heather_wallace3

Thank you for the ideas, everyone! (Especially David W., that made my day haha!) I did just want to clear up this one point: I do recognize that what I name the packages will mean very little to my clients...it's more for my own satisfaction. Add, barring a "hungry man" package (once again, fabulous idea!), I want to choose names that I will feel happy with.

 

This community is very supportive and I thank you for your help! Any more idea are warmly welcome. :)

 

-Heather

Hi, guys!

 

It may be a result of staying up until 2am most days this week, but I have hit

a creative wall in my business plan. I am emerging as a wedding photographer

(among other photographic pursuits) in my area, and I have finally put together

some packages. I would like to be able to show each of these packages on my

website with a simple, easy to remember name and icon. Currently, my packages

are simply "Essentials", "Silver", "Gold", and "Platnum". I am annoyed by these

names, especially since I cannot think of good ways to illustrate them with

simple button icons. (I mean, how can you make a simple button icon

for "platnum"?) Plus...well, I know it works for many photographers, but I

would really be happier with more creative names. Fits me better. :)

 

I would like the "Essentials" package to stay under that name- I have assigned

it a simple vector of a leaf. (So, when people select the leaf under

my "packages" page, they get more info on the package. I hope I'm explaining

myself coherently, haha!)

 

But, now what? Could I rename the other packages to flowers or something?

(I.E., daisey, lily, rose?) Or precious stones? (I.E., ruby, emerald, Quartz?)

If so, how do I determine which should be for the 'better' package? (Is there a

rule for this? I.E, this flower is better than...)

 

Or if I were to keep all the names, does anyone have an idea for pictures that

could be associated with them? I would like the themes to be nature-y...I can

make the images myself, I just need some inspiration!

 

(Wow, I'm way over thinking this, aren't I? Well, you know how photographers

are, haha) Any help is appreciated, if you happen to have some ideas. I know

you folks are creative, after all... ;) Well, off to bed with me.

 

Love and cheers,

Heather .

Michigan, USA .

www.infinitiphotograpy.zenfolio.com <--Please, be patient with my new site

while I get my act together! ;)<div></div>

Laurence, I was pleasently surprised to follow your link and discover that you are one of the people I watch on DevArt! The internet is truly a small place. :)

 

I just wanted to say that I agree with Craig- you honestly could be making serious money with senior portratry. Why not try working for yourself? (of course, it take time to build a business, so don't be afraid to seek employment to fill the gap for now) You work is fabulous and I personally would hire you in a second.

 

-Heather

(Roseredd, DevArt)

I'm confused about which is the revised, as everyone is talking about the red and black one... O.o But I really, really like the blue card much better. It's eye catching and simple, and "tjpohoto" is just SO much better than "tjphotographics"

 

-Heather

Crystal Photography is a great name for one more reason: the other definition of "crystal", a beutiful heirloom that is cherished! You could possibly use that in a logo or reflect it in your tagline? A business card with "Crystal Photography" in fancy scrolling cursive would be really cool, imho...

 

-Heather

I use the deluxe DVD cases found here: www.jewelboxing.com. They are fully customizable and so much better quality than regular DVD jewel cases. A great plus is that each case allows you to stack two DVDs, so you can use them for one or two DVDs. I also use the smaller CD cases for senior portriats and family shoots.

 

Regards,

Heather

Remember, it's all about pulling in the customer and getting them to remember you. A <em>good</em> business name can do both more effectively in some cases, but as some have pointed out, <em>you</em> do have a strong and fairly easy to remember name to work with. :)

 

Just remember, as has been pointed out, a name that is <em>cheesy</em> can do wonders to kill your business. "Friendly Foto" for example, doesn't exactly bring to mind a professional artistian.

 

One more good thing to remember, whether you have a business name or not, is this: let's say you do a fantastic job for a wedding client, and they show thier friends. The friends ask "wow, who did your photos?" chances are, the bride will feel better replying with (and will most likely automaticly reply with) your name. "Oh, Rick Shanahan. Isn't he amazing?!" Even if she hands her friend a card with your business name, your personal name is on the line. Keeping this in mind, while I have a business name, I also put my personal name on my business card. You want people to remember <em>you</em> - <em>your</em> work.

 

Have fun!

 

-Heather

A website is a fantastic resource for those that have heard of you, or are already interested in your work, to learn more about you and get convinced that you are the right match. But, a major part of advertising is the initial pull-in moment, soooooo:

 

(Other than referals, which are the proverbial golden apples) Business cards, prints, and eye-catching DVD cases (jewelboxing.com...I'm in love!) -anything TANGABLE- will be what pulls in the customers. Putting a really good card in the hand of an interested person will go a LONG way.

 

-Heather

I've thought of this as well...my opinion is, do it! But, do it with class. I would think a personalized message to the effect of: "I'm so excited for you! To contribute to your special day, I'd love to offer you a discount of 10% on any of my wedding packages!" would go over much better, versus: "Hey, you're getting married- want to hire me?"

 

Keep on truckin'

Heather

Weigh the risk, just as you weigh the angles for a photo:

 

If this turns out to be a great portfolio bride, you have improved your portfolio.

 

If this turns out to be a difficult, or at the worst, legally tangling situation, you have possibly ruined your business.

 

Worth the risk?

Hi, everyone!

 

I have decided to try changing the way I give proofs. Basicly, I want to be

able to have a DVD with two menu options: Slideshow and Proofs. Under the

"Proofs" area, I want to have a page of images, with the person able to select

one to view, and shuffle through them at will. All I have been able to find is

programs with the ability to make everything a slideshow!!

 

Basicly, I want to be able to do it as it is on a CD: put the files on there,

so they can scan through them (plus the image number is at the top when doing

this on CDs, big time saver). Then I want to put my slideshow on there as well.

 

I newly aqiured Nero Show Time (came with my DVD drive), but again, only

slideshows...

 

Any advice? I have the feeling I'm just overlooking the obvious. (*sigh*)

 

-Heather

 

PS:

 

As a note, I m aware that the persons using this proof DVD would be able to

copy and possibly print the images. This is part of the plan- and my prices

reflect this. Thanks!

I did something wrong ^^; Here are some links instead:

 

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/55776848/?qo=1&q=by%3Aroseredd+in%3Ascraps&qh=sort%3Atime

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/55779645/?q=by%3Aroseredd+in%3Ascraps&qh=sort%3Atime

Hi, everybody! Just wanted to say thanks, first of all, because I've learned so

much just by hanging out here. This is my first post.

 

I'm looking for feed back on some business card layouts. Any suggestions are

very welcome. (I do hope I do this right, lol) With the first one, I am trying

to descide on the placement of the text. I prefer the tilted text astheticly,

but does it look um-professional? The second needs...something. Something is

wrong, but I can't figure out what. Please lend an opinion...

 

<img>http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/

55776848/?q=by%3Aroseredd+in%3Ascraps&qh=sort%3Atime</img>

 

<img>http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/

55779645/?q=by%3Aroseredd+in%3Ascraps&qh=sort%3Atime</img>

 

Thank you!

 

-Heather

[to Mary Ball] I was thinking of doing that myself. May I ask what albums you use or where you obtain them? I am just starting out, and can't afford to put a huge amount of money into it, but I am looking to do some sample proof books just as you described to show off.