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[imastalker co.]

hey everyone. i just came up with a new card design, and was looking for feedback on it before i go get them printed out.

i made 3 versions of the card, and plan to just give them out accordingly depending on the person.

and just for reference, this is what my current card looks like.

anyways, feedback would be greatly appreciated. thanks.

 

[ArcadeStickMonk]

Mouth Shooting for the win

 

[Firest0rm]

The font is too small.

 

[Red Blaster]

Definately use the mouth shot.

 

[pnjtony]

I don't like the horizontal and verticle text. Makes it hard to read plus doesn't show good composition...and considering you're a photographer, you might wanna re-think that.

I like your old design, just instead of blue, make it more color coded to match whichever image you use.

 

[Baconäger]

Nice. Let's see Paul Allen's card.

 

[demon]

That's really nice. Wanna come over to my apartment tonight for... dinner?

 

[God's Hand]

I dunno, print it before you go with that. You can do something snazzy, but that's just a little too much white space in my opinion.

 

[Escape Goat]

card depending on the person? What does that mean?

*walks up to Wal Mart greeter* Johnny Nighttrain, ma'am. I think this card suits you best. Natch!

Or


*cruising the produce section, lady tries to reach for some grapes* Whoa, there ma'am. I'm Johnny Nighttrain. Easy there. Take my card.

 

[themadcowtipper]

shouldnt all the cards read vice president kinda like this one

 

[imastalker co.]

card depending on the person? What does that mean?

if it's business related, i'll give them the one with no pictures. if it's like, someone i meet at a bar or party or something like that, i'll give them one of the others.

 

[Escape Goat]

In that case, I'd give the white one to business folks but snazz it up with some purdy text. Give the first one out to jokers you meet elsewheres.

 

[flsh]

I find it too empty. Maybe you can ask for a camera layer so it will look 3d right in the middle? (Sorry but I have no idea how it's called in English )

 

[Wellington]

Use the mouth shot, but add your email addy.

 

[Nerevar]

wtf? Under what pretenses could you ever give out the second "business" card (the mouth shooting one)? I mean, outside of a few friends who "get it" it seems like the most unnecessary thing ever.

 

[imastalker co.]

wtf? Under what pretenses could you ever give out the second "business" card (the mouth shooting one)? I mean, outside of a few friends who "get it" it seems like the most unnecessary thing ever.

well, it's just a cool picture man. im just going for something that's turbo simple, yet eye catching.

the mouth gun one would be quite excellent at parties, bars, and just shit like that. the gillian one i can just give out to random people on the street that catch my eye, and like i said, the blank one would be for business.

 

[the year 20XX]

"Hi, I'm Johnny. Here's a cartoon picture of a dude getting shot in the mouth. Call me!"

 

[imastalker co.]

hmm...perhaps some of you guys don't understand where im coming from with that one?

in any case, there's a reason why i made 3 different designs.

 

[Aruarian Reflection]

I see where you're going with the variety of cards. It's pointless and a waste of energy imo, but hey, go for it.

The design itself is beyond ugly though.

 

[Bluecondor]

I like the design of your cards, and the have a unique feel to them.

But - your business one needs something more noticeable for anyone to remember you.

Are you selling yourself as a digital photography guy or graphic designer or something (as this isn't clear from your card - except for "Photography by Johnny")?

You should have a small, but impressive sample of your work on the card. Then, a potential client could see it and say "I'd like something like this...."

And - I agree with the comment below - "Hi, I'm Johnny. Here's a cartoon picture of a dude getting shot in the mouth. Call me!" I'm just not sure what you are driving at with a professional looking business card that has a picture of a dude with a horrified look on his face with a huge gun in his mouth, being held by a dude with a "your life means nothing to me" look on his face.

 

[aoi tsuki]

Rough concept, ten minute execution, but you get the idea.

Show off your photography, not a licensed game character. There's still the issue of using "Phantomile"...

 

[imastalker co.]

i'll never use any of my photography on my cards. the older the pictures get, the less i like them. well, not so much that, but i tend to always like my newer stuff more. er, you know what i mean.

there's no problem with using phantomile anyways. namco doesn't own the word or anything.

 

[WasabiKing]

IAre you selling yourself as a digital photography guy or graphic designer or something (as this isn't clear from your card - except for "Photography by Johnny")?

