"Business" card question

[Olegis]

Hello all.
The question below may seem a little bit stupid, but I'm gonna ask it anyway.
Let's say you spot a nice looking girl who will perfectly fit into your personal models portfolio. You go over to talk to her and it's a good idea to give her you business card, with you name, phone number and the portfolio internet address, right ? But wait a minute - you're not professional photographer, which means your "business" card isn't really "business", right ?
What I want to ask is, in short - do the non-pro photographers in this forum have business cards which state that they're in fact photographers ? Can you please provide an example of what's written on such a business card ?

Thanks in advance.

[robertwgross]

It doesn't matter.

If you don't want to print "Professional Photographer" on the business card, that is fine. Some use the image of a camera or the image of a photographer as part of the background of the card. That gets a message across without any obvious statement, and the reader can infer whatever they choose.

---Bob Gross---

[IndyJeff]

Just because your not a "professional photographer" doesn't mean you shouldn't have a business card. If you were to approach a nice looking girl eating lunch at a downtown park which scenario would more likely get you a positive response.......

1. You walk up and present a card which states "Olegis Photography Capturing Images for a Lifetime Call 555-5555 for more information or to book a shooting session." You explain that you think she would make a good model and would be willing to provide her with some nice enlargements in exchange for modeling for you over by the canal some Saturday afternoon. You want to add to your portfolio and possibly add some of the images to your stock library which would be for sale.

2. You walk up to the nice looking girl explaining that you are a photographer and would like to take her picture some Saturday afternoon. She seems to be willing so you reach in your camera bag and pull out a pen and a piece of scrap paper. You jot down your phone number and ask her to call you so you can set up a day to do the shoot.

Now which method will make her think you are a serious, if not professional, photographer?

If you want to design and purchase business cards, may I suggest business cards (http://www.vistaprint.com). They have some pretty good deals and you have quite a few designs to choose from. I have ordered cards from the on 3 different occasions and have been very satisfied with the service and quality I have gotten.

[leony]

My business card looks like so:
|
| Leon Yerenburg
|___________________________
|fashion and people photography
|
| Phone: 123-456-7890
| Web: www.a-leon.net
| Loc: Metro NY / NJ

i'm in the process of creating a brand for myself, as i want to take the business to the next level and will make a full-color 4x6 post cards simmilar to model comp cards with contact info and some images. i'm also doing major re-design on my site and the new one will be operational in about 2 weeks. although this b&w simple business card ($25 for 1000) is cheap and simple and i've gotten plenty of "baby portraits" and "birthday party photos" jobs. in truth, business cards are indespensible if you want to be taken seriously by anyone. also, putting a phone number on business card makes you more credible than just an e-mail address from hotmail.com

best of luck.

[IndyJeff]

leony your comment about the phone number being more credible than a hotmail address is dead on. If anyone is going to create a business card including an email addy is a great additional contact however, I would caution you on using a hotmail or yahoo email account.
I have had numerous sources on creating websites, business cards and various other subjects that deal with do's and don't's that can be a detrement to your public image. One of the common themes was use an email address which either is your internet access email or one from your doamin name. Hotmail, Yahoo and a couple of others, which are free are commonly looked upon as a place to hide your identity. I have had people email me about shooting this or that and it comes from a Yahoo or Hotmail addy. I have a standard reply which I send out:

This is an automated response to an email recieved at jeffb@racing-action-images.com.

Thank you for inquiring about our services at Racing-Action-Images.com. We provide media coverage of major racing events and any officially sanctioned race in the US. However we can not or will not accept assignments that are sent thru a Yahoo or Hotmail email address. If you are interested in our services please email us from the track domain name account, race team domain name account or your personal account. Once an email is received from you we can respond with a rate quote to cover your requested race.

Thank you
Jeff Barrie
Racing-Action-Images.com

[rsnadel]

You might also consider printing up something that has more the look and feel of a glossy postcard...with a photo (or montage) on one side, and your contact information on the other. It can still give the impression of being "professional" without fear of misrepresenting who you are and what you do.

[DocFrankenstein]

Hello all.
The question below may seem a little bit stupid, but I'm gonna ask it anyway.
Let's say you spot a nice looking girl who will perfectly fit into your personal models portfolio. You go over to talk to her and it's a good idea to give her you business card, with you name, phone number and the portfolio internet address, right ? But wait a minute - you're not professional photographer, which means your "business" card isn't really "business", right ?
What I want to ask is, in short - do the non-pro photographers in this forum have business cards which state that they're in fact photographers ? Can you please provide an example of what's written on such a business card ?

