An amateur photographer's business card?

[FlipsidE]

I debated on where to put this topic and decided here would be the best.

Just as background, this is the thread that has made me pursue making a small run of business cards: Click here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=60597).

Now, I don't have a business nor do I plan to have one started by that time. So, I guess this, in the end, would be more of a contact card. But, I would like it to look professional just in case there is a possibility of getting some paid work out of it.

Question is...for an amateur business card, what would you put down as your "company name?" Also, while I actually own the phone and pay the monthly bill, my company reimburses me for a good bit of my cell phone bill each month. So, while I'd like to put that number down on my business card, I don't want to make a bad decision and get slapped on the wrist. I could use just my home phone, but as I've heard before, a home phone could end up in someone looking for another person to do the job instead of me.

I probably rambled on a bit much here, but I'm not sure what to do. Anyone ever made a business card like this...more of a contact card for amateur work that may eventually lead to paid work somewhere down the road?

Thanks in advance

FlipsidE

[Andy_T]

Why do you have to put a company name on it ???

What about

F.L. Side
Photographer
- phone -

Best regards,
Andy

[FlipsidE]

Honestly, it doesn't have to be a company name. F.L. Side...that's great! I like that idea. This is the kind of suggestions I am looking for! :)

FlipsidE

[kb244]

*image removed*

This is the one I've been handing out.

[Mike Panic]

the card im currently using:

http://www.mikepanic.com/photos/albums/randomsingles/abb.jpg

the one im having printed next:

http://www.mikepanic.com/photos/albums/randomsingles/abd.jpg

black borders are only for web - not on actual cards

[Andy_T]

Mike,

I like the second one.

But I don't really understand the marbles. ???
Sure, they look nice, but I'd rather associate such graphic elements with webdesign.
But that might just be me.

Best regards,
Andy

[Mike Panic]

they are not marbles - and i didnt want some corney shot on my cards - id rather have something somewhat odd

ive never heard any complaints from people ive given them to - i usually get a really good responce

[Persian-Rice]

Mike, first one is a little................cluttered.
Second one is much better, but it seeams unbalanced.

[Skitzy]

The second one is nice but a little plain to the left, or sue the first one and make some more white space.

[Avalonthas]

You can include a company name if you want, but it would refer to a home business type of thing, so there is no legal impact about it, but its better just to have ur name. I would include ur cell phone because it gives clients another way to contact u if ur not home (and since u have a job, u wont be home as much as others). If the amount of calls u recieve in the future becomes too much and begins to interfear with your job related work, you can just ask ur phone company to route those calls to ur home phone until u tell clients to call at ur home, and then get a new job related number for ur cellphone and/or vice verse if it comes out of hand. But if u dont expect many calls or not as many in the immediate future, then include it. No harm.

[kb244]

they are not marbles - and i didnt want some corney shot on my cards - id rather have something somewhat odd

ive never heard any complaints from people ive given them to - i usually get a really good responce


Mike does stock photography among all the other things he does, marbles and such like those are a nice clean shot, as consistant with most product and stock photography, its an example of professionalism.

[tim]

I had cards made, just to avoid the hastle of having to give people my number or website. I did a very, very plain card. It's just

My Name
me@me.com
http://mrwild.co.nz
Ph 021 000 000

set in the centre of a card. I had it printed on textured white card, and it works fine. At some point i'll go for something a bit more fancy - I like Mikes 2nd card a lot.

[IndyJeff]

Flipside you don't have to have a company name on it.

Flipside
Photographer Extrodinaire
555-555-1212

I have a friend who was a survivor from the U.S.S. Indianapolis. His business card says:

Buck Gibson
Survivor
U.S.S. Indianapolis
Then gives his home address and phone number.

If your company pays for the cell phone I would hesitate using that number. Imagine if your boss is standing there talking to you and you get call from someone looking for a photographer? How happy will he be that you are using his dime for your part time business?
Use an answering machine at home...."Hello, thank you for calling Flipside. Photographer extrodinaire. I am currently unavailable to take your call. If you would please leave your name and phone number and I will call you back as soon as possible. Thank you."
Since residential phone service is relatively cheap, you might look into a second line in your home and hook the answering machine up to that.

[tim]

You could talk to your boss about the phone charges, and reduce what you claim from the company to make up for it. Alternately your cell company might be able to give you a 2nd number and attach it to your existing phone, perhaps?

[FlipsidE]

Thanks for all the great suggestions!! This has really helped me a lot!

FlipsidE

[PhotosGuy]

You can get a D/B/A (Doing Business As) in this State for $10, good for 3 years (I think, unless they've changed it). Then just register it with your bank at no cost so you can cash checks.
Alternative to another phone - get a pager & you'll never miss a call.
Buck Gibson
Survivor
U.S.S. Indianapolis Good for him! That made all the "Survivor" clones on TV look like nap time at pre-school!