New logo

[Rhys]

I changed the logo at the top of my website. It was something I'd had in mind for a while. Originally the Landzilla template came with 4 photos and I simply changed the top image that held the 4 photos. This time I did something completely different. What do you think?

[Nickcanada]

Looks too old school for me personally. I think you should be pumping the fact you shoot digital.

[JTL]

While I like it from a pure design perspective, I've got to agree with Nick...I would assume that you specialize in film. It might wind up costing you some work...

[Paradox]

To add to what else has been said about it conveying the message you shoot film, it's true that your first impressions of things make the largest impact - If they see that and think 'Film photographer', they might be put off. Looking at it purely for design though, I like the idea, but the font is a bit flamboyant - Simpler fonts seem to be more effective, especially for something as crucial and variable as a name - Someone with impaired vision may have trouble making it out. Just a thought.

[Rhys]

Ok. What would you suggest? It's surely better than what was there before...

[Paradox]

I'm a believer in less is more - I usually go for something text-based for a header. Makes for smaller file sizes, less bandwidth used, faster load times, and it's simple and effective. You can incorporate images into the rest of the page. If you really want a full blown image up there, go for something fairly simple, so it catches the eye but doesn't draw attention away from the main content of the page. You could maybe include something similar to/the same design as above as part of the content of one of the pages to keep it included in the site if you were so inclined, say as part of the equipment list or something similar. Again just throwing ideas around - Ultimately, it's your site. ;)

[Rhys]

It's just that the template needs a 770x190 pixel image at the top. I was trying various different things. Here are my latest two ideas. My problem is in conveying the idea of digital images.

[Paradox]

For conveying digital...I don't know it's a tricky one. Maybe show an analogue waveform (Light) merging into a digital one (Eventual conversion by the camera)? So your standard EM wave turning into one of the on/off digital wave.

Primitive keyboard impression (Failed because the DCR doesn't like excessive amounts of spaces...)
__ __
/\/\/\| |__| |

It's a poor idea really but it's that kind of thing that can develop into something half decent with a bit of thought...I'd start out with just a plain text on a white background, play around, and if you come up with something you like - Upload it! ;)

I really need to start working on my website again...I ran out of patience a while ago, but I have 6 weeks of doing nothing ahead of me...I might have to refresh my HTML knowledge and throw something together.

[Rhys]

I have my basic idea now - a line of CDs. I tried a quickie shot with one of my zoom compacts but it didn't turn out so well - the white background fooled the meter. Then I thought of my hated Epson CX9400Fax and its scanner....

[cdifoto]

What would you suggest?
Pay an expert.

[Nickcanada]

I would do something simple like this.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k162/nickandaline/rhys.jpg


Honestly if you're doing it yourself go simple.

[Rhys]

My wife came up trumps. She has a good eye for this kind of thing. Although she's not so keen on the CDs, she suggested using two and I'd already decided that sticking with Verdana as the font for the whole website was best. Thus we came up with this - she said the text was too hard to read with CDs as the background - even pale CDs...

[Rooz]

not sure why you're using film, CF cards or CD's in your logo. people could care less about that sort of thing. i'd stick with something very simple. not sure if you saw faisals thread about logos recently, but his logo looked great imo. contemporary, simple and professional.

if you dont have graphic design skills i'd stick to something very simple, (jamison, 24peter are good examples.), if you want to hire someone or have some form of graphic skills then something like don's logo is a good option.

[Mark_48]

I might not use the word "digital" in the logo just to simplify it and also to not make prospective clients think that's all you do. Not to likely, but there may be rare individual out there that may want negatives, slides, or MF for some reason, so why exclude yourself from that possibility.

Had a bit of a play with the letters of your name and added VIP .....:D

[Rhys]

I might not use the word "digital" in the logo just to simplify it and also to not make prospective clients think that's all you do. Not to likely, but there may be rare individual out there that may want negatives, slides, or MF for some reason, so why exclude yourself from that possibility.

Had a bit of a play with the letters of your name and added VIP .....:D

Thanks. I said digital because all I have with me in the US is digital gear. If I buy a film camera (highly unlikely) then I might offer film or maybe medium format. I'm not going to rush out to buy it on the off chance somebody will want film though.

