The winners of the branding mini-consults are: Andrea Roberts, Angela Duncan, and Irmalou Photography. I used random number generator to choose, as I couldn’t pick between your witty, honest, and insightful comments. Congrats!
Thanks to everyone who took the time to enter the contest. For the (contest) losers, a treat! Up to 10 of you can snag a mini-consult for $95 — then it’s back to only full consults being offered. Again, the mini-consult is a big ol’ questionaire via e-mail and a 30-minute chat about your brand with me, Kristen. It’s a way to get your brain in gear and thinking in a new way…and you can talk as fast as you want to squeeze everything into that half-hour.
The first 10 peeps to e-mail brandcamponline@gmail.com with title ‘Mini-Brand Me, Baby!’ snag a mini-consult with me for $95!
Hate that we missed the contest. our brand and logo are fine, we don’t want fine. we want better.
Chelsey -September 29, 2009 - 10:54 pm
Between NOW and next Tuesday … as in the Tuesday that happens in less than 10 minutes your time?! ACK!!! Where do you even begin with branding woes?! I think the biggest ‘whoa’ is that you don’t even know you need branding help until you’re in the thick of it, kwim? You are in the bell jar. And then the pieces of the puzzle start coming together & you realize, don’t say woe in a mud hole. That’s it … the puzzle pieces, fitting them together and wrapping them up in that package called branding. I took a film shot a long, long time ago of a headstone that read “Faith” 1955-1956. I think that says a lot about a lot of things. Having faith & taking it one year (step) at a time.
I am well established in the Austin wedding industry and I try to keep very current on all wedding related trends including social media. However, I need a branding expert to help me fine tune my company, put my thoughts into the right format to relate to my future clients and bring it all out of my mind into reality.
Why you? Because I always refer to “One time at band camp…” so Brand Camp has to be the answer I have been looking for. Please pick me…hand up in the air.
I need fresh eyes to look at my one year old business. I didn’t even know to *think* about branding until recently and now that the wool has been lifted from my eyes, I’M FREAKING OUT! I’m churning in circles, trying to figure out what to do next and getting nowhere. Help, please?
I would love your help with branding. I have a new logo coming, I love it. Photography is a side venture for me. I have three kids, and life is so busy. I take limited bookings because I don’t have a lot of free time. My style has evolved over the years, but my branding has not. I lead my photography business with my heart. I want my clients to have dreamy pictures of their family and their children. How do I continue to lead with my heart, but put more value on my time and accurately portray this to my clients?
I’m having trouble figuring out how to translate who I am into branding for my company.
Kisha of Sahara Blue -September 29, 2009 - 3:39 pm
I would so appreciate and love to win this branding consult. I am just starting my business and realize how important branding is. I also realize that it’s much more than a logo-it’s everything your potential client will see and even extends to your shooting style. Your brand should be totally reflective of you…or should it? I mean, off stage beyonce is beyonce but on stage she is “sasha fierce”…This is my biggest issue and why I would love to win this consult. I’m being drawn in two very (I think) different branding directions and am unsure of what route to go. Consistency is important so I’d love to share my thoughts/ideas with someone who knows about branding to get their, YOUR, opinion. I don’t have a lot of money laying around so I would love to kinda just get it right the first time and invest in proper development of logo etc. Right now-I’ve got nothing because I want to do it right. Ice listened to nearly every TRA interview you’ve done and the advice you gave Alicia Caine about her site/brand not reflecting her is the kinda advice I’m hoping to get. Please excuse any typos-I typed this all on my iPhone!
I have been working with graphic design for years and I still don’t think I can do this for myself. I need seriously help on how to do it. I can help others, but not help myself. I guess it’s a case of “Doctors can’t heal themselves”. *sigh* I can’t make a logo for myself worth crap. I keep it so clean and boring, without any personality, and I’m full of personality. I’m a fun person. I’m a goofy person. But my logo says “Booooooooriiiiiiiiiiing” Help!
