Hi guys! Well, Kemal and I have decided to try to see if we can maybe start selling some of our stuff and try to get some customers. Here's our first "business card" that Kemal just finished designing. He printed a few out so we have them to give to people. This is just version 1.0...your comments, suggestions, feedback for improvement would sure be appreciated! We already have one potential customer. She's seen our unfinished homepage and seen Kemal's portraits and was quite impressed. I don't have my images on our homepage yet...working on it...hopefully will be done in the next week. I emailed her (at her request) some jpegs of my portraits. She's considering hiring us in the future to do portrait work of her and her family. We might try to sell some notecards and prints. We figure why not try. As they say, "Nothing ventured; nothing gained." :) We have our first gig set up for Sept. 10th. Gonna take pics of my friend and her band at an outdoor festival. They want pics for an album cover. I mentioned this to ya'all awhile back. They offerred to pay us but we're doing it for free in exchange for referrals. There's another band we're gonna be shooting soon. They've seen our photos and want us to take pics of them. We won't charge them for our time shooting 'cause they're friends and they don't have much money. We just want referrals from them. actually, the lady who's thinking about hiring us heard about our photography from this guy who's in the band! some of the doctors & girls i work with at the office are very interested in my photography...they've seen some stuff printed out on notecards (given to me as a Christmas gift by a very generous RR member). The lead singer of the band we're shooting works at the doctors' office. If we do a good job for them, maybe we'll get a few jobs here and there! :) We'd just like to make a little money to cover some of the expenses of our hobby. Maybe we'll get lucky!! :) Your thoughts please....:)

Well, i really, really like the design here Sheila, love the monochrome !! And im not just saying, on the other hand what do i know lol I have no experience whatsoever with stuff like this, all i know is that i think its pretty cool looking !! :o) Hope you indeed get lucky Sheila (and Kemal ofcourse), although i have a sneakin suspicion you dont need luck to achieve your goals. Hard work and talent is what it comes down to anyways, right ? :o) Have a great day !! Jeroen

Hi Jeroen!!! Thanks for the feedback!!!! We don't have any experience with this either and so we're not sure. Glad you like it! If you think of anything to improve it, don't hesitate to let me know!!! Hard work...we're used to that. Talent...well i know i'm not that great of a photographer, but i keep trying to improve...kemal too! We just tell people we do photography as a hobby...for fun! and we do! sure would be nice to make a few bucks at it! :)

Possibly adding a phone number might help. Internet is pretty common now-days, but still not every customer has it yet.
Another thing to remember is how people "imagine" your office or studio to look like. Even though you work out of your home, it doesn't hurt to have them imagine a full store front studio with red carpet and viewing rooms, etc. I'm going on about this due to your e-mail address. Yahoo.com screams home ameture. You have a URL, try to use it with "sales@kemalandsheila.com" as well as your name@. I would put sales@ or something like that on the card, and leave room for you to hand write "sheila@kemalandsheila.com" on the card. Makes the prospective customer feel like they have a very personal and special relationship with the owner/photographer.
Last.. at first glance, it appears to be a videotography business due to the camera on the card. Possibly play with a more standard looking 35mm or possibly work in a graphic of a strip of 35mm film or maybe a light umbrella behind the camera into the design. (hmmm. Thinking about it, that would probably be too much. Maybe play with it, but in the end, keep what you have) :) Thinking out loud there.
That being said, I do like the look and flow of the design. Very clean and professional looking. The duotone image is a great choice.
Looks great as is, just adding my thoughts. Hope ya don't mind. :)
Rich

I like it too, its very orginal...looks very good to me, and professional....love the design....

i do like the overall layout, blue tone & font

but honestly i'd flip the top layer... your photo, facing in, on the righthand side so Louisville, Kentucky can be over N America & not Europe, the font moved accordingly... i get the impression from looking at this you are world adventure travelers located there... which i guess on the internet you could be...

sounds like the biz is really taking off! my best to you both!! :] crossed with Rich.. the cam was bothering me a bit too... are you producing videos or taking pics? he had some good suggestions

Message edited on: 08/18/2005 17:40

I do agree with pstekky on the email adress... thought about that too, and then forgot to write it down lol :o) Cindy said something about the photo of the two of you being over N. America... took me a sec but then i saw your point, makes sense to put it there imho :o)

