Business Card - Your Thoughts?

[chris_m_atl]

I design these things all the time, but when it comes to making something for myself I always struggle. I'm still not finished with this rather simple layout, but I'm just curious if you think this is already too busy? CC appreciated

Thanks in Advance,
--Chris

[chris_m_atl]

The bottom right corner has not been filled yet. I'm debating what I should put in there...

[cdifoto]

I think it's a bit much. Remember those fonts look big on the screen but they'll be tiny on a card.

[thekid24]

I think it's a bit much. Remember those fonts look big on the screen but they'll be tiny on a card.
CDItto:D

[cdifoto]

Another thing:

I'm not so sure what newspaper layout design, flyers, posters and sign design have to do with photography. I'd make a separate card for that advertising services stuff. Heck I wouldn't even have photoshop manipulation on my photography card. Put that on your design card as well. Photo clients don't care what you do in PS to get the awesome images. They just want the awesome images.

[chris_m_atl]

Printed at actual size, it's rather legible. It will be printed on heavy stock high-gloss on the front with no gloss/coating on the back to write notes and appointment times.

[chris_m_atl]

Another thing:

I'm not so sure what newspaper layout design, flyers, posters and sign design have to do with photography. I'd make a separate card for that advertising services stuff. Heck I wouldn't even have photoshop manipulation on my photography card. Put that on your design card as well. Photo clients don't care what you do in PS to get the awesome images. They just want the awesome images.


We must have been typing at the same time.

I offer a full service design/photography/and marketing business. I want potential clients to know that I can provide any and all of their marketing & photography needs. Not limited to only photography. I like having my hands in multiple baskets to prevent only one stream of income (if photography is slow, I'll still have graphic design to fall back on, visa/versa)

Photoshop manipulation is intended for photographic reconstruction and fixing their family/vacation images.

[edit] I guess my main problem on this layout is to incompass all my services in one seemless, simple design. The more I look at this layout, the more I dislike it..

[cdifoto]

So then if I was a plumber, you'd expect me to put on my card that I also officiate weddings on the side?


"Call me if you lose the wedding ring down the drain. I've seen it once before, so I'll recognize it!"

[chris_m_atl]

So then if I was a plumber, you'd expect me to put on my card that I also officiate weddings on the side?


"Call me if you lose the wedding ring down the drain. I've seen it once before, so I'll recognize it!"


Lol! I like that. But photography and graphic design go hand-in-hand. A business would hire a photographer to photograph their new product, then a graphic designer to make the brochure, etc. I bridge that gap while providing the most competitive rates in the area.

[hannaxt]

As a graphic designer I have to tell you that's just way too much info on the card.
Both the layout and the colors need revision. sorry.

And lose the multi shapes and drop shadows, it's just way too heavy no elegance.

[Halliday]

I'd lose the part that explains email, web and phone. I think most people will understand that one is an email address the other a web address and the last a phone number.

At least it would free up some space :|

[B3SEO]

hi chris -

Looked at your card. You got lots of information on there. At least everyone knows what you do, your website, your email, phone.. Good pieces of information.

But the card is WAY too busy. I didn't know what to look at first. You've crammed too much information on the card, and that takes a tad away from the professionalism that you want to pass on to your prospective clients.

I'm also a graphic artist, and can tell you, gradient's don't work too well on business cards.

Assuming you are going to be printing double-sided cards... Move your tag line to the back of the card, and if you have designed a logo, put it on the back, centered on the card, and the tag line underneath. A tag line should make your prospect THINK.

KISS - Keep it simple Senor!

[chris_m_atl]

just way too much info on the card.
Both the layout and the colors need revision. sorry.quote]

No need to apologise! Thank you for the honesty!


[quote=B3SEO;3717633]hi chris -

Looked at your card. You got lots of information on there. At least everyone knows what you do, your website, your email, phone.. Good pieces of information.

But the card is WAY too busy. I didn't know what to look at first. You've crammed too much information on the card, and that takes a tad away from the professionalism that you want to pass on to your prospective clients.

I'm also a graphic artist, and can tell you, gradient's don't work too well on business cards.

Assuming you are going to be printing double-sided cards... Move your tag line to the back of the card, and if you have designed a logo, put it on the back, centered on the card, and the tag line underneath. A tag line should make your prospect THINK.

