First Draft Card CC Please

[bs6851]

Please give me any thoughts you have on the card.


http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/Business/Business_Cardcopy.jpg

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/Business/Business_Cardcopy_2.jpg

Thanks for looking.

[craiglee]

hard to read. too complex. too many shadows/bezel. don't like the wood background.

[dreamcatcher23]

really hard on the eyes - way too complicated. Try a version without the wood paneling and without shadows, just drop the background to black and make the text white and see what you think.

[bs6851]

Thanks for the comments guys I will do another version and post. Thanks again

[Hikin Mike]

Thanks for the comments guys I will do another version and post. Thanks again

I agree, re-design.

BTW, I noticed your from Jeanette. I used to live in Murrysville and my parents now live in Jeanette. :D

[dekalbSTEEL]

the photos are going to be pretty small once printed, and do they represent your best work? In the wedding shot the groom has some hot spots and harsh shadows, the baseball shot doesn't show peak action or a clear face. The portrait of the girl is nice.

Maybe enlarge the photos to fill the card and make them semi-transparent with just your business name overlayed, and contact info on the back of the card?

[tim]

Farking ugly. Too square. Hard to read. 80's style design. You're not trying to show a portfolio, you're giving people contact details. Plus those photos will likely dissuade anyone from wanting to contact you anyway.

[Naturalist]

Personally, I would lose the wood background and select a font that doesn't look like dried paint.

[ryant35]

It has potential, but same comments as above, also are these your best photos? Also showing your apartment as just #4 instead of Apt. 4 gives the appearance of an office or a studio and not just your home.

[jgrussell]

Sigh... I'm getting old when I read the "first draft card" title and think of Selective Service...

My big problem with the boarded background is that the angle of the boards makes the text and images look tilted.

[badgerW]

The drop shadow on the text is way too deep IMO. Bring it up to where it's touching to the actual text so it's not giving that "everything is doubled" effect.

The wood background is pretty bad too.

[Picture North Carolina]

I'm not trying to be mean, controversial or funny, but rather straightforward and frank. Please accept that.

As far as the card, yes to the comments above - redesign.

Now to the other part: I'm not liking the name. BS Photography. I think when a person sees / reads that, the obvious joke / connotation is going to run thru their mind.

[jacuff]

Not to be the grammar police or anything like that, but check how you wrote the city and state. Jeannette, PA 15644 would be how it is normally written. The US Post Office actually prefers no comma or punctuation, but it really doesn't seem to matter. However, in this instance, the comma is misplaced.

Thumbing through my business cards that I keep, I would think you would be more of a carpenter or some other type of contractor other than a photographer because of the wood design. I'd lose it. The three photos don't do much for you either. I agree with CannedHeat. Life threw you a curve ball when you were given the initials BS. Is your website schenkphoto.com? Maybe instead of BS Photography, put Schenk Photo instead. A link to you website would probably be better than the three photos. This way you can update the best work you show to people without having to print new business cards up.

[beano]

If you're planning on getting these printed, i'd steer clear of any photoshop effects. I agree with everyone else with regards to scrapping these and starting again. ;)

Apart from the obvious 'BS' connotations, i really like the logo (without the bevel effects).

As for the background image.... If you're going to use an image for the background, it needs to be something minimal, that doesn't pull your attention away from the text, as this is the important bit. ;)

Use the same rules setting out your business card, as you would when setting out a photo; the same rules apply with regard to what the eye finds easy/difficult to look at. ;)

[dr1ft]

Is that your home address or studio address? If it's a home address, I wonder if you should leave it out. While an address on the card is convenient for your customers, it would be a security issue for me.

How do others feel about this?

[ryant35]

Is that your home address or studio address? If it's a home address, I wonder if you should leave it out. While an address on the card is convenient for your customers, it would be a security issue for me.

How do others feel about this?

I don't have my address on my cards or on my website. If someone needs to mail me something I send them my address directly. My invoices also have my address.

I just don't find it necessary, maybe list your city, or areas you can cover.

