yet another BUSINESS CARD c/c PLEASE

[whitewolfphoto]

If you are all not too tired of this I could use the help!

[DogDay]

Love the photograph.

However, I think the font you've chosen is a bit too distracting. Also, the text at the bottom is difficult to read against the lighter tones of the wood.

The font is probably ok for the business name at the top, but at the bottom maybe something a little more formal and easier to read.

[whitewolfphoto]

Love the photograph.

However, I think the font you've chosen is a bit too distracting. Also, the text at the bottom is difficult to read against the lighter tones of the wood.

The font is probably ok for the business name at the top, but at the bottom maybe something a little more formal and easier to read.

Thanks for the input! Was trying to not use too many fonts...

[DogDay]

I'm no designer, so I could be completely wrong.

I think if you gave a black 1px outline to the bottom text, it might standout better.

[whitewolfphoto]

I'm no designer, so I could be completely wrong.

I think if you gave a black 1px outline to the bottom text, it might standout better.
good thought...now how to do it in CS4...

[tracknut]

I have to say that font is doing nothing for me. Way too busy. To address the contrast issue with the text at the bottom, I'd put a gradient at the bottom of the photo to bring it to black, so you can cleanly put in the white text.

Also, why isn't your email address "tony@whitewolfphotography.com" - that would make so much sense :)

Dave

[whitewolfphoto]

I have to say that font is doing nothing for me. Way too busy. To address the contrast issue with the text at the bottom, I'd put a gradient at the bottom of the photo to bring it to black, so you can cleanly put in the white text.

Also, why isn't your email address "tony@whitewolfphotography.com" - that would make so much sense :)

Dave
LMAO because as of today the website is STILL being built..it seems to take longer than my house! But it was a fair question:p

[DogDay]

I agree, I would discourage the use of that rr.com email address. Branding is an important part of any business marketing strategy.

I'm sure you can google for the border solution, I can't recall the exact steps.

[James Robert Gratiot]

The picture is great. However, I'd put only the picture and your company name on the front... and then put all your contact information on the back side.

[Alleh]

Can someone ban James Robert Gratiot for marketing his get rich quick photography scam book?

Oh yeah and thanks for your highly valuable advice on the best way to design a business card James.

Cheers

[James Robert Gratiot]

Can someone ban James Robert Gratiot for marketing his get rich quick photography scam book?

Oh yeah and thanks for your highly valuable advice on the best way to design a business card James.

Cheers

Alleh:

With all due respect... unless you've actually read the book, how do you determine that it's a "get-rich-quick photography scam book"? It has nothing to do with "get rich quick." In fact, it's a completely legitimate marketing book that took me 2 years to put together. There's no scam here at all.

You certainly don't need to buy it, and neither does anybody else... but just because I've written a book, how should that lead to me being banned?

Just out of curiosity, why is suggesting that somebody utilize that empty back of their card such horrible advice?

[Alleh]

I was just being sarcastic about your advice sense your a pro photography marketer. One of the opening bold texts spots on your site is "Marie Earned Over $4,400 in the Next 3 Weeks!" sounds like getting rich quick to me. Honestly I think your a joke taking advantage of all the idiots who dream of being a photographer. I am going to assume that whatever your book says is probably just regurgitated standard marketing practices. If someone was to read Guerrilla Marketing by Jay Conrade Levinson for only $15 at a book store they would have the building blocks to be successful in photography, at least on the marketing side.

You are not even a photographer and much less not a successful one so honestly you can't have any real information directly relating to marketing for photographers. Actually here is another decent book about marketing directed just for photographers by someone with a very successful track record, Successful Self-Promotion for Photographers by Elyse Weissberg.

You are a nobody with a book full of regurgitated information trying to make money off less intelligent people with a dream of being a photographer.

[Alleh]

I can't really give any advice about the card until I know what your goals as a photographer are. If you were going to be marketing to creatives then you would want a different presentation than if you are trying to do retail photography. That aside the card doesn't really work for me. The text is hard to read and blends with the photo.

[tomd]

I agree with rethinking the font.

It looks a little too western for me, however depending on your business plan, maybe the western look is great.

