My business card ideas and draft- Critique Please

[EricKonieczny]

Some decent ideas and I like the good start.

my business card drafts,

But I am swtiching back to a darker blue I think, I think this blue is a little too soft.

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

Full color on both sides 4/4 printing
12 pt glossy cover
UV Coated

Some decent ideas and I like the good start.
my business card drafts,
But I am swtiching back to a darker blue I think, I think this blue is a little too soft. It is hard to go from web colors to Pantone swatch colors.

They can be in any combination, they do not have to be next to each other

Feedback Appreciated

[Citizensmith]

11, 12, and 13 are my favorites.

12 because its simple, eye catching and shouldn't be too expensive to print if you decide you want letter head, t-shirt, hats, etc. The gradient fills and such could really add to the cost for other uses.

11 and 13 because I am of the opinion that as a photographer you should use every opportunity to showcase your work, no matter how small it would be. Its there to remind people that you are a photographer. However, I'd drop your logo off the back as you don't need it on both sides. Just make your contact info larger and easier to read. If you rearange the photos to put commercial in the middle you may be able to get the words and photos to line up a bit better.

Oh, and the double iamge kind of effect you used on a few fonts really badly hurts readability.

[Citizensmith]

And...

If you wanted a cheaper to print, single sided card I think 8 would be great just on its own.

[MazerRakhm]

I like 9 and 13, only the text in 9 is a little hard to read as Citizen Smith pointed out.

(I'm assuming that's one of the ones you were referring to.)

[EricKonieczny]

Thank You Citizensmith and MazerRakhm,

You suggestions are being used wisely, andI totally agree with the suggestions on the doubel type and use of the photos, I just wasn't sure if it was too much or just right.


More Critiques are needed. I will pst an update, as soon as I get it .

I am changing teh blue and grey to darker shades of both.

[madmike283]

Eric,

I like number 9 but I think the font would need the shadow taken away. Contact info on the back and it'd be a real nice card. I agree with the other guys also, 12 because of it's simplicity and 13 since it's shows some of your work. I don't know what you'd put on the back of 13 though. You're designer did some great work!

Mike

[EricKonieczny]

Here is an updated PDF with the sguuestion from yesterday. My designer is lightning fast.




http://www.ekreating.com/images/BCs2.pdf

[MazerRakhm]

Your designer is fast!

I like the top two.

[Citizensmith]

Same here, either of the top two.

I can't really define why but I think I prefer the second pair. My only other comment would be maybe increasing the emphasis your contact info receives so its a bit easier to find and read.

[EricKonieczny]

Same here, either of the top two.

I can't really define why but I think I prefer the second pair. My only other comment would be maybe increasing the emphasis your contact info receives so its a bit easier to find and read.


Citizensmith so which ones do you like better?

[Don Ellis]

Hi Eric,

Reading Mike's business card thread, I took a look at your cards and sent you a PM before I realized that you asked for a critique in this thread. So some of what I've said, you may have already heard... and I may add a few things.

Like Mike, I think you should scrap your original ideas and start over. I've taken a look at your photography and it's so bold, vibrant and alive that these blue/gray designs don't come close to matching the impact of what you do with a camera.

In no particular order:

1. Drop the ek logo ... it doesn't serve any purpose, even mounted in your camera logo. Your photography is personal, you should be a person. Eric K. Or Eric. Or Eric Konieczny. Or something. "eKreating" doesn't mean much to new readers and you don't want to explain yourself. The lowercase "e" automatically means "electronic" these days -- e-bill, e-newsletter, etc. You're a photographer and you're going to be producing prints in the real world, not just e-photos. "Kreating"? I don't think most people are going to get "creating" out of that, especially with the "e".

Eric K Photography is pretty good-looking and pretty memorable and will save people worry about last-name pronunciation. You'll end up as Eric the K to a lot of people in the club scene... not a bad thing.

2. Lose the blue and gray. I've seen your target market in your photos and you're going to appeal to their grandmothers with that color scheme.

3. Drop the box camera logo... that's not what you shoot with and you're by no means retro.

4. Forget the meaningless graphic swoops and don't sent your five focuses on an angle.

5. Pick one great image -- I like "Blonde Bombshell" http://www.ekreating.com/gallery/photo.php?photo=96&exhibition=12&u=1627|9|... -- and center her on the back of your card. Put three of your specialties on the left and two on the right (or make up another one for the right to balance 3/3). The have lines going in to her glasses (fashion), hair (commercial), waist (sports), plastic cups (events), bum (nightlife). Whatever... just skip the five photos idea. If you can't stretch her to fit your five (for example, you want a shot with sneakers so you can use "sports", then shoot another). But you get my drift. You want the impact of a single photo with a little humor thrown in. Edgy. Put her on one side, all your information on the other side.

6. Don't use copy over a visual, as in 2, 4, 11 and 13... it's hard to read.

7. No drop shadows.

8. Forget most graphics... keep it plain but stylish and elegant.

9. Remember that I like your photography and that I'm offering these comments in a very supportive vein. You need a card design that reflects your talent as a photographer.

10. Ignore my comments about eKreating if you must... but remember that you can still use that as your website address and have your name on your card.

Cheers,

Don

[Citizensmith]

Citizensmith so which ones do you like better?

I like the two on the top row. The differences are getting very subtle I just think they balance a little better.