Ditto here. Just go with a small run of cards.

 

[MrAngryFace]

HAVE U CONSIDERED THE STAPLES COPY CENTER 4 ALL UR BUSINESS CARD NEEDS?! AOI BACK ME UP!

Shit! programming, I cant stop it.

 

[Jdw40223]

Rough concept, ten minute execution, but you get the idea.

Show off your photography, not a licensed game character. There's still the issue of using "Phantomile"...

This is great advice. Why have a cartoon on your biz card when you do photography?!!? who is your target market? GAF?

your card should BE a photograph. IMO.

 

[FreakyFink]

This is great advice. Why have a cartoon on your biz card when you do photography?!!? who is your target market? GAF?

your card should BE a photograph. IMO.

I disagree. Most photographers would be hard-pressed to select any number of photographs sized for a business card that would accutely portray their skill (while maintaining contact information, mind you). Only chance of successfully doing so would be to select one picture to take up the back of the card. But it's easy for a photographer to be pigeon-holed into a specific subject matter or style by displaying one (or a few) pictures on a business card.

I would agree, however, that illustration is such a counter-point to photography that it is confusing for a photographer's business card emphasis to be an illustration (aside from a logo).

 

[Warm Machine]

My old photography one was translucent like a negative.

 

[APF]

I just rearranged some stuff quickly by eye, but what about something like:

That way you could do something like this for your alternate:

 

[maharg]

I disagree. Most photographers would be hard-pressed to select any number of photographs sized for a business card that would accutely portray their skill (while maintaining contact information, mind you). Only chance of successfully doing so would be to select one picture to take up the back of the card. But it's easy for a photographer to be pigeon-holed into a specific subject matter or style by displaying one (or a few) pictures on a business card.

This is why photographers should not limit themselves to one design with one picture. Frankly, I think it's absurd for a photographers' business card to have more to do with video games than photography. Your business card is an *advertisement* of you and even if the person you give it to gets the joke, if they give it to someone else they may not.

Pick your five favorite photos, each of a different sort of thing, and then do a run of each and pick the right one for the individual or even let them choose themselves (this gets their interest and shows off a range of your photography). Then, in 3 months, get a new run done. I have seen this work really well personally.

Also, make friends with someone who works in a print shop at some point so you get the kick ass discounts.

 

[WasabiKing]

Also, make friends with someone who works in a print shop at some point so you get the kick ass discounts.

As someone who works with a 5-color press, somewhat hard to get good discounts on low runs for postcards unless you gang run it with another paying job. If you're in no rush for them, that's the only time it'll help.

That's what psprint.com does, BTW. That's why they offer free postcards, you don't know when you'll get them, but they run it with other jobs...

 

[maharg]

Eh, you don't really need to use a press for business cards. A high end printer will do the job well enough, and there is definitely huge room for discounts there. I don't think a photographer will tend to need the fancy stuff like embossing.

Anyway business cards are an easy thing to be willing to wait for with a little planning. In the schedule above, you'd eventually get the hang of printing only enough for the three months and you could have a lead time of at least a month before you needed more.

 

[Burger]

This is why photographers should not limit themselves to one design with one picture. Frankly, I think it's absurd for a photographers' business card to have more to do with video games than photography. Your business card is an *advertisement* of you and even if the person you give it to gets the joke, if they give it to someone else they may not.

Pick your five favorite photos, each of a different sort of thing, and then do a run of each and pick the right one for the individual or even let them choose themselves (this gets their interest and shows off a range of your photography). Then, in 3 months, get a new run done. I have seen this work really well personally.

I don't agree.

A photographers business card with a lame, undefined washed out photo on it ?? A good business card should represent good design, and clear details such as address etc.

 

[maharg]

Like I've said, I've seen it work. Anecdotal though that is, it's far better than having a random unidentifiable video game character on it. And way way better than having someone with a *gun in their mouth*.

 

[imastalker co.]

Your business card is an *advertisement* of you and even if the person you give it to gets the joke, if they give it to someone else they may not.

these are just "contact cards" really. having said that, you know, i just want something that looks cool. like i said, if it's business related, i'll give them the blank one. it's simple, straight to the point, and it looks slick to boot.

