Looking for a graphic designer to help me out

rich_g85 · 31 Oct 2007 at 14:35

Hi all,
I'm looking for someone to help me out with some graphic design work for my business website, Eclipse Photography.

I want to promote a new idea on the run-up to Christmas, offering personal photo shoots.

If you visit my test homepage you'll see my first attempt on the left hand side.

Can anyone suggest ways of improving it? Or, if you're feeling bored/generous feel free to knock one up from scratch to give me some ideas!

Thanks,
Richard

Red and White · 31 Oct 2007 at 15:07

does it have to have a horse in?

rich_g85 · 31 Oct 2007 at 15:14

Red and White said:
does it have to have a horse in?

Yes, as we cater mainly to the equestrian community- the photo shoots are aimed at people who own a horse.

Red and White · 31 Oct 2007 at 15:19

rich_g85 said:
Yes, as we cater mainly to the equestrian community- the photo shoots are aimed at people who own a horse.

working on one now.

Samione · 31 Oct 2007 at 15:20

A few things- I'd refrain from using the bevel and emboss tool on the logo/text, it makes it look a bit tacky or corny if you like. The vignette on the horse photo seems a bit corny/sentimental- I'd personally stick to something slicker and simpler- maybe just tone down the effect a bit. Also the colour scheme reminds of that windows contrast theme-very early 8s/retro looking

, i'd use something more neutral; you can still use colour it's just the ones on there at the moment contrast with each other a lot. Also looking at photos on a white background would probably be nicer. One last thing, i'd move the events panel to the right it just would feel better and line up with the contact info on the top right.

Red and White · 31 Oct 2007 at 15:23

quick effort. if you like it i'll spend more time on one later if not no big deal

rich_g85 · 31 Oct 2007 at 15:23

Samione said:
A few things- I'd refrain from using the bevel and emboss tool on the logo/text, it makes it look a bit tacky or corny if you like. The vignette on the horse photo seems a bit corny/sentimental- I'd personally stick to something slicker and simpler- maybe just tone down the effect a bit. Also the colour scheme reminds of that windows contrast theme-very early 8s/retro looking, i'd use something more neutral; you can still use colour it's just the ones on there at the moment contrast with each other a lot. Also looking at photos on a white background would probably be nicer. One last thing, i'd move the events panel to the right it just would feel better and line up with the contact info on the top right.

Thanks very much for the tips- design isn't really my strongest point - as you've probably guessed!

@Red and White - great stuff, can't wait to see the results!

Samione · 31 Oct 2007 at 15:31

rich_g85 said:
Thanks very much for the tips- design isn't really my strongest point - as you've probably guessed!

@Red and White - great stuff, can't wait to see the results!

I've got something in the works aswell, hope Red and White doesn't mind :/

rich_g85 · 31 Oct 2007 at 15:37

Red and White said:
quick effort. if you like it i'll spend more time on one later if not no big deal

I love it - really striking!

Just one thing - on my monitor, the 'l' in 'Personal' appears almost invisible against the background.

Red and White · 31 Oct 2007 at 15:40

couple of rush jobs. can change the lettering easily in the first image if you want to use that.

heading out now, will do a couple of more later. some of your photos would be helpful

Red and White · 31 Oct 2007 at 15:53

im back

heading out in 10 mins now. blumming work cant make up their minds.

anyhoo... if you have some of your photos i could use that would help a lot.

you are welcome to email me them if you'd rather not post them pubically as i see they are water marked on your site.

[email protected]

Samione · 31 Oct 2007 at 15:55

This is my effort- It's a little cold and impersonal compared to Red and Whites design, dunno if you mind that or not:/ I know you do mainly equestrian photography but I didn't want to limit your horizons so here it is;

rich_g85 · 31 Oct 2007 at 15:55

Red and White said:
im back heading out in 10 mins now. blumming work cant make up their minds.

anyhoo... if you have some of your photos i could use that would help a lot.

you are welcome to email me them if you'd rather not post them pubically as i see they are water marked on your site.

[email protected]

Thanks very much - will drop you a mail when I get home.

rich_g85 · 31 Oct 2007 at 15:57

Samione said:
This is my effort-

Thanks mate - unfortunately I'm restricted to working within the layout of the e-commerce package I'm using - PhotoStore which I don't think allows you to change which side the list of events appears on.

It took a LONG time to make it look like it does - this is how it looks 'out of the box'.

Red and White · 31 Oct 2007 at 15:57

Samione said:
This is my effort- It's a little cold and impersonal compared to Red and Whites design, dunno if you mind that or not:/ I know you do mainly equestrian photography but I didn't want to limit your horizons so here it is;

nice. i thought he only wanted the advert doing though not the whole site??

Samione · 31 Oct 2007 at 15:58

Never used that before sorry:/

Samione · 31 Oct 2007 at 15:59

Red and White said:
nice. i thought he only wanted the advert doing though not the whole site??

Oh yeah, just re-read the OP, sorry

Doh! Oh well, no worries. Feel free to use anything you like if you need to

I think i'll leave this one to Red and White

rich_g85 · 31 Oct 2007 at 15:59

Red and White said:
nice. i thought he only wanted the advert doing though not the whole site??

Correct, although I do appreciate Samione's efforts.

Red and White · 31 Oct 2007 at 18:44

ok done another one. got some of the photos from royalty free image sites, so they need to be changed with your photos if the design is any good.

rich_g85 · 31 Oct 2007 at 18:47

I'm just going through hundreds of my photographs picking out the ones I'd like to use!

Expect an email shortly