Critique my business card

[madmike283]

My wife came up with this card for me today. I had a hard time coming up with something so she helped me out and did this all herself. What do you all think about it? Be honest with you thoughts and we appreciate it.

[tgb412-canon@yahoo.com]

Mike,

I think your wife has the right idea of a good design, but she can fine tune some aspects of your business card. In essence, you have three horizontal layers of information. The film strip and MM logo is layer number 1, description of what you do is layer number 2 and your contact information is layer number 3.

I think the first horizontal layer works because it is visual and descriptive and leads the viewer to the next horizontal layer.

The description layer is a nice typeface but it can be improved. I would try and use bold type because it is hard to read some of the letters (bold should also bring attention for the viewer and lead to both of the other horizontal layers). Also, there is too much space between the first line and the second line. In other words, move "by Mike Morgan" up and closer to "Sports and Action Photography."

The contact information layer needs a different type face. It is the correct point size, but it is too different from the other horizontal layers. I would play around with something similar to the MM logo type face if possible. Good luck in all your endeavors.

[tim]

I don't say why, but I don't like it at all. I'd probably recommend getting your own domain too, it looks more professional and costs very little.

[madmike283]

Thanks for the honest recommendations guys. I was thinking the same thing about the contact info font. It seemed a bit too different from the description font. We will continue to work on it, and may come up with some other ideas.

Tim, I am dumb to the idea of getting my own domain. I'll have to do some searching and find some info on it. Thanks.

[formula4speed]

I'd ditch the contact info font as well, as far as domain go registering it is dirt cheap its the hosting you pay for but its really not pricey. I use midphase.com and its 8 bucks a month, if you register with them they'll throw in the domain name for free as well.

[madmike283]

Well, I use smugmug for hosting and selling of prints, etc. I don't know enough about this stuff yet to build my own site and manage it. I will likely only buy a domain name and link it to my smugmug account.

[robertwgross]

The filmstrip device is kind of cute in a historical way. If you use that, I would make sure that it looks more like a real filmstrip. Otherwise, the idea may be lost.

I can still remember film.

---Bob Gross---

[Curtis N]

Mike,
You might want to include an email address, at least until you get your own web site with a "contact us" button.

[madmike283]

Thanks guys. I just registered a domain name, mikemorganphotos.com. It's not real short, but still much easier to say and remember than mmorgan.smugmug.com. I'll tweak the filmstrip a little to make it look more real.

[Loki1117]

The filmstrip device is kind of cute in a historical way. If you use that, I would make sure that it looks more like a real filmstrip. Otherwise, the idea may be lost.

I can still remember film.

Yeah, I kind of like the nostalgic feeling I get looking at the film strip. ;)

[CyberPet]

Yup, skip the filmstrip.. that just doesn't work... it'll look nice and clean with the M&M like that.

[neil_r]

Looks very DIY, For all of the reasons above I do not think it would impress as a "professional" business card, especially given that you are in a creative visual business.

Nl

[condyk]

Looks like a clip art job from the mid 1980's. Sorry to be harsh but it doesn't do a thing for me. You can get much sharper for very little money through a designer via somewhere like elance.com ... this is what you put in people's hands and how they remember you so it needs to say something other than 'clip art' and home made.

You need an email address on there too and I would want to know where you are in the world/country at least, if you don't add an address, and be able to call you without looking up a country/area code.

Finally ... there is absolutely no indication of anything to do with sports and action photography (I don't even know what that latter is!) and, while that is no big deal necessarily for some kinds of business, because you are working in a visual medium I would actually like to see something of your style reflected in the design.

[madmike283]

Hey, I asked for opinions, don't be sorry for being harsh. I can take constructive criticism and act on it. Maybe if I ask nice enough CyberPet would draft me up something.:)

What do you all think about dropping the film strip and adding an email address and location? I need something this week, but it doesn't necessarily have to be what I use from now until the end of time.

Damn it's tough to come up with something that I like. Simple, yet effective is what I want.

[eenorton]

I've designed some cards with this software. http://www.belltechsystems.com/business-card-software/default.asp You can download a trial version to see if it meets your needs. Or maybe just view some of their samples to get some ideas.

Beth

[tim]

I will likely only buy a domain name and link it to my smugmug account.

