Business Card / Comp Card Help, please....

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

04/27/2010 01:34:55 PM · #1

As I've posted in another thread, I have my first show very soon (sorry for having two threads, but questions are very separate!)

I realize my photo business cards are not good enough for that. I don't have a lot of time to make new ones (been busy with work, and unfortunately, a funeral). My current cards are a standard design with a photo from the card site that's not even mine. I really just got them to hand them to people who come up to me when I'm shooting landscapes and inquire.

So I need to design some, and I'm not very good at that. Actually, for the show, I was hoping to hand out something to generate sales a little better than a card. One idea, which I think I can get delivered pretty soon is a bookmark, which you can order from WHCC in sizes 2x8.25 or 2x7" (either portrait or landscape). Not quite as cheap as I'd like (about .10 each), but unlike a business card, I was hoping people might "keep" them longer.

I need ideas and help (quickly)! Anyone good at this willing to help, I'd be really grateful.

Here's two ideas so far for bookmarks.

Alternatively, I could do a 4x5 or so postcard. Those would take me longer to get printed nicely I think, but here's one idea for that:

I guess I can also take this time to design a better business card and order that from WHCC.

I need to do this quickly because the show starts May 1st, so if you have a little extra time and can help, please post any suggestions or mockups.

Notea:
1) I can also use my current bus cards as promo and then change them when I get the new ones...since my stuff will be up a whole month, but I want to get whatever promo cards I want as soon as possible.
2) I don't think I want to put my phone etc on it..just email, hence the little bit of text, but I am open to opinions.
3) I will probably set up neilrshapiro.com so it either redirects to my smugmug site or a new site more focused on the show photos and local interest itself.

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

04/27/2010 01:39:03 PM · #2

Bookmark is a good idea. I did bookmarks for my neighbor's business, and they do get referrals in. The NYC city-scape makes a brilliant bookmark. But lose the Brushscript font, that's so dated it looks utterly amateurish, IMO.

R.

ErikV

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 VR DG IF-ED

04/27/2010 02:09:50 PM · #3

NYC one is awesome!

Regarding phone number, if you want to maximize your business potential I would include it. But if you value peace and quiet and privacy more than the extra bit of business then keep it off.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

04/27/2010 02:18:36 PM · #4

Bookmarks are good -- you can print 2-4 bookmarks on a standard 4x6 print (usually for less than 15 cents) and slice them up yourself. I do the same with business cards -- three-up. I don't need that many, they show a "real photo" like I'm advertising, and can be changed, updated or varied easily.

In fact, I like the bookmark idea so much I'm going to make some myself, maybe using one of my extreme panoramic images.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

04/27/2010 02:19:31 PM · #5

I like the bookmarks. I'll have to try that myself.

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC for Canon

04/27/2010 02:41:41 PM · #6

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Unfortunately, all my other fonts look "amateur" to my amateur eyes. What do you suggest?

Also, as I go to setup ROES on WHCC, I note that there's two sides to the bookmark. I'm not sure, it would look good to put something on both sides...what do people think of that...should I print both sides? Same picture? Different? Or leave it blank?

sonniejake

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

04/27/2010 03:19:50 PM · #7

Originally posted by nshapiro:

Personally, I would have a picture on one side, leaving the other blank - or put your contact information on the back side.
S

Citadel

Nikon D7500

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

04/27/2010 03:32:15 PM · #8

Just to throw this out there Neil...google "Free Fonts". It will open up a lot of options for you I think

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

04/27/2010 04:13:39 PM · #9

I play with Bicham and Bickley Script a lot though due to the script nature it's not always legible at the font size I require.

I'm no expert so these could be considered amateur as well. ;o)

pamelasue

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

04/27/2010 04:22:08 PM · #10

love the bookmark idea, but prefer the second one ... IMHO, everyone has a shot of NYC ... but the other is more unique to YOU ...

I also agree with Bear about the brush script font ...

one of my favorite places to find new fonts: font garden

04/27/2010 04:29:44 PM · #11

FWIW, the font I was using for the top line was "AR Berkley", not Brush Script. I seem to have a gaggle of AR fonts, but now I don't remember where they came from.

04/27/2010 06:32:56 PM · #12

Originally posted by pamelasue:

That's a very good point about a "unique" image. I just ordered a set of 100 because I really need them soon, and in fact, I went with Bass Harbor. But I don't know how long 100 bookmarks will last, and in fact, I've been thinking it would be good to have variety in the cards. So I may order the next batch with a different shot, like the NYC one. They are also not "cheap", running about .30 each, so if people are grabbing them up and I don't see a lot of traffic, and some sales, I'll probably switch to a cheaper alternative, like just business cards.

In fact, I am working on those now....those are at least only about .10 each at WHCC. (I know there are cheaper ones out there too, but I know WHCC does real quality printing.)

