Photographic business cards… the good, the bad and the ugly!

Photo business cards remind me of the desktop publishing debacle of yesteryear, where it is so easy to produce rubbish!

Of course, I am prejudiced, and believe efficiency is better than 'pretty'. If pretty sells like crazy, then I submit, but more often than not, a pretty business card does very little selling. Still, if the owner of the card loves it, then I'm not going to argue.

But don't misunderstand me. I believe photographs used as a feature of a business card are a great idea. So let's pursue that line of thinking for a moment.

When you use a full photographic business card, you can be sure that it's unlikely to harmonise with the overall theme of your stationery package. On the other hand, the introduction of a photo of the business owner as an addition to the already themed business card is a good idea.

If relevant, an image of either your main product, or your business in action could be a great way of describing what you do or sell, especially if it is otherwise an abstract concept.

There is also merit in adding the same photographic image to your other stationery items, if you haven't done so already, ensuring the overall harmony of your business stationery.

What we will end up with is an efficient, readable, selling business card adorned with a photo that adds value to the theme of the card and its purpose.

We can now contrast that with the photo business card that is actually a photograph with the text superimposed on top, or perhaps framed within the image.

And that is where we start to find problems. Our carefully structured theme is going to suffer as compromises have to be made to make the card legible.

An example of the result of using a photographic business card is there on the right, so let's analyse its components.

What problems do you see in this business card?

This photographic business card is a few years old which is why it doesn't show email and web addresses. What I want to do though is review the inherent problems with this type of card.

By doing so, you can organise a photographic card for your business if you wish, but with a knowledge of what to avoid, and what to include.

Using a photo in a similar way to our example requires that you carefully determine what it is you want your prospect to see, and what effect the view will have on your desired result.

Our card shows a view of a caravan park from a distance. Is that view good enough for the potential visitor to make an educated decision to stay there? I suggest not, for it's not possible to determine the quality of the accommodation, the grounds, the amenities, a recreation area, and any other preferences the visitor may have.

Other than being a pleasant view, it doesn't, in my opinion, add value to any decision making.

If you choose to show the external view of your business premises, is the result going to be any more effective in making a sale or generating a prospect? At best it would likely only help to locate your business when approaching down the street.

Looking at the visual composition of our photo card, we note the top left hand corner and the top right hand corner where the stars are getting lost in the background trees. In the foreground, the script is in danger of becoming hard to read on a background of similar colour.

If the more recent information was added, such as email and web addresses, we would find the text competing with a variety of coloured backgrounds, which would not improve the readability of the card.

One solution would be to transfer the information to the card reverse side but that rather defeats the purpose of the photograph.

So my conclusion in this case is that it's the textual message that is the influencing factor for enticing visitors, and not the long-range photographic view of the park. I would drop the photo, or at least reduce it's size and instead show a tight view of the most important and influential visual aspect that has been shown to encourage visits.

What information do you think would be ideal on a photographic business card like this one?

In an effort to redeem myself with (my friend) the owner of Galaxy, I must say that the reverse of this card has a wealth of useful information.

There is an excellent map to assist travellers coming from north and south. There is a summary of good selling features for that locality, a map reference, and the park address and contact details.

So although I'm not enamoured of the photograph that makes up the face of this business card, overall it's a good, informative selling tool designed to attract custom to the caravan park.

Should you consider printing the reverse of your business card? As the additional cost is relatively small, you can provide twice the information and enjoy the resulting benefits.

Thanks for reading. Please bookmark this page so you can refer back to it, and then enjoy looking around the rest of my site. I wish you a prosperous business future.

Table of Contents

One Colour Business Cards.
Business Cards don't necessarily need to be complicated. A single colour card could be ideal for your business. Just make sure it enhances your business and doesn't cheapen it.

Two Colour Business Cards.
Adding a second colour for more options. A two colour card allows you to include more of the personality of your business. Keep it clean and readable for best results.

Full Colour Business Cards.
With the full colour Business Card comes the need to use caution. Don't get carried away and produce a spectacular but overwhelming business card. Confusing and difficult to read is not your goal!

Photographic Business Cards.
Having your photo image on your business card conveys a feeling of trust. We are naturally drawn to look at faces rather than other images. Adding an element of activity can also work well.

Die-Cut Business Cards.
Great when the shape of your Business Cards immediately conveys the identity of your business. These can be very effective, but consider where it will end up! You could have a problem if it doesn't fit in the usual card file.

Would your clients appreciate a Link to This Page?

Then just cut and paste the following code into your web page.

<a href="http://www.perthbusinessprinting.com/photographic-business-cards.html" onclick="window.open(this.href,'_blank');return false;">Photographic Business Cards.</a>

This is how it will look on your page:

Photographic Business Cards.

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This web site is maintained by Bernie Gilmour. Last modified: 20th June, 2010.