting more, and will drive them to your site to check out more of your work. Where as #2 gives them a general idea of your work and they might just move on from there.

Leave them wanting more!

Anonymous said...

I love the simplicity of #1. It feels more elegant.

~Liz Ramirez

lil' Miss Cupcake said...

I LOVE #1!! Both are great but I can't stop looking at #1!!

Anonymous said...

I love #1...I think that it is a unique photo. I think that a lot of people these days are willing to take time out to go to a website and do research to find what they are looking for. Both of the ads look spectacular, but I vote for #1!

April said...

Love #1

Christina said...

Oh geez! I see why you need some outside input. These are tough. I am going to side with the first one. I like that there aren't any faces in it and it looks higher end than the 2nd one. I see what you're saying about the more bang for your buck on the 2nd one, but the first one really catches my eye more from an artistic viewpoint..

Anonymous said...

Amy, I like the first ad. I like the simplicity also of the one main photo. :)

Anonymous said...

I like #1 too, because it makes you want to know more of your work, #2 is good too, but gives you with less curiosity :).

Olga

Anonymous said...

I love them both really for the reasons above, however I think that #1 is striking and the simplicity of it will lead people to check out more of your work, as #2 may lead someone to believe they have already seen your style. They are both beautiful and very classy!! GL

~Mary

Tami Parks said...

Both are great designs - but for advertising, I'd use #2

Anonymous said...

Amy I really like #1. It really draws you in.

Kel

Anonymous said...

I vote for #1 also. Fabulous!

LVL Photography | Leda said...

Keep it simple. #1 is fabulous!

BREE said...

Amy....I am drawn to #1~ I love it - simply stated and absolutely beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Can you use the picture of #1 as the big picture of #2? If not, then I'd go for #1 :-)

Beth said...

Amy, if you don't mind I'd like to suggest a critique of the ad from another standpoint...the ad font. I'm not a big fan of the font you've chosen to spell out "photography" and your address. I don't think it goes very well with the flowy script of your name. I think you would be better to go with a sans serif-type font to complement that flowery script. Something with clean lines that is easy to read and keeps the focus on your name, which is definitely what you want to do. Something clean like Arial - but jazzed up a bit more. Perhaps Myriad, Futura, Optima, etc.
I know this is unsolicited, so feel free to disregard, but I thought I'd mention it b/c you deserve to have the best-looking ad out there! :-) Good luck.

Anonymous said...

I like the second one - it shows off more than one photo and allows you to showcase a variety of perspectives.

Anonymous said...

#1 is my choice.

Amy Carroll said...

Y'all are amazing! I can't thank you enough for your help and I'm overwhelmed by the response!

I'll be sure to post the final product before it goes to print. You have all certainly given me amazing feedback.

Anonymous said...

I like the first one better, but I would either change the font at the top, or adjust the kerning a little to make it easier to read. I would also maybe make the font size a little larger as well. Looks great though and your logo really pops!