New business card, Opinions please

scharky

scharky

Veteran
So I'm finally redisigning my business cards for 2007. I've decided to go with two business cards this time, one for cinematography and one for photography, as I tend to advertse myself differently for both areas of my work. Now comes the dillema.

First, is it a good idea to do two different business cards?

Second, I have two similar designs. Which one is better. Is one better for cinematography and one better for photography? Is one more professional?
My wife and I both have our favorites, but I really want to see which of us has better taste, I won't say who likes which one at this point. THanks in advance for the help, it is much appreciated, even if it is to say you don't like either one, just let me know why.

Bcard2007.jpg
 
I love the shot of the sky, so if you are branding yourself as a photgrapher, go with the bottom left. From there, if you wanted to make the cinematographer ones different, go with the top right.

so there's my vote, bottom left and top right. (in order to differentiate between the two professions)
 
I absolutely agree with having mutiple business cards. When I see Homer J Smith: Photographer - Accountant - Handyman - Key Grip on a card, it goes in the trash. Cards are so cheap, that it's easy to have several. I love the top designs without the clouds because they're simple, elegant, and easy to read. Plus I like the white space because I often write a note on a card to help remember the contact. For me, the clouds make the card too cluttered and busy. The more successful someone is, the simpler their business card--a card isn't a portfolio.
 
:smiley_up
:smiley_up Yeah...:beer:

Barry_S said:
When I see Homer J Smith: Photographer - Accountant - Handyman - Key Grip on a card, it goes in the trash.
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Ain't that the truth.:thumbsup:
 
Barry_S said:
The more successful someone is, the simpler their business card--a card isn't a portfolio.
Click to expand...

true, true.

i don't like the sky in it. getting too busy. the sky isn't telling me anything extra. I might like the lower left WITHOUT THE PERSON. however

also, why are you using that specific image of the person? I'm not sure what to ask about it..but I am spending sometime tryiing to figure out if it is a man or woman and also, thinking about why it is there.

what is it that you want the figure of the person to say?
 
Wow, thanks for all the responses so far. I"m getting as many opinions as I can before I make my decision. As for the person, it's from a model that I have worked with quite a bit. How do you feel about the person? Does it make you wonder what I'm saying with the card? Thanks again for the responses.
 
They are right, just like your work (hopefully) keep your card as simple as can be while still being creative. (think picasso)

I like the top cards without the clouds, but yeah that lady looks weird on it...

First, a chick in a skirt with short hair and a hands-free mic on her face? Wha?

A model doesn't really evoke the image I have of a professional photographer or a videographer. If this image is your company logo, then I apologize. But you didn't mention is before, as she is just a model...

I would consider a silhouetted image similar to the model but something more evocative of imaging (i.e. lens, camera, film, etc.)

Of course, if you mainly do modeling photography these suggestions fly out the window.

Consider this, while you want the card as a whole to be unique and powerful. You want the most powerful thing on the card to be your name and number.
 
meta4 said:
I would consider a silhouetted image similar to the model but something more evocative of imaging (i.e. lens, camera, film, etc.)
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I would say regardless of what you do those should be the LAST thing you put on there....
 
Man, you guys seriously rock. Ok, here is what I have come up with so far, I'm ditching the chick, she's not my logo or anything, and I'm not really attatched. It still seems to be a toss up for the background clouds (which were shot in Texas on a recent shoot I did, just wanted to throw that out there, they are not in any ways part of my logo either). I do want simple, professional, but I still have alot of people saying they like the clouds. What do you guys think about these two, better? Worse? I'm still sticking with the Photographer and CInematographer cards, so this is just an example. Thanks again you guys, I really do value your opinions.

Cinematographer-V2-1.jpg


Cinematographer-V2-2.jpg
 
scharky said:
Cinematographer-V2-2.jpg
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This is going to sound totally stupid, but I dig this one because it says "I'm so bad ass I don't even have to show you me ****. Because just with the design you show that you have strong color and compositional skills."

Very minimalist. I like it.
 
The ones with the chick, no sky, conveyed a strong sense of composition. The ones with the sky look a little too much like the usual photographers bc, and the last set just look like a bc template.
 
hmmm, does anyone else feel they look like a template? hadn't really thought of that one, definitly don't want that. So while the chick had good composition, most people feel it might be either to cliche, or send the wrong message. I definetly like TC's idea :), but I can see where J Michael is coming from. So maybe a compromise between the two. Maybe another image (not camera related) is inserted where the girl was before. Hmmmmm, gotta think this one through.
 
good use of composition and color in your most recent example. less is more.

in early samples, sky looked like a ceiling popcorn surface to me. my feel is that any imagery should be easily reproduced as an icon. woman is too much.

good luck and I have enjoyed postings of your work on this board..
 
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