Thanks in advance.
If all you're intrested in, is just photographing her and you're sure about it, :lol: then any card will do.

It's about how you approach and what you say that counts.

[SnJPhoto]

There is a company www.overnightprints.com that does a pretty good job for me. I second the idea of putting a image (of yours...not clipart) on your cards. I have several styles of cards that I carry, depending on the situation I may give one with a different image on it. Here is the generic one I have......

http://www.pbase.com/image/31488857

Scott

Also - You may consider buying the domain rights to your name/business name. its cheap and gives you a bit of credibility inb some eyes. ...yes I know, my domain is empty right now, I am having someone do a web service point of sale site for me.

[Chris1le]

Hotmail, Yahoo and a couple of others, which are free are commonly looked upon as a place to hide your identity

Boy did I screw up then. My hotmail address is my last and first name @hotmail.com. :D I don't really use that account much but is one that will probably be around longer than my ISP account. If you switch ISP's you have to notify everyone of your new address. With the Hotmail, Yahoo account your address will be the same for a long time.

[MarkH]

I have printed a business card which has:
My Name
PHOTOGRAPHER
contact details

With a photo of mine as a watermark. I leave the reverse blank so I can write on it.

I am not a professional and my card makes no claim to professional status. I have yet to pretend to anyone that I am a professional, but there is no law that says I can't call myself one if I want to.

I printed my cards on precut business cards on my inkjet, this is very cheap and simple and lets me print 10 at a time. Maybe not as flash as some, but heaps better than trying to find some paper to scribble my details on.

[RockSlut]

I've got a slightly different story. I've been shooting live bands now for the past year and a half. I'm regularly the only "serious" photographer at the gigs and a lot of people are getting used to seeing my face around.

We (my girlfriend and I) had cards printed featuring our logo and contact details. For us it is an excellent tool for answering the "what are you photographing for" and "Where can I see your pics?" questions.

Ours has our names, mobile numbers, e-mail addresses and the predominant detail is our web address.

IMHO it is a much more credible option to give someone a card than to either a) scribble details on a bit of paper that they'll probably lose anyway or b) trust them to remember even a simple web address.

This is not a job for us, it's merely a serious hobby and one which we'd like to develop into a business in the future. I find that it is a good way to be taken seriously as a photographer - especially if you can back it up with some great shots:)

The only thing I'd add otherwise - is make sure your card looks good. I've seen some of the things people hand and it is often terrible. I think a bad card is almost worse than none at all!

[RockSlut]

I've got a slightly different story. I've been shooting live bands now for the past year and a half. I'm regularly the only "serious" photographer at the gigs and a lot of people are getting used to seeing my face around.

We (my girlfriend and I) had cards printed featuring our logo and contact details. For us it is an excellent tool for answering the "what are you photographing for" and "Where can I see your pics?" questions.

Ours has our names, mobile numbers, e-mail addresses and the predominant detail is our web address.

IMHO it is a much more credible option to give someone a card than to either a) scribble details on a bit of paper that they'll probably lose anyway or b) trust them to remember even a simple web address.

This is not a job for us, it's merely a serious hobby and one which we'd like to develop into a business in the future. I find that it is a good way to be taken seriously as a photographer - especially if you can back it up with some great shots:)

The only thing I'd add otherwise - is make sure your card looks good. I've seen some of the things people hand and it is often terrible. I think a bad card is almost worse than none at all!

[Olegis]

Thank you guys for your relpies !
From what I see, some of you prefer relatively simple cards with blank background and some use their photographs as background.
After lurking in some business cards sites, I think that I'm gonna design myself a card with one of my photographs as a background only on one side of the card, leaving the other side blank for taking notes and / or writing stuff.

Any suggestion about the actual design ? Should the card be vertical or horizontal oriented ?

SnJPhoto , great card you have there !

[SnJPhoto]

You might consider finding someone who will do small production runs (100 or so at a time) and have a few different styles done to use for different reasons. In general, for the front I recommend a simple picture (not anything that has a lot of detail in it) with your name on it. You could have your contact info on the back or front. I did a couple sets where the back is black with my contact info on it, but found I wanted to write on the cards, so black was not a good choice.

