Show us your business Card! [Sitemap] - Page 9 - Digital Grin Photography Forum

GerryDavid

May-04-2011, 09:24 AM

Ok…I tried a completely different design for the front and tweaked the back a bit. Please let me know what you think now.

Front:
http://wayneposner.smugmug.com/photos/i-nt3JKp7/0/M/i-nt3JKp7-M.jpg

Back:
http://wayneposner.smugmug.com/photos/i-SgS55Tc/0/M/i-SgS55Tc-M.jpg

What if you use the background on the front on the back as well? It'll get rid of all that empty white space, unless you want that space to make notes for clients. :)

ReLLiK75

May-09-2011, 06:58 PM

What if you use the background on the front on the back as well? It'll get rid of all that empty white space, unless you want that space to make notes for clients.

I ended up actually using the front and lightening it up significantly so that the the diagonal text was still visible. I also kept the QR image. Thankfully some people on here are technically literate and realized what it was. I think you'll start to see more and more business cards with QR codes present. It's just so much easier to scan a code then have to type in a web address when you want to get to a website via your phone.

Chris H

May-10-2011, 03:47 AM

I ended up actually using the front and lightening it up significantly so that the the diagonal text was still visible. I also kept the QR image. Thankfully some people on here are technically literate and realized what it was. I think you'll start to see more and more business cards with QR codes present. It's just so much easier to scan a code then have to type in a web address when you want to get to a website via your phone.

You're maybe a few years ahead of most of us on this, but who knows maybe you are on to something.

I bet you have to explain what it is to more people than those who would actually find it useful though.

lacyvernal

Jun-02-2011, 08:25 PM

Would love some feedback on my card. It's an ornate cut that I love and am in the process of implementing into my branding.
http://lacylangephotography.smugmug.com/photos/i-qGWV8Z9/0/O/i-qGWV8Z9.png

Angelo

Jun-02-2011, 10:03 PM

Would love some feedback on my card...

Very nice lacy. I like everything about it, except the numerous repeats of your name on the front.

gricketts

Jun-03-2011, 09:20 AM

Don't know if I'm doing this right, the posting I mean. Anyway, here's my business card. Thought I would see what folks thought about it. Got Print did it and I'm happy with the results and quality of the card. Did some bookmarks also.

Hikin' Mike

Jun-03-2011, 11:39 AM

Would love some feedback on my card. It's an ornate cut that I love and am in the process of implementing into my branding.

By that, is it going to be die-cut? :scratch I hope not.

denisegoldberg

Jun-03-2011, 12:56 PM

Would love some feedback on my card. It's an ornate cut that I love and am in the process of implementing into my branding.
You're kidding about the shape, right? If someone handed me a card in a shape like this it probably would get tossed, no way to nicely stash it in a stack of business cards where I want to remember the person / company.

The back doesn't offer any extra info and doesn't show an interesting graphic that isn't on the front. Why not use a color that could be used for jotting notes on the back of the card?

--- Denise

lacyvernal

Jun-13-2011, 05:59 PM

QuadRacer041

Jun-14-2011, 01:42 AM

http://lourusso.smugmug.com/photos/i-bMWRdrn/0/S/i-bMWRdrn-S.jpg (http://lourusso.smugmug.com/Fashion/Lou/16586291_MTzsp8#1336958029_bMWRdrn-A-LB)

dbveto

Jun-14-2011, 07:39 AM

Hi folks

I've merged the individual threads regarding logo design with the "business card" thread as a matter of housekeeping, keeping similar /related subjects grouped together. :thumb

.
I think this was a mistake :huh
I was going through the thread trying to come up with my own logo and now I have to scroll through business cards to get back to more info on what is good or bad about different logos.
Showing your business card and designing Logos are two different themes.
You have essentially killed the logo design thread for me.

Hikin' Mike

Jun-14-2011, 11:53 AM

Lol, wow! Thank you all for the feedback ;). Yes, the cards are cut that way. From what I've seen when I hand it to people they're more intrigued by it because it's unique & different, and most of them have never seen a card cut that way. I agree that my name is very repetitive on the card...I could take off the "lacy lange, photographer" part, but the rest of it is kind of important info for them to contact me or find me online?! Not much I can do about that I suppose.

When they cut it, did they do a good job? I don't like the design nor do I plan on doing that, but I'm just curious on how close did they come to the "border" or is the gray border just to show us the edges of your card.

