One of the hot questions I got while I was on the Pass Tour this summer was about logo & branding for males in the wedding photography industry. Check this out:
Matt asked:
“How do I incorporate my personal style in my logo and branding for my wedding photography business while also attracting my dream client? Stylistically, my target market (a 20 something bride) is on the opposite end of the spectrum.”
A lot of men feel that they have a hard time attracting their ideal clients (brides) because they don’t have the shade of light peach in their visual identity. I can definitely see where they are coming from considering that the hot marketing tool is leveraging your visual identity and brand to reflect that of your personal style, design aesthetic, and your dream client. That’s right… birds of a feather flock together and you boys are seeing those brides flock across the street to that female photographer whose visual identity looks like a dream wedding day inspiration board.
So you are thinking…. “How can I compete with that? The dark and manly look is just not attracting my ideal client….and I can’t change who I am.”
My answer to that is fairly simple. You don’t have to have a light pink logo with lace and DIY elements in your branding to attract those brides…but you do need to “class up” your look just a bit. Brides will definitely not be attracted to your favorite sports team colors with your logo rendered into your favorite mascot. Trust me.
I do think having a visual identity that represents your personal style is VERY important, but just because you have a beard and you like to go to the shooting range in your camo pants doesn’t mean you need to depict that scene exactly in your branding. You can take that vibe and “class it up” enough to go to a wedding FOR SURE, and still have it represent your personal style.
One GREAT inspiration resource that I recommend guys researching is COLOGNE!! There are TONS of different personal styles, smells and vibes. One thing you will always notice is that colognes are packaged up in a high end classy way. A cologne is a very fine luxury product that is treated with class even down to the design and packaging of the bottle.
My homework for you guys would be to browse the aisles of a cologne shop looking for a design that represents you! Below are some different looks and vibes.
+ - 16 comments
Amy - Promise – this is perfect advice, I love this! We are a female/male team and I am definitely going to grab some inspiration from your ideas in this post – thank you!
Mailinh - Again, always so very inspirational!!!
Luke Copping - Fantastic. I just shared this with a ton of my male photographer friends – especially those in the wedding market – who have been struggling with just this issue lately. For many of them this post could not have come at a better time.
Abby Grace - It’s been really interesting to watch the wedding photography industry change from a more male-centric arena to a much more evenly-balanced one. This is great advice! Definitely sharing with friends.
Dallas - Great advice, Promise! I really liked the way you grouped different types together into themes. I’ve also found that another great place to look is at high-end liquor packaging, especially scotch and speciality liqueurs!
Alejandra VIdal :) - I can’t describe how much I love this!! Such spot on advice for guys
As feminine as I am, I have loved incorporating masculine elements into our home decor. I love hints of masculine elements in a soft, feminine room!
Promise… have you seen this site? http://www.cavalieressentials.com — If I was a man, THAT would define me, haha.
TheartofHERO - Can I just say that WOOD by DSQUARED2 is my all time favorite cologne
Natalie - This is seriously amazing advice – I had never thought about how branding for men would involve such a different thought process!
Love your creative mind!
The New Diplomats Wife - I’m neither male nor professional photographer but this is great branding advice and a great way to think about it. Perhaps more interestingly, if you wrote this post 5 years ago, I guarantee it would have been the female photographers that were struggling with branding.
Jillian - Great idea. I’ve never thought about using cologne as inspiration, but it makes total sense. Currently working on a logo for a male client & I find it hard to design for males (apparel for men is also difficult, I find). TOTALLY going to the mall *way after Christmas* to check out some inspiration.
You’re so smart. <3.
xx. Jillian
melissa - never would have thought of this! but its SO true!!! what a GREAT idea!!!! btw- i LOVE the packaging of the Dsquared Wood. seriously incredible. i dont know what it smells like but id buy it for the gorgeous packaging!
Eddie - Wow…….
Regis C - Where does Old Spice fits into
sia bevis - I love aqua di gio. I gotta buy some for my husband.. – Sia Bevis
Ashely - Excellent advice!
mike larson - Nice. RL Romance is top. Good advice and the comment about peach shades cracks me up!