Business Card C&C. Thanks! - DPChallenge Forums

05/22/2007 01:35:27 PM · #1

I am delivering a bunch of sports portraits this weekend and want to throw a card in everyone's bag. What do you think about: picture, script, left or right? This is a rough go...slow day at work, messing around with MSpaint!

To be seen by the parents and hopefully drum up some portrait/wedding business.

THANKS,
-drew

Edit: New cards. What do you think?
Card 1:

Card 2:

Card 3:

Card 4:

Message edited by author 2007-05-22 23:26:19.

HawesPhotoKC

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/22/2007 01:43:58 PM · #2

I like the picture but the font really bothers me. It is hard to read and a little cheesy in my opinion.

skylercall

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/22/2007 02:01:34 PM · #3

I like it better on the left. It took me a while to notice it on the right side.

Sheryll

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

05/22/2007 02:04:36 PM · #4

left you a comment

elsapo

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 50mm f1.2L

05/22/2007 02:08:22 PM · #5

Use the bottom one.. it looks more professional whan all the text is aligned. Also, if you could tone down the highlights the image would improve a lot.

heresa quick edit, hope you dont mind..

Message edited by author 2007-05-22 14:12:55.

05/22/2007 02:08:34 PM · #6

Originally posted by HawesPhotoKC:

I like the picture but the font really bothers me. It is hard to read and a little cheesy in my opinion.

Is it too "scripty"? I wanted something less "type-set" and generic, I narrowed it down to a few and thought this one read the best. But, again, this was blown up on my screen, I haven't looked at it to scale yet. I will have to investigate more fonts when I am home and have more available.

Originally posted by skylercall:

I like it better on the left. It took me a while to notice it on the right side.

I think I do too, I just thought of throwing an option out there incase the side of the barn looked like wasted space.

One concern of mine that keeps popping up is: Does it say enough? It's got name, contact info, and types of shots...is that typically enough? I don't have a slogan or anything.

Thanks,
-drew

05/22/2007 02:10:03 PM · #7

Originally posted by elsapo:

Also, if you could tone down the highlights the image would improve a lot.

I don't mind the quick edit at all, thanks for showing!
Yeah I pulled this pic off my email here at work, I haven't had a chance to give it the royal PS treatment (just MSPaint). But will definately tone down the highlights.

Thanks,
-drew

Message edited by author 2007-05-22 14:15:40.

Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G

05/22/2007 02:12:55 PM · #8

Originally posted by Sheryll (from pic comments):

I like the top one except I'd have Drew on the top line and photography on the second line so that the words aren't running into his head.

I was wondering what to do with too much black space, and by moving "Photography" down, I could make the font a little bigger. You found the "portraits, weddings, sports" OK on the right side?

Message edited by author 2007-07-13 01:42:05.

vikas

Apple iPhone 13

05/22/2007 02:52:56 PM · #9

Just something I came up with.... font is Arial, color different shades of gray

Message edited by author 2007-05-22 14:59:36.

fireserpent

Olympus E-3

Olympus 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Zuiko Digital Zoom

05/22/2007 03:03:59 PM · #10

I like a combination of the aforementioned adjustments....

Reduce the highlights a bit, pull the text away from the guy's head... Simpler font.... I like the Arial.

05/22/2007 03:05:46 PM · #11

Originally posted by vikas:

Just something I came up with.... font is Arial, color different shades of gray

Interesting. I might look into adding some lines/boxes like you have here.

Thanks,
-drew

Carl Zeiss 35mm ZF f/2.0 Distagon T

05/22/2007 11:28:35 PM · #12

Messed around tonight with new cards. Each is a different picture, all are the same font, text spacing is changed around a little in each. I didn't have time to try out the lines/boxes/graphic arts stuff.

What do you think? What card is best, or combination of text/background?

THANKS!
-drew

Card 1:

Card 2:

Card 3:

Card 4:

virtuamike

Nikon D2X

05/22/2007 11:37:32 PM · #13

I've never really liked pictures on business cards, would rather just see name, title/description, and contact info. If you want to show your work, then do mailers.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

05/23/2007 09:40:09 AM · #14

Bump for those that are working hard, or hardly working!