[beano]

Is that your home address or studio address? If it's a home address, I wonder if you should leave it out. While an address on the card is convenient for your customers, it would be a security issue for me.

How do others feel about this?

When i made cards for my Tiling business i left the address off, as i didn't feel it was THAT important for initial contact. My address is on all my other paperwork though.

Also, when showing cards on-line, i tend to blur the contact detail to avoid spam calls/e-mails. ;)

[Chris]

Sigh... I'm getting old when I read the "first draft card" title and think of Selective Service...

That's what I thought too!!

[Jared Byer]

Personally, I would lose the wood background and select a font that doesn't look like dried paint.

Agreed, maybe there should be a flow chart



Is your font Papyrus?

If yes, don't use it.

If no, does it look like papyrus.

If yes, don't use it.

If no, then go for it.

[Hikin Mike]

Agreed, maybe there should be a flow chart



Is your font Papyrus?

If yes, don't use it.

If no, does it look like papyrus.

If yes, don't use it.

If no, then go for it.

LOL!!!

My first card used Papyrus. :oops:

[bs6851]

Thank you all for the comments I put together another quick version let me know if I'm on a better track now? And what I can do to improve it. Thanks again guys.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/Business/Business_Cardfront2copy.jpg

[ryant35]

I like the dark background, but not so much the PS on the background.

I can picture that printed mat black with with a smooth texture.

Now you will have to make it double sided to include your contact info & website.

[bs6851]

So you would prefer something like this?

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/Business/Business_Cardfront2copy_1.jpg

[ryant35]

Yeah but now it looks too plain...:lol: Sorry... I'm too indecisive.

[bs6851]

I was thinking that I could have the black as a mat finish and then the SP gloss to give it some texture similar idea to this card I saw on http://www.tasteofinkstudios.com/files/images/Silk-Business-Cards.jpg
http://www.tasteofinkstudios.com/files/images/Silk-Business-Cards.jpg

Does that change your mind about the "SP"s or make it worse?

[ryant35]

I think the texture would be great with the SPs in the background, maybe make them bigger so you can feel them. If they will be behind the text I would make it a darker color that contrasts with the text so it's easy to read.

[badgerW]

Try arranging it something like this.... and with a glow instead of a stroke, and some embossing. It looks kinda funky because there was a bit of your original stroking left, so it still shows up... and obviously my font choice for the right side is wrong. But just to give you the idea. I think this would look pretty slick on a glossy printed business card.

http://www.wbwdd.com/schenk2.jpg

[ryant35]

I like putting photos on my cards, some of my best work that year.

[tim]

I'm not trying to be mean, controversial or funny, but rather straightforward and frank. Please accept that.

As far as the card, yes to the comments above - redesign.

Now to the other part: I'm not liking the name. BS Photography. I think when a person sees / reads that, the obvious joke / connotation is going to run thru their mind.

The funny part is no-one else could even read the name to make that BS comment!

So you would prefer something like this?

Better.

Try arranging it something like this.... and with a glow instead of a stroke, and some embossing. It looks kinda funky because there was a bit of your original stroking left, so it still shows up... and obviously my font choice for the right side is wrong. But just to give you the idea. I think this would look pretty slick on a glossy printed business card.

Nooooooooooooooooooooo

I like putting photos on my cards, some of my best work that year.

Very very few people put photos on cards. I did for some of my early cards, but I don't any more. The ones without look MUCH classier and higher end.

[bs6851]

Something like this?

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/Business/Business_Cardfront2copy_2.jpg
or
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/Business/Business_Cardfront2copy_3.jpg
or without glow / bevel
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/Business/Business_Cardfront2copy_4.jpg
and
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/Business/Business_Cardfront2copy_5.jpg

[ryant35]

I like the first one if it's printed with the raised ink. Maybe even have the background embossed and the text raised. That would probably be pretty expensive thought.

