Is my business card too simple?

[HaroldC3]

I took a stab at designing a business card. It's the first time I have ever designed one. I have been reading through posts here for the last couple of months and it seems like simple is better but is there such a thing as too simple? See my design and tell me what you think. The back will be blank white probably.

[tim]

Yes, I think it is a bit simple. A graphic design might be a worthwhile investment. I just had a discussion about my business cards on this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=374462).

[adam LC]

No it's not too simple. I prefer minimalist looks on business.

[Gary_Evans]

No it's not too simple. I prefer minimalist looks on business.

Agreed. Its way better than most that are critiqued on this forum.

[tim]

Think about using a different font and not using italics. Just first impressions if you go with something like this.

[sierra_nova]

I love simple - and this is simple, but not simple enough. All of the info at the bottom looks quite busy to me.

Cheers
Naomi

[Sp00ks]

I think it ties into your website nicely. You have all the pertinent info. It's simple yet has an elegance about it. I think the "PH:, EM:, WS:" are redundant and you could loose those if you liked. Other than that, I like the card. It flows nicely and at a quick glance you have all the info.

[TeeJay]

... they may have trouble making out your phone number ;-)

TJ

[michael_]

- dont use capitals in emails and website addresses
- use the same font for the "Photography" in the top heading
- make the bottom blue section the same size as the top blue section and put the "Photographing in the...." in there then make the middle blue colour the top blue colour, make the top blue background white and the font color the same as the middle blue
- Instead of Photographing in the what about "Servicing the Tri-Cities Washington Area and all forms of Portraiture Photography".
- dont have Owner/Photographer jusy have your contact info

[michael_]

had a play instead, tried my above but didnt look right, so did this instead

im not artist thats why i paid someone to do mine :)

[manipula]

Original design is nowhere near simple enough. Also uses badly dated fonts. The post above is a definite move in the right direction.

[HaroldC3]

Thanks for all of your input, I appreciate it. I will do some work on it tonight and post a revised version.

Cider ~ I like your design, just not fond of black and white. Thank you!

EDIT: I guess you used a very dark blue, hard to see it on my monitor at home. Thanks

[Karl C]

Thanks for all of your input, I appreciate it. I will do some work on it tonight and post a revised version.

Cider ~ I like your design, just not fond of black and white. Thank you!

Cider did a good job however, I think "serving" is better than "servicing".

Just my two bits...

[canonpink]

I took a stab at designing a business card. It's the first time I have ever designed one. I have been reading through posts here for the last couple of months and it seems like simple is better but is there such a thing as too simple? See my design and tell me what you think. The back will be blank white probably.

Nah, that's actually more extravagant than mine. I figure our portfolio will speak louder than our business cards. How many people do you hear when they talk about other photographers' work talk about the lighting, great artistic and compositional excellence in their business card?

I think the easier it is for the user to get the info off the card, the better, IMO.

[toneyw]

Simple is good. Maybe change the colors?

[delhi]

Worst you can do is clutter up the card with incessant pictures. ;)

[adam LC]

If it makes any difference, I prefer the example business card in the first post.

[00silvergt]

No it's not too simple. I prefer minimalist looks on business.

Agreed. Its way better than most that are critiqued on this forum.

I love simple - and this is simple, but not simple enough. All of the info at the bottom looks quite busy to me.

Cheers
Naomi

With business cards, more is less. It is simply a way to get hold of you not your portfolio.

had a play instead, tried my above but didnt look right, so did this instead

im not artist thats why i paid someone to do mine :)


Nice.

[HaroldC3]

Here's my 2nd attempt. No comments about the self-portrait, it was just a quick snapshot to see what it would look like with a pic in that space.

I used black for the text and a dark gray for the background. The only thing I don't like is the bottom phrase being broken up into 2 lines.

[tim]

Much better design, but i'd not put a picture of yourself on the card. That space being brown/black/whatever with nothing there should be fine. If you have a logo try something like on this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=374462&page=5).

[HaroldC3]

Thanks, I decided to 86 the self-portrait and I thought it looked just fine. I took off Portraiture Photographer and just said "Serving the Tri-Cities Washington Area" to make it fit on one line and I think it works. I didn't want to get too narrow in describing what I do.

Should be a good first business card, placed my order with VistaPrint.com this morning. There is a motocross event in a week and a half and will see if I can give any out there.

[canonpink]

Thanks, I decided to 86 the self-portrait and I thought it looked just fine. I took off Portraiture Photographer and just said "Serving the Tri-Cities Washington Area" to make it fit on one line and I think it works. I didn't want to get too narrow in describing what I do.

Should be a good first business card, placed my order with VistaPrint.com this morning. There is a motocross event in a week and a half and will see if I can give any out there.



Frankly, I think that you all the bells and whistles will be more handy on your website where the future clients will be looking anyway.

[kennys350d]

i like the 2nd attempt. maybe photo side on the left, or is that too overrated?

[jacobsen1]

get a better email at your site, try Harold@photosbyharold.com or me@photosbyharold.com, but use something more fun/original than the basic info.

Also for your URL, ditch the http:// and I'd also say ditch the www. even. If you type photosbyharold.com into the browser your site comes up, so go with that, or just www. if you feel you need it. The http:// adds too much clutter. Also leave off the Web: Phone: and email: from the original.

Here are my cards:
http://www.benjacobsen.com/wp-content/gallery/business-cards/Final%20front.jpg
I wanted to keep it as clean and simple as I could. I also only needed email and web, so I combined them.

[kennys350d]

get a better email at your site, try Harold@photosbyharold.com or me@photosbyharold.com, but use something more fun/original than the basic info.

Also for your URL, ditch the http:// and I'd also say ditch the www. even. If you type photosbyharold.com into the browser your site comes up, so go with that, or just www. if you feel you need it. The http:// adds too much clutter. Also leave off the Web: Phone: and email: from the original.

Here are my cards:
http://www.benjacobsen.com/wp-content/gallery/business-cards/Final%20front.jpg
I wanted to keep it as clean and simple as I could. I also only needed email and web, so I combined them.


i like your card. clean and simple. the way most cards should be.

[jacobsen1]

thanks, I have 3,000 here, want one? :lol:

[asxu]

harold, personally i don't think your card is simple enough. basically, all that is needed is your name, email, website address and phone number. also, are you going to have your card printed double sided? because then you could go with something like this.


http://tjnphotography.com/potn/haroldcarson/front.jpg

http://tjnphotography.com/potn/haroldcarson/back.jpg

please realize that these are no where near the quality a final design should be. they were thrown together in just under five minutes.

[HaroldC3]

I don't know how this thread got revived, but I decided awhile ago with the design below.

[michael_]

looks good harold