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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
First business card...a few questions.
Brandon McKenney, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Portland | ME | United States | Posted: 10:35 AM on 04.25.09 |
->> I've been in a few instances recently where a business card would've been useful to hand out, and I've finally realized I need to bite the bullet and get some. I'll be graduating in May, so I won't be able to use the "poor college student" excuse anymore, so the time has come.
First off, I'm not sure where I'll be living in a few months. Is it unprofessional to not have a physical address on the card? Should I wait until I have an address I know I can list for at least a year or so?
Secondly, anyone willing to share images of their cards to give me a few ideas? I'm looking to make it as unique as possible, so if you have something especially creative, please share.
Finally, if anyone has a certain printing company that they recommend, that would be greatly appreciated as well.
Thank you. |
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Jay Reiter, Photographer
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Newmarket | NH | USA | Posted: 10:44 AM on 04.25.09 |
| ->> Brandon - My experience is that people want your email address and phone number - they are less apt to need a physical address on a card, so I wouldn't wait to get a physical address before having a card. Keep the card simple - but there's a pretty strong argument that can be made for having an image on the card since you are shopping yourself as a visual artist. As for printing, there's tons of places, but Vista Print is hard to beat for inexpensive and servicable. Their quality is OK - not a bad criteria when you figure how many of your business cards will be used as bookmarks or toothpicks. |
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Brandon McKenney, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Portland | ME | United States | Posted: 10:54 AM on 04.25.09 |
->> Good advice Jay. I figured that especially in this day + age, email, phone, web address are much more important than a physical address. I would imagine in the first run I buy, I can go without, and when I land in a location which I know I can at least set up a PO Box, I can redesign for the next run.
An image is definitely a must in my mind, and I'll be asking some peers to help me in the decision of that. I am guessing the main thing here is to pick an image that isn't 'busy', since it will most likely have text over it. |
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Daniel Berman, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Seattle | WA | US | Posted: 10:54 AM on 04.25.09 |
->> I highly recommend overnightprints.com
Great quality. I get nothing but compliments on them.
As for including an image, I definitely would. Make sure it is impactful and memorable. It should move you, grab you, and make you want to check out a website or call. |
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Joshua Brown, Photographer
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Waynesville | NC | USA | Posted: 11:01 AM on 04.25.09 |
| ->> I don't have a studio or other business location (run out of my home), so I don't put a physical address on my cards. There's no need to advertise where you keep your photo gear. |
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Daniel Bates, Photographer
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Fayetteville | NC | | Posted: 11:02 AM on 04.25.09 |
| ->> I would highly recommend finding the services of a good professional graphic artist, unless you have a strong background in that particular field already. Professional graphic design may not be cheap, but it is a very valuable and long lasting investment. |
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Colin Lenton, Photographer
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Philadelphia | PA | United States | Posted: 11:05 AM on 04.25.09 |
| ->> you should get meat cards http://www.meatcards.com/ |
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Colin Lenton, Photographer
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Philadelphia | PA | United States | Posted: 11:22 AM on 04.25.09 |
->> for the one "huh" an explanation from their website
"
We start with 100% beef jerky, and SEAR your contact information into it with a 150 WATT CO2 LASER.
Screw die-cutting. Forget about foil, popups, or UV spot lamination. THESE business cards have two ingredients:
MEAT AND LASERS." |
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Jack Megaw, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Brandon McKenney, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Portland | ME | United States | Posted: 11:55 AM on 04.25.09 |
->> Thank you everyone for the great responses. You've put my mind at ease about the 'physical address' issue.
Though I did get one outside PM from one 'Tom Starling' which wasn't quite as encouraging:
This user's message:
get out of the biz now
dont be a fool |
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Adrian Gauthier, Photographer
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Mississauga | ON | Canada | Posted: 1:24 PM on 04.25.09 |
| ->> Moo.com has been my favorite. |
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Daniel Hayduk, Photographer
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Kelowna | BC | Canada | Posted: 1:28 PM on 04.25.09 |
->> Brandon,
In my opinion, do not put an image on your business card. If the person who picks up your card dislikes that one picture, you are hooped. Rather, have them go to your website and look at your full body of work.
Also.. if money is an option, go to Staples or any such home & office depot, pick up a package of business card paper, and print your own. Microsoft Word offers business card templates.
And for those reading on the sidelines: never ever put a home address or home phone number on a business card. Thief magnet!!!
cheers-
/daniel |
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Rich Cruse, Photographer
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Laguna Niguel | CA | USA | Posted: 1:57 PM on 04.25.09 |
->> Nothing wrong with putting an image that will evoke a "wow" or make people smile. It should be representative to the type of work you do. For example, if you shoot track and field, a picture of a flower doesn't really speak to the your area of expertise.
Web address, email and cell phone. Works for me!