[beano]

Do not use glow or bevel!!!! :lol:

Your design is looking much better now, and i like the idea of the raised surfaces for the S & P. ;)

[bs6851]

Thank you guys for continuing to comment and help me come to a final product. Here is the front and back of new design. Is this good enough to call a final product or does any of you have more suggestions to make it better? I would much rather take the time doing more versions then get something printed that could have been better.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/Business/Business_Cardfront2copy_5-1.jpg

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/Business/Business_Cardback2copy.jpg

[tim]

Something like this?

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/Business/Business_Cardfront2copy_2.jpg

All of these look like like cr**, like they were done in powerpoint by a 12 year old with no sense of space, color, layout. They look so dated if I was given this card by someone involved with a visual art i'd immediately throw it away. Sorry to be harsh, but you're just not getting the message, and there's a lot of yes men here telling you you're doing well. You're not. Really, really not. You really have to choose who's opinion is worth listening to on forums - obviously I think mine's fairly important ;) You never know who's a spotty 14 year old with no skill or experience, and who's competent. Check out profiles and websites of people if you want to judge who to pay attention to.

Hire someone with graphic design skills, like www.designoutpost.com

[beano]

Another avenue is to register on the Graphic Design Forums (http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/) and get their input. They can be quite harsh, but they know their stuff.

The 1st thing they will tell you is to close Photoshop and open up a vector based program, like Illustrator. But if you don't have one and don't want to buy one, you'll have to make do. ;)

[bs6851]

All of these look like like cr**, like they were done in powerpoint by a 12 year old with no sense of space, color, layout. They look so dated if I was given this card by someone involved with a visual art i'd immediately throw it away. Sorry to be harsh, but you're just not getting the message, and there's a lot of yes men here telling you you're doing well. You're not. Really, really not. You really have to choose who's opinion is worth listening to on forums - obviously I think mine's fairly important ;) You never know who's a spotty 14 year old with no skill or experience, and who's competent. Check out profiles and websites of people if you want to judge who to pay attention to.

Hire someone with graphic design skills, like www.designoutpost.com (http://www.designoutpost.com)

Tim,
Harsh is fine. Its the only way I'll improve so keep the comments coming. Other then hiring someone to design one for me. What can I do to improve the design. I admittedly need help or I wouldn't have started this thread. I thought that people with more talent would be willing to make suggestions to help me along. I would like to hear from you details on what you think is wrong and how I might correct it. Thank you for your time and comments.
Ben

[bs6851]

Another avenue is to register on the Graphic Design Forums (http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/) and get their input. They can be quite harsh, but they know their stuff.

The 1st thing they will tell you is to close Photoshop and open up a vector based program, like Illustrator. But if you don't have one and don't want to buy one, you'll have to make do. ;)

I have Illustrator just haven't worked much with it guess its time to dig into it now though thanks for the advice.
Ben

[tim]

The logo looks very dated. The typography's boring. The layout has no balance. Red/pink and white on black doesn't look so good.

Check out the "show us your business card" thread.

[beano]

Check out the "show us your business card" thread.

Which is HERE (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=118646). ;)

Some nice designs on there too... Have a good look through it ben, and also take a look at that forum i linked before, and some Graphic Design websites too, just to get the creative juices flowing. :D

[badgerW]

I guess to avoid that dated and boring typography look, you could always go with a cool and edgy font like Mistral.

[bs6851]

Thanks I'm looking through those sites now thanks

[bs6851]

OK so tried to fix some of the problems with the design. I tried to get the red more of the red it should have been, logo is probably still boring but changed the script and lost the words so just initials now, changed the background to an image (please tell me if this works), back side I turned my horizontal line into a vertical one and added a small logo there to help balance that out a little better also changed have of the script but left half the boring set.

Please let me know how you feel about this version. Thanks again to everyone that has commented thus far.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/Business/Business_Cardfront2copy_17.jpg
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/Business/Business_Cardback2copy_7.jpg

[tim]

That's worse. I can see four kinds of ugly:
- A forum type "me taking a photo" background.
- Ugly logo
- White and red in a really ugly font.
- Unbalanced layout

I couldn't do it myself, I had to hire a professional. I suggest you need to do the same.