The aperture blades are an interesting idea. I can't use the format though as the format has to be 770x120 with the top 40 pixels being blank. It's just the way my template is set up.

Thankyou for the suggestion though.

[michaelb]

Rhys - I really don't like any of these - they are all sort of chinsy, although I like Nick's best.

Check out some of these logos that JM was working on in an earlier post - these are much more classy...

http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38399

[faisal]

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/1372/rhysnd5.jpg

[Rhys]

Thanks Faisal. I'll use that. I need to convert it to black on white as my site is black on white but I love it.

[anco85]

I dunno Rhys, not to offend, but none of those with the exception of Nick's would make me very excited to use you as my photographer.

More often than not, text and that's it.

Picture logo's are so 90's

[Nickcanada]

I really like faisal's. :)

[adam75south]

i gotta be honest, i don't like any of them. i don't have suggestions either....i think don mighta hit the nail on the head when he said pay an expert.

[Rhys]

Hmm. Faisal gave me some great ideas. I changed it a little. I figured the font would be better as Verdana as that's what the rest of the site is. The PC screen game me an idea so I put a camera in its place. Then I looked at the text he suggested and it just struck me that it could be seen as an amateur's website so I changed the text to put the word professional in.

I'm a lot happier with my current reincarnation. The CDs were a neat idea of mine but as people said - it looked like a CD salesman website. I thought about a camera and wondered whether it would look more like a camera sales site but... it seems to work.

[faisal]

you're welcome Rhys....(btw its not a PC screen, it was supposed to be a camera sensor..)

Post your version...!!!

[Rhys]

Here you are :D

I might yet remove my name and replace it with my slogun.

[anco85]

Rhys - My personal opinion, leave the images out of your logo. Plain text and nothing more

Edit: that does look much better, but remove your name. It'll make you seem more of a pro

Edit 2: Replace that Canon POS with something a little more respect. May I suggest a Nikon? :D

[faisal]

I like it...though I would remove the Grey shade of the camera picture

[Nickcanada]

Rhys - My personal opinion, leave the images out of your logo. Plain text and nothing more

Edit: that does look much better, but remove your name. It'll make you seem more of a pro

Edit 2: Replace that Canon POS with something a little more respect. May I suggest a Nikon? :D


That's it!!! Get out!!! :D

[Mark_48]

Here you are :D

I might yet remove my name and replace it with my slogun.

What's the fps velocity of that one? :o

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a political, commercial, religious and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose.

The word "slogan" comes from sluagh-ghairm (pronounced slua-gherum), which is Gaelic for "battle cry" [1].

[Rhys]

Here we are. I even tidied up my slogan a little...

I'm pretty happy with what I have so far.

My next step is my 3-month 4 times per hour TV ad campaign :D - I'm getting it for a bargain price :D

[cdifoto]

My next step is my 3-month 4 times per hour TV ad campaign :D - I'm getting it for a bargain price :D
Now that I have got to see!

[Mark_48]

YouTube it !!!!

[Rhys]

Lol. Will do. I'm meeting the lady at the TV station on Thursday.

[FLiPMaRC]

I like that last one :cool:


Can't wait to see the TV Ad :D Are you in it? :)

[Rhys]

I like that last one :cool:


Can't wait to see the TV Ad :D Are you in it? :)

I don't know yet. I haven't had the first meeting with the lady from the TV station. All we've done is agreed over the phone and via email thus far.

I just hope it's not going to be as ghastly as the guy selling office furniture locally who speaks in a monotone all the time.

[cdifoto]

I think you should start off sitting at that lawn table, reading a photo magazine & drinking your tea with the handgun slightly showing as in that photo, and have the camera pan in on you as if walking up casually to a friend. Then you raise your head in a half-surpised manner and say "Hi, I'm Rhys, owner and principal shooter..."

[SpecialK]

Pay an expert.

Expert web people are no more qualified than expert photographers, who in theory are graphics oriented, anyway :-)

Steal something and change it slightly.