That's a good start :)

[xryx]

I like the two M's with the "negative" effect. That's a strong visual component. I don't think that the scripted typeface works for me at all. For me it's too much a portrait studio with fake backdrops. If I was designing this I would consider using a stronger font and maybe italicize to show motion. Maybe something sans serif like Spiderman from 1001fonts.com is a general idea but not the one that I would use, just the only one I can think of right now. But it might not work with the M's in the logo being serif. I try to stay away from too many competing typefaces as they get too busy.

That being said, I think you have a really good starting point with the logo. I would just fine tune it a bit.

Congrats on the domain and Good luck!

[Citizensmith]

Thanks guys. I just registered a domain name, mikemorganphotos.com. It's not real short, but still much easier to say and remember than mmorgan.smugmug.com. I'll tweak the filmstrip a little to make it look more real.

Mine is even longer, I ended up using www.notesfromtherivercity.com (http://www.notesfromtherivercity.com).
The site is up but still being worked on.

As for the business card, the onyl reason I can see for doing a black print card is you are getting them professionally printed. You can get some very high quality do-it-yourself business cards now (decent weight cardstock, no obvious perforations). My opinion is that you should be demonstrating what you do with a bright and eye catching photo. I'm by no means saying mine is perfect, but here is my take on the subject.

Probably being paranoid blurring out the address, but having that info all in one place and accessible on the web felt odd.

[theflyingkiwi]

you have some good ideas there but if I was you, I would keep it simple. The fonts you need to use should be clear and understood by anyone.

I hope you don't mind but I have made a slight change to your card.

have a gander

http://www.cuthbert.net.nz/business-card-draft4.gif

as you can see I have changed the font for sports and action photography, and your name (perhaps the most important part) in times new roman.

The 2 lines devides the card in 3 parts, top the logo, 2nd part is what you do and who are, 3rd is contact details. you can also remove the lines and keep it more simple.

Like anything the key is keeping it simple. the best web site (eg google.com) is simple.

[Carzee]

I think it could do with a small corner "clipart image" of a SLR or a flash.

Second thoughts, what about the M & M in the centre of a black lens cap?

[Carzee]

CitizenSmith -I like your "Notes" thingy idea. Works well.

[madmike283]

Again, thanks a lot for the input guys. Mark, I like your iteration. I liked the font that I used because it looked interesting, but I see how it doesn't quite work for my application.

[FotOz]

Have you ever thought of using Photoshop to make your business cards? I create mine in PS7 as a 6"x4" photos format with photograph/s as backdrops and put my text on top. I then create a new workspace @ 6"x4" and copy and paste the original into that 4 times, so I have 4 images at 3"x2" each on the one 6"x4" 'card'. I have them printed at my mini-lab and cut them with a guillotine. Each 'card' costs me 20c, so I get real photo business cards for 5c each. Simple and effective.

[CyberPet]

I'm sorry Mike, I can't seem to make a card with b/w only.... I just had to add some color. Shoot me. *giggles*

I liked the idea with the M's, but I did another spin on the font (I do have it somewhere, but I didn't have the energy to dig it out).... and then I made my own version of your design. So it's nothing new, just improved and added some color (color optional of course, but I kind of like the idea).

http://the-halls.se/edited/Mikes-Businesscard.jpg

[Claire]

I liked both nzl's and CyberPet's cards. I liked the original logo, it caught my eye immediately. I wasn't keen on the font for "Sports & Action Photography" though. For that I like CyberPet's font much better. I'm not that fond of Petra's version of the logo though. To me it doesn't feel that...serious. It looks fun and relaxed, but nothing I'd associate with sports and action, but that may just be me. Background colour works, but I think it'd work well with white background too.

[Rigrider]

Ok, I don't know where you're located...but you MM looks almost identical to the logo that M and M meat shops uses here in Canada... Not trying to be a jerk or anything, just wanted to point it out in case you didn't know.

L8r,

[Steve Parr]

http://www.cuthbert.net.nz/business-card-draft4.gif



I like this one, although I would lose the word "By" prior to the name...