[beano]

I couldn't do it myself, I had to hire a professional. I suggest you need to do the same.

Why should the OP hire someone if they WANT to learn to do it themselves? As long as they're in no rush, they can get there eventually. I have designed a couple of business cards, and although they may not be the greatest, it's more satisfying creating your own.


Ben, the new script isn't very nice, and to be honest i'd avoid script on the contact details, as it's harder to read. If you're sold on using a script font, i'd only use it on the logo. Then i'd look at two different variants of the same font family for the rest of the text. You could use two totally different fonts, but it's harder to match them up. ;)

I'd avoid the use of gradients too, as this can cause pretty bad banding when it goes to print. ;)

The background picture i could take or leave, but the way you're trying to lay the text out around it, leaves it feeling unbalanced.

Best thing to do, is take the colour out of it. Always start with black and white (not greyscale). Once you've got the design looking good in solid black and white, you can worry about adding the colour. ;)

[bs6851]

That's worse. I can see four kinds of ugly:
- A forum type "me taking a photo" background.
- Ugly logo
- White and red in a really ugly font.
- Unbalanced layout

I couldn't do it myself, I had to hire a professional. I suggest you need to do the same.

Thanks for you honest opinion once again Tim. I know I'm going to fail many times before I get to a point where I can make a good version. What is that quote about giving a man a fish he'll eat for a day but teach him to fish and he'll eat everyday, something to that effect anyway. Thats how I feel if I give up and have someone make my card I will have to hire someone every time I want to change it.

If you don't mind I would like to ask you some questions about my "four kinds of ugly".
-Would you prefer just no image at all or you don't like that one. My original thought with this was that interesting to have them looking down the barrel of the lens. and I didnt want it to be the most obvious thing when you first looked at it. That why it was put behind all the layers of gradient. Is that a bad concept or just a bad image?
-Whats ugly about the logo the script, layout of the letter, or the color? Or do you just not like the "SP" at all.
-what fonts are OK to use? had do you just not link red / white / black at all?
-are both front and back unbalanced? What do you feel that is pushing it out of balance? I understand the front I wasn't sure about the logo on the front because to me it made that side heavy.

Thank you for any advice you provide.
Ben

Why should the OP hire someone if they WANT to learn to do it themselves? As long as they're in no rush, they can get there eventually. I have designed a couple of business cards, and although they may not be the greatest, it's more satisfying creating your own.


Ben, the new script isn't very nice, and to be honest i'd avoid script on the contact details, as it's harder to read. If you're sold on using a script font, i'd only use it on the logo. Then i'd look at two different variants of the same font family for the rest of the text. You could use two totally different fonts, but it's harder to match them up. ;)

I'd avoid the use of gradients too, as this can cause pretty bad banding when it goes to print. ;)

The background picture i could take or leave, but the way you're trying to lay the text out around it, leaves it feeling unbalanced.

Best thing to do, is take the color out of it. Always start with black and white (not greyscale). Once you've got the design looking good in solid black and white, you can worry about adding the colour. ;)

First I want to thank you for understanding that I want to learn.

A guy on another forum suggested sans-serif as the font that I should be using would you agree?

The gradients that I used were 5 layers of linear with transparency one from each corner then one down the middle. Will I still have printing issues?

Front background image I thought about putting the logo in the middle of the lens and centering the image. Would this help or is that not the issue?

Thank you for the advice I will start with a plain back and white edit and and post that till I can get a sound design and then start looking at color schemes thanks.
Ben

[beano]

First I want to thank you for understanding that I want to learn.

A guy on another forum suggested sans-serif as the font that I should be using would you agree?

The gradients that I used were 5 layers of linear with transparency one from each corner then one down the middle. Will I still have printing issues?

Front background image I thought about putting the logo in the middle of the lens and centering the image. Would this help or is that not the issue?

