Help me decide on new business card...

[LocalMotion]

On the latest entry of my blog you can see the 4 different designs.

Help me choose one. What's your favorite? :confused:

http://blog.brianmedia.net



...

[craigwatanabe]

I like #2 the best. #1 has the pose in the wrong direction and the triangulation is a bit off center with the focus on the empty brickyard.

#3 has a rushed look with the attention on the slipper.

#4 is off center and it looks like the groom is giving mouth to mouth to the bride...the rouge on her cheeks makes it look as if he's blowing air into her mouth like a balloon.

#2 holds the moment with the focus on the bride's wedding ring. The passion of the embrace...the intimate portrayal of the wedding ring...and the close-shot makes for a very powerful statement. The picture says it all and your simple text defines the business. That is a winner! And a picture perfect photo to boot. Lighting is right on, composition is perfect. You may want to photoshop the light off of the grooms knuckles and the bride's ring finger though.:)

[Adri]

I like #2 as well :)

[oceanpacific]

#2. I agree with Craig's reasons.

[LocalMotion]

I like #2 the best. #1 has the pose in the wrong direction and the triangulation is a bit off center with the focus on the empty brickyard.

#3 has a rushed look with the attention on the slipper.

#4 is off center and it looks like the groom is giving mouth to mouth to the bride...the rouge on her cheeks makes it look as if he's blowing air into her mouth like a balloon.

#2 holds the moment with the focus on the bride's wedding ring. The passion of the embrace...the intimate portrayal of the wedding ring...and the close-shot makes for a very powerful statement. The picture says it all and your simple text defines the business. That is a winner! And a picture perfect photo to boot. Lighting is right on, composition is perfect. You may want to photoshop the light off of the grooms knuckles and the bride's ring finger though.:)

#1 was hard to fit into that size...

#2 - Thanks for the good eye on the light on their knuckles, i can photoshop that out...(just photoshop'd it as we speak)

#3 I acutally like the focus of the slipper. it's displays a bit of "fun" along with the formalness

#4 - is purposefully off center. the majority of the time i don't like my subjects pefectly in the center

Thanks for the great critique and info!!!

[tutusue]

I like #1 because it's...unique. I like the bare feet and the informality of the formal occasion. You have a good eye, Brian, and can pull off making a unique statement with your card. The kissing couples, while really nice shots, are too typical, run of the mill wedding shots for my taste.

I like the idea of #3 except it looks like a stressed out bride is running away from her own wedding! :D

ETA - I really like the photo of Erik and Stephanie's feet in your 2nd blog entry below the current one! Really! Not saying that should be your card but something that unique will be memorable!

[Pomai]

#2 for sure. Again, with Craig's reasons.

[Leo Lakio]

I'd also vote for #2 - the emotion in the image comes across as very real, very natural. #4 is nice, but not as strong as #2.

#1 just seems a little uncomfortable, while the subject looks like wedding-day stresses are showing on her face in #3.

I also like the fact that both #2 & #4 include a COUPLE, not just one of them. It's easy to forget that weddings are not just about brides. I think a card like that will appeal to both potential customers.

[Kungpao]

tally a #2 vote for me as well.

[LocalMotion]

Thanks for all the great feedback... keep it coming.

i think i'm narrowing it down to #1 & #2

My photography is very fun spirited and I try to stay away from traditional formal shots... so #1 fits that

#2 was totally natural, i did not pose them, only told them to be themselves and forget i was there. I used a 200mm lense to get close without being close. and catching that awesome moment perfectly makes me really like #2 as well

[TATTRAT]

#2 and #4 are my faves. I personally agree with what everyone has said about 2. I like it, very natural, and real...if that makes sense.

[anapuni808]

Personally, I like #1 - I especially like the bare feet which takes away from the formal feel of a wedding gown. The courtyard in the background makes a perfect place to place the text on the card. I'd like the photo more if it was more feet & less face but thats just my personal taste. I hope you choose #1 - I would be more likely to hire a photographer that showed a more "loose" attitude in their photos than a more "posed" look which is what I think the others depict.

and yes, I've done pro work including weddings, fashion shows, model portfolios & portraits. but that was in another life - long ago & far away :)

[tutusue]

Hey, Fran...dontcha love that all the guys like the more traditional, couple shot and us gals like the more unique, barefoot bride shot?! :D I agree with you...shift the bride a bit camera right so as not to crop her feet. And, I agree with Brian...don't center your subject. ;)

[anapuni808]

I never center the subject - makes the shot too "set", like you were trying to be perfect. Needs to be a little off to have some visual impact and make it interesting. Same as with Asian styles of decorating - never use even number of items - flowers or things, always odd number. I use that concept with my graphics designs - just makes looking at a program or brochure a little less boring. After all - the whole point to get folks to look at your presentation & pay attention to it right?

ok Brian - sorry for going OT! back to your business cards...............:)

On #2, I didn't even notice the ring at first. My eye keyed on the kiss and the lei.

