Logo Design for C&C Please

[SGPhoto]

Okay since business seems to be picking up here in VA, finally and this has been something I have been needing and wanting to do since pretty much the inception of my business but just now finally getting around to it.

I am paying a graphic designer friend of mine to help me design my logo for the business and he sent me a few rough drafts and I thought I would share them here to get your thoughts and opinions.









I really like the one with the Big G if it was just a bit smaller and I also like the one with Blue as well as the one with the Lens circling my name and the big T, but would love to get any of your guys suggestions and opinions.

Thanks I really do appreciate it.

Stephen Gibson

[texkam]

I'd go with the one your graphic designer tells you bests solves your design/branding problems. End of thread.

[SGPhoto]

Mark,
I appreciate you taking the time to look and comment but could you please elaborate on what you mean by my design/branding problems. This really doesn't help me in anyway so if you wouldn't mind elaborating it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Stephen Gibson

[texkam]

For instance, what is unique about your business and how can that most effectively be conveyed? Who is your target audience? What type of look will best reach them? How will this logo reproduce across different mediums? Large, small, horizontal, vertical, reversed, etched on something, etc, etc. These are all issues that must be considered.

A graphic designer is no different than a doctor, lawyer, plumber etc. Their job is to get to know your situation and use their knowledge and skill to solve your unique problem. In this case how to develop the most effective corporate ID for your business. They should present a solution and tell you why this approach is on target. There must be a design rationale. You should walk away confident that this is this best solution. If you are not comfortable you need to share why and the process may need to continue. If you still don't end up with a level of comfort then you may ultimately may need to seek the opinion of another expert in the field.

These are all quite handsome designs, but with out knowing the specifics of your needs and the rationale behind your designers' concepts I would only be offering my best guess as to which is right for you.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

[photopam]

Not knowing what kind of photography you specialize in, here's my take on them (and I am not a graphic designer, just my opinions.)
#1 seems a little more higher quality - it's clean, it's clear, though I am not sure how well it will read very small.
#3 seems more high volume. I think if the g was the same size as the text next to it, it might work better. jmho.
#4 reads as a soccer ball and thus a sports photographer
#2 I don't like. I think it's suppose to be a lens on top of the copy, but it can also ready like a glass. It doesn't work for me.
#1 is my favorite, but you'll have to figure out how it will work smaller.

Hope this helps some! :)

[Steelsun]

I like #1 best out of these, but the font/style of the big G reminds me of Google for some reason.

[CaptainTom]

I like the first one.

Unique
graphic
eyecatching
I immediately know what I am looking at.

[Some Idiot]

#1 is cool, i would like to see it with a splash of color added, just a little bit, maybe some red

[dliveleyphotography]

The whole aperture blades has been done way to many times already, I would throw them out right away.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by dliveleyphotography

The whole aperture blades has been done way to many times already, I would throw them out right away.

And I think only photographers really know what it means.

[Redneck]

#1 is great, #2 comes second.
Do you mind telling us how much you pay for this kind of service?

[SGPhoto]

Mark,
Thanks fort clearing things up for me and me and the graphic designer talked before hand on what I as well as he thought was going to possibly come from our collaboration together for the price he quoted me and we still have some things to go back and redo. As far as type of photography that I concentrate on, mostly Portraits, Sports, Concerts, HS Seniors, so some what a diverse portfolio, I wanted something that was bold yet colorful and made a statement that when you saw it on say a website, business card, or stationary it would be somewhat remembered.

Pam,
Thanks for taking the time to look and comment and I am liking # 1 because it does have that higher quality feel to it but I also like #'s 3 & 4 for the same reasons but I have to boil it down to just one, so with a little tweaking I am sure we will get there and get it finished.

Thanks everyone else for taking the time to look and help me realize what all I need to be asking and telling the Graphic Designer on this adventure, I think I will see if he can show me something with a mix between # 1 and # 3 with some splash of color without the shutter blades.

To answer your question Andre I am currently paying him $200 for his services and if you would like his information I am sure he wouldn't mind more clientele even if you are in Texas and he is here in the VA/DC area.

Thanks again everyone I really do appreciate it.

Stephen Gibson

[Daylon]

When I was studying Advertising, I heard a great piece of advice that I try to apply whenever possible.

"Whatever you're trying to market or promote or design, take your first 20 ideas and throw them away, they've been done before by 100's of competitors. If you want to 'break through the noise and clutter' you have to get past those tired executions."

That being said, one of the other rules when it comes to print ads is that a customer has to able to immediately grasp the message or logo. Something too complicated or hard to read is frustrating and that emotion bleeds over to the company.

my two cents on the choices above:

1) lose the fine print - it'd be too hard read on a biz card, maybe just keep the G with a little more contrast?

2) again, a little 'busy'. Easy to read that large, but what about as a ghosted watermark? Maybe try just initials?

3) G is huge and it takes a minute to read - your eye almost has to follow the G to the tail before your brain goes "Ahh, GIBSON.." - Maybe make that G a little smaller? slightly less fancy font?

4) font and color seem a little weak? first thing that comes to mind is "submissive"...


Look at your logo ideas in multiple sizes and colors - it might work great blown up large and multi-colored - but does it read the same at a smaller size only in black?

Hope that didn't sound too harsh!

D.

[kimberley]

I like number one the best, but I feel like I want to keep making it straight, you know what I mean...it looks clean well done and professional..

[valdesp03]

On your website you mention you specialize in concert, sports, and portrait photography. Why dont you try to incorporate some sort of "movement" into your logo?