business card - what do you think

[islandphoto]

Opinions?

[tim]

What does that picture have to do with weddings?

[song4themoon]

I was wondering too. The card would be perfect for a nature photographer but I think it doesnt fit a wedding photographer. I would go black and white with wedding themes

[islandphoto]

Well I won't be doing only weddings but also portraits of kids, couples, and families. I just am not sure what picture to use. I wanted to keep it nice and simple. Any suggestions?

[EOSX]

The card is more for nature photography... nothing like what you are trying to sell which are wedding and portraits. Marketing 101... advise what you are selling. I would consider other themes for your card. Do a search on the forum under business card and you will tons of suggestions and ideas. Good luck.

[song4themoon]

This is mine.. however I created it before I shot weddings. I would still keep the same style now but would replace one or two of the pics with a wedding pic at this point

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c132/Song4themoon/BusinessCardredone.jpg

[tim]

If you're shooting people, put a person on your business card. Perhaps have a few different versions of the card, they're cheap to make.

[sugarzebra]

I like the simplicity of the card...its visually very good. If you are not primarily a wedding photographer, I think its more important to change your domain name than the picture.

[BigBlueDodge]

I agree with zebra, in that simplicity is key. Any pictures you put on there, will most likely come out crappy when they are printed. A link to your web site is all that is needed.

[cjsa]

I like the card, but if I want someone to take pictures of people I want to see a reat shot of people.

[PIXI_666]

I suggest NO pictures at all, to ME it just gives a slight tacky feeling - dont get me wrong though some business cards with photo's on them really do suit, but unfortunately this one doesn't do it for me.
Make it very simple!
Mine is my logo, then just a quick weddings-commercial-pets-portraits-families at the bottom and then my name, website and number on the back of the card...i think less is more...

Del

[carl1645]

I suggest NO pictures at all, to ME it just gives a slight tacky feeling - dont get me wrong though some business cards with photo's on them really do suit, but unfortunately this one doesn't do it for me.
Make it very simple!
Mine is my logo, then just a quick weddings-commercial-pets-portraits-families at the bottom and then my name, website and number on the back of the card...i think less is more...

Del

I agree with Del on this one, Logo, name, contact details and what you do. Keep it clean. Remember a business card is what you hand out to someone after meeting them. By then they should know what you do. Your advertising brochures, website etc are what sells the product. The business card is a contact card.

Carl

[islandphoto]

Thank you for all of the helpful comments. Maybe I'll work on another and post if for more opinions :)

[cmM]

What does that picture have to do with weddings?

I can't agree with you there. Who said that you need to have a wedding shot on the business card?

This is one of my business cards, I've gotten great feedback on it. It doesn't have much to do with weddings:
http://www.cmmvisions.com/files/bcard_small.jpg

[mizuno]

My business card features a fashion/model portrait type image, but that is a very small part of what I do. I just thought it worked.

Really simple. I wanted to say 'I am a photographer'. I did not want to pigeon-hole myself in one particular genre, I like to keep my options open - choose the work I take on. If I had pushed myself a 'Wedding Photographer' I would have almost certainly missed on on some very rewarding commercial jobs lately.

http://www.zeke.com.au/stuff/business_card.jpg

[Wazza]

I say go with whatever you feel comfortable with, and are happy to promote yourself as.

I mostly did my own card, with some touchups and back text by a friend who's a webdesigner.

I just wanted it to be familiar with my website front page, so chose this:

http://www.warrenwilliams.co.nz/card.jpg

http://www.warrenwilliams.co.nz/card2.jpg

[kentuy]

wow very nice card... simple but elegant

[islandphoto]

Very nice card... Do you think my sunset is OK? Everyone had me doubting it. I just didn't know how good the details of a face would come out on a business card. That is why I chose the sunset.

[jbstudios]

you should go with what you want, but personally if i were to see that card at a distance like in a frame with your work i would wonder what kind of photographer you are. You can get some nice photo cards done. Someone suggested you use a 5x7 and put 4 of them on there and cut it into 4s. I want to try and do this so the image looks perfect. I also have my images printed on nice paper that i have for inserts in my brochure i think they look fine. Good luck!

[song4themoon]

Maybe you could take a picture of wedding bands, faded in the back over the whole card and then your details on it.

Or any other wedding picture that doesnt have too much on it.. just a simple composition of something.. the shoes, candle, rings...

[Mikelangelo]

I can't agree with you there. Who said that you need to have a wedding shot on the business card?

You don't, really. Personally...I think photos should NOT be used on a business card at all except in very rare cases.


This is one of my business cards, I've gotten great feedback on it. It doesn't have much to do with weddings:


Your card works (and it works very well) because the image on your card is elegant, clean, and ambiguous and the sepia tone helps as well. The image on your card looks like the folds of a wedding dress or fancy fabric at that might be at the reception. It's interesting but isn't too strong of an element to detract from your name or contact info.

The sunset shot could work...but the way it looks on the current design makes me also think of nature or landscape photography. Also, the color and intensity of the photo, although very nice, takes my attention away from your brand, your name and website. The most important thing on your card is your information. A logo (if you have one) is your brand, it represents you. If this image represents you, then by all means use it. I would simply tone it down a little so your name/contact info become more prominent.

Mizuno's card still says "portrait" or "fashion" photographer to me...but the design of the card is really nice. The image is elegant and isn't too intense. his name "Dan Cripps Photography" takes precedence and is very easily identifiable. Contact info on the back is pretty cool, too. Just to make the card easier to use, I (personally) would put the web address and # on the front in a smaller font and in gray so it's there, but isn't too strong. But the black back is very cool. Nice card!

And a side note, if you stick with only 1 or 2 colors, the cost goes way down (At least here in Chicago). ;)

I hope that's helpful.

[tim]

Wazza, I love that card! One tip: call Vodafone and get an 0800 number linked to your phone. It costs $13 to set up and 50c per minute, and people won't hesitate to call it. Will PM you too...

[Wazza]

Yeah that's an idea. I may consider it closer to when I've given out 1000 cards. :lol:
Also depends on my future job prospects. If I had a full time photography job, working part time like this may not be required so much. Thanks for the input.

[wcapald]

Imagine I am a bride to be, your ad is on the internet, and I am surfing looking for a wedding photographer, I'm not looking for a portrait photographer, and all round photographer, a photographer that shoots landscapes, etc etc. I want a wedding photographer........... THATS WHY YOUR AD APPEARS ON THIS THREAD.. its says wedding photographer........ now go back to the simple art of marketing and which of the "business cards" of any of the above is the girl going to click on first, and then probably call????? seems simple............

[islandphoto]

Actually I am doing other types of photography as well and my business card is just for contact info. My website and my portfolio etc will tell the people what I do and how I do it. How can I advertise all of the different types of photography I do with one picture on one card?

[carl1645]

How can I advertise all of the different types of photography I do with one picture on one card?

You've hit the nail on the head! Your business card, as I said earlier in a post is not really an advertisement it's a contact reminder form. Everything else is for the advertising web site, flyers, etc etc

Carl

[PIXI_666]

If its for lots of things then just keep it simple without a card, logo and contact details - thats all you need, your not promoting your photos just yet, the business card is the first contact in most cases, the clients then go to your home and see your work or your website, or a brochure or pamphlet....the business card needs to be kept clean and simple IMO