I'm taking the plunge - DPChallenge Forums

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Minolta

03/04/2006 12:50:30 PM · #1

I know I've not been very active lately (I must admit I miss you guys)... I've been busy trying to make a go of my photography (among other things)... more about that later ;-)

I need your opinion on a business card... I threw it together this morning to help "get my name out there"... whatcha think? Please be brutally honest.

MrEd

Sony DSLR-A100

03/04/2006 12:53:18 PM · #2

I think it looks fine except that 'Specializing in:' part looks weird in the middle there. Maybe shift it all the way left and put a design (or photo?) there? Just a thought.

tryals15

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Carl Zeiss Planar T 50mm f/1.7

03/04/2006 12:54:06 PM · #3

It looks pretty good... a couple of things that stand out are the underlined url, and the alignment of your specialties... personally, I'd get rid of the underline, and make sure that the specializations are all uniformly aligned. Just a thought...

deapee

Kodak V803

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

03/04/2006 12:55:19 PM · #4

I think it looks very un-professional. It looks exactly as you explain it, as if it was "thrown together."

And another suggestion, especially if you're ordering a decent quantity and don't feel like ordering more shortly, don't 'specialize' in anything on the card...it's un-removeable. You can always turn a job down, but if you 'specialize' you may lose the option to turn those jobs down.

yakatme

Lytro Illum Light Field Digital

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

03/04/2006 12:57:02 PM · #5

Especially for photography, I think that a minimalist type photo, possibly of a still lake with a waterbird in the corner, would serve well as the background. It looks a little plain without something like that, and I believe it would say "here's a photographer's business card" immediately upon seeing it.

Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G

03/04/2006 01:05:33 PM · #6

Originally posted by deapee:

I think it looks very un-professional. It looks exactly as you explain it, as if it was "thrown together."

And another suggestion, especially if you're ordering a decent quantity and don't feel like ordering more shortly, don't 'specialize' in anything on the card...it's un-removeable. You can always turn a job down, but if you 'specialize' you may lose the option to turn those jobs down.

I was looking for "filler" can you suggest some alternatives?

Originally posted by yakatme:

I wanted to use a photo, but I'm hesitant to do that... "Fine art photography" doesn't lend itself well to using an image on a business card. My main focus will be nudes/bodyscapes, but I also will do infant photography and maternity photography. If I use any of these images as examples of my work, I could/may exclude another area of interest.... Quite a conundrum.

Suggestions?

Message edited by author 2006-03-04 13:05:56.

vikas

Apple iPhone 13

03/04/2006 01:42:21 PM · #7

Did some modifications to what you have there, not much but its just things I thought were wrong with what you have there
you have an impressive website and I will always keep it the highlight to showcase the work.

you can always put a picture at the back of the card, just a little detailed thumbnail image in the center.

03/04/2006 01:52:03 PM · #8

Originally posted by vikas:

duh! I must be an idiot... been looking at web layouts too much and drew a complete blank on the business card layout... (horse of a completely different color. That looks MUCH better vikas....thanx!

Edit: LOL.... what does that say about someone who does "graphic design" that can't even do his OWN business cards!!! Geesh!

Message edited by author 2006-03-04 13:55:38.

03/04/2006 02:06:58 PM · #9

OK.... Updated version (with suggestions taken into account).

Better?

03/04/2006 02:23:41 PM · #10

Its really bland. People would expect a graphic designer to have a more professional looking card. I think it needs some kinda graphic design on it. Not necessarily a photo but something that grabs your attention.

This isn't a great example but you can see that it catches your eye even before you look at the informatin there.

03/04/2006 02:25:34 PM · #11

Originally posted by Palmetto_Pixels:

OK.... Updated version (with suggestions taken into account).

Better?

This feels off balance to me. I think the photo should either be larger or more centered on the left side. Or maybe some other graphics to balance it out?

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Nikon

03/04/2006 02:33:01 PM · #12

This would feel more balanced to me

Apple iPhone

03/04/2006 02:43:22 PM · #13

i like fayes take on the card

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM II

03/04/2006 03:15:26 PM · #14

OK guys.... how's this one?

colyla

Canon EOS-50D

03/04/2006 03:42:53 PM · #15

Originally posted by Palmetto_Pixels:

OK.... Updated version (with suggestions taken into account).

Better?

How about taking the photo of the babe...without borders...enlarging it a bit and 'lightening' it (right word?) and making it part of the background?

bvocal

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D ED

03/04/2006 04:05:56 PM · #16

they are getting worse as you go.

If you are a designer... toss this whole thing away and start over with something that is an actual design, not a b-card template worthy of the speedie printer in the low rent part of town.

At the least, go to a book store and look at some design books that are hip and current.

Do something simple, hip and elegant. Forget the baby picture at all costs.

be creative, that is what design is about.

you asked for honest...

nomad469

Nikon D700

03/04/2006 04:25:01 PM · #17

hate to say it... I kinda agree
designer cards need to catch me ... make me go wow...

This card says "I do my prepress at kinkos on the rental machines"

and yes I agree loose the baby image.

ignite

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

03/04/2006 04:42:24 PM · #18

What's wrong with a vertical card? I have seen some very good ones. Also, try getting it printed on something other than white paper. I have seen cards on thin translucent plastic/paper, and textured paper. That can make it really good.

Edit : Also, I would like to see everything in black, or just one color, unless blue is really important.

Message edited by author 2006-03-04 16:43:23.

veocon

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

03/04/2006 05:04:07 PM · #19

designing business cards is a very challenging thing for me as a designer. you dont want to spend a fortune on the print job but no one picks up a simple card if they are looking for a fine art photographer or in my case, a designer. its gotta be bold and stand out. alot of the coffee shops i go to have bcards laid out on tables... i dont even look at the simple ones...

a simple card like that will do to hand out to customers... but if your using it to find new customers... put some time into it. get a logo. stay away from pictures... strong colors. embossing is good. put a little money into the print job.

Message edited by author 2006-03-04 17:05:58.

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

03/04/2006 07:57:30 PM · #20

Originally posted by Palmetto_Pixels:

OK guys.... how's this one?

Are you wishing you hadn't started this with DPCers? :)

This one looks like its advertising medical services. I agree with the others. The baby pic needs to go. I still say you need graphics but not a photo. Something striking and clean.

I like the two lines by the name and the fading at the end looks great.

Message edited by author 2006-03-04 19:59:10.

muckpond

Nikon D200

03/04/2006 10:56:31 PM · #21

i have done a series of cards with some of my favorite images completely covering the back (one image per card, with 4 or 5 images randomly throughout the stack).

i'd also find some local starving graphic artist (or even student) to do a quick logo for you (you'd be surprised how quickly they can knock them out) and consult with you on color scheme and some fonts. that might be pushing it, but a bad card is almost worse than none at all.

muckpond

Nikon D200

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

03/04/2006 10:57:46 PM · #22

and, no offense, but if you're going to tout "graphic design" on your card, it needs to be very well-designed.