Wedding Portfolio - Critique

Scott Myers

Hi ya'll. Please take a moment to help me finish up my portfolio slideshow. I plan on using it as a promotional gift, packaged nicely, for the local vendors I'm interested in working with, as well as for online advertising. I've been working on it so heavily that I'm feeling pretty blinded, and could use some help spotting images that might break the flow of the show. As a disclaimer, I am aware that there is a problem with the text slides moving too fast, and the images ghosting. I'm less concerned about that right now and more concerned about making the show as stripped-down essential and powerful as possible. I stuck with a very basic transition between slides - to be honest I don't really like those panning slides everyone seems so into right now.

Anyhoo - here's the link:

http://scottmyersphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/7372287_Kpx6G#474684672_RNgmB-A-LB

Anybody else here from New Orleans?

Scott_Quier

Scott Myers wrote:

Hi ya'll. Please take a moment to help me finish up my portfolio slideshow. I plan on using it as a promotional gift, packaged nicely, for the local vendors I'm interested in working with, as well as for online advertising. I've been working on it so heavily that I'm feeling pretty blinded, and could use some help spotting images that might break the flow of the show. As a disclaimer, I am aware that there is a problem with the text slides moving too fast, and the images ghosting. I'm less concerned about that right now and more concerned about making the show as stripped-down essential and powerful as possible. I stuck with a very basic transition between slides - to be honest I don't really like those panning slides everyone seems so into right now.

Anyhoo - here's the link:

http://scottmyersphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/7372287_Kpx6G#474684672_RNgmB-A-LB

Anybody else here from New Orleans?

I found the transitions to be pretty good. On my machine here (at my 9-5) though, I heard a pop or break in the music with each photo transition. That may just be the hardware I have to use here.

The images themselves - well I'm more than just a bit envious. You have some very worderful work there. I didn't see any obvious breaks in the flow.

For me, your timing might is a bit fast moving from one image to the next. But, I like to take a bit of time to really see the images - it's the engineer in me. For me, impressions are good, but I like to look at the individual images. For your intended audience, I think the timing might be spot-on in that you want to try the patience of your audience - you want them to sit through the entire slide show.

I think you've done a wonderful job and the only changes I think I would make are to fix the sound (if that's not just my machine) and those that you have outlined in your introduction to the show.

kyeezie

Beautiful images!!! I'm not from New Orleans but am taking a company trip down there and we have been trying to find someone to take our company photo. Would you be interested?? Let me know. Sorry, I know that out of context but I have been searching for one. Anyway, I too heard the break in the music when the picture changed. Overall I think you did a great job with great images!!

Agnieszka

Way to go Scott!! The photos are GORGEOUS!!!

If I would have to change anything it would be the first 3 slides (text) - but I guess you saw this already .... + I think the music is a bit too "busy", I would go with something slower & maybe make the show shorter, but I guess that's just one opinion.

But other than that I think the transitions look GREAT, and I really like the speed ... Already looking forward to seeing your 2009 pics!

Scott Myers

Sure!

kyeezie wrote:

Beautiful images!!! I'm not from New Orleans but am taking a company trip down there and we have been trying to find someone to take our company photo. Would you be interested?? Let me know. Sorry, I know that out of context but I have been searching for one. Anyway, I too heard the break in the music when the picture changed. Overall I think you did a great job with great images!!

I'd love to do that! You can email me directly @ jzscott@mindspring.com, and we can talk some more about it. Thanks!

Scott

Scott Myers

Thanks

Scott_Quier wrote:

I found the transitions to be pretty good. On my machine here (at my 9-5) though, I heard a pop or break in the music with each photo transition. That may just be the hardware I have to use here.

Hey, thanks a million for noticing that. It doesn't happen on my computer, but looks like other people are having the same issues. Video is a stranger to me

I agree about wanting to take longer to view the images, but the show is timed to the music, and I honestly don't think people will have much more patience than that - it's alread 7mins long.

Thanks again for your input.

Scott

Qarik

I hear the glitching in the music as well. Also I found the transitions to be bit fast as well. Finally your splash screen in the beggining need more pause time.

I would cut down on the number of images rather then extend the music. I don;'t get a chance to savor anything.

ivar

I think you did a great job with the movie. I think especially the text moves a bit fast though, but you already knew that.