Hikin' Mike

Jun-14-2011, 12:02 PM

I think this was a mistake :huh
I was going through the thread trying to come up with my own logo and now I have to scroll through business cards to get back to more info on what is good or bad about different logos.
Showing your business card and designing Logos are two different themes.
You have essentially killed the logo design thread for me.

I agree. If you need feedback on a card/logo design, you're probably not going to get it. If you post a new thread, people will probably respond. The title says "Show us your Business Card", it doesn't say I need feedback on it. Just my 2 pennies. :D

ernies

Jun-14-2011, 02:45 PM

Here is my business card - Hope you can see the edges.... Its slighly difficult to make out... Its printed with metallic silver foil..

http://ernies.smugmug.com/photos/i-SJg7gct/0/XL/i-SJg7gct-XL.jpg

lacyvernal

Jun-21-2011, 08:22 AM

lacyvernal

Jun-21-2011, 08:25 AM

When they cut it, did they do a good job? I don't like the design nor do I plan on doing that, but I'm just curious on how close did they come to the "border" or is the gray border just to show us the edges of your card.

They did an awesome job on the cut. The cut is exactly where the gray line is on my post. I love the response I get from clients on them, and mine stands out among all the rest of the "rectangle" cards they get handed on a daily basis. Mine is more likely to be remembered.

W.W. Webster

Jun-22-2011, 06:13 PM

I'd love to know where you get them.They look like they may have come from these guys (http://www.plasmadesign.co.uk/default.htm).

ernies

Jun-23-2011, 11:03 AM

They look like they may have come from these guys (http://www.plasmadesign.co.uk/default.htm).

hi Guys... they came from these guys...

http://www.cpcards.co.uk/clear_business_cards.html.. they look amazing in the flesh!!!..

I paid £94 for 200... but I think you can get them cheaper!!

Thanks!! :D

nvisiblephoto

Jun-29-2011, 08:08 PM

Wow! I am really impressed with the variety and quality of the cards posted here.

I just ordered a batch of these from a firm in the UK. As you can see from the JPG (which is directly from the design firm), they are translucent plastic. I'm pretty happy with them, but they're so pricey that I am looking for something cheaper that I can hand out in large quantities. Maybe I'll look into some of those mini-cards. . .

By the way, if you are interested in this translucent plastic idea, the firm is Plasma Design. They are incredibly responsive and patient, able to work out exactly what you want. The only downside is the price: $399 for 250. :cry

Ouch, $400 for 250? I wouldn't want to hand those suckers out at that price.

W.W. Webster

Jun-29-2011, 09:25 PM

Ouch, $400 for 250? I wouldn't want to hand those suckers out at that price.£94 = $US400? :huh

kathiemt

Jul-15-2011, 02:34 AM

Mine cost $110 for the design and I got 1,000 cards printed free as they were included with another print job as a special offer.

Davidoff

Jul-21-2011, 05:41 PM

I'm planning on printing a few of these. The site isn't up yet, but it will be consistent with the business card. What do you think ?

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5824114/davidinis_businesscard.jpg

Mark Dickinson

Jul-21-2011, 05:51 PM

Modern and sleek!

Tried red in it?

Davidoff

Jul-21-2011, 05:55 PM

That's good, it's what I wanted :)
Not really... I wanted the cleanest design possible and I figured 2 colours was enough. How would you use red ?

Mark Dickinson

Jul-21-2011, 05:58 PM

If you specialize in one of the three types of categories possibly in there. My card I designed had pop of red in Free. I like yours simple and sleek like that honestly.

Davidoff

Jul-22-2011, 12:11 PM

shniks

Jul-22-2011, 12:13 PM

Yeah, I think I'm ready to print it. What do you think about including my phone number ? I plan on leaving them around so I don't think I want to be getting random calls from people I've never even met. If I really want to give out my number I can write it down on the white part.

I had the same problem. I actually printed two sets of cards - one with the number and one without. But you can even go with writing your number down in the white space (you would have to be carrying a pen at all times though). :wink

Cheers,

kathiemt

Jul-22-2011, 01:35 PM

Hey guys, if you're running a business and want business, then you make sure you have all possible forms of contact on your cards. Phone, email, web and even postal address. I know for a fact that if I can't contact someone when I'm ready to do business with them I move onto the next person. And so will many others. Make it easy for your clients.

chrisjohnson

Jul-23-2011, 02:26 AM

David, my first impression is you put distance between yourself and your clients. No phone number? Contact@ instead of David@.

You do not look like a person I would choose to do business with. When I need YOU I want YOU right away!