Even if all you can afford is generic cards from Staples, business cards are THE most important business tool you can use. Always have plenty of cards with you-always! |
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Ian L. Sitren, Photographer
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Palm Springs | CA | USA | Posted: 2:25 PM on 04.25.09 |
->> My business card on one side is the same as the opening splash page on my website... http://SecondFocus.com
The other side has all my contact info. Better to have a business card now so go with your cell phone number, e-mail and website. Don't change your cell phone number, I have had the same cell phone number for over 20 years.
I do think a photo is important, we are photographers. But it needs to be a knock out memorable photo. Nobody forgets my business card once they see it. And yes it does put me in a niche and that is what I wanted. I am even tightening my niche as I go some of what is on my website and elsewhere will be gone soon. But that is a marketing decision.
Anyway my cards are very high gloss, downside is that you cannot write on them. I bought 5000 last time and they were from... http://www.americasprinter.com/ |
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Rich Cruse, Photographer
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Laguna Niguel | CA | USA | Posted: 2:35 PM on 04.25.09 |
| ->> I opt for gloss on the photo side and matte on the back. |
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Juliann Tallino, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Port Townsend/Seattle | WA | USA | Posted: 5:14 PM on 04.25.09 |
| ->> vistaprint.com has always done a good job for me and if you order from them once they will give you the rest of the stuff for free for life. I have no idea how they make money. I haven't paid for business cards or postcards for years!!! they are constantly sending me coupons for free cards and other stuff. |
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Jeff Mills, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 5:58 PM on 04.25.09 |
->> Business card are dirt cheap these days so don't feel that you can't design a couple of different business cards to promote yourself in different ways to cater to specific clients.
A great sports image for example could really impress one client who wants a sports photographer but perhaps might make you appear not to be the right guy for the job to a high end corporate client or a wedding client etc. |
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Rich Cruse, Photographer
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Laguna Niguel | CA | USA | Posted: 6:27 PM on 04.25.09 |
| ->> I second Vistaprint.com. Easy to use web interface and very reasonable. |
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N. Scott Trimble, Photographer
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Lake Oswego | OR | USA | Posted: 6:38 PM on 04.25.09 |
->> Brandon, I find it interesting you recommend not using a photo on the card, and yet find it acceptable to use the printer paper business cards.
If you are 100% committed to running a photography business and want to be known for striving for quality, nothing contradicts that more than the flimsy, perforated residue laden cards from Avery or the like. They are good for prototypes and part timers, but not professionals.
Sorry, but when I get a card that was printed out by someone at home, my first thought is "rinky dink"
Now, here is a good "representation" of business cards. watch and learn!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoIvd3zzu4Y |
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N. Scott Trimble, Photographer
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Lake Oswego | OR | USA | Posted: 6:40 PM on 04.25.09 |
| ->> Sorry Brandon, I meant that for Daniel! Plus, as far a price goes, when you factor ink and the paper, you really don't save over outfits like Vista Print, that does a pretty fair job. |
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Ian L. Sitren, Photographer
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Palm Springs | CA | USA | Posted: 6:48 PM on 04.25.09 |
->> Oh NO, never print your own business cards!
First point; the most effective way, the most cost effective, the best form of advertising is personal contact. Face to face, hand shaking, you actually meet somebody and get to give them your business card.
Second point; aside from you as a person, in person, the only other contact someone you meet will have with you is your business card. That is your way in. Bad card and they will never even look at your website and even if they do, you are already coming up from a negative.
Get the best business card you can, even if you get fewer of them. But business cards are so very cheap as compared to everything else we do.
Self printed cards stick out and stick out badly. |
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Brandon McKenney, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Portland | ME | United States | Posted: 7:07 PM on 04.25.09 |
| ->> I wouldn't even think to print my own. If I'm going to put any money into these at all, I'm going to do it right. |
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Juliann Tallino, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Port Townsend/Seattle | WA | USA | Posted: 9:02 PM on 04.25.09 |
| ->> Vistaprint.com also has a template you can download and use in photoshop to design your own card then upload the design to them for printing. |
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Jeff Mills, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 9:57 PM on 04.25.09 |
->> Printing your own cards isn't always the kiss of death Ian seems to make them out to be.
They are not cost effective for a large run, but for specific events where you might need a small number of cards with a specific look or style they can work in a pinch.
The ones that use a heavy weight glossy photo stock and with the micro perferations actually are quite hard to tell apart from regular press printed cards.
I've used them before when I was at a given event and wanted to give out a card that had specific information such as a log in password on it and only need about 40-50 cards.
Just modify your exisiting card as need, throw a few sheets into your printer and your good to go with no turn around time, nor a large run of 500+ cards that you'll have to toss out because they were only for a given event.
Its just a good tool to keep around for those "just in case" things that may come up.
When I've done some events where I had to make lots of duplicates of cd's for some clients I've created special cards that have an image from that event on them. Associates me with the event images.
