Is anyone good w/graphics?

[Lachesis00]

I want a business card. I have not one idea in my head. I asked a friend and they do not like my 'business' name "Spence Photography". They got creative and their 'company name' is their last name in Hawaiian. They are not even Hawaiian but it looks cool sooooo

Is anyone creative enough to help me set up some kind of business card? Maybe something with the Spence Photography. I want to order business cards but need to design one first.

 

[RitchG]

Well, I've done a lot of "Corporate Identity" and so I guess I'm OK with graphics. I think, though, that the biggest challenge incoming up with an CID including business cards etc. is to discover how you want your company (you) to be perceived. People generally create a first impression of a product, firm or person within 2 seconds of the first sight of the logo, CEO, building or whatever.

I did a couple quickies to show a couple looks; there are, of course 1000..(many zeros)...000's of possibilities. I can't post images yet, so look at
www dot ritchgrafton dot com slash download.html

So the question is, who do you want to be? <g>
HTH.
---Ritch

 

[Lachesis00]

I like that top one a lot! Wow! I have zero imagination I tell you!

The problem is, I do not know what I want to perceive. I am good at scenery shots which I doubt anyone wants to buy. I am finding stock photography is not very big.
I want to delve into portrait photography and I'd love to be a second photographer for weddings (not the primary).

Explain a CID please.

 

[barrie]

Have you seen Moo Cards? I think they are really cool - kind of hip and trendy and you can showcase many of your photos. I'm getting a couple sets made, one with my Disney photos and one with other photos. Here's a flickr group where people post theirs.

 

[Michele]

Have you seen Moo Cards? I think they are really cool - kind of hip and trendy and you can showcase many of your photos. I'm getting a couple sets made, one with my Disney photos and one with other photos. Here's a flickr group where people post theirs.

Those are awesome!!! I want some and I don't even have a business.

 

[barrie]

I actually think most people have them for their personal info. You can print anything you want on the back.

 

[ukcatfan]

I want a business card. I have not one idea in my head. I asked a friend and they do not like my 'business' name "Spence Photography". They got creative and their 'company name' is their last name in Hawaiian. They are not even Hawaiian but it looks cool sooooo

Is anyone creative enough to help me set up some kind of business card? Maybe something with the Spence Photography. I want to order business cards but need to design one first.

Off the topic a little, but I would like to give a little business side help. Before you get business cards made, you need to legally register the name with your state. If someone already has that name, you cannot use it. Then you will be protected from someone else using it. I would hate for you to buy cards only to have to throw them away with a name change.

If you are selling photographic services, then you should really consider incorporating as a LLC. If you do not know about that, it means limited liability corporation. That way, only the corporation is legally liable if someone ever sued. Photographers should take advantage of this b/c if someone is not happy with your results, they just might sue you. Or if you caused an accident while on the job, you would not be personally liable. They could only go after company assets instead of your car, house, etc.

One last note, you do not have to incorporate in your own state, and some states have better rules than others. The state you do business in must have your name registered there though. If you ever plan on working in other states, it would not hurt to also research there before picking a name.

Good luck!

Kevin

 

[RitchG]

Well, you must have _some_ imagination; your photos show that you can _imagine_ what a shot will look like out of the camera <g>.

It depends on how you want to go. There's nothing wrong with being [Rachel in AZ The Photographer]; lotta of the pros I know are a one-person firm known only by their name. Moo cards (and many other on-line printers) are great for that kind of thing; you get to showcase some of your work as well as leave a prospect something to remember you with.

If you are going to go into this as a "Real Business" then you need to heed what ukcatfan says: set yourself up so that you work for a company, so that if something does go sour your personal assets are protected. I'm a Chapter S corporation, incorporated in Massachusetts and it's worked well (also helps the accountant during tax time) to separate the "company" from "me", even though it is only myself and DW as employees.

Since you're (probably) a full-time mom and a part-time photgrapher, and since the main goal is to have _something_ as soon as you can so that you can hand it out, I'd give Moo or one of the other services a try. You can always make a "pro" card later after you've run out.

And, CID is just lazy typing for Coporate IDentity.

Oh, and another thing - you mentioned wanting to try wedding/event photography as a second; a great place to look for gigs is craigslist.

HTH.
---Ritch

 

[Lachesis00]

Thanks guys! I think I will start with the Moo cards and go from there. I need to look into this corporate/business stuff a little closer. I have a friend who can help with that aspect.

Thanks for the heads up on Craigslist. Where do they normally advertise? Meaning there are a lot of places to look...

 

[RitchG]

craigslist is at www.craigslist.com. They have a Phoenix section (looks like that's near Chandler?), and searching on photographer jobs gives this:
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/search/jjj?query=photographer

---Ritch