I hate my business name and my logo and the style of everything about my business. I go back and forth between loving it and loathing it. I’ve had 4 different website designs in the past 2 years, 2 different logos and none of them make me happy or I feel are recognizable. I recently moved to Houston, Texas from Lufkin (1/250th the size of Houston) and now I have no idea where to start.
My biggest woe is my love of everything beautiful, even things that might not be my “brand”, whatever that is. I love to shoot fashion which is highly posed, but I also love genuine candid shooting where honest emotion is caught, not posed. How does one reconcile this in a brand, as them seem polar opposites.
I need something that is more catchy and remember-able. Right now it seems to fade into the background and isn’t seeming to capture the new-modern client that I’m looking for.
I’m having trouble staying true to what *I* like while making sure it’s universally likable too. I’ve designed like six different business cards and can’t pick which to order. And I don’t know how to toe the line between “just right” and “too much” since my name is my business name. and my email address. and my website. and, y’know, my name. thanks so much!
Our company does TOO many things to be able to effectively communicate all of them to everybody. (We are videographers, filmmakers, photographers, web designers, graphic designers, writers, songwriters, composers, musicians, etc.) I’d like to figure out a way to focus it all together as one brand instead of having separate company names. Is it possible? Would a corporate client use someone named Sweet Spirit Productions?
hi. my name is maura kate and i have an identity disorder with a dual diagnosis of design schizophrenia. a little brand camp therapy is the perfect prescription!
in reality, what i need is an outside perspective.
an expert, a straight-talker who can look at the work i’ve already done as far as figuring out who i am as a photographer/business person and suggest strategies to move forward. ahh… what i would give for a little direction!
many thanks
KellyW -September 29, 2009 - 1:59 pm
Put me in the not-sure-even-how-to-begin camp. Not sure where to start. Want to be consistent, but too many ideas. Not sure how to funnel my ideas down to the essential message. Lots of visions swirling in the brain, but no clue about distilling into a visible brand.
I am trying to create a brand from the ground up, and it’s been very frustrating trying to figure out what exactly I want. I had a website created, and I look at it, and I feel like it’s not me at all. And that’s my fault for not being able to articulate what exactly I wanted at the time. I’m getting ready to have a logo designed, and I’ll redo my website after that, but I need to figure out what I want to convey with my branding. Doing a lot of reevaluating right now.
My biggest woe is trying to settle on ONE name for my business and coming up with a logo/brand that will connect my business with me and all of my existing networks. Help!
My current logo is “safe and generic.” I’m definately not… Have a few ideas of where I’d like to go for the next step in (re)building a brand, but could definately use help to make sure I go the right path!
AAAAAGGGHH!!! I don’t even know where to begin to describe the mess that is my brand or lack thereof.. I think i’m not quite sure what I want from my brand.. I have several different styles but it has no focus and doesn’t describe me at all..help help help help…please
I have a logo and all the will change in February 2010. BUT what do I do in the meantime. Use my logo to the fullest? Still put my stuff out there on thank you cards, letterhead, etc? I AM SO CONFUSED. WHAT’S WRONG WITH ME? HELP ME.
I have a problem with being consistent. In general, I am a really *eclectic* person. I like too many things to rely on my personality to lead me to a good, strong consistent looking brand. I’m somewhere between Bust magazine and Anthropologie. Somewhere between New Wave and Hip Hop. Please help me with my personality disorder- er- I mean- branding dilema.
I would love to have some help in taking my brand to the next step. There seem to be so many of them that I just don’t know where to start, and kind of feel like I’m muddling along. ick!
I have a logo that I love, but I just can’t seem to work into the collateral materials of my DREAMS. I have things that I want, ideas in my mind, but they don’t mesh with my logo at all — at least I don’t think they do. And that leaves me sad. Very sad. Auuuuuuuugh!!! HELP! I need your help! Pretty please. Help meeeeeeeeeeeeeee…
(PS – I’ve been reading your posts in my inbox, so I didn’t realize you had brought the “wood” background back on the blog. I love it. I’m glad to see some more of the “camp” feel back.)
