Amateurs, do you carry business cards?

My moo.com cards came yesterday. Far faster than vista print said theirs would take.

Very impressed with the quality and will definitely use them if I run out/fancy some different designs. Only down side is the moo.com banner on the back but you could pay <£2 to remove that if you want.
 
I've used goodprint and their quality has been brilliant

you can get various discount codes for that place too if you google around
 
Its my hobby, why on earth would I carry a business card, so many people seem even more obsessed with money these days
 
tijuana taxi said:
Its my hobby, why on earth would I carry a business card, so many people seem even more obsessed with money these days
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Because even hobbyists have websites these days and cards can come in handy if you get chatting to somebody and they ask where they can see your photos.
 
The actual term was business card which would suggest a saleable product rather than something giving a website address to view for pleasure
 
fabs said:
Indeed but that's what they're known as, maybe someone needs to come up with a different one. :shrug:
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calling card...

the term's been around as long for as monocles have :)
 
Yes I do, and I have set up my own website as well for the cards to point to. Anything else I link from the website.

I started because people wanted to know where the photos would be, which led to me selling photos to aid our local rugby club, which led to many other things. I've now a photobox pro account for selling prints, anything else (canvases or other products) I handle myself.

Edit: And I use Moo as well. The cheapest with the best quality. I carry a few in my wallet and want something that looks nice when I give it to someone. Maybe that's just me but if I care about my card then it gives a good impression
 
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I just get some Staples business card paper (with rounded edges :)) and print my own private ones with just email and website. Useful around certain events even like school sports day or tennis club as people always ask. Or those occasions I take some candids and the like.

My real money making business has proper design and printed ones. I see these private ones more like avoiding to have to write stuff down.
 
Ams use business cards and often websites to pretend they're pros.
 
awp said:
Ams use business cards and often websites to pretend they're pros.
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And Range Rover Sport owners pretend to be footballers :thinking: Bit of stereotyping going on there...
 
Funny because I'm a pro but I avoid using traditional business cards. I would rather get someone's email address or phone number and chase them up, a business card gets lost and forgotten too easily. I do have them but rarely hand small ones out.

What I do use is a 6x4 business card if I do want to hand one to someone. People don't throw them away as readily or lose them in their wallet or whatever. It has more impact and costs peanuts to print in bulk.
 
fabs said:
Seriously Andrew, if you want the Victor jokes to stop................:shake:
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I don't think they're jokes - and the only people who get away with them are mods! What does that tell you about this place?
BTW the comment was the truth and not told with any malice whatsoever!
 
awp said:
Ams use business cards and often websites to pretend they're pros.
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Sigh it's supposed to be a friendly forum but some people just have a permanent chip on their shoulder.
 
What I said is 100% true - how is that having a chip on my shoulder? Or were you referring to the mods?
 
Andrew..... I trust you can back up that all amateur photographers use business cards or their websites to pretend to be professionals.

If not, please don't make such broadly sweeping comments and claim them to be 100% true. I personally class myself as an amateur that has given out cards in the past AND gained work from the practice........ and the kicker is,........ I've Never claimed to be a PRO.

BTW, I have NO chip on my shoulders ! :(
 
I didn't say ALL amateurs use business cards but the ones that do are trying to give the impression they are pro. I haven't seen a business card that says amateur!
 
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awp said:
Ams use business cards and often websites to pretend they're pros.
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awp said:
What I said is 100% true - how is that having a chip on my shoulder? Or were you referring to the mods?
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Sorry old bean

I see NO distinction between the Ams that do and do not in your comments :shrug:

I have quite a collection of business cards that have been handed to me over the years, a great many of the professionals cards don't say professional photographer on them either :eek: by your rationale are they trying to be amateur ?
 
I may one day develop the skills to be a professional photographer, and I know I have the business acumen. I do, however, doubt I could achieve the necessary arrogant condescension of SOME photographers.
 
Mine doesn't even say photographer on it ;-)
 
Mine says Amateur Photographer and it's not only useful when people want to see examples of my photos (my Flickr link is on it, of course) but also when people look at my Canon 40D with 70-300mm lens on it and are convinced I'm a pro. After all, why would I have cards printed with 'Amateur' on them?

