Which look for High End?

Hi guys,

I do wedding photography part time but i'm slowly building my arsenal of gears to launch into full time business. I'm now organizing all my documents, packaging, brochure etc. I'm really looking to take a leap into the high-end market and I want my overall image to reflect that. I was designing my business card last night and a new idea came to me but I still don't know if looks more high end than my old logo. I need your guys help of choosing the right look for me.

The one at top is the new idea i drafted up, and the one below is the original. I LOVE the old one, but I also want a name that is easily remembered.... Thus VAL instead of VALDANO. Let me know what you guys think.

If you go with #2 you should adjust the kerning a bit.

I like #2 best.

I didn't see "Val" in the first one, just "VA" with lines.

#2 looks more like a classy professional thing to me. #1 looks more like a shoe brand, not something I'd think of when thinking wedding.

I think your original is solid and worth sticking with. And I think the full name sounds better.

Very best,

Thanks guys, I too prefer the second. Just needed a bit of reassurance I guess. I'll play with the kerning and see what comes from it @FarmerTed

I only see "VA" on the first one, not "VAL". The extended line of the L seems intentional to just match the V

kjonnnn wrote in post #18113624
#2. The kerning is fine.

Actually it's not. VA and DA need to be tightened up a bit. Visually there are big gaps.

#2 is the clear winner. It is different and a unique name - and therefore a good branding. The kerning needs indeed some care - right now all distances between the letters are the same - like on a good old typewriter. Visually, that doesn't work well. Additionally, I am irritated about the O and the D - it is not consistent. Either you go square all the way - then the D should be as well - or then you allow bends and the O should be round.

@FarmerTed - I appreciate the fredback but i'm a little confused. Is it that the spacing between looks inconsistent?

drmaxx wrote in post #18113731
#2 is the clear winner. It is different and a unique name - and therefore a good branding. The kerning needs indeed some care - right now all distances between the letters are the same - like on a good old typewriter. Visually, that doesn't work well. Additionally, I am irritated about the O and the D - it is not consistent. Either you go square all the way - then the D should be as well - or then you allow bends and the O should be round.

I too was thinking the same regarding the D and O. I just don't know how to execute such a look without making it difficult for new viewers to understand. It's already an unusual name and people seem to have a strugle to pronounce it correctly so I tried to differenciate the letters drastically just for clarity purposes. What do tou suggest?

It's the visual balance. Kerning helps things read better by adjusting the spacing between letter forms for a better visual aesthetic.
Most fonts are not built with spacing based on certain letter forms next to each other, they usually have a spacing default. This default works fine usually in body text but not with headlines (or logotypes).

Look at the negative space between the letter forms and you'll see there is a lot of space in between the V and A and the following D and A. If you moved these slightly closer together your imprint will improve.
After you move these print it out in many sizes and take a look... you may then want to move the A and L a bit closer as well.
Give it a try, I think you will like the result.

I also think some radii on the O might be beneficial... as right now only the D has curves and the letterform looks slightly out of place. It also makes the O look like a D to me (which is strange but it just does).

Maybe something like this...

FarmerTed1971 wrote in post #18113994
Maybe something like this...

Hosted photo: posted by FarmerTed1971 in
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forum: Presentation & Building Galleries

Farmerted I like the way you have done the letter form for the O here. For the D I would make the right hand side of the D the same as the O, but keep the corners square on the left hand side. I think that would keep consistency in the radii used, while still differentiating the D and the O.

Alan