The graphic elements in any card are mostly BS in my opinion. When I reach for a card I need to find it easily. My own filing system is a fruit bowl with >100 different cards - color coding helps reach me. Other people use card scanners - and here your card does not work either. Everybody has their own system for filing cards and mostly they do not work well.

Having a card that will be kept when the fruit bowl fills up might help - although the chances of someone calling you after a year or two are very remote in any case A funny or striking image might help, odd sizes are challenging to throw away and tend to stay on the desk-top, clean standard designs will see you disappear into a binder never to be seen again.

My bottom line in this is to think a lot more pragmatically about what you need to communicate and to whom. Nice design by the way.

Kathie's card is a lot stronger. Colorful. Approachable - lots of contact info, feels like a warm person. Not something I would throw away quickly.

kathiemt

Jul-23-2011, 03:13 AM

Kathie's card is a lot stronger. Colorful. Approachable - lots of contact info, feels like a warm person. Not something I would throw away quickly.

Gee thanks for that. A lot of thought went into it with a graphic designer helping me.

shniks

Jul-23-2011, 03:34 AM

I'm planning on printing a few of these. The site isn't up yet, but it will be consistent with the business card. What do you think ?

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5824114/davidinis_businesscard.jpg

I actually really like your card. It is simple and understated. I find that putting too many photos and information on a card detracts from a card and makes it look cheap. The only change I would make are putting a different email addy (as the other poster said, maybe with your name). I leave the phone number to you - if it is a business number then you might as well add it.

Cheers,

ian408

Jul-23-2011, 06:22 AM

I like the clean, elegant look of your card David and about the only thing I'd change is the email address. "contact at daviddinis dot com" is less personal than say "david at ...". If you're not going to put a phone number on the card, the later address makes the card more personal and helps overcome the lack of a phone number.

The advantage of not having a number is that you can spend a minute or two more with a potential client while you add it to the card--just have a pen handy. As always, there's the danger not having a number will turn off a client. If you're afraid of the random calls, why not use a second line and just forward that to voicemail when you cannot answer it personally?

W.W. Webster

Jul-23-2011, 12:50 PM

I don't think I want to be getting random calls from people I've never even met.:dunno

Aren't they the calls you want?

chrisjohnson

Jul-25-2011, 03:13 AM

:dunno

Aren't they the calls you want?

This is exactly right. The nicest calls are from people you never met - new business. Mostly life is a result of working your network, repeats, own actions. When you get a call from someone you never met and never approached you know things are starting to click.

kathiemt

Jul-25-2011, 03:19 AM

When you get a call from someone you never met and never approached you know things are starting to click.

Pun intended? :rofl

I agree. I've been running a business (not photography) for over 17 years. It's the phone calls that keep things running - that and those who fill out the contact form on my website. If you're running a business you can't afford to hide - not having contact details on a business card virtually equals no business.

psycchic1

Jul-30-2011, 10:19 PM

The logo (heron + Lisa Langell Photography) was designed for me by a local professional designer.

The card, due to time constraints, was designed by me in the wee hours of the night, as I had an upcoming "gig" that I needed them for ASAP.

I'm welcoming comments, feedback, even design suggestions (or grand validation of the current design :D).

I use Moo cards, so the "back" of the card is one of a number of assorted images.

My primary clientele are small businesses (for office decor), realtors (staging), and the general public (home/home office art), though I am always interested in expanding my market.

I welcome sincere, thoughtful suggestions from all levels of experts. Thank you in advance!:thumb

kathiemt

Jul-30-2011, 11:08 PM

I like what you have Lisa and if you have one of your images on the back, then that completes it. You have a good assortment of contact details - not everyone likes to contact people the same way, so you give them choices. I think your saying up the top is a little wordy but it gets the point across. Love the logo.

Hikin' Mike

Aug-01-2011, 05:41 PM

Sequoia

Aug-07-2011, 01:27 PM

Gold colored foil on gloss marbled green card stock.

White was the previous one. The white is easier to read, but the gold color looks better.

ewebwoman

Aug-07-2011, 03:18 PM

Here is my new business card (and my new web site). I got a 50% off deal from Miller's Lab when I attended the Turn the Key seminar with JD Sallee & Lori Nordstrom last month. Let me know what you think. One side is my splash image and the other in on my Contact page at www.wd3photography.com. There are still some things I want to do but haven't had time to search thru the forums yet. Thanks for your feedback.
Debbie

rhommel

Sep-01-2011, 05:10 AM

thanks to this thread, i found out about GotPrint and ordered through them today. I will post some photos once I receive the cards!