Steve

[madmike283]

Great input again guys, thanks. Thank you to everyone especially that took some time to edit my card and draft something for me. The ideas are good, and I clearly see where our design needed revision. Petra, which font is that for the MM and "sports & action photography" text? I like it. When I get home I will maybe combine the designs of Petra and Mark and see what I can come up with.

[cjsa]

Mike- on some of these your area code is hard to read- probably not important if the cards are just for locals.

[dancad]

Ok, I don't know where you're located...but you MM looks almost identical to the logo that M and M meat shops uses here in Canada... Not trying to be a jerk or anything, just wanted to point it out in case you didn't know.

L8r,

That's the first thing I thought when I saw it too...You should check it out before you decide to use this logo, just in case...

[CyberPet]

Mike, the font is Trajan Pro for both the M & M and the text below (thought as to be a logo with symbols and text together).

Have fun!!!

Not sure if you guys refer to me... I'm in Sweden... over the pond you know. :D

[EricKonieczny]

Having just gone though allot of this with my own logo and business card design, I know it can be allot of work.

I think the first step is deciding on a good logo and stick with it. It has to describe you, be catchy, and effective with branding.

This is my fifth set of revisons and if you have follwoed them at all you will see how much they have changed .

http://www.ekreating.com/images/EK5.pdf

Once the logo is done, the business card will be simple, it should fit together with your style and the type of photography you do.

Keep it simple, but also realize that photography is a creative art form and you don't want a bland business card. Spend a little money on a professional graphic designer if needed.

Don't be cheap and get the poor card stock and not good printing.

Use a proessional printer such as http://www.sobegraphics.com/ or http://www.flyergiant.com/ .


The previous posted business cards just don't strike me as a card for Action and Sports. needs color also. I would pass up the card if was on a table.

[Claire]

I also think it lacks something that says Action & Sports. Just can't come up with what! Sorry, not being much help. :(

[theflyingkiwi]

Keep it simple, but also realize that photography is a creative art form and you don't want a bland business card. Spend a little money on a professional graphic designer if needed.


Your are right, photography is an art form, your business card shouldn't be. Your photos should speak volumes, and your business card should get people there. By keeping it black and white, and by using simple fonts you can get someone to the web site, and this is where you sale your work.

It's not case that your business card is going to be lying a table waiting for people to pick it up, you will more than likey hand it over when talking to people, who are interested in the work that you do.
They already have an interest in your work, the business card is to make sure they don't forget who & where you are, and where they can find examples of your work.

Stick with something simple to start off with and if you find that doesn't work then change it.

BTW I like what CyberPet did with the Action & Sports photography. Just don't like the background. eeek. :)

[madmike283]

I think I'm getting better. :) I may just go ahead and print this up in a small amount for now so I'll have something for the weekend. I kinda like it. You?

[Don Ellis]

I think I'm getting better. :) I may just go ahead and print this up in a small amount for now so I'll have something for the weekend. I kinda like it. You?

I'm coming to this a little late because I seldom enter "Talk About Photography" -- sorry.

Looking over the entries, CyberPet has the right idea with sans serif type. First of all, serif type in small sizes, like your contact information, is harder to read. Second, serif type for an Action and Sports Photographer is like John Wayne ordering sherry.

You want bold, you want movement. Eras might be a good typeface -- bold with a slight forward slant and modern-looking.

Also, I question the logo -- most companies/individuals don't need logos but if they do, they must work with what the company is doing. Because MM are your initials, they should work together. Now they're enclosed in their own boxes with different backgrounds. You're separating them rather than connecting them. I would be inclined to either redo them or drop them -- and dropping them has some merit for a small initial print run. You can always add something more appropriate later, but changing a logo after you've introduced it is harder.

But that's just one man's opinion.

Good luck.

Don

[EricKonieczny]

I just met with my designer last night and went finalized my logo, picked out the three colors from the Pantone swatch, and we started skethcing ideas for the business card.

I think to many people and business rush into just gettig a card printed up. The business card is a big representation of your work, to get people to look at your website, remember you and call you. Everything has to flow together.

I will be handing these cards out and I will also be leaving them at places where I know clients maybe, and that is everywhere for photography.

As far as the M&M block logo, I just doesn't do much for me, it is not eye catching, the tan card does not speak sports and action photography, and tne fonts tend to be hard to read. Keep it with clean lines, but put some pop into it.

