Promo Cards: Help Please
Nov 10, 2008 by Matt Lutton 9 Comments »In an effort to get some more crowd participation here at DVA, I’ve got a few questions to ask of you today. First, I’d love some input on which picture to use on a new set of promo-card mailers that I’ll be sending to editors in the next couple of weeks. I’m definitely getting input from photographer-friends but I’d love to see what people who aren’t as familiar with my work think.
This mailer will be the first step in the multi-faceted publicity push before another trip to New York to show a portfolio around and connect with editors, old friends and new alike, about new developments in my ‘business’. For starters, I’ve got a near-imminent (January? I think?) move planned to Belgrade, Serbia for a new base of operations. Rest assured, I’ll definitely be talking more about this in the coming weeks but lets start with which picture best represents my work and what I hope to be doing. Which of these pictures do you feel is the best introduction to my pictures? Which is the most striking and likely end up taped to a cubicle wall for posterity? Please have a look at my website (www.mattlutton.com) if you would like to see more of my portfolio.
Obvious Choice #1 (Kosovo)
Obvious Choice #2 (Kosovo)
Obvious Choice #3 (Kosovo; variation of #2)
I’m leaning toward something from the Balkans, probably Kosovo, since it is so parallel to the projects I’ll be presenting clients from my new home. But also, a lot of people already know my Kosovo work so maybe it would be best to go with something new, something that really only early readers of this blog know, the pictures from the Lt. Madrazo service?
Lt. Madrazo (1)
Lt. Madrazo (2)
I really wish I were in a position to put together a multi-photo card (like something A Photo Editor showed off when discussing some of the promos he has received in the past. Speaking of which, if you’re thinking about promo cards yourself that link is a must-read) but I think right now I’m going with a single photo postcard.
These are the first pictures that come to mind, but I have a few more that I think could make sense for a promo card too. Just click through to the jump for a few more.
On the road near Mitrovica, Kosovo. June 2008.
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Albanian boys take shelter from a sudden rainstorm at a school above Shtime, Kosovo.
A soccer field turned into a construction staging area in Albanian Mitrovica, Kosovo.
Thanks very much all!
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Matt,
I would stick to something a bit representational, it seems to work best as an overall view and idea of your work, as many editors will not be looking for something exactly like the projects you have shot. That said, it is good to have an image with a good story behind it, or that will at least lead to a discussion of your work as a whole.
From what you have posted, I would vote for #3, with #1 being a 2nd choice, but it is more event specific where as #3 is a little more vague/representational.
Another one of your images that comes to mind is the one with a blurry big head in the foreground and a kid diving in the back, in focus. I like that one.
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Thanks for the response Jeremy — interesting you pick #3, that was actually the image I had settled on a couple of months ago when I was about to have some cards made for me as part of a contest I won (turns out the company went under before they ever had them produced, so I’m stuck now doing it myself). I was definitely leaning towards that one, but I was intrigued by the funeral shots too.
The big head/kid diving shot is interesting, but I’m kind of ‘over’ that picture of mine .. (for those who are curious, check this link: http://tinyurl.com/6zqm83
I’d love more feedback if there are people out there lurking..
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Told you! #3 over #2, no question. Such a better shot! The kid’s diving picture might be good, too, given APE’s recent critical mass post where he talked about how effective the kid pictures were on him.
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I actually kind of prefer shot #2 over #3, mostly because of the interaction between (I assume) father and son. I really like the boys overlooking Prizren as well.
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I don’t know which one I like better, #2 or #3…… Aaagh. I don’t know. Probably 3. Yeah, go with 3.
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Matt,
I would vote the picture with the kid looking at the camera while another kid is diving in the back.
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[...] to all who responded to my call for help last week when selecting the image for my new promo card. The consensus was definitely for [...]
you definitely made the right call with #3. it’s a stunning pic.
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you’re all nuts, number 2!
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