KISS - Keep it simple Senor!

Thank you for the comments and suggestions!

My printing company has never had problems printing gradients; from large format to business cards.

Ok, I've trashed that layout. What are your thoughts with this? I just don't want my business card to blend into the competition. Gotta have something unique in there!

[chris_m_atl]

need to adjust the alignment, etc..
Also, the native layout in Illustrator is CMYK, so this image will look a bit washed-out and blacks will look dark grey.

[Gatorboy]

I prefer very simple cards that have your company name, your name, your phone and website address.

IMHO, the purpose of the card is to give people a means to contact you. They can go to your website for much more details if they want. I never look at business cards I collect until I need to contact that person. I think you are wasting a bunch of time trying to create a mini advertising ad on your card.

[chris_m_atl]

IMHO, the purpose of the card is to give people a means to contact you. They can go to your website for much more details if they want. I never look at business cards I collect until I need to contact that person. I think you are wasting a bunch of time trying to create a mini advertising ad on your card.

I agree, but if I've never met the potential client, what would separate me from the next guy?

The cards will not only be given by hand, but also placed in high-traffic areas and tradeshows. I'm attending a tradeshow on Wednesday; hence the new designs. I currently have generic business cards printed at staples; 1000 for less than $50.

But for this event, I want something with a bit more pizzaz and info.

[Bruno Andrews]

I like the second choice better. Also, you may not need the "www" in front of your site address, anyone that uses the web knows to use that prefix, also most of the time you don't even need to use it. Keep at it though, you're getting to a good place.

[Bobster]

come on your offering yourself as a graphic designer, and this is the best you can do?

[chris_m_atl]

come on your offering yourself as a graphic designer, and this is the best you can do?

No. I just hate making designs for myself. I'm sure others would agree. It's easier and more natural for me to do something for someone else, but when it comes to designs for marketing myself, I have always stumbled.

[B3SEO]

Well, you are getting closer -

Stick around for a while.

[elysium]

I would go for something like this

http://hub.goodprint.co.uk/common/images/designs/designitem/d78589.gif

[B3SEO]

That looks like a template! :(

Keep the same idea that you had, and go simpler, like this - take out the fact that you do graphic design. As you get better, you can include "graphic design" as one of your strong suits -

[elysium]

That looks like a template! :(

Keep the same idea that you had, and go simpler, like this - take out the fact that you do graphic design. As you get better, you can include "graphic design" as one of your strong suits -Yes it was. They are always a good basis for ideas especially if you are stuck on ideas.

I usually find they are good for ideas and colour schemes to see what can work well.

[B3SEO]

It's kinda funny... Positively Negative.. !!

[Jon, The Elder]

Chris...keeping it simple doesn't mean you can't be creative.

Click here to see what I mean.

http://www.pbase.com/jpferguson/image/83456349

[chris_m_atl]

Yes it was. They are always a good basis for ideas especially if you are stuck on ideas.

I usually find they are good for ideas and colour schemes to see what can work well.
That looks like a template!



THAT WAS NOT A TEMPLATE!:evil:

If someone ese has a card like this, prove it. Don't accuse me of somehting like that with no links or proof. But I swear by almighty I didn't use a template.

[chris_m_atl]

Yes, Grey on black has been used widely in the industry. But I had a blank document and absolutely no reference when making my card.

[B3SEO]

THAT WAS NOT A TEMPLATE!:evil:

If someone ese has a card like this, prove it. Don't accuse me of somehting like that with no links or proof. But I swear by almighty I didn't use a template.

relaxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. That wasn't meant about YOUR card.

[chris_m_atl]

Oh, I didn't notice Elysium's first post displaying the template. My browser was loading the images slower than I was reading the messages. Apologies, all. :o:oops:

[chris_m_atl]

I like your version, B3SEO. I've just been battling with this design because the majority of my cards at the tradeshow will be stacked up right next to the competition on the same booth tabletops. While making these, I'm constantly asking myself how I can get them to pickup my cards first. I guess that's the root of this block...

[B3SEO]

HERE'S ANOTHER VERSION -

Make a logo (a good one), and put it on the backside of the card (assuming your are going to go doublesided).. Put your logo in the middle of the card, and your tag line underneath it.