And I spent all of £3 and 10 minutes on a machine in a shopping centre to get them printed. El Cheapo. :D
 
All thoses years ago,when i used to work as a pro,never had business cards :eek:

Some people used to give me their,and i alway lost them :)
 
awp said:
I didn't say ALL amateurs use business cards but the ones that do are trying to give the impression they are pro. I haven't seen a business card that says amateur!
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The OP asked if it was worth getting business cards to promote his photographs. It's an easy way to pass on information for a small cost. Not everyone is a full time professional, some might do it in addition of their normal jobs and it's a good way to build up slowly towards perhaps making the transition.

Take for example GF Williams, a young lad making a name for himself taking excellent car shots whilst studying, or Matt at Oulton Park, already published and establishing a name. They're not full time pro's, but have websites and cards.

So throwing around generalisations and insults really aren't necessary. Seeing as you're first post on the subject referenced mine, you'll excuse me if I take umbrage at your arrogance.

Perhaps you might like to remind yourself:
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=27659#rules_conductmembers
 
simonblue said:
All thoses years ago,when i used to work as a pro,never had business cards :eek:

Some people used to give me their,and i alway lost them :)
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Which is why I avoid them. I prefer to get their details and contact them. I ask for an email address to send them info etc.
 
Mine says Legendary Awesome Photographer. oh yeah ;)

I think its worth carrying them around just to point people in the right direction who want to see what pics you've taken. All i have is a facebook page where i'll put the good pics up - doesnt meant your pretending your a pro - you just want other people to appriciate your stuff.

sometimes its when people say can i have a copy - there you go the pic will be up on there.

so in conclusion as i'm giving to them for free i'm hardly an ideal Pro.
 
For me its a hobby (different to amateur) so no business cards.
 
mani said:
Mine says Legendary Awesome Photographer. oh yeah ;)

I think its worth carrying them around just to point people in the right direction who want to see what pics you've taken. All i have is a facebook page where i'll put the good pics up - doesnt meant your pretending your a pro - you just want other people to appriciate your stuff.

sometimes its when people say can i have a copy - there you go the pic will be up on there.

so in conclusion as i'm giving to them for free i'm hardly an ideal Pro.
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Everyone knows all you need to be a pro is a DSLR and a Facebook page...
 
awp said:
I didn't say ALL amateurs use business cards but the ones that do are trying to give the impression they are pro. I haven't seen a business card that says amateur!
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it does depend what it says on the card though

if its of the vein "walter mitty wedding photographer, great rates" then yes they are using the card to pretend to be a pro ,

but if it just says " Joe blogs, check out my flickr " then its not trying to project a proffesional image , just to point people to the flickr page

the same is true of websites - lots of amateurs, particularly the younger generation, have websites and photo blogs purely to show off their pictures to their mates and the world at large.
 
Craikeybaby said:
Everyone knows all you need to be a pro is a DSLR and a Facebook page...
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wha??

I'm a pro!? ZOMG!!!

this is a moment of all moment

allow me to compose myself ...

*sniffles* i didnt think i'd be THIS worked up when the moment came...
 
Glad to know I'm pretending to be a pro just because I've got business cards and a dslr. :shrug:

Ffs, who cares tbh. A card, business card or whatever you want to bloody call it, does not necessarily mean you are calling yourself a pro. I have cards just so that I don't have someone trying to scrabble around for a stupid bit of paper and a pen when I say my photos are here.

People need to relax a bit on here and stop jumping on every single bloody post with negativity.
 
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I was being general, this one was the straw that broke the camel's back

I'm perfectly relaxed, thanks
 
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big soft moose said:
yeah that was noticeable from your use of phrases like "FFS" and "every single bloody post" :shake:

theres something ironic about bemoaning the forum being more negative because people 'jump' on posts and then jumping into a discussion with steam coming out of your ears
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and arguing doesnt help. I actually agree with Kelack, im sick to death of negative postings on here, its dragging everyone down. Kelly is normally very chilled, it says a lot when even she is annoyed.
 
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