Hi Sheila, I think the layout, color, and graphics of the are fantastic. I opened this image in photoshop to see the actual size 3.5'"x 2.125 business card size, and what I noticed is the photo of you and kemal was a little small. I would like to see a much tighter head shot of the two of you IMHO I think is so great your getting out there doing gigs. I have learned when shooting for someone else the pressure can cause you to learn a lot about getting good shots in a very short time. And I agree about the hard work, all you have to do is keep trying and you'll get the word out and all the gigs you want:}

Shelia, Just wanted to show you what I did. I had about a thousand cards made up over a year and a half ago, I still have a couple hundred left, I used four different images (250 each shot) of mine as the bg. I wanted to make my cards pretty so that they weren't thrown away. Next time I may have refrigerator magnets made of them, that way I know they won't get thrown away. I also purchased a stamp for about $15. I will have my own website soon enough and may have to buy another stamp when I do And have more cards made. This is a lousy image I know, but at least it shows you what I did. I have pixelated my phone number for internet purposes, and yes I do get calls from people that I have given the cards to. I agree with what Rich said about the e mail address, unfortunately Yahoo was all I had at the time. Not sure what I think about the camera on your card either, not what I would have chosen to do. But then again that is what makes us different! What program did you use to make this card? Brenda :)

Here is a better image...

You may want to register "Creative Adventures.com" as a domain/url for future use, as that IS you BUSINESS name! Definitely add your phone #, so you can be contacted directly! Working in the client/customer service field, I know people appreciate being able to talk with a live person. I have to agree with the comments about the camera (WE all know its one) but potential customers may see it more as a video camera and could get the wrong impression. Also, instead of a WORLD MAP....I would go with a U.S. one, and maybe use a zoom effect to focus on the state of Kentucky! One thing you may want to do too, especially with 2 photo shoots comin up, is go to similiar type events and practice! practice PRACTICE! Shooting live performances is something else! There's ALOT of stuff to deal with...crowds...lights...stage setup! You need to be able to adapt to different types of conditions and see how you AND your camera response under them! My 2.5 cents! Sheila! I wish you and Kemal...ALL the BEST, in this ENDEAVOR! L8r! Joe

Thanks SO much guys for your FANTASTIC suggestions!!!! Rich, I'm very pleased that you added your thoughts!! You gave us a lot to think about! about the phone number...kemal DID have the phone number listed on the card but i asked him to remove it. our phone number is unlisted because we normally sleep from 6/8 a.m. until noon-1 p.m. Kemal will sleep thru the phone but i always wake up and hate that intrusion when i'm trying to sleep. I'll think about it though. about the email address...i agree completely! i forgot to add that we just used that Yahoo email addy temporarily. We were talkin' in the car tonight on the way to friends what address to use. we were thinking about using: CreativeAdventures@kemalandsheila.com Joe, do you like that? Creative Adventures.com & .net are already registered. :( But it would be nice! :) Rich, that's also a great idea about handwriting a separate email like sheila@kemalandsheila.com. I think i'll do that. it is a nice touch! thanks! Cindy, actually we ARE thinking about producing some videos!!! We're just in the "talking about it" stage though...that's it. Gonna take some time soon to do some planning and see what we can come up with! but why do you think we're gonna make videos by looking at our card? Does that cam look like a camcorder? Rich, is that the impression you got too? Rich/Cindy...you both mentioned the camera. We have a 35 mm that we're gonna start using to take b/w photos...after reading your suggestions and comments, kemal just took a pic of our 35 mm and will try that image instead! Brenda, i love your card! That's a great idea to highlight one of your images that way! that's a great idea to do magnets and larger cards! One of my friends here in RR suggested we do postcards, and i like that idea a lot because you can easily stick them in the mail and do a bit of marketing that way. My mom makes magnets from my images! she has a little laminating machine and they look pretty good! nice marketing idea! Brenda, Kemal used PSP7 to make the card. Jim, thanks for that suggestion about our picture! kemal likes your suggestion about a tighter head shot and is working on using a different image of us. Thanks! :) Cindy/Jereon...about have North America showing vs. Europe...we'll see. Kemal might try it and see. thanks! :) Joe, thanks for your suggestion about showing a map of the state of Ky. Great idea, but I'm not sure i wanna do that. First, Louisville borders Indiana. A lot of people here live across the river. But i guess the main reason i we want a world map is because Kemal is from Europe and soooooo many of our friends here in Louisville are from around the globe...Europe, Africa, South America, North America (Mexico), etc. Great idea also Joe about practicing!!! you're absolutely right! There ARE so many things to deal with!!! Our first photo shoot will be outdoors at 4 p.m. We do plan to go to some rehearsals, but the problem is we're both working SO much!! Both of us are working 5 days a week, and at least 3 of those days are double shifts. We've been trying to get to practice sessions for both bands but it's been impossible. I guess we'll learn from the school of hard knocks once we do our first shoot. We will be considered a part of the band and have full access to the stage and everything. One of us will shoot from the tripod while the other will be more mobile. We'll see how it works out. Live and learn, huh! Ilona...thanks! glad you like! Sure do appreciate all the help and advice guys!!! Kemal is working on a revised card right now. I'll post it when he's done and get your feedback! and thanks for the support guys! We figure since pretty much all we do on our time off is take pictures, why not see if we can make a few bucks! ya know! We've already made the investment in equipment.

