Critique the business card... - DPChallenge Forums

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

09/25/2005 12:47:06 AM · #1

My first attempt at a business card...

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

09/25/2005 12:48:00 AM · #2

very busy.

kendall6

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

09/25/2005 12:52:56 AM · #3

This business card seems very safe. Nothing here really grabs you and says wow â�� this guy is creative. Also if youâ��re doing sports the flowers / wedding picture probably wonâ��t appeal too much to the team coach or manager. Just my 2 cents. :o\

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

09/25/2005 12:55:22 AM · #4

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

very busy.

As in ... too much text?

faidoi

Pentax K10D

09/25/2005 12:56:37 AM · #5

Too Christmassy :P The colors.

09/25/2005 12:58:05 AM · #6

Originally posted by kendall6:

This business card seems very safe. Nothing here really grabs you and says wow â�� this guy is creative.

Interesting thought. I'll have to mull that one over a bit.

Originally posted by kendall6:

Also if youâ��re doing sports the flowers / wedding picture probably wonâ��t appeal too much to the team coach or manager. Just my 2 cents. :o\

Good point! Weddings are my main thrust ... I'm really only just dabbling in sports photography. I suppose two separate cards would be better so that I could target the specific audience.

Thanks for the input.

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

09/25/2005 01:00:05 AM · #7

Originally posted by faidoi:

Too Christmassy :P The colors.

*snicker* That's red and blue. The only green in the card is either mixed in with the flowers, or on the inside edge of the blue border.

I was using complementary colors based off of some of the color in the photo. Started with the red and went from there.

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

09/25/2005 01:04:32 AM · #8

Originally posted by dwterry:

Originally posted by jmsetzler:
very busy.

As in ... too much text?

The combination of text and the contrasty color image...

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

09/25/2005 01:06:17 AM · #9

There is one thing I see frequently on photographer business cards that puzzles me...

If you say photographer or photography on the card, I don't think it's really necessary to list off the types of photography you do on the card. A business card is for the purpose of sharing contact information. Some cards seem more like business flyers.

I'm just a fan of the KISS method :)

leaf

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

09/25/2005 01:31:11 AM · #10

I don' really like the border. Way too pastel for me. Perhaps it was just an addition for DPC but if not, i would take it away. Small borders like that also have problems in printing, in that, if the card does not print EXACTLY center, you will have an uneven (unprofessional) looking border... not to mention the odd pastel coloring of it.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/25/2005 09:52:07 AM · #11

Originally posted by leaf:

Small borders like that also have problems in printing, in that, if the card does not print EXACTLY center, you will have an uneven (unprofessional) looking border...

What you said is exactly what happened. I printed just one page of cards to see what I had so far and some of the cards had borders that were either too skinny or, in the case of two cards, non-existent on one edge.

Thanks for all the input.

Travis99

Canon EOS-5D

09/25/2005 09:56:06 AM · #12

Too busy, keep it simple. Try to use all the same font also.

Here is mine.

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX

09/25/2005 09:58:00 AM · #13

Thanks, I was hoping somebody might post a sample. :-)

k4rp

Nikon D200

09/25/2005 10:39:02 AM · #14

Originally posted by Travis99:

Too busy, keep it simple. Try to use all the same font also.

Here is mine.

And even that could be improved by aligning the texts so they match. Brings more unity into the composition.

Travis99

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/25/2005 11:04:07 AM · #15

Here is one, I hope you dont mind. You have some awsome shots by the way.

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

09/25/2005 11:07:20 AM · #16

I like a picture-free business card as I feel it's much more versitile. Here's mine.

09/25/2005 11:08:48 AM · #17

Originally posted by Travis99:

Here is one, I hope you dont mind. You have some awsome shots by the way.

Whoa! Awesome!

But now here's a problem I was wondering about. The picture I used, I picked specifically because the people were not recognizable. In the image you used, the bride is definitely recognizable.

So my question is: What would others think, upon receiving the card, if the person used in the photo is recognizable?

I have a good standing relationship with the bride in this picture and believe that she would allow me to use her image in this way. So my question is mostly about how well such an image would be received.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/25/2005 11:11:57 AM · #18

Originally posted by idnic:

I like a picture-free business card as I feel it's much more versitile.

I've been leaning towards the use of a picture in the image more as a statement: I *do* photography. Perhaps unnecessary... but since I don't have any brochures to hand out, it seemed like the right idea.

I do like what you've done, it's simple, straight forward, and shows creativity at the same time.

Travis99

Canon EOS-5D

09/25/2005 11:15:14 AM · #19

I think people would love it. It shows your skills to photograph brides which is the most imporant part. This would be a great selling feature because people can see how good you are with out having to do a whole lot. It gives them a wow effect as soon as they see the card. I also think the bride in this photo would be flattered to know you will be using HER to represent your photography.

Ttavis

pawdrix

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

09/25/2005 11:43:44 AM · #20

I couldn't agree with John more about "keeping it simple"

I rushed my card design (maybe not a great idea)when I realized that for me, the whole sales route didn't matter and I wanted something in hand immediately. Most things that I do have already been sold so I didn't need my card to read like an advertisement. Simple front and a back with my Home #, Cell # and e-mail...no mailing address either.

I also figured, at the cheap printing rates these days I could always do another whenever I get a better picture that suits...

Message edited by author 2005-09-25 12:23:55.