Type tells a story - Typography
Type tells a story
If you write it down, we're going to judge it.
Not just the words, we're going to judge you even before we read the words. The typography you use, whether it's a handwritten note or a glossy brochure, sends a message.
Some typefaces are judged in a similar way by most people you're addressing (Times Roman in a Word document or Helvetica on a street sign or Myriad Pro on a website) but even when you choose something as simple as a typeface, be prepared for people to misunderstand you.
If you send me a flyer with dated, cheesy or overused type, it's like showing up in a leisure suit for a first date. If your website looks like Geocities or some scammy info marketer, I won't even stay long enough to read it.
Like a wardrobe, I think a few simple guidelines can save amateurs like us a lot of time:
1. Invest some time and money up front to come up with a house style that actually looks the way you want it to, one that tells the story you want to tell. Hire a designer, put in some effort. A headline font, a body font, one or two extras. That's your outfit, just like the four suits you rotate through your closet.
2. "What does this remind you of?" No need to be a pioneer (unless that's the story you want me remember). Find a combination of typefaces that remind your chosen audience of the sort of organization you want to remind them of. Hint: italic wedding invitation fonts in the body of your email remind me of nothing except other people who have wasted my time...
3. Be consistent. Don't change it when you get bored. Don't change it when your staff gets bored. Change it when the accountant and marketing guys tell you it's not working any longer.
Read more at: http://sethgodin.typepad.com
If you write it down, we're going to judge it.
Not just the words, we're going to judge you even before we read the words. The typography you use, whether it's a handwritten note or a glossy brochure, sends a message.
Some typefaces are judged in a similar way by most people you're addressing (Times Roman in a Word document or Helvetica on a street sign or Myriad Pro on a website) but even when you choose something as simple as a typeface, be prepared for people to misunderstand you.
If you send me a flyer with dated, cheesy or overused type, it's like showing up in a leisure suit for a first date. If your website looks like Geocities or some scammy info marketer, I won't even stay long enough to read it.
Like a wardrobe, I think a few simple guidelines can save amateurs like us a lot of time:
1. Invest some time and money up front to come up with a house style that actually looks the way you want it to, one that tells the story you want to tell. Hire a designer, put in some effort. A headline font, a body font, one or two extras. That's your outfit, just like the four suits you rotate through your closet.
2. "What does this remind you of?" No need to be a pioneer (unless that's the story you want me remember). Find a combination of typefaces that remind your chosen audience of the sort of organization you want to remind them of. Hint: italic wedding invitation fonts in the body of your email remind me of nothing except other people who have wasted my time...
3. Be consistent. Don't change it when you get bored. Don't change it when your staff gets bored. Change it when the accountant and marketing guys tell you it's not working any longer.
Read more at: http://sethgodin.typepad.com
The Third & The Seventh - an inspiring video by Alex Roman
The Third & The Seventh
It's amazing to see the advancement and options available in post-production, check out this video!
It's amazing to see the advancement and options available in post-production, check out this video!
Compositing Breakdown (T&S) from Alex Roman on Vimeo.
Craftsmanship: Advance as an Artist
Craftsmanship
Find a calling and then deliver.
"If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.'" – Martin Luther King, Jr.Wow, those words moved me today and made me think about my own situation as a professional photographer. How can I get inspired and inspire others?
I decided to start writing my thoughts...
Fine tune your skills and portfolio between projects, this will help you keep your craft on it's highest level. Always challenge yourself, even if it's the simplest of project concepts. Push yourself and your team, take it to the next level. Find people (in my case visual artists) who will make you want to change your game up a little and try new things, learn a new medium.
Dan Winters (http://www.danwintersphoto.com) and I were talking once and I asked him, "What advise could you lend to a young photographer who is on the cusp of that next level, but just can't get over the edge? Dan says, "Keep Shootin."
I thought about his words and they are so true, the only way you are going to stay sane and reach that next level is to keep working and stay focused! Focus your life, focus your vision, focus your thoughts, focus your energy. Once you focus and have that "good energy", success and happiness will present itself. Business will start to flow and your work will take off to that next level.
Keep in mind that there are MANY levels, with each having it's own success and challenges. I guess that's the exciting part about being an artist, you create life!
Quote from http://sethgodin.typepad.com/
Check out my new work at www.JesseKnish.com
Thanks to Imaging USA and the PPA for an amazing photography conference in Nashville, TN.
http://imagingusa.org/
Social Networking
Networking Checklist
Networking is a huge and powerful tool that can help your business grow, it's one of the most important and effective ways to increase sales potential and client growth. Social Media has changed the way the world and potential clients find photographers and designers, it's all about the Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn network!
Here are some tips for creating a network checklist:
* Have a networking-friendly stance. Be prepared to meet new people anytime day or night, by having business cards, a laptop computer containing your portfolio, and a short story to tell about your capabilities and desires.
* Think of places and relationships strategically. Manage and cultivate your network by connecting nodes at working breakfasts, luncheons and dinner parties.
* Use “third places” like Starbucks to work and add nodes to your network.
* Attend and participate in conferences of other professions.
* Go early / stay late. The best contacts are often made during these off-times.
* Fly business or first class at least once a year to meet upper level managers who could become clients.
* Reciprocate. Be prepared to give something back to those you meet.
* Follow up on your promises. If you say you’ll email within 24 hours or will phone next week, do it.
* Send email blasts regularly to your network list, with a paragraph and an image about awards, special projects, published articles and presentations at conferences, to stay top-of-mind.
* Meet 10 new people every week.
* Remember: networking is just like dating; the goal is not to get married on the first date, just to get to the next meeting.
Networking is a huge and powerful tool that can help your business grow, it's one of the most important and effective ways to increase sales potential and client growth. Social Media has changed the way the world and potential clients find photographers and designers, it's all about the Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn network!
Here are some tips for creating a network checklist:
* Have a networking-friendly stance. Be prepared to meet new people anytime day or night, by having business cards, a laptop computer containing your portfolio, and a short story to tell about your capabilities and desires.
* Think of places and relationships strategically. Manage and cultivate your network by connecting nodes at working breakfasts, luncheons and dinner parties.
* Use “third places” like Starbucks to work and add nodes to your network.
* Attend and participate in conferences of other professions.
* Go early / stay late. The best contacts are often made during these off-times.
* Fly business or first class at least once a year to meet upper level managers who could become clients.
* Reciprocate. Be prepared to give something back to those you meet.
* Follow up on your promises. If you say you’ll email within 24 hours or will phone next week, do it.
* Send email blasts regularly to your network list, with a paragraph and an image about awards, special projects, published articles and presentations at conferences, to stay top-of-mind.
* Meet 10 new people every week.
* Remember: networking is just like dating; the goal is not to get married on the first date, just to get to the next meeting.
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