What should you include in your business card when you run a photography business?
And what is best left off the business card? We’ll explain the reasoning for what should be on every photographer’s business card and what should be left off.
Contact Information
Every business card must include your contact information, because few will remember your name – much less your phone number – the day they think about contacting you. The challenge for business owners is knowing what information to include and in what format. For example, the name of your business and phone number are a minimum, and that’s true whether you walk dogs or take pictures of them. Your name is useful, whether you own the business or work for it. Email addresses or web domains that connect clients to you are appropriate. An address is essential if you have a studio or gallery, and it is beneficial for those who work out of their home since it will show they’re a local business.
You start running into problems when you include more than the standard NAP+W or name, address, phone number, and website link on a photography business card. When you add three different phone numbers or a mailing address versus a store address, the card gets cluttered. People need to know what you do and how to contact you to hire you. Create confusion in that regard, and you lose points with consumers.
Images
Photography
Many photographers try to turn the business card into a portfolio. This is a mistake on the front of the business card, since you’re competing with critical NAP+W information for limited real estate. That is why the back of the business card often shows a single sample image. A common mistake is trying to fit two or three competing images on the back of the card, though this hurts the quality of each and leaves your own marketing vague. You’re often better off showing a single abstract image of a camera, bride, couple or family to link your business to what you do.
It is generally best to leave off a photo of yourself on the business card unless all you do is portraits. Photographers aren’t selling themselves. They’re selling their ability to capture other people. That’s why having two great pictures of yourself or your equipment makes it hard for them to imagine you capturing their precious memories.
Social Media Links
Social media links are at best secondary to your web domain. It is better to advertise your website and present a gallery of quality images there than try to get someone to your Pinterest or Instagram page from your business card. Get them to your website, and they should be able to follow that to your social media profiles if desired. However, your website should reinforce the marketing efforts so that people don’t have to follow a trail of breadcrumbs to get an idea of what your work looks like.
Occasionally, the back of the business card is put to work in this regard. It may show the business logo and website URL or logo, website URL and a QR code to take people straight to the desired landing page.