I have a simple business card design :)

this is the back of the card :)

http://rhommel.smugmug.com/photos/i-M7kPG2P/0/M/i-M7kPG2P-M.jpg (http://rhommel.smugmug.com/Other/My-Smug-Mug/4924430_9B5hjp#1458220948_M7kPG2P-A-LB)

psycchic1

Sep-01-2011, 06:48 PM

Way, way, waaaay to busy for me. Less is more.

I don't like the competing vertical and horizontal text. Pick one. I would lose your tag line...nobody really cares (at least I don't).

I do like your logo! :)

THANK YOU!!! Helpful!!!

jarboedoggart

Sep-02-2011, 12:53 PM

http://www.jarboedoggart.com/photos/i-LVj9wHt/0/XL/i-LVj9wHt-XL.jpg

Printed on frosted see-through plastic, just about as thick as a credit card. They are not cheap, but I think they make a statement.

W.W. Webster

Jan-08-2012, 09:24 PM

trying something newIs there a reason for using a lowercase "p" on "portraits"? :dunno

rogerchester

Jan-08-2012, 09:54 PM

good thing i have not sent this out to be printed yet. Thanks

rogerchester

Jan-08-2012, 09:59 PM

[QUOTE=rogerchester;1722584]trying something new

http://r-prescott.smugmug.com/photos/i-JvX2Tsh/1/L/i-JvX2Tsh-L.jpg

Art Morgan

Jan-09-2012, 12:22 PM

Roger, I hope you still haven't sent them out for printing yet...."Portarits" is misspelled. :D

I think it should be "Prescott's Photography" with the apostrophe; or make it "Prescott Photography".

rogerchester

Jan-10-2012, 03:35 AM

Sorry already fixed this uploaded the wrong image. Thanks

badams007

Jan-10-2012, 04:45 PM

I love Moo. I have 12-13 different designs all in the same pack... and every single person who I give on to comments on their quality.

http://www.candidcaninephoto.com/photos/i-z5WQZg5/0/M/i-z5WQZg5-M.jpg

eoren1

Jan-12-2012, 07:17 PM

I'm running low on stock of my last card and am ready for a change. Also have a solo show coming up so figured this was a good opportunity.

New
http://www.orenphotography.com/Things/Photography/Dgrin-stuff/i-Z2xqKQH/0/M/Business-card-white-QR-M.jpg Old: http://www.orenphotography.com/Things/Photography/Dgrin-stuff/i-DCwg3fR/1/M/front-copy-M.jpg http://www.orenphotography.com/Things/Photography/Dgrin-stuff/i-5PnzmzL/0/M/Back-copy-M.jpg

New card's back will be random selection of my photographs and am printing as a Moo MiniCard so it is thinner than a standard business card. Oh and both cards have phone numbers under the email address. Just removed for web. Figured I could fan them out (back facing up) on a table and have people be able to see other available prints and grab some info.

Played with the QR code in PS to soften the edges. It links to my site and I plan to make a new landing page for mobile visitors.

Thoughts? Any other suggestions for the QR code?

scwalter

Jan-12-2012, 09:00 PM

Looks nice. I'd go full bleed on the pictures because the cards are so small already.

Also, it looks like there's a typo in your email address. Look at the domain and you'll see in ends with mdh.com instead of mhd.com

-Scott

eoren1

Jan-13-2012, 03:37 AM

Thank you Scott. What I get for making this at midnight. Appreciate you picking this up.
Agree about full bleed pix given the small space
Are you using QR codes yet?

Hinson

Jan-13-2012, 05:01 AM

I'm running low on stock of my last card and am ready for a change. Also have a solo show coming up so figured this was a good opportunity.

New
Old:

New card's back will be random selection of my photographs and am printing as a Moo MiniCard so it is thinner than a standard business card. Oh and both cards have phone numbers under the email address. Just removed for web. Figured I could fan them out (back facing up) on a table and have people be able to see other available prints and grab some info.

Played with the QR code in PS to soften the edges. It links to my site and I plan to make a new landing page for mobile visitors.

Thoughts? Any other suggestions for the QR code?

Eyal; just checked out the blog and galleries and WOW! First: I LOVE the theme of your blog. So creative and you've done a masterful job of documenting your city.

Secondly; I must commend you on your shots of DC. I live about 45 minutes northwest of DC and have take many shots there but nothing to compare to the creative shots you have on your site.

Great work.

eoren1

Jan-13-2012, 05:22 AM

Eyal; just checked out the blog and galleries and WOW! First: I LOVE the theme of your blog. So creative and you've done a masterful job of documenting your city.