Thank you for the advice I will start with a plain back and white edit and and post that till I can get a sound design and then start looking at color schemes thanks.
Ben

No worries. ;)

Sans-Serif isn't a font. The serif is the bits on the ends of the letter,like the feet anh tip in a capital A. Sans-Serif, just means without serif, like the font being used on this forum. Serif (see the feet). Sans-Serif (no feet). I quite like Futura & Helvetica at the moment, but they're not particularly arty..

The print guys over at the graphic design forum always say to stay away from gradients of any kind, but if i was you, i'd ask over there for a more conclusive answer.

BTW your red and white colour scheme isn't so bad, but have a look at a light grey background. It may be a little bit dated, but i think it still looks good. Generally, when choosing colours you need to think about what the colour signifies too.

With regard to logo placement on the back of the card... Try it! :D

Keep cracking away at it, it'll be good to see the finished result. ;)

[bs6851]

OK well this is new time roman got rid of gradient and image centered logo. did one in black and white so not dealing with color right now just layout and script. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/Business/Business_Cardfront2copy_19.jpg

[beano]

Okay, balance looks better.

You need to look further afield for your fonts, but i guess the standard fonts will do until you have more of a direction.. I still prefer a script for the logo, how's your own handwriting?

Have you decided on a company name yet? Do you have a studio/Are you planning on setting up a studio? I think i prefer Ben Schenk photography to just schenk photography, but you'd just have to be careful about never abbreviating to BS Photography.

[bs6851]

Okay, balance looks better.

You need to look further afield for your fonts, but i guess the standard fonts will do until you have more of a direction.. I still prefer a script for the logo, how's your own handwriting?

Have you decided on a company name yet? Do you have a studio/Are you planning on setting up a studio? I think i prefer Ben Schenk photography to just schenk photography, but you'd just have to be careful about never abbreviating to BS Photography.

I had first thought of Benjamin Schenk Photography and thats how I started designing logo and then it became quickly came to my attention that the the BSP just wouldnt work the domain schenkphoto was available so picked that up most of the other options were really long or not available. I suppose I could keep it Ben Schenk Photography just have to figure out what to do with logo so it doesnt look like a bunch of "BS".

When choosing a font is there a rule of thumb to follow? I see all kinds as I research card and logo so what makes one right and one wrong? My handwriting isnt neat at all so dont think I could use that.

I dont have a studio currently but I would like to have a studio but not in the plans for the next year or two.

I did the back the same way just in black and white same layout I didnt post but is the back have balanced or do I need to redo the layout?
Thanks Ben

[badgerW]

One thing you have to fix is the aliasing on the fonts. I assume you're using Photoshop? Those jagged edges around the fonts are the result of no aliasing. Change it to smooth or something.

Chosing fonts... geeze. Basically, serif fonts (like Times) look older, distinguished, classical, stable, businesslike. Sans-serif fonts look modern, stylish, hip, minimalist. So depending on what kind of photography you do, you can choose the broad font category that way. For a traditional type photographer doing weddings and portraits, serif is not a bad way to go. There are also "script" fonts which can tend more towards the elegant calligraphy or to the "handwritten scrawl".

Basically, you want something readable. But you also want something that communicates what you're about. The serif/sans-serif distinction is one thing. A lot of people hate on the classics like Times, but there is a reason why it's a classic. Look into Garamond, that's another classic that's a lot less used, but it's one of my favorites. Helvetica is a classic sans-serif font, much better than copycats such as Arial. Basically you just have to see how it fits into your design. Some fonts are heavier weight than others. Some are taller and skinnier vs. being shorter and fatter. Some fonts are nice except for certain letters which catch your eye and make you say "ew!" These fonts can be ok if you don't have to use those letters.