ETA: How's this, and this font, for a business card to supplement the bookmarks...

Message edited by author 2010-04-27 18:41:35.

pwm6

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/28/2010 11:10:15 AM · #13

Originally posted by nshapiro:

ETA: How's this, and this font, for a business card to supplement the bookmarks...

Neil,

I don't care for that typeface. Somehow it seems to detract from the image. Why not try putting the contact information in a black strip below the photo with one line of a more contemporary typeface horizontally across the card? Or perhaps get some ideas from these:

This

and

These

glockguy

Canon EOS-7D

Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM for Canon

04/28/2010 11:23:34 AM · #14

This might have already been suggested, by why plaster your name on your amazing photo? Why not put your contact details on the back of the card/bookmark?

04/28/2010 01:32:59 PM · #15

Some good advice, thanks. Since I was in a rush though, the order for the cards went in last night. My first custom cards, and they aren't expensive, so maybe these will go fast at the show and I'll end up with a second order. The main point is just to give them something they recognize as me (from the work that's hanging) and have the web and email address!

pwm6

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/28/2010 05:47:45 PM · #16

Maybe something like this:

glockguy

Canon EOS-7D

Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM for Canon

04/28/2010 06:04:51 PM · #17

I dunno about all the distracting text on the front.

We went through this at my company for months. Finally we decided on making a two sided card with info on the back. If you watch people when you hand them a card (business card or otherwise), they ALWAYS look at the back....

We also added a QR code (easily generated for free on the internet), that people can scan with their blackberry or smartphone. This links them directly to our site. It can also automatically start their email program, preloaded with your email address. The code cold do whatever you want it to really.

Since we made the cards double sided, we have noticed a significant increase in (what we call) card business. I believe it makes people more likely to hang on to the card. Not "file" it in their wallet.

Now having said that, if you go with a bookmark, real estate on the front is even MORE valuable. A 4x6 card would look like a postcard someone forgot to add the address lines on......

Just my .02

Kelli

Canon EOS-D60

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

04/28/2010 07:40:28 PM · #18

Do you have a BlackRiver account? If you sign up for one, you can get $50 off your first order. They have these really cute billfold wallet thingy's that would make fantastic business cards. Let me find the link & I'll edit this post.

//www.blackriverimaging.com/accordions.asp

Message edited by author 2010-04-28 19:43:04.

vlado

Canon EOS-70D

Canon EF-S 18-135mm IS STM

04/28/2010 08:24:37 PM · #19

Can't believe nobody's suggested mini moo cards.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

04/30/2010 09:10:19 AM · #20

moo cards look really good--someone did post a link to it already. However, they are also really expensive in order to get an assortment.

Blackriver looks fantastic--free shipping like WHCC. And the free $50 off your first order sounds good; though I'm a loyal WHCC customer at this point (just because they've earned it so far), I'll definitely give them a try anyway!

WHCC has already shipped my materials, they should be here today. So we'll see how they are.

On the "down-side", if any locals were planning on stopping by to see my work at Starbucks this month, I just called about hanging them, and there's been a "double booking" this month, and the other person advertised their show in the paper already, so I got bumped to July. So now my show isn't until July. That's fine, but it's a bit of a bummer to find out "the day of".

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

04/30/2010 10:06:05 AM · #21

Originally posted by nshapiro:

How nice of them to ~~not~~ notify you. Or did you just call them before they had a chance to call you?

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

04/30/2010 03:01:42 PM · #22

Too bad about the show, but at least you'll be having one, and they should be extra-nice to you ... ;-)

I liked the bookmark idea, and 4x6 prints are on sale ($0.09) at Costco for a few more days, so I made some ...

One-up:   



4-up/2up for printing:

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/01/2010 12:07:12 AM · #23

Those look very nice Paul...may be hard to get the second one to print right, it's so dark though. I hope it came out well.

I just got my cards and bookmark today! WHCC impresses me every time...first of all, the incredible turn around...but most of all, the incredible printing!

I went with the vertical Bass Harbor bookmark, and it's fantastic, as is the card! Of course, now I have lots of time before I need them, so I can consider if there's a cheaper way to get the bookmarks (right now they're .30 a piece. I could go Paul's route and print and cut, but then they'd be single sided. But I may try it.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

05/01/2010 12:24:07 AM · #24

Originally posted by nshapiro:

Those look very nice Paul...may be hard to get the second one to print right, it's so dark though. I hope it came out well.

They did -- I just picked them up this afternoon. PM me a mailing address and I'll send you samples.

They don't have to be panoramas like mine -- somethng tall and skinny (tree, tower, etc.) would work for a vertical format. You could always write something on the back, or stick on a pre-printed label. The cost between about 3 and 8 cents apiece, and Costco has a very nice rotary trimmer right there on the counter for anyone to use ...

pwm6