Secondly; I must commend you on your shots of DC. I live about 45 minutes northwest of DC and have take many shots there but nothing to compare to the creative shots you have on your site.

Great work.

Thank you very much. Greatly appreciate the kind words.

Hinson

Jan-13-2012, 06:52 AM

Thank you very much. Greatly appreciate the kind words.

Credit where credit is due.

adbsgicom

Jan-13-2012, 02:29 PM

Feedback very much needed and welcome. Thank you.
http://www.abowenphoto.com/photos/i-R3RXZQN/0/M/i-R3RXZQN-M.jpg

Hikin' Mike

Jan-13-2012, 03:25 PM

Feedback very much needed and welcome. Thank you.

If there is still a watermark on the image, please look past that. I've tried having the WM removed at SmugMug, but it seems particularly sticky right now....:sniff

You must have changed it when I first saw it....you added your logo.

I've never been a fan of photos on a business card, but that's just me. Not sure I like the script font you're using. It just doesn't say "professional" to me. I'm not sure about the green background, although it seems to work with the photo you chosen.

Hope this helps.

adbsgicom

Jan-13-2012, 08:54 PM

Mike, very helpful. Worked on the font selection a bunch and went through a bunch of options and edits.
http://www.abowenphoto.com/photos/i-wrXkrKM/1/M/i-wrXkrKM-M.jpg

Debating on the image, still. It balances the logo (don't think it sits nearly as well mid-card). Could go with my smiling puss....

redleash

Jan-16-2012, 10:11 AM

Hi Andrew - What about using the same font throughout? Something about the combination of these two doesn't work for me. I like the second one you've chosen for your business name--to me, it does look more professional than the casual script one. I have mixed feelings about the word "Life" at the bottom. The length works, and I assume it refers to Lifestyle Photography, which certainly wouldn't fit. It just makes me stop and wonder "how do you take pictures of life?" It may be just fine; at first look, it just made me wonder. I'm also unsure about the green. As Mike said, it works with image, and I do like the gradient. It's an unusual color for cards, but then it would make people notice it in a stack of cards, which is the goal, right? Overall, it's a nice card. I do like your logo!

Hope this is helpful.

Lauren

ZBlack

Jan-20-2012, 10:32 PM

Just ordered a few cards from overnightprints.com Didn't do anything to fancy other than rush it so I had them for next weekend where I'm meeting up with a bunch of people from Google+ in Portland!

Curious as to what you all think about it. I considered putting a QR code centered on the bottom and using less text overall, but I couldn't make one small enough and have my phone read it easily, so i opted not to do that this time around. The design is very basic, then again I don't really have that creative eye naturally as some do. I'm not a paid photographer running a business, so I didn't put an actual address on there, just the city I'm located in.

The image almost looks not right, but I downloaded the template psd file from their site and did it all according to their guidelines, so it should be the standard 2x3.5"

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/3577/businesscardo.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/715/businesscardo.png/)

eoren1

Jan-21-2012, 04:49 AM

Zach-
I like the logo. The second Photography (as in 'photography by...) seems repetitive. I would have just put your name in the orange font and size than change the black text underneath to read 'specializing in landscape & portraiture'.

As for QR codes, the less info, the smaller they can be and the easier to read. A url is much easier to mess with than trying to put a full vcd card in there.
E

ZBlack

Jan-21-2012, 10:09 AM

If you're seeing the colors as you've described, that's way off from what I see/used. The ZLB, Landscape & Portraiture, phone number and email are all in a lighter green color, Hex color code #8bc501

The Photography in the logo, the "photography by my name", Newport, OR and website are all in white. The background is a darker gray. Though I did consider using a bridge shot I have for the background.

As for the comment on Photography being repetitive, I think you're right. What I did will work for the weekend as I just got a handful made. I'll make some changes to what you said, think that will look a lot better too after eyeballing it.

The original QR code I made did just have the website address on it. Most likely I didn't play around long enough to find one that did work better, and perhaps on a few redesigns I'll put one back in and see how it goes. Thanks for your suggestions!

DigiScapes

Jan-22-2012, 05:03 PM

Not sure which I like best, On the back it will simply have the website.

Suggestions welcome.

PaulCiura

Feb-02-2012, 11:22 AM

I'm not a professional photographer, but when I go out on photowalks and meet people, this is the card I give them.

Designed in Illustrator and printed at Moo.com.

http://blog.paulciura.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/PCP0640-1024x678.jpg