You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
You’ve heard that I’m sure.
How do you make a lasting impression? 

And have your contact info readily available to those you want to connect with?

Let’s have a look at the digital card current trends as well : In years of covering CES, and many tech events, using the current crop of NFC and QR coded business cards, or an adhesive tag on your phone case,  you are considered future facing.

At a networking event, or trade show, you tap a phone, and your info gets into the receivers database.
How do they go back to get your specific info when it’s buried into their phone?

Here is another situation where you may want to share your contact info.
If you photograph organized events, or cover events in public, like street photography, people may want to reach out to get copies of the photos.
No non-business person really wants to have you tap into their phone, and that’s fair.
Sure, I have tried digital cards from 2 companies, DOT and V1CE. In that format, I prefer V1CE and the card looks like my standard company card.

But…………

I always go back to the physical business card with a unique design including some photos from my archives.
I just re-ordered more cards from my favorite company MOO.

My feeling is that if you design a card, and MOO has great creative templates, that catches people’s attention and perhaps the images you put on there make folks want to keep that card, I feel it’s a much better marketing tool.
Here is an example of mine:

Springsteen, Janelle Monae, and a street scene. Printed on great stock, they even sell unique card cases.
It’s all about presentation, right?
The site itself gives you a ton of design choices and walks you through each step for approvals. And when you get to the final step you can download a PDF to see how the final will look. (another reason to calibrate your monitors!)

The customer service with this company is superior.
Fast response, and they solved problems, which admittedly I had made.

They also make postcards and stickers, and a ton more! I’ve used the stickers for QR codes, and logos when selling items.

As a bonus feature you can get cards that are not the standard size so when people get a pocketful of cards yours will physically stand out.

So, great to give when shooting an event, or on the street.
No unnecessary connection to someone’s phone, as mentioned, people are understandably leery these days about connecting to their phone.

And they just look good, with an opportunity to market your photography in a small format.

Yes, I have Ziploc bags of cards from events, and when I go through them, it’s much easier to know who I met, than digging through my phone.
I also mark down on the cards the date I reached out to them.

It may be old school, but it is the practical way to go.