Dirt_Diver

Nikon D3s

05/23/2007 09:54:26 AM · #15

Looks like your card is for music. Not really photography.

Kavey

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

05/23/2007 09:55:21 AM · #16

I prefer card 1. Firstly I prefer the uncropped image with his foot on the step. Secondly I prefer the layout of the text.

Not sure about the font.

NVPhoto

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

05/23/2007 09:59:11 AM · #17

I think if you are trying to drum up wedding business than the card should be geared towards weddings. For me weddings are the gigs that pay the best so I market myself as a wedding photog first and any of the other work I get such as live music, products, portraits, real estate etc...second. I want someone who gets my card to know immediately that weddings are my thing.

Also, wedding photographers have some kind of status in people's minds. People think that if you are a wedding photographer you can do any other job. Most times its true and I can handle almost any job. The jobs I have to pass on are usually do to equipment matters or the lack there of.

If a bride has 10 photographer's business cards in her hand, what makes your card stand out and show you can make her look pretty? I think the photo on your card is all wrong. I don't see a bride calling you because the picture is a guy in a cutoff shirt playing guitar. Nothing in that photo says accomplished wedding photographer.

I think that card works for other things. My suggestion and this is what I did is have multiple cards. I have a very wedding oriented card that gets left at weddings I shoot and sent to couples when I mail a contract. I also have a more generic card thats good for everything else, and a card geared towards live music and album art.

05/23/2007 11:16:30 AM · #18

Thanks everybody for their input. Ok so card one set-up is good. I like it too. And maybe I should change the styles to be "portraits, sports, and music." Then create an entirely different card for weddings. It could say "weddings and portraits" or something like that. I think I have a wedding shot that would work. Maybe the one with the rings sitting in the rose bouquet, or a really good one of a bride.

The thing about the target area is that there is one really good photographer and if you want him, you save up your money and pay him his $1500-2000. If you don't/can't there are a scant few other choices. I want to get my name out there and have started with YMCA gymnastics teams (the pictures to be delivered this weekend...with said cards in the bags). The main idea behind these cards is to drum up Sr. portraits, kids portraits, or family portraits...if a wedding falls in there GREAT!

Thanks again for the input and ideas,
-drew

NVPhoto

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

05/23/2007 04:23:41 PM · #19

Hop on that wedding opportunity. If there really is only 1 choice for weddings in your area thats the opportunity of a lifetime. I would be marketing hard for weddings if that was the case around here. Price yourself a bit lower than this guy and pick up all the couples who can't foot the bill for that guy. Its a matter of time before you get booked up and can legitimately up your price due to demand.

Business 101 supply and demand. For weddings there is always demand. Run a small ad for 2007 weddings for a good price, maybe $800. Get a bunch for portfolio use. Before you know it 2008 people will be calling. Up the price a little and start booking them. Nice thing with 2008 weddings is you can use the deposit to upgrade gear over the next few month and winter time. Simple example, book 7 2008 weddings. Avg price of $900. 50% deposit required to hold the day. Total cash on hand before you even shoot 1 2008 wedding = $3150. Theres your new body or 2 really nice lenses.

Its there for the taking...

05/23/2007 05:43:10 PM · #20

Great advice! I would love to market this area hard. I already have one booked in each month of August, Sept, and Oct. This summer should be a good time to market a massive 2008 campain.

Originally posted by Jmnuggy:

...Its there for the taking

The only problem is that "there" is my hometown...3.5 hours one way :( We have been looking into moving back. I want to make the switch, but I think the big city St. Louis market is too saturated and I could be easily overtaken by 1,000 other "photographers" with a Rebel and a website. I just think it would be WAY too hard to start small here. Home, you could start as small as you want. And if you think about it I've been doing the small stuff there for family and friends for years. I think the atmosphere is getting just about right so that I could start small there...and build an empire.

-drew

05/23/2007 05:44:20 PM · #21

Do you think I should change the styles to be "portraits, sports, and music." Then create an entirely different card for weddings. It could say "weddings and portraits" or something like that?

-drew

NVPhoto