How very, very nice of you to do this! I need all kinds of branding help. I have ideas, but am unsure how if/how to implement them. I also want to distinguish myself in my market, and feel my brand does not do that. Lastly, not sure that the images I show correlate to my brand. I need all kinds of help! Thank you. !!
I might just become the first person to drown in a sea of yellow post-it notes without your help. Seriously.
I feel like I’ve found my style, my niche, my je ne sais quois, and even my keys, but I know now I can’t pull it all together on my own, I can’t kick myself in the pants, though I’ve tried.
The yellow post-its have replaced the notebook where I used to try to keep all these good ideas I had about building my brand. I finally hooked up with a graphic designer who “gets me” and is working hard to replace the “it’ll do” logo that replaced my DIY logo(s), and this would be a great time to put it all together… and be able to stop worrying about this and DO something.
I’m striving for consistency now — it was hard but I picked one color of post its to (unknowingly) create my branding hell — but I need your sage advice.
I’m 21 years old, and just started my photography portrait business last year. I’m studying full time in University as well so i’m having trouble finding a consistent approach to branding my business.
Its tough juggling studying a law degree and running a business at the same time, and would love to get yoru help and advice to look at what i’ve been doing right/wrong!
I have a logo made which i like, but nothing else in my approach is consistent with the message i want to send out to my clients.
As a complete newbie I’ve got no idea where to start or where to turn when it comes to putting together my brand identity. I know the direction I want to go and the vibe/feel I want to give, however, I have no clue on how to be able to put those into action and build a recognizable brand for myself. Any helpful expertise would be truly appreciate it!! Susana
This would be awesome!! I am currently looking for a new logo/brand after 5 years of not liking mine and always changing it! I am starting to brainstorm who I am, who my clients are etc… but would desperately need some help in which direction to go and more importantly who to go with!!
i just need help all around pulling it all together. cohesion is lacking. getting a free consult would be a LIFESAVER. pick me…pick me (in my most pathetic, pleading voice)
I’m just starting out so woe at the moment is that I just don’t even know where to begin with my branding. I know how I would like to be perceived but don’t know what to do to put it into action.
Hope you don’t mind, but your post made me think a lot this weekend so I just wanted to add this if I could — where I think I’m really stuck is how to evaluate how my current branding (or lack thereof) is being perceived; what kind of message(s) and mood it evokes, what I’m saying about myself and my work…so I can then compare that to what I’m actually intending to convey so I can refine my message and identity from there. I just feel like I’m so buried in the day-to-day biz stuff that I can’t see the forest for the trees!
I think I know just enough about branding to be dangerous. I’m not sure if my vision is clear and specific enough anywhere but in my own mind. I wonder how flexible this whole thing should feel? I think I am on a track…but I’m not sure it is the right track…or if I’m about to go off of the rails! So I guess my biggest woe is consistency?
Hello! I frequent the Brand Camp blog and often read its Twitter updates for inspiration. Thank you! My favorite people to photograph are high school seniors. I’ve finally realized this after a long process of photographing children (which I still do occasionally), families, brides, and a few weddings. Needless to say, my branding has evolved and now I’m in a flux: I really want to find a way to target the high school senior who wants to go on an “adventurous” photo shoot, who’s really into fashion, loves urban settings, and likes that funky “Urban Outfitter/Anthropologie/Free People” look. More than that, I want someone to point ME in the right direction when it comes to marketing to this particular senior. What sparks their emotions? What would they love to see in a photograph of themselves? What would make them choose me over many other excellent photographers? And are those even the right questions I should be asking?
I have just purchased my 1st full page-full color ad to run in the wedding issue of a local high-end magazine. My shoot for the ad is in october and the ad is due in november. I’m definitely a mix of modern and traditional and cannot figure out how to convey that in the ad.
My graphic designer sister has designed a logo that I love and will help with the ad too, but I feel a little lost and overhwhelemed by how to establish myself as a not-totally-modern-not-totally-traditional photographer.
We have just re-named the company, we have a new logo, we have some unique and different ideas on how to market it and have it all work together. We just leased studio space but in order to do that we had to sign away all our portraiture side…long story….but it means we really need to make this new concept, brand, marketing etc work.