Use some color, even put a photo or two that represents your work, Remember there is two sides to a business card. Use one side for the major side as contact info, logo, etc, and the other can be more creative with 2 photos and a logo. and use a professional printer.

$100 US
5000 cards, Full color on both sides 4/4
12 pt glossy cover
FREE UV coating

2 sizes to choose from:
Standard - 2 X 3.5
Fold-Over - 4 X 3.5
24-48 hr turnaround

[madmike283]

I've totally changed things up while playing around with it. Comments?

[CyberPet]

Mike, I like!!!!

[eenorton]

Nice!

[madmike283]

Thanks Petra and eenorton! The font looks pretty rough in jpeg format, but it looks nice printed out. I like it a lot too and used a lot of the recommendations from you guys, thanks!

[robertwgross]

That last design gave me an idea.

How about the circle. But if you look closely, faded in behind the circle you see a little more detail and realize that it is the lens front of a camera.

Also, you can have a miniturized model release form printed on the back of the cards if you have nothing else to put there.

---Bob Gross---

[madmike283]

Bob, cool idea about the circle and lens thing. Unfortunately I am no good at this type of thing. I imagine someone could come up with something nice, but I wouldn't have the foggiest of how to go about doing it. The model release on back is an interesting idea too.

[FotOz]

Mike. I alluded to it in a nearlier post in this thread - use Adobe Photoshop. There is nothing you can't do with it.

[EricKonieczny]

Mike. I alluded to it in a nearlier post in this thread - use Adobe Photoshop. There is nothing you can't do with it.

I don't want to start a PhotoShop vs. Illistratoro debate, but

I wouldn't bother doing vector in Photoshop, because there's Illustrator for that. Photoshop is best for raster images. Vectors are so much clean edged i'd never vec in photoshop as you cant resize the image at all, not without loss of quality. http://e.deviantart.com/emoticons/s/smile.gif


Mike, the newst design is much better. I think you are about 75% finished. If you haven't figured out by now, I am really pciky when it comes to brand marketing. :D

I should have a PDF today from my designer that I will upload with a bunch of different business card designs she made up for me. Maybe it will inspire you.

[madmike283]

Steve, I can do simple PP of my photos in PS, but beyond that I'm no good. lol I used MS Publisher for this. That's about the best I have besides PS I guess.

Eric, I look forward to seeing your designs.

[EricKonieczny]

Mike here is my designs.

Some decent ideas and I like the good start.

my business card drafts,

But I am swtiching back to a darker blue I think,

It will open a 2 MB file PDF, remember this is going to be a 2 sided card, one with info and one with logo mainly.


http://www.ekreating.com/images/BCs.pdf

[Don Ellis]

I've totally changed things up while playing around with it. Comments?
Hi Mike,

In general, I like it a lot. You're to be commended for striking out in a new direction and dropping the MM. If I may make a few suggestions:

1. Put the right bracket on the same level as the left bracket -- you don't want people thinking their shots will be off-kilter, and square brackets are what you often see in viewfinders. Square, not staggered -- there's no reason to have them that way; they don't add anything. If you do this, you'll move "photographer" a little to the left.

2. Make the circle a little smaller so that it doesn't touch the lettering in the lower-left corner.

3. If you decide to put your entire mailing address (and perhaps you don't want to), put the web and email addresses on the left and your address on the right on four lines, with phone number.

4. Consider thermographic ink. It's special ink that they print with and then run through a heat roller so that it puffs up, giving you some slight three-dimensionality and a bit of touchy-feeling on your card. Very tactile and not much extra in cost.

5. Consider 300-gram card stock.

Cheers,

Don

[madmike283]

Cheers, and thanks for the critique Don. I needed something for this weekend and had a handful printed up the other day. I will consider your changes and will likely revise it some more before I print another batch. Thanks.

[FotOz]

Just to throw a tip in here, especially for those of you who want to make your own business cards or any other cards for that matter and intend to get them professionally printed - don't do them as RGB files. Use only CMYK. Why? Ask a printer why and he'll quickly tell you! I photograph for, design and produce A3 size brochures for a large manufacturing firm in my home city (all on PS) and they are done as CMYK. There is a lot of black involved in the brochures, and this makes it all the more important that it is CMYK.