I got some pro mo pics and I wanted to know one what do you think,and two I'm getting some more but what do you guys think I should get pics of besides of what I have, I need some good pics where I could make posters for shows.
heres my site with pics http://magicman2210.tripod.com/id3.html

Thanks Kyle

Kyle,

I would like to give you some constructive feedback baded on not only a magicians's perspective but also from a marketing and a graphic designer's point of view. I do a lot of photo retouching and graphic design work for magicians and enterianers and perhaps some of my ideas and tips might work for you.

First, I want to say that I appreciate you knowing how important it is to have photos and to have quality materials that you send out. This is an important step that everyone needs to take.

The photos need to convey and show your magicx but more importantly, they need to also show your personality and just who you are when on stage. They need to be inviting to an audience and they also need to relate to the market you are trying to reach.

Let me go through each image and photo and give some feedback to you if I could.

1) Nice shot and I like the pose. I only think you should smile or at least show a bit more sense of wonderment in your expression. The doves wings would probably need to be retouched so they are a bit more open and out more. Also, there would need to be a bit more of a glow or backlighting to separate you from the dark background.

2) The pose is a nice idea but your expression and looking down rather than out to the camera to me does not work as well. Also the wings on the dove I would also retouch so they are captured to be more outward in appearance. I like the contrast of the jacket and your vest but feel the pants totally do not go with the rest of your outfit. Nice black dresspants of tux pants might fit the outfit a bit better and unify you more.

3) Nice pose and better contrast. The dove once again would need to be altered ot captured better in flight. Thgis is often hard to do, so it may have to be photo enhanced to get the exact look you may be after. Your expression is better yet more of a smile may convey a more enviting presence.

4)The image is too forced. I feel you are so far back in the shot that the focus is not on you at all. Also the white dove against the white background does not give enough contrast to make the dove pop out and stand out.

5)A nice shot and cute idea. Here I like your smile and you are showing more personality to the viewer. The problem is that you have much too much white. Your great balloon creations are not standing out enough because the light of the balloons is not enough contrast with the white of the cloth. Perhaps you reverse it a bit and do some of the balloons against a darker backgrouund so the balloons pop. Then you can adjust your shirt or jacket to be contrasting with the dark background you choose. For example, you use a black backdrop for the animals but wear a nice white shirt and a red jacket. This would build contrast that would allow your balloons to draw more attention.

6)I like this shot even better. It is croppoed better and a better compitition for you. I like your smile and showing more personality. Once again though, your ****e balloons are getting lost in the foreground. Perhaps you make the ballons from a dark color so they stand out more for you.

7)Nice shot of the What's Next effect. What might be good is to raise the prop up closer towards your face. This way your face gets more attention and not just the prop. Also, because the prop is black and your shirt is black, you are losing some of the prop as there is not enough contrast between you and it. Either hold the prop a bit away from the shirt, or change to a different shirt color to fix this problem.

8)Not a bad shot. The expression could be better with a more sincere smile. I like the pose though and this could work out nicely for you.

9)The S Fan is a nice shot and would work nicely. However, I would have the cards cenetered in your shirt. This would really make the cards POP a lot. The only other thing is that your expression on this one makes you seem sad instead of mystical. Good idea and good shot though with some minor tweaks.

10)Nice idea for a shot. I would change the foreground cloth to black so that the first flower box does not lsoe the color. I then would look at the camera instead of the bag. Let the viwer think you are looking at them and telling them, " see what great magical things I can do for you as well"

I hope these are helpful to you. They are in no way meant to belittle you at all. They are intended to be constructive feedback that may help you acheieve the perfect shot and photo you can use going forward.

I think you are off to a great start and thank you for sharing these with us. Let me know if I can be of further help to you.

Kyle

I think Kyle has said it all from an experts point of view. To my untrained eye, I would say you have made a good start, and you have a range to choose from.

To non magi, the whats next shots will not tell them you are a magician at all (lay people need to look at the photo and it will tell them what they are going to get, comedy, serious, mind reader etc You look at Kyle avatar and you immediately would know that he is a magician)

The dove shot (1st one with the dove improved) says a lot, worth getting the black trousers out I reckon.

Think about what kind of magician you are and then make sure the photo tells people that (no good having doves in the photo if you do a mentalism seance kinda act!)

Most of all your face has to tell the viewer something.I think the 2nd balloon one is one of the better for you looking confident as opposed to the 2nd dove where you look a little worried that you are gonna get a face full of wing!

A good start, with some original ideas!