I was excited, now I feel sick…..I was sure I had done the right thing and it was going to take our area by storm ….now I worry that if I’ve miscalculated, we could be screwed. Okay, I’ll stop now, as it’s obvious I need help…and possibly in many more ways than just photography related. LOL
My branding woe: I need to commit. My perfectionist gets the best of me and keeps me from pulling the trigger. Thus, I am all over the place. I know the type of clients I want- now I need my brand to tell them they want me.
I studied graphic design in school along with photography so I understand the importance of branding. Properly portraying the brand of my own photography business has been a heck of a lot harder than I ever thought it would be. I feel that because it is my own business and I put my heart and soul into my work I am too attached to the project at hand. I find that I can not view my brand objectively! Yeah sure, I have tons of friends that tell me they love my logo and family members that would probably tell me my blog is beautiful even if I covered the page in cheesy pink hearts and white fluffy clouds, but I need an honest opinion and will not be able to take my business to the next level without some constructive criticism. I know my target market, I am just not sure that I am reaching them to the best of my abilities. I know my competition, but do not know if I stand out from the rest of the crowd like I want. Before starting my business I did a lot of research and wrote a very detailed business plan. I did not walk into this industry with my eyes closed and my head in the clouds. I aim to be the best that I can be and feel lucky to be able to do something that I truly love on a daily basis. I quit my secure full time crappy going through the motions everyday job to pursue opening my own photography business. This is what I do full time and I want to make sure that my brand is the best that it can be. I would be eternally grateful if you help me out! Thank you for offering this amazing opportunity
my biggest branding woe….probably being a little bit of everything and not being able to nail down a specific style that I won’t tire of. I like the idea of classy/modern with a twist, but I can’t seem to settle on it. Tried to go with a logo designer and it didn’t work out. I don’t know if she was giving me what I was asking for and I didn’t like it or she just wasn’t “getting” me.
Melissa -September 26, 2009 - 11:27 am
My problem is being all over the place. I need someone to tell me what i’m doing right, what i’m doing wrong, and help me streamline. Also, i want to bring good U.S. business practices and packaging to my country, offer some really good first world products. But i don’t know which are actually good.
My problem is that I can’t decide whether or not to have a “thing” with my name. I mean, my name kind of is my logo…it’s a cool font that conveys the feel that i want for my brand, and the “o” in “joy” is colored in yellow…but should i put a vintage key or old-world hot air balloon in the mix? Or just leave out the “thing” and keep it simple.
Also, this ties in with the aforementioned problem, I need my brand to cross over to many mediums. Like, you might think, “Oh that logo looks great on that business card.” But how do I put that onto a cool looking CD?
I’m so terrified of branding that I convinced myself that I *chose* to not have a logo, and that I *prefer* a company name that is just my name. [ugh]
erika -September 25, 2009 - 11:32 pm
I think I’m doing alright on the branding, but I’m still trying to figure out what’s “me.” I think I know what me is, but then I’m afraid that people don’t want to pick up what I’m puttin’ down. I’ve been scared to move too far forward until I nail down my logo, but that seems to be the jumping off point to start the website and the business cards, etc.
I would love an opportunity to run a few things by you! I feel like you might help to light a fire under my butt =)
Oh, I can’t believe I even came across this opportunity! All thanks to a long trail of tweets!
I am an up and coming (let’s pretend I’m confident – why not?) on location portrait photographer (focus on maternity and newborn…for the moment). I’ve spent the past three months building up a portfolio and trying to get some practice Photo Blogging. As I had NO idea what to even name a future biz (my first name is annoyingly hyphenated, my nickname is that of the overweight alcoholic on “Cheers”, and my last name is already “taken”) I just named it for my dog. It’s a name. She’s a fantastic dog (a Newf!). But, it ain’t no brand.
Please help me to start off on the right paw….uh, I mean foot!
Thanks.
