So when I first started my business, I didn’t know the first thing about what a brand was. Sure, I knew that I need to provide a professional, user-friendly website for potential clients to go to. But I didn’t have the first clue about how to create a personal brand or why it was so important. My first website was beyond simple. It was a site that had a few images on it where I spilled all the beans about how much I charged, what you got, and a little bit about me. It lasted all of about 3 months before I decided I hated it and wanted to redo the whole thing. So I did. I rebranded my photography business.
I got some blank pieces of computer paper and sketched out every single page of my new-and-improved website. Then I started making the site online one page at a time. I worked constantly until it was finished: obsessed and wanting to get rid of my old site ASAP. I was so proud when it was all done. When I think back to that site (fun comparison coming soon lol), I felt that it looked so contemporary and that it flowed so well. Was it a lot more modern than my first original website? Absolutely! Was it simple to navigate and easier on the eyes? Definitely! But there was still something missing. And that “something” was me.
Discovering My Own Brand
So what goes into a personal brand for a photography business? Everything. Let me say that again. EV-ER-Y-THING. Everything that my business touches.
Website
Business cards
Your images (duh)
Fonts you use
How you space out your words/images (yes, even the white space)
Colors you use in everything
How you speak in your emails
What you wear when you meet clients
Products that you offer
How you deliver your images/products
Etc., Etc., Etc.– it’s never-ending!
And every single one of those items needs to do more than just look/sound pretty. All of it needs to let you know who I am as a person, a business owner, and a photographer. And the two sites I had made myself? They didn’t do that.
So for your amusement, I wanted to show you a side-by-side comparison of just the Home Page of my second DIY website (left) along with my professional rebranded site (right).
Pretty big change, amiright? Rebranding my photography business was about more than just making a pretty website and some matching stationery. I felt like the face that I was putting in front of everyone finally reflected who I am. My dark teal primary color works in multiple ways. It’s my personal favorite color AND it speaks to the richness and punch of color that you’ll see in all of my images. The font is sophisticated while also being neat and clean. And my logo? Totally Lord of the Rings eleven-inspired with the leaf-like symbol at the top and the flowing, calligraphy-type scroll nestled underneath it. Who knew my nerdy love could look so professional!
I’ve come to accept that I need more than just the obvious parts of brand to reflect who I am. I need to do that myself directly by opening up more about who I am personally, the heart behind my business, and sharing my story with all of you. I’ve always been someone who has kept to themselves, but this business has definitely gotten me on track to not hold back who I am: nerdiness and all!
Want to learn more about who I am and what I’ve been up to? Check out some of my own personal stories here!