Its just like those dvd's where you can burn your own image on them. I would never suggest doing it for a large run, but for special needs it can be an extra tool in the marketing options you posses. |
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Peter Hoffman, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Athens/ Naperville | OH/IL | US | Posted: 10:09 PM on 04.25.09 |
->> Greenerprinter.com has been great for me, maybe a little more$ but environmentally friendly and very professional service with quality papers and sustainable methods.
I'd go with no image on your card, but that's just me. Your contact info the the primary goal. |
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N. Scott Trimble, Photographer
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Lake Oswego | OR | USA | Posted: 12:56 AM on 04.26.09 |
| ->> I don't know Jeff, I got my hands on the heaviest stocks I could find to see when I was trying to make some specialized code biz cards for events that I wanted to print cards with pass codes to galleries, and I could just tell the difference tactilely. But that was just me. I would still consider it a last resort if you find out you ran out of pro cards. |
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Chris Large, Photographer
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Okotoks | AB | Canada | Posted: 1:24 AM on 04.26.09 |
->> For what it's worth
I designed my own card, no pic but name, email, web site etc, played with fonts, colors etc then printed them with Avery to see what they looked like. Once i had the design, I took it on a usb drive to staples/office depot and had them print them on heavy high gloss cards. Great price and they made sure I liked them before I paid. Total cost was under $50. A total no brainer in my opinion. |
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Clark Brooks, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Urbana | IL | USA | Posted: 9:18 PM on 04.26.09 |
->> Brandon:
Before putting a photo on your business card, be sure the image you choose does not infringe on another company's trademarks or commercial rights of an individual. If you must have a photo on your card, choose an image that does not have visible trademarks or where athletes are recognizible without first obtaining the proper releases. I recommend you check with an attorney in your state to see if your use of a certain image violates your state's privacy and commercial use of likeness statutes before sending your cards off to the press.
I recommend keeping it simple and forego the image. Honestly, simple is elegant and classy. It will say more about you and your business. |
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Octavian Cantilli, Photographer, Assistant
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Kissimmee | FL | United States | Posted: 10:00 PM on 04.26.09 |
->> About design, keep it simple. I pretty much agree with everything Ian wrote.
About the material though, I'd go 15-20 mg plastic. I know, I know they aren't environmental, and I am environmentally conscious. However, you want a very memorable, ultra quality and unique card that will make people remember to look at your site once they get home. Think about it, how many people give out plastic cards... |
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Ryan Timm, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Bradley | IL | USA | Posted: 10:54 PM on 04.26.09 |
| ->> I second Moo.com. They are very nice and elegant cards. On one side, you can design your own and upload it. On the other side you upload images and the whole back of the card is your image. It's kind of pricey, but very nice. |
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Jeff Mills, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 12:53 AM on 04.27.09 |
->> On a semi-related topic, what is everyones thoughts on double sided business cards ?
I've always viewed them as sort of dumb personally as they cost more to print and all people seem to do on the other side is put a larger logo so I see no real practical advantages in them.
I can never really see needing to put so much information onto a standard size business card that you can't find your name, contact info, and business name/logo and/or sample images or two onto a single side.
Also in relation to Octavian's post, whats everyones thoughts on plastic or other "fancy" cards ?
Plastic, rounded corners, glossy, unusual shapes etc ? Do these really impress clients to justify the added cost ? Is a client going to have a more positive mental associate with you if your card is made of glossy plastic with rounded corners any more so than a standard card ? |
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Jonathan Nimerfroh, Photographer
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Philadelphia | PA | USA | Posted: 3:16 PM on 04.27.09 |
->> i use 48 hour printing and love the UV coating (glossy)
http://www.48hourprint.com/ |
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Jonathan Nimerfroh, Photographer
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Philadelphia | PA | USA | Posted: 3:18 PM on 04.27.09 |
->> where or how do i get a water proof business card?
i was thinking of maybe making the business card size fridge magnets.. which might be waterproof..
I need something that holds up underwater...
thanks |
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Octavian Cantilli, Photographer, Assistant
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Mark Peters, Photographer
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Highland | IL | USA | Posted: 5:48 PM on 04.27.09 |
| ->> I tend to use the blank side of a business card I receive from someone to write down information about the contact - date, impressions, business details, etc. As such, I strongly encourage not going for dual side printing - just my personal view. |
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Jonathan Nimerfroh, Photographer
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Philadelphia | PA | USA | Posted: 9:59 AM on 04.29.09 |
| ->> thanks octavian. i think that might work.. |
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Nina Zhito, Photographer
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bay area | CA | | Posted: 10:18 AM on 04.29.09 |
| ->> my opinion: i don't think including physical location on your bus card (or website) is necessarily a good idea -- until you are in a secure studio (if that's your goal). you don't want to give thieves looking to make off with your gear any help finding you. |
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