WARNING: This is my very first post EVER without images, pictures, or photos. Just my thoughts. These thoughts are only my opinion. I am not the queen of branding nor do i claim to be the best at anything. But i think this may help some of you. this is going to be a random rant… so spelling and grammar will be terrible.
In the past couple of months i have received an OVERWHELMING amount of emails regarding a re-brand for their photography/home business. That is great.. right? Well except most of these photographers, or business owners HAVE AMAZING BRANDING ALREADY. Dont get me wrong, i want to make money too. haha. But i am also an artist, and as a peer I want to help you out.
It has got me to thinking… WHY? What is the motive for a rebrand? I mean seriously… some of these photographers have beautiful, tight, cohesive, strong branding and they dont feel like it’s good enough.  Why is that? Is it because they see one successful photographer or business owner and they think that if their branding looks like theirs that it will be successful?  Well, if so…That is not true..and they have started comparing too much.
Think back to what branding really is and why we have it. Your branding should do a couple simple things. It should:
1. Â IDENTIFY YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS. Having a brand identity helps differentiate yourself from other businesses. I guess its kind of like an avatar. haha. Your brand identity needs to provide your clients with a consistent experience in order not to confuse them, because confusion leads to doubt. Â IT NEEDS TO BE MEMORABLE.
2. Â REPRESENT YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS WELL. When people see your business card or logo they should automatically get a sense of what you do, what kind of business you have, and also get a glimpse at your personality. Also keep in mind how you want your client to perceive your business. IT NEEDS TO BE DESCRIBABLE.
Does your current branding do this for you?
Branding your own business can be really hard at times… because, well.. you are an artist. AND AS ARTISTS WE CAN BE CRAZY AT TIMES!!! Please don’t take this the wrong way. I deal with this everyday of my life. We will ALWAYS want to change something. One day we want it to look like this.. Then the next day something different… and then we see a photographer that is really successful and we think its because of their branding or their look. hahaa. and maybe we want it to look a little like theirs.
Trust me, my husband has to talk me out of these kinds of crazy cycles everyday. As artists we can change our minds to much. Don’t put to much emphasis on it. Yes, your logo should represent you, but it doesn’t need to consume your thoughts.  Being obssessed with your logo and branding does not make you money.
Its YOUR work that people want. It’s your photographs.
Be consistent at improving your craft and your branding should fall right in line. Â Enjoy your work and getting paid to do what you love.
What are you thoughts on all of this? Do you agree? Disagree? What has been your journey with creating a brand identity. Lets talk.
January 7th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
preach it.
as a photographer, i totally get the insanity that is the “re-branding” temptation. it’s CRAZY.
January 7th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
oh my gosh. i get it as well. I just finished my website and now i want to re-do it. hahaa.
January 7th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Thanks for speaking to my heart and soul on this one. I thought I was the only one that got caught up in the “i wish my site looked like…” Here’s a question though, what if you’re just caught with not knowing how to incorporate marketing matierial into your brand? Is your brand then too limiting?
January 7th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Katie- how would you not be able to incorporate marketing materials into your current branding? no logo or “look” is to limiting. Even a simple solution like using a splash of the same color or pattern into some of your deliveralbles will help bring the look full circle. Make sense?
Was that your question?
January 7th, 2010 at 5:11 pm
love this post girl! very insightful. i just recently decided on my business name and branding. i’m excited!!
January 7th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
a very timely post! all week i have been having mini panic-attacks because i will be completely done with my graphics/logo/biz card/blog banner etc and be ready to launch everything … when all of a sudden i decide to start completely over!!!! my husband, too, has to talk me down from all this craziness, haha. the main prob is that because i am spending so much time worrying about this and wanting to be perfect and also constantly changing my mind about everything and then going back to my original idea and then changing again … i am still just stuck with a boring old template website, ugly marketing materials, and blogspot blog … sigh. anyways … the main point i took from this post is that comparing yourself to others won’t get you anywhere and will only drive you extra crazy. i need to remember that. it’s okay for my brand to look different. doesn’t mean it’s worse. thanks, promise.