[cdifoto]

Expert web people are no more qualified than expert photographers, who in theory are graphics oriented, anyway :-)

Steal something and change it slightly.
I paid someone who know what she was doing and couldn't be happier. The fact that she has a nice butt had NOTHING to do with it. :D


Even Phil Knight new better than to try to make his own logo. ;)

[Mark_48]

Expert web people are no more qualified than expert photographers, who in theory are graphics oriented, anyway :-)

Steal something and change it slightly.

I like you.....:D

[cdifoto]

If someone stole my logo and used it in any way, shape, or form, I'd sue the shit out of them. I paid for my logo, they did not.

[Rhys]

I just refuse to pay for web designers when I can do it by trial and error at zero cost. I like to bounce ideas off other people which is where forums come in handy. I give them ideas and they give me ideas. IMHO there's too much of this "pay somebody else to do this" when with a modicum of effort it's possible to do it yourself.

I'm not bothered about making a ton of money - just enough to be comfortable. My site's not too bad right now. I'm happy enough with it to want to use other venues for increasing income. My logo was the last planned improvement and I have something I'm happy with now. Thanks to all that gave their ideas and comments.

Meanwhile, I wait with baited breath to see what the TV girl has in mind. I'd love to do a Bond skit for my advert.

[cdifoto]

I don't pay people to do everything...just the stuff I suck at. :)

[FLiPMaRC]

The fact that she has a nice butt had NOTHING to do with it. :D
Yeah ... okay :p :p :p :D

[Mark_48]

I just refuse to pay for web designers when I can do it by trial and error at zero cost. I like to bounce ideas off other people which is where forums come in handy. I give them ideas and they give me ideas. IMHO there's too much of this "pay somebody else to do this" when with a modicum of effort it's possible to do it yourself.

I'm not bothered about making a ton of money - just enough to be comfortable. My site's not too bad right now. I'm happy enough with it to want to use other venues for increasing income. My logo was the last planned improvement and I have something I'm happy with now. Thanks to all that gave their ideas and comments.


I kind of agree with Rhys about trying to do his own logo and his approach of bouncing ideas of people here is a good way to go. How else do we learn other than trying things.


Meanwhile, I wait with baited breath to see what the TV girl has in mind. I'd love to do a Bond skit for my advert.

:D:D:D:D:D

[Rhys]

I kind of agree with Rhys about trying to do his own logo and his approach of bouncing ideas of people here is a good way to go. How else do we learn other than trying things.



:D:D:D:D:D

I was at a business seminar years ago and the guy teaching was very interesting. He said that one of your main aims is reduction of costs. That means recycling used paper for rough notes etc and internal office memos. It also means keeping an eye on expenditure, making sure no money is wasted. His classic example was walking down the road - keep your eyes open for pennies and for paperclips etc. Every paperclip you find can be used and means one less that you have to buy.

Many things people do are essentially very simple or sequences of very simple things. Unless you have customers aplenty and no time for anything then you can use that time to learn how to do something yourself then to do it. Do you call a plumber because your toilet cistern is dripping or do you investigate and replace the worn part yourself? I find doing it myself is faster and cheaper - and it's not hard either nor time-consuming.

So... make life simple by choosing the easiest tools to use and do things yourself. I designed my website. Sure - I could have spent many hundreds of dollars and hired some pimply youth to do it for me but I did it myself through trial and error and through asking what people liked and disliked. Other people are great sounding boards and usually quite helpful.

I'm looking forward to my TV advert. I'm also thinking about a radio advert in conjunction with my TV advert and wondering also about billboards. The TV advert seems to be coming in for a bargain price. I might start a magazine advert in conjunction with that too.

[cdifoto]

The key to success is being smart enough to know your own limitations and leave those particulars to the experts.

I can do some code for web development even though it takes me awhile. I hacked OSC for my own site, reworked the design of it, and chopped up wordpress after installing a template. In doing so I probably saved myself several thousand dollars. However, I know I cannot design a friggin' logo to save my life, so I left that up to someone who actually knew her way around Illustrator. With all the cash I have wrapped up in gear, the logo was small change...and probably one of the best purchases I've ever made.