Also, make friends with someone who works in a print shop at some point so you get the kick ass discounts.

one of the photography agencies i do work for pays for my cards.

 

[Burger]

Here is something I did in a few minutes. I don't know if you'll like it, it's a bit more of a traditional business card, and I'm not sure about the serif typeface, but, whatever.

 

[imastalker co.]

i appreciate the effort, but im going for something very very minimal, slick, and turbo simple.

 

[Burger]

Well I'd go with your first one then. Thats the definition of turbo simple.

 

[imastalker co.]

guys guys c'mon, i already said i was gonna have all 3 of them made.

i was asking for feedback on the design, not which one to use.

 

[Zaptruder]

They're crap, you're crap, I don't like you or your style, and I'd only take your card so I could prank call a pizza guy to your place.

Use the second one exclusively. Business cards with wholly blank white... thrown out! The fuck out!

 

[MrAngryFace]

FUCK YER LOGOS! FUCK YER PICS

FRONT IS WHITE WITH URL N SHIT AND NAME OF COMPANY!

BACK IS BLACK WITH WHITE TEXT WITH THE REST OF YOUR INFO

FUCKING MINIMALIST IS IN YOU BITCHES!

 

[FreakyFink]

Johnny, what paper/finish are you printing these on?

 

[Burger]

guys guys c'mon, i already said i was gonna have all 3 of them made.

i was asking for feedback on the design, not which one to use.

Err, ok.

Too much white. Put something there, please.

Vertical (or rotated) type sucks shit. I'm not japanese and I can't read sideways text. Loose the gun in the mouth picture.

Whatever though, if you like it, do it. We don't matter.

 

[demon]

They're crap, you're crap, I don't like you or your style, and I'd only take your card so I could prank call a pizza guy to your place.

Use the second one exclusively. Business cards with wholly blank white... thrown out! The fuck out!

Yeah seriously.....those are horrible. Blank white with a random corner picture of some videogame character......what the fuck? If I got your card I'd wonder, perhaps subconsciously, if that kind of design incompetence carries over into your work.

 

[MrAngryFace]

Fuck business cards. Hand clients a pigs heart with a nail pounded through it!

 

[Red Scarlet]

I like the current one.

 

[iapetus]

On the plus side, everyone's 'improvements' to your cards make it clear that you're actually pretty good at what you do.

 

[Miguel]

HAVE U CONSIDERED THE STAPLES COPY CENTER 4 ALL UR BUSINESS CARD NEEDS?! AOI BACK ME UP!

Shit! programming, I cant stop it.

 

[aoi tsuki]

I don't agree.

A photographers business card with a lame, undefined washed out photo on it ?? A good business card should represent good design, and clear details such as address etc.

Having some teaching in graphic design, i agree with you, but what maharg said makes sense.

First and foremost, the business card needs to communicate three basic things: who you are, what you do, and how you can be contacted. Like you said, it needs to be readable, and a good design increases readability and interest in the card.

i don't know squat about the photography business (slowly working my way into it myself), but what maharg said about having a set of cards to hand out to different clients makes sense. A card can have both a photo representative of the quality of work, as well as all the necessary info in an impressive layout.

HAVE U CONSIDERED THE STAPLES COPY CENTER 4 ALL UR BUSINESS CARD NEEDS?! AOI BACK ME UP!

Shit! programming, I cant stop it.

After i hopped on the computer to try and save the four associates trying to put text on a picture, only to realize we only had PhotoImpact and Word, i refuse to recommend anyone outside of customers to our services.

 

[mrklaw]

I don't like the all white one. Too much white. Layout of text is OK, font is kinda nice.

You want someone to dig yours out of a rolodex and notice it. Not sure they would - I think it needs a splash of colour, or a logo. Maybe a more professional icon in place of Johnny in the first one?



Put your email address back on. If you put extra steps in the way of people, they won't contact you - so they won't go to your website just in case they can email you from there.

Also, internationalise your phone number - at least the 'business' one. Even if you never give it to anyone outside of the US, at least give the impression that you might.


BTW, you fine with just calling yourself Johnny? for the business-business card, wouldn't both names be better, or the name of your company on there?

 

[MrAngryFace]

Aoi:

HAha, well Copy Center orders out for business cards, we dont even make them at the hub locations.