My honest opinion for what it's worth..... some of these things may already have been mentioned..... Word of warning this is just my personal opinion.... I am by no means a graphics designer, and my own business card is amazingly simple. Which is how I prefer most things...... Let me say I do like the colors chosen and I like the image of you both in the corner. First, the design seems a bit busy to me. I feel there are too many graphics, and too much text spread out all over. Second, if you're advertising your photography services and art what does the world map mean? Third, as already pointed out, the camera looks very much like a video cam...... Fourth.... suspect more than one font type was used..... stick to one for consistency. Fifth..... from a business perspective I think the name of your business and the name of your website url should be the same. Creative Adventures is well..... creative..... and I like it, but your URL is kemalandsheila.com... if someone is looking for you by name they won't find you so easily. Six.... I think I already mentioned that I like the pic of you and Kemal in the corner, but wouldn't it make more sense to show a piece of artwork or a photo that you've created instead? Over all I think it's a good start but to be honest... other than the fact that there's a blurb about Photo and 3d art..... if I were a potential client, I really wouldn't be too sure what you were trying to sell...... I also think your business card should match the style and feel of your website..... I've scanned one of the cards that I use an example..... all it has is my business name, address and phone # and website on it..... Now that I think about it more..... you may want to consider two separate business cards..... one specifically for photography and one for 3D..... I've one of my cards as an example.... I have a few different ones......

I have made a lot of buisness cards for people and use a program just for it. This program makes the font much better for printing than PSP.It also is compatible at printing shops. Michelle brought up most points I was going to say. Definitely 1-3 fonts is max you want to use on any graphic. Having "designed by" is sort of non professional, unless you are offering that service.Then you would have it listed as a do item. Making the card to the point is recommended. To me it seems as if you are offering adventures. Though the colours are good and the image is in a good location, I would have it of something related to photography.Lower case on the url stops any confusion that might happen while typing it directly in browsers. Anyway...good luck doing this. I always say I am going to and procrastinate.

I agree with Michelle & dB, As with any professional looking advertisment, simplicity works best. I spend a good deal of time researching portfolios at "elance" to get insight on style, technique, and industry standards. Your work will always speak for itself, and word of mouth is always the best way to gather a client base. Use the card to get them to your door. Good luck, I'm sure with both your talents, this will really fly for you. Rod

Michelle & Doug, thanks so much for your feedback and suggestions!

Michelle, i love your card! Kemal and i did look at a lot of business cards and we wanted ours to look a bit different. Maybe that's because neither one of us are mainstream kinda people.

i used to work for a small publishing company designing ads. i did it for awhile until i moved from the area. I didn't design this card but i did give my input.

Doug, i made these kind of cards routinely...but NOT as business cards...just as advertisements. clients wanted ads that looked like business cards. sometimes the client wanted a certain design, but most of the time i had to come up with my own.

Of course, in the newspaper business you're trying to attract people's eye...and there's a lot of competition in the paper. What is gonna pull someone's eye to an ad? I guess that's how i tend to think still. I want people to take a second look at our card...ya know? i think kemal did a good job with that.

I used more than one font when i designed ads, and graphics are attention grabbers...if they're done right. is ours done right? dunno...guess that's why we're asking for help in here.

When i look at the card, it looks to me like we're selling photography and 3D art. We call like the name Creative Adventures because we can do a lot of different things. Art is about creativity and it's certainly an adventure...well it can be! :)

Doug, you said to make our card to the point. What do you think should be left out?