Have fun, and remember....this represents what you want to be known for. I don't believe in the one card for all business, so I shy'd away from the usual busniess card look. Good luck.

Scott

[cmM]

I preffer simple. I'm no professional either, but I use my car once in a while, give it out to whoever wants to check out my work and hopefully purchase some prints.
My card has my name on it, "Freelance Photographer", and my website URL. That's all the information needed to someone to contact me (buy prints from me).

Also, I bought some "higher quality" precut paper (not perforated), and printed cards on my Canon printer. I think it looks awesome. It looks much better than a lot of business cards I have seen before (paper and print quality).

[SnJPhoto]

Olegis...I put a couple extra examples up on my pbase site for you. the sunrise pics are a bit detailed to really use...but the flower is cool. I also liked the frame around it.


Chris1le - You should buy a domain and o email forwarding to your current ISp. That way you never have to tell folks if your email address changes. You just make a change to the forwarrd location and its done.


Scott
http://www.pbase.com/snj/surfing_pics&page=2

[Bruce Foreman]

Hotmail, Yahoo and a couple of others, which are free are commonly looked upon as a place to hide your identity

Boy did I screw up then. My hotmail address is my last and first name @hotmail.com. :D I don't really use that account much but is one that will probably be around longer than my ISP account. If you switch ISP's you have to notify everyone of your new address. With the Hotmail, Yahoo account your address will be the same for a long time.

Well...You didn't screw up any worse than I did. I use my real name in both photo/video and the various firearms forums around. My e-mail is my first 2 initials and real lastname on a hotmail account.

Bruce Foreman

[Bruce Foreman]

I make my own. Design it in Photoshop, save it as a .psd file so I can edit layers later (usually use an image for a photo based card), then flatten it and paste it over to an 8x10.5 canvas ten times (for 10 up package unit type layout).

Flatten that burn it to a CD and take the CD to local Office Depot.

They take that CD and run the file to one of their color copiers and print 'em up for around a buck a sheet. I cut them up myself and pass 'em out.

I always made a photo image card. In the 80's I had my local pro lab print them from a neg sandwiched with a text line neg on an aperture card and make me 8x10 wallet units.

Now I'm retired but do teach a Defensive Handgun course so I pass out a colorful card to folks interested in that training, and have the photo oriented card with my name, "Digital Photography", city and state and my cell phone number.

Not really looking for business but do take on profitable projects that appeal to me.

Bruce Foreman

[SDK^]

This is my generic Business Card.

http://www.sdk2003.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/PH-Photography-business-card.jpg

I have various images and colours for different subjects i.e. Motorsport

http://www.sdk2003.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/PH-Photography-business-card-2.jpg

[Olegis]

Thanks a lot !
I have prepared two versions from my own (inspired by the SnJPhoto's cards) :

http://www.pbase.com/image/31550745
http://www.pbase.com/image/31550754

I like the one with the leaves, but I wonder - aren't there too many details for such a small card ?

[cecilc]

Here's a card that I've handed out to interested parties (mostly parents) who see me shooting games or events and strike up a conversation. As you can see, I don't even call myself a photographer ......

But it does help to have that card. It's easy to reach for one and hand one to someone without a lot of explanations ..... and people accept it without a lot of explanations .....

I debated on whether or not to get some cards, but I'm glad I did now .....

http://www.awesomehouse.com/bcard.jpg

And, Olegis, I took a look at your "proposed" cards ....

I really like the one with the arches on it ..... I think that one's a keeper ....

[SnJPhoto]

I agree...the arches are a keeper....I would balance the contact info a bit... seems heavy on the left side....

Scott

[Chazs]

I have no intention, or experience in doing "model" photography, but I would think a small 5x7 or 8x10 portfolio of 10 pictures ALONG with a business card would be a good idea. My 12 year-old can make a business card, but show a prospective model a small sampling of your work would speak for itself (I would hope). THEN, hand her a nice business card.

[Mike H]

Olegis,

The shot of the arches rules! I would definitely show that one off if I were you. However, given what you intend to do with the card, do you think that it might be appropriate to have a portrait on the card instead of something scenic? A card isn't a mini-portfolio, but by having a portrait on the card you are showing the person that portraits are the focus of your work.

The flip side of the argument is that having a very strong shot--regardless of the subject--is important in selling the person on your skills. People often assume that because they've seen a great scenic from me that I can shoot portraits. :roll:

I'm going over the same decision myself, and can't decide. Maybe the answer is to do a card with a strong shot, and as Chazs suggested, have a portfolio to show whomever wants to see it.