I added a film look to the strip. It's old fashioned, because we don't shoot film too much around here, but it's still a universal sign for a photographer.

I would suggest you make all three photos the same size.

[00silvergt]

Sorry, but too lazy to read 3 pages of posts, but here's my opinion, if it is already been mentioned, then sorry.

Too busy, waay too busy. Color scheme is not very business oriented, if your target customers are corporations, they will notice the card, but not in a good way. You don't want your prospects searching your card for information, place it somewhere where it is easy to read, post a website where they can examine your work and portfolio, but you don't need to describe everything thing you do. KISS principle. It will also be cheaper to produce a simpler card. I hope that helps.

[00silvergt]

I agree, but if I've never met the potential client, what would separate me from the next guy?

The cards will not only be given by hand, but also placed in high-traffic areas and tradeshows. I'm attending a tradeshow on Wednesday; hence the new designs. I currently have generic business cards printed at staples; 1000 for less than $50.

But for this event, I want something with a bit more pizzaz and info.

Your portfolio will. Most commercial photographers will leave a small portfolio along with their cards. Also, don't you think the other bidders have also thought of this? So in a way, in an assortment of Rainbow, Milkyway designs a simple one will stick out.

I would go for something like this

http://hub.goodprint.co.uk/common/images/designs/designitem/d78589.gif

This would be perfect.


HERE'S ANOTHER VERSION -

Make a logo (a good one), and put it on the backside of the card (assuming your are going to go doublesided).. Put your logo in the middle of the card, and your tag line underneath it.

I added a film look to the strip. It's old fashioned, because we don't shoot film too much around here, but it's still a universal sign for a photographer.

I would suggest you make all three photos the same size.


Too busy, makes me look at the pictures not the contact info, at the resolution these pics have to be to fit in a card, it may not be as flattering as you think.


Good analogy would be a resume...simpler the better, the more it will stick out, it gives courtesy to the people reading, etc.

[B3SEO]

Too busy, makes me look at the pictures not the contact info, at the resolution these pics have to be to fit in a card, it may not be as flattering as you think..

Whatever.

Well your entitled to your opinion. HOWEVER, I was telling him to put the logo on the backside of the card though. NOT THE FRONT.

I've also put images on cards before, and they have been very professional looking. I'm just taking bits of pieces of his original design by the way. Also, the images could be an attractor for someone to pick them up and look at them first, and then read the information about the photographer.

Shouldn't make comments about things if you decide you're too lazy to read the thread.

[00silvergt]

Cool your jets, as you can see I did go back and read the thread. You don't need to remind me that of something I already know all too well, entitlement to my opinion. If you were hurt in any way because of the critique of your design, I apologize, but I am in corporate America and I know what we would like to see. Sure, tastefully done with one pic or something simple can be an advantage, but it can hurt him as well. We disagree and that's the nice thing about this country of ours, we can. Don't take it to heart.

BTW, have you seen an Adobe Business card? How about an Autodesk? Mccaan and Associates? These are creative business that use the basic corporate design. Sure you design a card that looks like all the other little guy's cards, but you want them at least think initially that you are ready for the big time, use a corporate type template.

[B3SEO]

Cool your jets, as you can see I did go back and read the thread. You don't need to remind me that of something I already know all too well, entitlement to my opinion. If you were hurt in any way because of the critique of your design, I apologize, but I am in corporate America and I know what we would like to see. Sure, tastefully done with one pic or something simple can be an advantage, but it can hurt him as well. We disagree and that's the nice thing about this country of ours, we can. Don't take it to heart.

Not hurt at all, and my jets aren't flaming. I've been in corporate America for thirty plus years also, and now three years as a small business owner. I'm sure if I sat down with you, we'd have lots of story to trade about this and that.

No offense taken. Just trying to help a young guy out.

[00silvergt]

Not hurt at all, and my jets aren't flaming. I've been in corporate America for thirty plus years also, and now three years as a small business owner. I'm sure if I sat down with you, we'd have lots of story to trade about this and that.

No offense taken. Just trying to help a young guy out.

And so was I...nice to see we can both be cool. Thanks.

I'm not saying I am right, I'm just saying what I think is right...which should be a given since it was my post. Again, no hard feelings.