Michelle, does our card reflect our website? dunno...we're not done with our website yet. but the card does reflect us i guess. it's not classic by any means, but then neither are we.

i hope our card shows we can think outside the box.

it was kemal's idea to have a picture of us on the card. it's different, and well, we both actually like that. we think it's nice for people to have more than just a name. we like them to see who we are. :)

thanks so much you both for your opinions and suggestions! really means a lot.

here's a new version. Whatcha think? this any better? we used some of your suggestions and here's the result. the email addy won't work yet. kemal still hasn't activated it.

Message edited on: 08/19/2005 00:06

Rod...i crossed with your post. Thanks a bunch for your input! kemal and i aren't professionals. we just do photography and 3D art (kemal does that) for FUN!!! neither one of us WANT to come across as professional photographers...because we're NOT! We're not pros like Michelle and and Brenda. We're just trying to make a few bucks here and there...maybe get some clients. but we're just amaeteurs...no where NEAR close to being professional photographers. you're right...word of mouth works the best! and yeah...our work will speak for itself. Thanks for your input and support!! :)

I really liked the blue.Also like the image of this camera a bit better. Actually I would stick with the first one with your phone no. as on second. I also like the picture of you two better on the first one if this is going to be your choice of cards. No matter what you do for a card...it is always going to look better than no card. I have seen some with just a name. LOL I still say you should make the url of website in lower case though.

thanks, Doug! LOL, i loved the blue but now i like the b/w better. kemal is also leaning toward that as well. doug, why do you like the other image of us better? yeah, using lower case for the URL is the standard. you're right, doug. kemal tried it like that and didn't care for how it looked. cindy, we also tried your suggestion about flipping the top layer. we like it better like this for some reason! thanks again! we sure do appreciate your feedback guys!!!

I tend to agree with everything Michelle said. BUT, as you have explained extensively, you have your own idea of what you want your card to project (and that might NOT be what others feel...wink). But, among the most important things she noted was the difference in the website name and the (it seems) name of your business. To use an example, to shop at The Home Depot, I don't type in www.bernard-n-arthur.com (to use a hometown example). I think people are bombarded with too many facts to remember these days and having a site that matched the catchy name on a business card is a PLUS. But, cards aren't so expensive. You may try posting in the Photoshop forum...there are several designers there (although the forum doesn't seem as busy these days as it was a year or two ago). Good luck!

with the added text (ph#, email)... it no longer looks like you're marking Louisville,KY on the map... i also like the photo in the first one lol... can't please everyone... but do please yourselves :]

Hey you two...best of luck with this. It is always fun to get new business cards for yourself, and lots of fun to design them, though it can be hard to be objective. You've gotten lots of great advice, especially from Michelle and Doug, so I won't say too much. This is one of the things I do as a graphic designer so I will say I like what you are doing. I do find it a little busy though. You want to make an immeadiate impact with a business card, and I think it could be a little more focused. Often people try to incorporate too much into the card and it hurts the overall design. I would suggest lightening the map in the background, and even the camera a bit more. The two separate cards for 3D and Photo was a good idea...and showing your images is also a thought. I would suggest doing that as opposed to the map as a background. The first photo was my fave as well. The latest design is good, but I wonder about your choice of camera. It does not scream pro to me. Here are some that I've done. I may have done them differently if it were all up to me, but when you work for someone, then you have go by what they want. I could analyze the design all day but you are doing it for you and have to make it the way you want it. I think it works pretty well as such. :)

Cindy, thanks for the feedback! :)

Kort, nice designing you've done! sure do appreciate your suggestions and ideas! We'll try lightening the map and see. Also, the camera on the card IS one of our images. :)

Chuck...thanks for your input! hmmmm...well, as far as the name of our business being different from our homepage URL...dunno what to do about that. Creative Adventures is already registered at both .com & .net.

One way I'm thinking about "getting our work out there" is by printing out some images, framing them, and then give them to the doctors for their examining rooms. Most of them have bare walls. I can't afford to do a lot, but the docs are always very generous to us at Christmas time. We have some nice scenic images and some decent pictures...maybe they'll hang 'em. And lots of people will see our pictures. Ya never know...it could get us a bit of business.

I've worked with these docs a long time and they're so supportive. and they know kemal quite well too. I'm sure if they like what they see, they'll give us a referral if the opportunity arises. Can't hurt! :) well, they have seen a few of my images printed out on notecards and they gave me a lot of positive feedback. hopefully they really did like what they saw!!! :)

Message edited on: 08/19/2005 11:19

Sounds like a prescription..err, I mean plan Sheila. I hope it works for ya! ZOON!!

LOL! hope so! kemal is working on designing a whole new card now, trying a different direction. will show it later. see ya! :)