Mike H

[IanD]

Like others, I use "business" cards to help me gain access to private land. My card is very simple:

IanD
Wildlife Photographer

Contact info

An image of a deer in one corner and a duck in the other. I also have the plate # of my truck on half of the cards.
When I approach a land owner and ask permission to shoot on his land, everything is on the card. I explain what I would like to do and I have never been refused access.
I will take a photograph with me the next time and give it to the owner.
Just doing what I would want others to do if the tables were turned.

[leony]

All the replys make sense. Although noted slightly I would like to stress the point of the purpose. I, for example, am in NYC area and shooting fashion-esque things. For me to be taken seriously I NEED to have a 5x7 card with full color images and contact info. All images on the card need to be from the same "series." The rules are dictated by the industry.

The best thing of advice I can give you is look at what kind of promo cards photographers in your area have. I've seen many types of cards over time and if you can afford it, a quality glossy full color 5x7 card is a killer no matter what business you're in. If you want to save some money, get B&W. Not only is it more difficult to misplace, if the images are good most people will keep it as a post card - which is good for business.

Think of it this way: few people hire a photographer from just a business card. You need the card so that potential customers can go to your website and see your work. If they like your website, they will ask to see your actual portfolio. ONLY after that would someone hire you.

Ultimately, the design and images (if any) on your card would be determined by your market and clients. But don't forget - marketing is a big animal. You need to be consistently good from your business card to your website to your portfolio. If your card rocks, but your website sucks, you will not get any business.

[Vegas Poboy]

Hello all.
The question below may seem a little bit stupid, but I'm gonna ask it anyway.
Let's say you spot a nice looking girl who will perfectly fit into your personal models portfolio. You go over to talk to her and it's a good idea to give her you business card, with you name, phone number and the portfolio internet address, right ? But wait a minute - you're not professional photographer, which means your "business" card isn't really "business", right ?
What I want to ask is, in short - do the non-pro photographers in this forum have business cards which state that they're in fact photographers ? Can you please provide an example of what's written on such a business card ?

Thanks in advance.

From my understanding of the law anytime you offer a service publicly it's considered as a business which means you should have some knowledge of the trade. I don't think it would really matter unless you go faulty on a contract and that person takes you to court or demands a refund if you charge. Also if you charge you'll be considered a pro. Maybe not of a high level but you've received payment for services.
To be safe offer a card and don't charge for your services until you think you're ready. Make sure you let them know your working on a portfolio & will trade out free prints if they like them. Most of all get a Model release.

I've done a little research, I'm not a lawyer.
Good Luck

[PhotosGuy]

You might also consider printing up something that has more the look and feel of a glossy postcard...with a photo (or montage) on one side, and your contact information on the other. It can still give the impression of being "professional" without fear of misrepresenting who you are and what you do.

I PSed several different versions depending on what service I'm targeting. Below is an old one, but should serve as an illustration. I print them at the local Walgreens at a cost of about $1US for 9 cards (3 prints). Or, if you need a lot at once, they have specials of 50 prints for $10.
Advantage is that I use a ************ redirect to avoid a long URL, so when the URL for the pics was changed by the host, I didn't have to throw out hundreds of obsolete cards. Plus, I can change\update the cards in about 5 minutes.
Disadvantage is that you have to cut the prints into thirds. :)

http://img72.photobucket.com/albums/v218/PhotosGuy/Forum%20Junk/39-Lincoln-Bus-Card_WEB_26.jpg

Make sure you let them know your working on a portfolio & will trade out free prints if they like them.

It's called TFP - Time For Prints.

[PhotosGuy]

I've just been informed that TFP is not a term used by "Above the Line" comercial and editorial photographers, & that it's now mainly used on the web. Draw your own conclusions on what it's probably used for.
The current term is "free testing". Sorry if I mislead anyone! :(

[Olegis]

Thanks everybody !
I still have to decide which design I want for my cards, but this discussion answered my questions beautifully 8)

[Claire]

I've read this thread a few times and am now considering making a business card for myself. Not that I'm even close to doing photography professionally! (Not enough skills, knowledge, experience nor cash for it).

Just figured at least I'll have something to hand out if I want to approach someone. Guess I better get to the drawing board then!

/Claire