So for example for your logo you want to look for a font with a nice uppercase "S" since it will most likely be used several times on your card. It could be relatively curvy or relatively straight, the serifs could stick up and down at the ends or just one direction, it could be relatively symmetrical (top and bottom halves approx. the same size) or the bottom could be a lot bigger than the top, the middle part could be basically diagonal or tend more toward the horizontal. All of these things will add a flavor to the font, and you should just pick one that you think fits you and your business. The big letters such as the uppercase "S" can also be used to influence other parts of your design. E.g. you could mimic the curves or the angle of the diagonal with other design elements elsewhere on the card.

A lot of font advice that you will read comes from the print world, i.e. newspapers and magazines. So there are "rules" such as "never change a font's proportions" which obviously apply when you're talking about many lines of text (the classic fonts are pretty much that way because they are very readable, and making them taller/shorter/wider/skinnier can screw with that big-time) but for a business card with maybe 20 words on it, perfect readability is not your biggest concern. Of course you want it to be readable, but it doesn't matter if it's a little fatiguing. I will say though, keep the number of fonts to a minimum. If you pick a special font for your logo, you probably don't want to use it for the whole thing, but keep it in the same general style.

Also, balance. You can purposely make your design balanced or unbalanced. You don't have to center everything in the middle of the card, if you have a good reason not to. So take for example your first attempt on the first page. The "BS Photography" logo was pretty horizontal, so IMO it should go at the top and either be centered or offset into one corner. The second attempt had the "Schenk Photo" logo which was basically square. I would offset that to the left side with text balancing it on the right side (which I did on the example I posted). Your last example logo with the "SP" is very vertical, so again I would probably put that logo to the left side and have something balancing it on the right side. Or you could make the "SP" logo more square and have more options as to placement.

Part of the problem here is that you are trying to do a design with only typography. I suggest you pick some sort of design element, no matter how simple, and work with it and see where it takes you. I did an example here with a blue circle. It's super simple, and of course it's not pixel-perfect layout-wise, but you can see how I used the same blue circle in a couple of different ways.

http://www.wbwdd.com/schenk3.jpg

http://www.wbwdd.com/schenk4.jpg

I really don't think this card design would work, as the front is a bit too vague (it doesn't say "photography" anywhere on it) and I don't really know what to put on the back, but I'm just trying to get you to think of some design elements as opposed to just messing around with fonts. Shapes, colors, a line at a certain angle with a certain weight.... lots of simple things can be the idea that you can latch on to and carry throughout the design.

[bs6851]

badger,

Thank you for the comments and advice. If I understand you correctly I should design a logo that is not a font only based one and then try to carry then theme or feel of the logo throughout the card design?
Ben

[badgerW]

badger,

Thank you for the comments and advice. If I understand you correctly I should design a logo that is not a font only based one and then try to carry then theme or feel of the logo throughout the card design?
Ben

Yes, that's a good solid strategy for designing your card IMO.

[tim]

Thanks for you honest opinion once again Tim. I know I'm going to fail many times before I get to a point where I can make a good version. What is that quote about giving a man a fish he'll eat for a day but teach him to fish and he'll eat everyday, something to that effect anyway. Thats how I feel if I give up and have someone make my card I will have to hire someone every time I want to change it.

If you don't mind I would like to ask you some questions about my "four kinds of ugly".
-Would you prefer just no image at all or you don't like that one. My original thought with this was that interesting to have them looking down the barrel of the lens. and I didnt want it to be the most obvious thing when you first looked at it. That why it was put behind all the layers of gradient. Is that a bad concept or just a bad image?
-Whats ugly about the logo the script, layout of the letter, or the color? Or do you just not like the "SP" at all.
-what fonts are OK to use? had do you just not link red / white / black at all?
-are both front and back unbalanced? What do you feel that is pushing it out of balance? I understand the front I wasn't sure about the logo on the front because to me it made that side heavy.

Honestly I don't know, if I could help I would. I'm not good at this stuff, I just know what I like and what I don't like.

I think you need to work out what you're trying to do with your cards. Are you just trying to give people who are already interested all your contact details? In that case just go simple. For reference, here's my current cards, the black border shows where it's cut. It's printed on a linen textured card, and looks quite classy.

http://mrwild.co.nz/unprotected/potn/BusinessCardSept08.jpg


http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/Business/Business_Cardfront2copy_19.jpg

Much better. Simple, well balanced. I prefer black on white, personally.

