Packaging Presentation Developments + Video Progression + Essay Finalisations

 - Pictures were taken of products using camera and yellow back drop as planned but the photos themselves were not as successful as they could have been 

- Professional lighting was used and so the problem wasn't light but instead that the yellow backdrop paper actually washed out the products themselves rather than enhancing the image and colour of the overall presentation 

- In attempt to make the background yellow more saturated, as it kept being shown as a light washed out yellow rather than a strong vivid one, I changed the warmth settings on the light to be more yellow 

- In turn this impacted the lighting on the packaging, which although on the camera looked fine, once it was translated to a screen it didn't work 

= Successful directions with some of the photos as I played around were:

= Photos taken with dimension where some pieces were placed against objects and directly visible head on from the viewer 

= Others where the there was blurring of the background parts of packaging and a focus on the logo 

= Having part of the packaging show as very reflective with the light while other textures of the fabrics and the matte of the logo 

= Those which had too many things going on at once didn't work so well, and so I reminded myself to strip it back to a few pieces at a time and keep it simple

= This created a successful photo below (for its choice of what is pictured and how, the photo itself is shit)

- Attempts to change settings and work with the camera's adjustments was also unsuccessful, to the point I tried taking pictures on my phone recognising that if I didn't know how to use the camera to its potential then the images would be worse than using a phone camera 

- These phone pictures had the same effect of portraying the background yellow as washed out 

- This was very frustrating as a digital submission means the actual packaging and patches and prints can only be viewed and judged through these photos 

- Images with none of the background or less of it work better and will have to be used 

- Sections of images cannot be cut out from the background as this is the problem with transparent packaging (will be seen)

THOUGHTS ON IMPROVEMENTS

- Normally when taking pictures myself as an inexperienced photographer I use black backgrounds so that I can digitally edit in a clean crisp black background and scan outcomes to be placed on top

- Doing this with a coloured background and actual photos for 3D outcomes was more difficult 

- To get the most refined photos and presentations of these pieces for a professional aesthetic editing can be tried 

= Problem as well is that the background colouring between all of these editing pictures is not consistent, which draws your attention away from the product and brings the overall presentation down 

= For the best presentation less images will have to be used which is frustrating but ensures higher quality 

= Close crops can also assist with getting rid of the background as well 

= These pictures alongside the Instagram curated visuals, the video and photography from the shoot all work together to create a successful professional brand identity and presentation 

PROGRESSION ON BRANDING VIDEO 

> Developments in the creation of the video has been frustratingly slow and out of my control as it is being done by Lina 

> Of course once collab is involved time management becomes more difficult 

> Second development of video was supposed to be done last week to allow final refined changes, however this means only a second change will be able to be done with the time left 

> This means less creative control for me over the video and possibly a lower quality outcome as while I give her direction she will spend time doing the things she finds fun, which won't necessarily follow the aesthetic of direction I intended

> In the future when having people work with me on projects I need to give them earlier deadlines to ensure I have enough time on my end, rather than being lenient and giving them as much time as possible 

> Sometimes they can be too creatively free with the work their doing on your own project which can be difficult to discuss as it can feel insulting to them, this can be avoided with stern forward discussion on what you expect at the start (which I did so but perhaps need to be more obvious) 

> Overall video shouldn't be too far from what I have intended and should still be a great presentation of the brand's image and ethos, even if it has some of the editor's style involved (she was picked for a fun rebellious experimental aesthetic) 

ESSAY FINALISATIONS 

- Tutor feedback: Add what is being discussed and analysed in intro

- Design and Layout following guidelines from submission briefing with page breaks and title pages