Another vote on Logos

[Steelsun]

Well, since the last set I put up was voted to suck (which is why I ask for a vote - better to find out now before I commit), I'd thought I'd try again.

This is the idea for a new logo my designer sent my way. Still going for the Stylized "S" so it could be branded for all three of my endeavors (Steelsun Photo & Art, Sun Stock Photos, and Shoot Houston).

Which do you like better? Any changes you recommend? Or do they both suck and I need to have the designer go back to the drawing board?

USE: The logo will become my general logo for my company and also transformed into a watermark for my images - lower left side would probably be best.

Thanks for your time and comments.

[Steelsun]

Thanks for those voting so far.
Everyone else, please take a second to vote .
Thanks.

BTW: Here's what the bottom one looks like on letterhead:

[Steelsun]

And here's what it looks like as a watermark.

[thehatguy]

I think the biggest mistake is not centering on the company name.

However I look at logos from an embroidery perspective. If you can't read a name
from 20' you've missed your mark.

Personally I think your company name needs to be more prounounced
in your logo.

John

[texkam]

With all due respect, hire a good designer and expect to pay them the same as a good wedding photographer. If you don't have the budget then just pick any of the above.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by texkam

With all due respect, hire a good designer and expect to pay them the same as a good wedding photographer. If you don't have the budget then just pick any of the above.

+1.

I fooled around with all kinds of crappy things before I ponied up and got a designer. So glad I did, because I am able to build my entire brand around that design (that part is still in progress.)

[Steelsun]

Thanks for the input everyone.

Actually I do have a designer working on these. I'm just to damn critical and dismiss too many of the designs he's shown me (I think he's getting pissed by now). I rework some of the one's he sends me and send them back and we go from there on other variations and permutations. (You should have seen the list of "things I don't like/want" I sent him - yikes).

John - I agree about the larger name visibility - have him working on that now.

[Steelsun]

Also having him change the font.
I like the big "S" he came up with, and want a font that would match it. He's doing that now.

[texkam]

With all due respect, he should have fired YOU.

Around here we use the term Bridezilla. Wonder what your designer is calling you right now.

Imagine if your client was saying this:
Actually I do have a photographer working on these. I'm just too damn critical and dismiss too many of the concepts he's shown me (I think he's getting pissed by now). I rework (photoshop) some of the one's he sends me and send them back and we go from there on other variations and permutations. (You should have seen the list of "things I don't like/want" I sent him - yikes).

[Steelsun]

Actually he probably is thinking of firing me. I probably would fire me. I have no problem with it.
I am a big believer in the 80/20/80 rule in my businesses: 80% of your clients only bring in 20% of your income, yet cause 80% of your problems. Fire them and focus on the 20% of the clients that bring in 80% of income.

But as a client, if I spend money I want to get what I desire for it. I will not pay for something I don't want (aside from government taxes and fees)

I did probably word my statement above badly.
I sent the designer a list of things I like and don't like, with a large list of things I don't want (i.e. flowers, cutesy cameras, etc). With my company initials being SS, I also stated that any logo made from double-S's cannot look "nazi-ish."
He sent me about a dozen ideas, I saw 2 that held promise and asked him to focus on those. When I said rework, I mean like "I like the S in the Star, but can we try it with 5 points instead of 7, and I do not like the Papyrus font." etc.

Just like buying a car/camera/etc - there are a list of things I want, and a list of things I don't want.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

I have a great designer that will do an awesome job for $60. Let me know if you want me to put you in touch with him.

- Wil

[Tom]

Getting started with a logo | togs4togs

Just found this through a strobist tweet.

If you have to tell a graphics designer that you don't like papyrus, he probably isn't on the cutting edge. Papyrus is on the fast track to Comic Sans-ville, especially for photographers. And yes, I used to use it.


When I had my logo designed, I found that my designer got it right the first time, but I gave her pretty specific instructions about how I wanted to brand ourselves.


That is our horiz logo. We have a square one as well where the T&P is above the text and larger. The only change I did was ask for some color in the & to separate it from the T P. She pulled the color from a pic from a wedding, and it worked perfectly. We branded ourselves with White/Black/Green and I carried that over to my personal website/blog as well to keep it up. We wanted to emphasize that it is a husband/wife team, and we wanted to use an &. We have gotten incredible feedback from clients and other designers and are very happy with our new identity.

[texkam]

I have a great designer that will do an awesome job for $60. Let me know if you want me to put you in touch with him.

...and I have a great wedding photographer that will do an awesome job for $60.

My first question, How does he make a living? My second question, is he not very smart? If your designer is that awesome why is he willing to work for pennies on the dollar? With that talent he should be working on much more lucrative jobs. That leaves me with the conclusion that he is either very naive or isn't very good. If you were happy with his work that's great, he may be "good enough" for you and perhaps others. Some people don't want, need or know the difference. Some people are happy with a $60 wedding photographer too, but just like so many on here are quick to point out about wedding or any other photography for that matter, there is a whole heck of a lot of planning, work, expertise, experience, technical issues and creativity involved. The same can be said for good graphic design too. If he is naive, he should at some point wise up and realize his worth, like so many photographers on this forum have probably done after listening to all the guidance given by the big dogs here. Perhaps Brian should jump at this opportunity while he can.

[sseeton]

Originally Posted by texkam

...and I have a great wedding photographer that will do an awesome job for $60.

My first question, How does he make a living? My second question, is he not very smart? If your designer is that awesome why is he willing to work for pennies on the dollar? With that talent he should be working on much more lucrative jobs. That leaves me with the conclusion that he is either very naive or isn't very good. If you were happy with his work that's great, he may be "good enough" for you and perhaps others. Some people don't want, need or know the difference. Some people are happy with a $60 wedding photographer too, but just like so many on here are quick to point out about wedding or any other photography for that matter, there is a whole heck of a lot of planning, work, expertise, experience, technical issues and creativity involved. The same can be said for good graphic design too. If he is naive, he should at some point wise up and realize his worth, like so many photographers on this forum have probably done after listening to all the guidance given by the big dogs here. Perhaps Brian should jump at this opportunity while he can.

i'm going to chime in here....i just recently started designing logos for my photographer friends on another board and $60 is what i charge. i know that is on the VERY low end, but i don't do it to make a living. i do it because it's fun and i because i love graphic design (and i also want to help my friends out who have awful logos to begin with! lol). i hope i'm not breaking any rules here...i'm not trying to advertise in any way, shape or form (feel free to remove this response if needed). i'm simply just saying that just because that designer charges $60 doesn't mean they suck. maybe they are JSO or do it for the love of it. i guess it just kinda hit a nerve.

[thehatguy]

Some folks have all the answers.

John