Just a minor nit picking thing. Get rid of the cargo pants. Wear a suit or at least sport jacket with dress pants and dress shirt. Just a very little thing but I think it will help.

Peter

I agree there. The cargo pants does not work well with the great jacket, shiort and vest you are wearing in one of your shots. It looks almost l;ike your costume is not 100% complete.

Mgical: Thanks for the kind words. I ahve done designs for magicians for years now and also work a lot with photos and images. I think he is on the right track, but just a few tweeks and a second photo shoot should get him even closer to his goals.

Kyle

In general, I'd say smile more. You're a young man, and a "mysterious" image, or an elegant image, really doesn't cut it at your age. I think that friendly and approachable is more what you should shoot for. As you mature, more "image" options will become available to you.

Being young, cargo pants might work ... but not with the more formal jacket! Decide what "look" you are going for, and go for it!

Hey kyle, great helpful hints they all could work that's not all the pics and some of the ones on my site arnt as good as the other ones I have but I'm going to change them every so often but great hints
Kyle

You are most welcome. Let me know how it goes for you and if I can give you any more help.

If you or anyone else would like to see samples of my design work, just let me know. I would be happy to send some your way.

Kyle

Kyle (maic man), you seriously need to give your site a looking over. It's just filled with poor grammar and mistakes. Check for punctuation, spelling, capitalization, verb tense, pluralization, and all of that other good stuff. Your homepage and "shows" page will thank you for a proof read.

Thanks Andini I'm still working on it it's kind of a rough copy I just got it up and runnin but thanks for your concern.
Kyle

And another thing, it, (the red jacket) is my grandfather's. He gave it to me saying; "every magician needs a red jacket" then a week later he passed on from a heart attack. So, it's very special to me. I do understand where you guys are coming from but I thought I would get some shots of me with it on just for me to remember why I have it on.
Kyle

That is a great reason to have at least one shot with the jacket on (maybe crop the cargos out of that shot and nobody will ever know), maybe you could perform a trick using the jacket within your act (if you outgrow the jacket, the patter can include the story of where you got the jacket, and explain why you bring it out). Wand thru jacket? Just thinking out loud.

Magical
good thoughts the week he past I did a hole show with it on I looked kind of goffy
LOL I might beable to do a snowstorm cause me and my gramps played in the snow all the time, just a thought.
Kyle

If you do use the cargo pants, you will want to crop out and edit the pics. The cargo pants just do not go with the flow and look and feel of the rest of your outfit.

Kyle

WoW! Were did you get that Houdini flick. It great!

I agree with the above advice.

Some short notes:
White on White not good unless your photographer can correct the problem in developing. White Rabbit and Bird on Whit curtain. They become invisible.
Clothing looked very sloppy, it's okay for hanging around, not for a performer.
To change your expressions, smile and show your teeth, and think of the effect or the time you witnessed the effect. This will bring you message out to your audience.

Photo 7 is good pose, but you should be holding the 8 pip card, and bigger smile.

So go to a good suit shop, such as menswarehouse and take a look. They have standard cut suits and European cut suits. Or if you have a Value City and get a tux, they sell them for less then $80 an formal shirts for $12.

If you want the more modern look, stop in a Man Alive store. They have unique suites for the you man.

Good Luck!

Wmhegbli, what do you think of David Blaine's sloppy clothes? That "sloppy" magician made $6 million in a single year! It's all part of what generation you're from ...

It is not so much about what you want to wear. It is more aboiut how you are presenting yourself, your image and your personality through the photo. The person seeing it has to get a good sense for who you are, what you do and what you can do for them.

Kyle

Some people get all the breaks, right place - right time. Not a whole lot to do with talent.

I never thought Blaine's cloths were sloppy. I believe they fit him. Although you now want to compare apples and oranges. A television special is different then a publicity photo. I believe the few Blaine photo's I have seen are very professional.

I believe Copperfield dresses well and modern.

Although I am not a Blaine follower at all.

Wrinkled baggy clothes are sloppy looking. Pressed well fitting clothes are 'sharp'. That is what the army taught me.

Everyone has to find the look and style that fits him or her and that completes the entire enterianer personna they are after. This can be clean cut tuxedo, or it could mean a more street look. However, no matter what look you are after, you must keep your intended audience in mind.

For Blaine, his look fits him fine and suits the audience he seeks. A tuxedo in a street setting is out of place. You find what works best for you, makes you the most comfortable and that fits your market.

Your photos must also convey this as well as conveying your personality. The photo needs to let your prospects know what you do, that you are fun and can provide them with the solutions you are after.

Kyle