January 7th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Promise, you said it perfectly. I am constantly wanting to better everything, every minute of every day. But the times that I focus on my actual art, my photography, I walk with amazing stuff. It’s remembering what we really do and I think then is when things start to get pieced together. Such a great post, thank you for sharing!
January 7th, 2010 at 5:22 pm
I love this! BECAUSE it reminds of Nick. He will totally go on rants about stupid ads and brands and just smile and nod because I don’t get it : ) I mean, I know what turns me on and turns me off but I can’t pick apart all the reasons why.
I guess I can relate it to decorating my house, it’s ever changing. The latest- yesterday I shopped my linen closet and re did the guest bedroom, red curtains, red sheets, brown heavy blanket, brown and red shams and a big faux fur blanket. I call it “The Sexual Chocolate Room” HAHA!
January 7th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Promise, it looks like you could teach marketing, really
. These are great observations/notions. I would add that brand should be something clients can relate to, but it is more or less included in your should’s already, however important so it deserves to be emphasized.
Please, write more ideas on doing business!
January 7th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
thanks for your feedback Honza. really great words. I really like where you are going with it relating to the client. can you expand on that?
January 7th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Love the spelling disclaimer, haha! I totally know what you mean especially lately after the new year when it felt like everyone and their grandmother was launching a new redesigned website. It had me getting anxious and thinking I needed to hurry and do it too. I definately have that on my to-do list but don’t want to get too crazy and consumed and rush it to where I want to change it again after I do it. I think working at your own pace (and why you are on that pace) and really finding out who you are as an artist is most important, at least for longevity in my opinion. Great Post Promise!
January 7th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
I have similar conversations everyday, and this is great wisdom for business owners to heed. You are spot on Promise!
We’ve worked together for how long now, and I’m constantly amazed by your business prowess.
Can we get more of these kinda posts, please?
January 7th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
I had to giggle. This is the encouragement I need right now. I’m trying to learn about branding and what its supposed to do… and I TOTALLY change my mind all the time… So, it’s nice to know I’m not the only crazy artist out there. whew! I’m trying to build a brand I guess – I think – and, well, uh… let’s just say I’m tryin’. It’s a new venture with the things that I want to do. Ha ha!
Thanks for the tips. Now, if I could only find a husband to talk me down out of my craziness… te he.
January 12th, 2010 at 11:17 am
i agree. and for it to be a post with NO images, you made it work; it’s quick, simple and meaningful. very nicely put.
January 13th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Promise, I hear ya when you say as artists we change our minds about things daily. It can be a burden if we don’t watch it! But I totally agree with these thoughts. At the college I work at the “higher ups” wanted to change our mascot logo to go along with our change over to a university. But our current mascot design is unique and best of all is a great design! So I am in this process of trying to convince them to NOT rebrand.
I’d like to add to your thoughts that it is VERY important to have longevity to a brand. Of course, having a well thought out and designed brand is important in the first place, but how long that brand is around will determine the placement of that business or individual in the marketplace. Even if the brand is so-so it is more important to have longevity so that a name or symbol is recognized in the industry and target market. Well that’s my 2 cents on the marketing side of design…
January 16th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Yeah, we artists are crazy. Crazy, I tell you. We are constantly trying to change and grow and sometimes we over think things. It is really hard for me to sometimes close my eyes and tell myself that I am happy just the way that I am at this moment in time. But it is so important to being a healthy, balanced individual. Here’s to being happy and satisfied with who you and your brand are in 2010!
January 18th, 2010 at 7:22 pm
I just came across your site from Stephanie Fay’s blog and your work is just gorgeous. Your brand identity came across very strongly on your sites. Well written & I love how you ended it. Very encouraging as I refine my brand and focus on that portfolio!
February 5th, 2010 at 12:50 am
I think this is just hilarious because I JUST submitted an inquiry on your website because i want a new logo and rebrand- HAHA. This is good insight. I feel confident now that maybe you can tell me how it really is.