As a professional on here, I have done me best to offer advice when able to, now I would like to ask the forum for their opinions on something that I am working on. I am trying a new strategy with the way I market my designs, both through my website and with the company that I work for full time. Please take 4 minutes and view the video I have prepared for one of my clients and give me your thoughts as to how well this would reach you as a buyer. This is actually the design I am working on that has been posted on the forums for a client in NJ. Thanks in advance for your time.

Chris

Here is one of Jamie's videos.
There is one guy I am trying to find in China that does some incredible vids with this program.

If you keep it as a single pool, specific to a customer. how about showing the steps getting from a non-animated picture to an animated one, animated construction milestones, animated completion to a real world picture?

Adding some Symms like characters would be neat!

I love the dynamic way the house reflects, the sun, etc...

Night time shots with pool lights and landscape lights are sure to impress.

For a multi-customer demo, faster screen shot/scene changes and pool designs and people in and around the pool and Bar-B-Q areas.

Scott

I believe Jamie is out of Austrailia and has been around for a while. I have not seen him on the SS forums for some time now. The guy you are probably refering to is Tobie Vise. He was in Asia but I believe he is now in California. Tobie is a pioneer in the video stuff. Some of his designs are incredible. We were both featured in the SS calendar in 2009-2010. Thanks for the feedback. In this economy you have to stand out and not by just a little.

Now you get what I am saying. I would be with the client to do the naration. That is the reason the stills are so long (30 sec) so I would have enough time to explain each still.

Angiedfw,

I do want feedback but It sounds to me like the people that have reviewed the video are thinking that it is an advertisement. I just want to convey the scenario. Picture me sitting at your kitchen table with this running on a DVD player or laptop and me walking you through it. Or even file sharing it with a phone converstion. That is how I plan to implement it. The naration is a good idea I will just have to get a program to Dub it in. This was the first time I have ever messed with the programs involved with making this video so I know I have some tweaking to do. The comments don't bother me at all, In fact it is the reason I posted it. I guess I am not getting the questions answered that I want answered. So I will come right out and ask directly.

If I showed up at your house with this video presentation to sell you a pool would it make me stand out better than any of the other design people you have met? Or is it a nonsense to a normal client?

I'm curious, how long does it take you to make a backyard drawing like the ones you posted in the forum here and this one? When you started using the program, how long did it take then, and once you make a drawing does the computer make all the 3d for you or does it take more time to enter that type of info?

See ya,
Kelly

Thanks,
Kelly

quote"I seem to remember a member here who only does pool designs like these but doesn't build pools, do you recall his handle? "quote.

That would be me but I do both.

I guess what I'm really saying is the presentation has to be geared toward the audience, something that should be established in the initial contact.

(1) As a prospective client: If this came to me on a first round, as impressive as it is, I might be thinking about "what is this going to cost me" and not focusing on what you are saying and showing. It's almost too good if that makes sense and shows your skills as a designer and an illustrator however on first design walkthrough, I want to see our pool ideas (on paper) and hear more about you and how you are going to make my backyard pool come to life.

(2) As a graphic designer: I am very impressed with your skills and feel that if you take this much time before I even pay you anything that you take great pride in what you do. Well done!

(3) As a business owner: I too "used" to make very elaborate mock ups and designs at a bid only to realize that my cost/hourly/daily/ rate etc. had to be made up somewhere. I typically included that "design time" into a project so they paid when we won but it was a lot of lost time when we did not. Of course this is a completely different industry but I think it still applies.

Long story short, everyone (the buyer) has a different idea what is important to him/her and you will win some with this and lose some with this. You might want to take it on a case by case basis to qualify the client to see if something like this would excite he/she and go from there.

All that said, who is it we can call for getting a 2D done in 3D? How much might it cost (if it’s not included in the process).

Its hard to be sure if a customer understands a 2D drawing. Most will say they do even if they don't. Blueprints and plan views are like a foreign language to more people than you think.

When a customer understands the plan well enough to take your pencil away, your communicating. Giving them the mouse is the 3d alternative.

I don't like the "break up" transition of tiles breaking off..a fade in may be better, the break up of tiles gives me the impression that my dream is 'shattering'...but I'm a very visual person and subconsciously that transition doesn't give me that "unveiling" mode.

I would like for a presentation like this to be done by just flipping the screen as you need to when you're done talking about specifics...if you're giving them a product to show to their friends and family I would have the screens on a 4 second screen, they could always back up or speed up or freeze the screen.

I would even start out with a check off list at the beginning highlighting what they requested in this build and how you addressed each issue...that shows you're really focused on helping their dream become reality.

If they are uncertain on coping/pool color/decking, maybe adding in what the option would look like, for many it's hard to visualize. I think the presentation is amazing and if only my brain could produce this without me having to learn a whole PS system!! :) Great work!!

Tara

Go into support, and check out the member picture gallery.
Lots of awesome work.

However, my frame of reference is that I've had 1 pool built with nothing more than the PB walking around describing how the pool would take shape. My current pool is in a home that we purchased with the pool already there.

My first thought was, "I hope the clients aren't averse to alcohol!" I actually like the water sounds from the other linked video better.

While some scenes seemed a bit long to someone who's not involved in the project, I could envision the clients seeing this for the first time needing to have that time to really look at everything and say, "Oh look, there's where that nasty old shed will be coming out," and "See, that looks every bit as good as a big boulder type of waterfall," etc.

LOL, I was thinking "party atmosphere" and all I could come up with on a short notice was Buffet. I have been researching some other music from classical to steel drum but havn't found a perfect piece yet.