[Leo Lakio]

Hey, Fran...dontcha love that all the guys like the more traditional, couple shot and us gals like the more unique, barefoot bride shot?! :D ...or you might say that the ladies prefer a solo-bride picture, while the men like when they are included? :p

[anapuni808]

well, whether we like it or not - most weddings ARE centered on the bride. To me, it wouldn't make any difference if they had the whole wedding party on card #1 - it's the casual, barefoot part that makes it interesting.

[tutusue]

...or you might say that the ladies prefer a solo-bride picture, while the men like when they are included? :p
And I thought the guys just liked the impending kiss!!! :D

[Leo Lakio]

And I thought the guys just liked the impending kiss!!! :D Again - moreso if we are included!:D

[craigwatanabe]

As in Shrek: "#2 my Lord pick #2"

Remember wedding photo's are once in a lifetime so the business card has to reflect the assurance that the photo shoot will be "Picture Perfect". Unlike my wedding where the photographer never showed up and "booked" the Kahala Hilton for the shoot. As a former photographer, the Kahala Hilton never allowed that kind of shoot on their property since the late 70's, but I figured he knew somebody there. Unfortunately the GM never knew this photographer.

My only "Formals" were from my Mom's Kodak 110-instamatic camera. Yes I was furious on my wedding day but KHON's coverage of my wedding on the Channel 2 evening news at Studebaker's made up for it.

From a formal standpoint, I'd use #2 but then again why limit it to one photo? Have a set from each shot and let the client pick one. That way they know you aren't the typical "In the box thinker".

[Honoruru]

#2 is my number 1; #4 is my number 2. I think your business card has to be a couple.

[anapuni808]

I think Craig's idea is great - get some of both #1 & #2 printed. Give them out as the situation warrants - one is more loose, one is more traditional. That's sounds like a plan.

and Craig - I know the frustration of not having the wedding photos. My wedding #1 - I had only one, very stiff photo of the 2 of us. My wedding #2 had maybe 20 photos taken - none of them very good. But hey - I never got any video so you're lucky there. (of course, when I got married - they didn't have video cameras for the masses yet and we weren't famous...........:p )

[craigwatanabe]

I think Craig's idea is great - get some of both #1 & #2 printed. Give them out as the situation warrants - one is more loose, one is more traditional. That's sounds like a plan.

and Craig - I know the frustration of not having the wedding photos. My wedding #1 - I had only one, very stiff photo of the 2 of us. My wedding #2 had maybe 20 photos taken - none of them very good. But hey - I never got any video so you're lucky there. (of course, when I got married - they didn't have video cameras for the masses yet and we weren't famous...........:p )

Ho boy you showing your age on that last statement:D When I got married I handed out disposable cameras to every tenth guest that showed up. The candids were remarkable as those shots reflected the real flavor of the day. Now with even simple MS Movie Maker my wife and I make some really nice graduation presentations. Is there a way to share .wmv videos online?

[anapuni808]

when I say "video cameras for the masses" - I mean affordable, small, easy to handle cameras. There was a gap of some years between #1 and #2!!!! :D

[kaneohegirl]

I like nuber 4 the best... shows the couple together... with some background...and being off center I think gives more to the picture.

Number 2 is nice a goo close up... the guy is cute enough but the (no offense) the woman isnt pretty enough for that close... sorry..I hope its not your wife or sister or something LOL...

[tutusue]

[...]Number 2 is nice a goo close up... the guy is cute enough but the (no offense) the woman isnt pretty enough for that close... sorry..I hope its not your wife or sister or something LOL...
Positive proof that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"!

[LocalMotion]

I like nuber 4 the best... shows the couple together... with some background...and being off center I think gives more to the picture.

Number 2 is nice a goo close up... the guy is cute enough but the (no offense) the woman isnt pretty enough for that close... sorry..I hope its not your wife or sister or something LOL...

LOL... no relation

[craigwatanabe]

Okay I found out that you can upload .wmv files so here's my 18-year old's graduation montage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GGM6AymJlQ)made with Windows XP Movie Maker.

[LocalMotion]

Okay I found out that you can upload .wmv files so here's my 18-year old's graduation montage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GGM6AymJlQ)made with Windows XP Movie Maker.

very cool. isn't it amazing how powerful a slideshow can be with a great song added to it?

[craigwatanabe]

My wife heard it. She made another video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vplFVVkPGFk)for my other boy using Five for Fighting
that was just as powerful.

We plan on doing this for all of our boys as they grow up.