Also, for online purposes, I would consider having a non-movie portfolio as well; Even though I like the movie, I much prefer just browsing through photos myself. The movie is very long, when browsing around (looking for photographers), I doubt I would actually look at the entire movie. It's much easier/quicker for me to browse around photos, and look longer at some, or quickly pass others, if you know what I mean.

Ed911

I agree with the others about the transitions being too fast.

The music on your slide show sounds smooth and unbroken as the photos change. I looked at your slide show a while back and didn't notice anything, and today I specifically looked for some anomaly as the photos switched...nothing. Just thought you would like to know.

I'm wondering why on some computers and not on others.

Scott Myers

Audio/Video glitches

Ed911 wrote:

I agree with the others about the transitions being too fast.

The music on your slide show sounds smooth and unbroken as the photos change. I looked at your slide show a while back and didn't notice anything, and today I specifically looked for some anomaly as the photos switched...nothing. Just thought you would like to know.

I'm wondering why on some computers and not on others.

Does anyone more familiar with Smugmug have any ideas about how this could be happening to my video as I upload it? The text slides, transitions, and music are fine both on my computer, and on Youtube. Something is being messed up during the upload/conversion process....

As far as the slideshow, what I want to do is cut out 4-5 slides to let the others transition slightly slower. Any suggestions on photos that don't really help the thing along?

Thanks again for the help and eyes.

sweet caroline

Your images are beautiful- I watched the whole slide show. A potential client could really get a feel for your style. It would be difficult to cut down the number of images because that mat sacrifice the range you're showing here. I think you made the right choice to compromise the length of time each image is shown.

Caroline

mmmatt

7minutes huh? seemed shorter to me. I was enthralled with the images. REALLY nice work!!!!! Text in the front I missed. I heard a slight pop on the picture transitions which I find distracting but some may not. You can always stretch the music out a few seconds to make more time for your intro text... that isn't hard to do if you have audio editing software. The rest of the flow/pace was great. Let me know if you need help time stretching the music... I could do that for you.

Who was the musical group? They are fantastic!

Matt

saurora

Scott Myers wrote:

I'm less concerned about that right now and more concerned about making the show as stripped-down essential and powerful as possible.

Very nice work Scott! I did not have any problems with the music breaking up or popping and I watched it a few times. The music was not to my tastes, but you can't please everyone in that area! Maybe it was just too 'noticeable' if that makes any sense. (But, I have the option to turn the volume down, so it's not a huge problem to me). The photos transition well and I didn't see any obvious problems there. Like many others, I would like a little more time to spend with the images. You have some splendid images, I love the shots of the boy at the piano and the 2 boys walking down the aisle. If it were my video, I would cull about about 20 % (guessing here) leaving only the very best shots, stretch out the opening and give the viewer a chance to linger a little bit more over your work. I would like to see some images that show better detail on the wedding dress. To me that is really important to the bride. 7 minutes is a long time, but if I'm enjoying every image, it's time well spent. You do great work!

Scott Myers

Hey, thanks for the ideas.
Great critique, thanks. I really agree with the point about detail on the dress. A lot of my portfolio comes from second shooting, and I usually get sent with the guys, so I get a little less time with the bride.

I pulled out a few images and a couple of text slides, and made another slideshow - will post it for comparison ASAP...

Thanks!

Scott

Scott Myers

Update
Hello folks, thanks again for all the great help. I just put up a version of this same slideshow in my main website. The site is hosted by David Jay's Showit Sites.. I'd love it if people could just check it out to make sure the buffer is working well and the music is working without pops and crackles.. I am indeed indebted

Thanks

Scott

Here's the link:
http://www.scottmyersphotography.com/#/portfolio/

jeffreaux2

Scott Myers wrote:

Hello folks, thanks again for all the great help. I just put up a version of this same slideshow in my main website. The site is hosted by David Jay's Showit Sites.. I'd love it if people could just check it out to make sure the buffer is working well and the music is working without pops and crackles.. I am indeed indebted

Thanks

Scott

Here's the link:
http://www.scottmyersphotography.com/#/portfolio/

It seemed as if the music may have been a bit "jerky" for the first few slides....but later realized that it may be the music choice and not neccesarily a buffer issue. To me the transition from slide to slide could stand to be smoother....even if that means slower.

Darren Troy C

Really nice!