[beano]

I did the back the same way just in black and white same layout I didnt post but is the back have balanced or do I need to redo the layout?

I think we're getting turned about!?! You mean the side with your details on? If so, that's the front usually. ;)
Yep, i think that looks okay, just make sure everything's centred, with equal sized gaps etc.

Fonts are tricky, always the hardest part for me. As with any part of your design, you want the font to say something about you/your company. Nothing should be random. Fonts tend to come in and out of fashion. Do you want to come across as trendy? Artistic? Professional? Conservative? Dated? Font choice alone can say a lot about you on a subconcious level. 1st thing you need to do is write a list of words describing how you want your company to be seen, what sort of image do you want to create? Then either start paying attention to advertising/stationary/business cards that depict the image you want to portray, or put your list on the graphic design forum (damn i should be on some sort of commision for those guys!) and ask for font suggestions. I can almost guarantee that they won't suggest free fonts, as they are usually inferior, but at least once you know some names you can look for close alternatives. ;)

[bs6851]

Ok so designed another logo and let me know what you think... Also I did another graphic just to give an idea of possible company name in colors and script. I did these ones in Illustrator and I'm beginning to like it. I'll probably use it for all future version.

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/Business/Logo1copy.jpg

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/Business/NameLogo1copy.jpg

[ief]

Here Ben, just got home from work and feeling the graphic vibes itching again.. so i kinda made something up, i have no idea if you like this 'style' or not, maybe a bit too... "elegant"?

[dr1ft]

Both look great.

[bs6851]

ief thanks for throwing those together. They look like a standard card to me and that's OK but I wanted to push the limits and have something people will be talking about after they get it. I was still playing around with the logo I did the other day and realized that by flipping the "S" and tilting it that it might just look like a heart. So do you see the heart or is it to vague? Does it work for you?

http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/Business/Logo1copy_1.jpg
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/Business/NameLogo1copy_1.jpg

[beano]

I quite like where you're going with the initials, although a heart doesn't really 'say' photography. Not sure that it has to though!?! It doesn't work well with the rest of the words though, just reads as chenk photography, you kinda lose the S. I'd have both words spelt out, as well as using the mark. ;)

ief, those cards have quite a classy feel to them, although they could do with some tweaking. Ben, you could try that layout with the new mark and see how it looks? ;)

[ief]

I quite like where you're going with the initials, although a heart doesn't really 'say' photography. Not sure that it has to though!?! It doesn't work well with the rest of the words though, just reads as chenk photography, you kinda lose the S. I'd have both words spelt out, as well as using the mark. ;)

ief, those cards have quite a classy feel to them, although they could do with some tweaking. Ben, you could try that layout with the new mark and see how it looks? ;)


yeah, i kinda figured "wedding and portraits, that could use a classy, serious touch" or something. I'll admit they're a bit boring, though. Feel free to tweak them if you're up to it!

Ben, although i understand your desire to set yourself apart from the rest, the danger in a too 'distinctive' card lies in the 'gimmick' factor, something you dont want ofcourse. If you really want to make something 'different', well, thats not easy to do with typography only i'm afraid... you should think about a really cool punchline or concept. Typography "alone" will allways be a tad "boring" : -)

And hm, no, i can't see a heart in that, sorry. God knows i tried : p Hearts are red, too, thats half of their "look", so blue and black wont work too well. SP is short for socialist party around here as well, haha. :p

But hey, you'll get there! And if all else fails just put some nakid chick on the front card. That always works. :)


(if anyone else wants me to conjure up some bizzcard crap, just pm.)

[bs6851]

ief I do want something that will be taken seriously but I also want it to eye catching and different. I dont mind you throwing so idea together but I really am looking for advice on how to become successful at making then myself. So any advice that will help me make a better design I'm up for it. Thanks
Ben