[James Robert Gratiot]

You are a nobody with a book full of regurgitated information trying to make money of less intelligent people with a dream of being a photographer.
I assume you mean "...make money off less intelligent people." ;)

And again I'll say, unless you've actually read it, please don't make assumptions. The examples in this book are all photography-specific... this ain't regurgitated info in any way, shape, or form.

And by the way, Levinson's book is a great one...

[PhotosGuy]

Shorter would be better, too. Google: "Cannot find "http://www.wwolfphoto.com/"" or "http://www.wwolfimages.com/", or "http://www.w-w-p.com/"

[whitewolfphoto]

I can't really give any advice about the card until I know what your goals as a photographer are. If you were going to be marketing to creatives then you would want a different presentation than if you are trying to do retail photography. That aside the card doesn't really work for me. The text is hard to read and blends with the photo.

Primarily I am a dog and horse show photographer, so that is my target market. That being said it is important to me that my card appeals on a much broader level.
I thought about a 2 sided card and so far that idea is on the shelf, but it WOULD NOT PUT MY CONACT INFO ON THE BACK! While I can see the value in not "wasting" the back of the card it would be a terrible idea.

[whitewolfphoto]

Shorter would be better, too. Google: "Cannot find "http://www.wwolfphoto.com/"" or "http://www.wwolfimages.com/", or "http://www.w-w-p.com/"

I guess my problem with shortening the name goes back to branding in a way. Do I want to shorten the domain when it is not the name of the company? The closest I've come is "WhiteWolfPhoto.Net" Which is not as easily remembered as .com and better than .org, .us. .Com is taken by another protog in an unrelated field.
If anyone wants to take a stab at the gradient and outline on the fonts I would love to see your ideas!
Thanks!

[James Robert Gratiot]

Primarily I am a dog and horse show photographer, so that is my target market. That being said it is important to me that my card appeals on a much broader level.
I thought about a 2 sided card and so far that idea is on the shelf, but it WOULD NOT PUT MY CONACT INFO ON THE BACK! While I can see the value in not "wasting" the back of the card it would be a terrible idea.

Tony:

I suppose I should flesh out my original "put your contact information on the back side" remark.

I find the picture on the "front" of the card to be very powerful... and I certainly have no problem with placing your company name above the picture. However, the way it is currently laid out, the contact information blends too much into the picture and, IMO, actually takes away from the power of the card.

A couple of things to consider:

1) A two-sided business card does not have a "front" and a "back." It simply has 2 sides. A person looking at your card is going to look at whichever side he/she happens to look at first. Therefore I am not suggesting that you banish the contact info "to the back," but merely that you move it away from the photograph so that the photograph can have more of an impact.

2) Most likely, in your specific case, people are not going to be getting your card in a vacuum. If you photography at horse and dog shows, the assumption is that you are primarily going to be handing out these cards at horse and dog shows. People who take your card are already interested in the kind of photography you shoot. And because of this, I think it is the powerful image that is going to sell them. And if somebody is taken enough with your image to hire you, then the fact that your contact information is "on the back" isn't going to stop them.

In any case, good luck with the card and the site... can't wait to see the finished products.

[tracknut]

I would tend to agree with this position on 2-sided cards. I have a photo, with only my small logo in the corner of it, on one side of my card. And all my other relevant information on the other side. I shoot performance dog events exclusively, and find that the one image I put on there is really compelling to the customers. Virtually all of them comment on the photo, and I do feel it helps them get an appreciation of what might be coming out of my camera later in the day.

I don't think the "photo on one side" model works for every area of photography, but where you can distinguish your photos from everyone else's, absolutely.

Now you have the votes from Folsom, CA :)

Dave

[whitewolfphoto]

I would tend to agree with this position on 2-sided cards. I have a photo, with only my small logo in the corner of it, on one side of my card. And all my other relevant information on the other side. I shoot performance dog events exclusively, and find that the one image I put on there is really compelling to the customers. Virtually all of them comment on the photo, and I do feel it helps them get an appreciation of what might be coming out of my camera later in the day.

I don't think the "photo on one side" model works for every area of photography, but where you can distinguish your photos from everyone else's, absolutely.

Now you have the votes from Folsom, CA :)

Dave
Thanks Dave, and thank you James for your clarification. Nicely done website by the way, Dave!