Hi There -

Thanks for checking out this thread. I am in the process creating a website and business cards, etc. Below are two business cards that I have designed. I would love any comments and critiques on the logo, cards, images, etc.

One other question. My website is not live yet. I am actually going to use the cards to hand out to people for my portfolio building photo session "deal." For family and friends I am offering to do a photo shoot with no sitting fee, proofing the images online, creating a ShowIt slideshow and giving them either an 8 X 10 or (3) 4 X 6's. I think I might give a CD as well, though I do not plan to do this normally.

I purchased a bludomain template and have been working on it. I can easily put up a very basic site - one with like 20 images, a sample slide show, contact information...and possibly package prices. Should I put "coming soon" next to the URL on the cards?

Below are the front and back of the cards. I am the most frustrated/concerned/etc with the portrait/vertical text side.

Let me know what you think...be as harsh as want to be/can be. I want to make them good.

Thanks again!

I like the baby image more so than the other. The eyes really grab your attention. It's hard to judge the designs overall because the images are so small.

Thanks for the feedback. I will try to upload them again a bit bigger.

Here they are enlarged. Thanks in advance for the feedback.

For the image side, I like the baby face image much better. For the text side, I like the vertical layout better. I like the logo as well...it is simple. I LIKE simple. I'm still working on my logo and can't come up with one I like yet.

I really like the horizontal phot and layout best. It is clean and simple.

Thank you for your feedback. It is good to hear what people, other than friends and family think. It is also good for me to see them in another place other than in Illustrator because I can see little things that I want to tweak.

also like the baby shot best, think I would lose the talk, browse thing not sure it adds anything and might miff some people. I also wouldnt put coming soon re the website, its so important work day and night and get it done in time for the cards coming back from the printers, you can sleep when your dead.
all the best with your new venture
steve

jen!!

so great to see your business moving forward! I too like the baby side best- but I think it's more the simplicity of it that everyone loves. there's something about the outfit the little girl is wearing- cute for a picture, not so cute for a biz card probably.

i'll have to send you a PM- we haven't chatted in a while! Are you going to WPPI??

Steve -

Thanks so much. Great suggestion about the talk and browse. I thought it was a cute idea on other's cards/websites...but it does not really fit with my style. I am going see how they look without when I get back to my computer.

As far as the website goes...
I need cards (and really the website) to pass along to people for my portfolio building promo...but at the same time I am hoping that I can get some pics for my website through the promo. I have enough work to create a simple gallery, or two. As well as a couple slideshows that I can showcase. I am just wondering how "done" my website needs to be before I go live.

Do you think that it would be okay to have a simple website with a small gallery, a couple slideshows, brief bio, contact section, and sample proofing area. And then as I build my portfolio annouce that my website is live? Does that make sense? Basically I would be using my website now it to show my promo clients (mostly family and friends) what I was going to do for them...and to start to get my name out. I hope to use the photos and slideshow from the promo to really build a great portfolio for my website...and during that time I hope to continue to perfect the other areas of it - bio, investment, etc.

What do you think? Am I jumping the gun with printing the business cards?


Sorry for the super long post....thanks again for your help!
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Lori -

It was so good to talk to you. Sorry I had to cut it short...I had a student come in to my office. I think that I am going to take you up on your offer and join in the WPPI adventure. Tell Chris to get ready for some late night In N' Out adventures!

Jen,

you need the two things in combination ie cards and the website, I have just come back from a national exhibition and couldnt believe that a couple of exhibitors were actually saying when asked that their site was still a work in progress. Get your best pictures on there and make them ones that show what your selling, dont put a great shot of a daisy on there if you are selling family portraiture. you dont need many pics half a dozen will do to start in fact I think some sites have way to many. have a page that clearly states what you are offering and how to get in touch ie snail mail and your phones, faxes etc and your good to go. I am ambivilent about bios some people like them I personally think they are more about egos. But like I said in my earlier post besides buying a camera sorting your webist is just as important, get on with it.
steve