My biggest branding woe… Because I am only a year into the business, I feel like I am just now finding my individual style of who I am as a photographer – as a result, my entire brand (logo, website, print material) just doesn’t portray who I am anymore. however, I don’t know how to fix it. I don’t know how to express my style as a photographer. I have no business cards, no thank you cards, a list of brochures that I need to redesign because they need to be taken up a notch, but I just don’t know what direction I want to go with them…and so they sit there. everyday. looming over my head.
I have reached out to friends and via FB, but I am having a hard time booknig sessions outside of my “friend” loop. How do I brand myself outside of my “loop” efficently and successfully?
Branding Woes: Making me palatable…I understand a major part of branding is branding me…is me being me…but that always isn’t palatable to my prospective clients. In effort to stand out (and out of naivete) I choose freewise fotography…now I stand way too far out. So my struggles in branding are within my ability to be me, but remain palatable to almost everyone…especially brides…
Once I meet with brides, I book 90% of the time…so I do well presenting myself in person…but my website, blog, tweets, cards, etc…don’t reflect me well…or reflect me having a bad day??? So those are my branding woes…can you help?
My biggest issue with my branding is that I can’t figure myself out. I know that sounds super confusing…but sometimes I feel like I like two completely different things and I can’t decide. I love a modern, sophisticated, classic, timeless and calm vibe/style…but then I also love lots of color, loud, bold, strong and happy type vibe….and I just don’t know how to combine the two together….I hope this makes a little bit of sense It’s so awesome that you’re doing this contest!
Sarah -September 25, 2009 - 4:49 pm
My mission statement…my vision…I know branding is more than a logo. I am trying to figure out how to sell myself and for that I need brand help.
I’m trying to launch my business, and the whole brand has me stumped.
My biggest branding woe is that I’m not confident. I’m not confident because it’s all over the place. I NEED CONFIDENCE!!
Nicole -September 25, 2009 - 4:13 pm
I don’t think I have a brand quite honestly – so there’s a big freaking problem right there. I look at my site and marketing and I’m not sure I see a consistent look that is drawing anyone in. I’m not into swirls or abstract shapes or any of the baroque type stuff most everyone is doing these days. I just want something fun, modern and me. I mean my logo is very recognizable and I like it but I don’t think it’s getting the message across. I just recently fell in love with a color scheme and am now wanting to figure out how to incorporate it into a brand and I am really at a loss on how to go about this. I can keep stumbling through it but I could sure as heck use some talented help along the way.
OH my…I think my biggest problem is putting all of my ideas together into one cohessive brand. I want for my brand to compliment my images & I guess that is what I struggle with the most.
I would love a second pair of eyes to evaluate what I have done so I will feel more confident about moving forward.
Thank you for doing this! It’s awesome
My biggest branding woe….well, what ISN’T my biggest branding woe!! I’ve designed my own logo…4 or 5 times, because I’m just not a logo person! I still cannot, for the life of me come up with a tag line! And I have so many color ideas, but don’t know how to put it together for something cohesive that I’ll love. PLEASE help!!
Are you ready for this, I have no brand whatsoever! Just attended Becker’s Kick A$$ Workshop in Little Rock and left knowing that this is the most important aspect of my business. Where do I begin? I have been researching day and night since I got home and I am still clueless. Branding, logo, making it all flow with a website, blogsite,business cards,letterhead,envelopes, marketing material. My brain is mush and my eyes hurt.
Debbie -September 25, 2009 - 2:34 pm
Well, I have gotten as far as getting a logo made that I’m happy with. BUT, I’m not sure how to make my marketing pieces represent who I am and what I can do for my clients. At first I thought I could just see what others had done, take some elements I liked and incorporate them into my theme but that’s easier said than done.
I worry about being all over the place and that’s the last thing I want to do…. confuse my clients. I want my marketing pieces to represent me correctly, be sleek, hip, original and of course give clients the right “feel” before even reading one word. Presentation is everything and that’s what my future clients deserve.
I feel like I have my branding down pretty good, but it doesn’t seem to be “working.” I don’t know if it’s all wrong or just needs some kind of tweek – or if it’s great and there’s something else going on. I just don’t seem to be getting the inquiries and clients I would like. So a consult with someone who knows what they’re talking about would be a godsend! Thanks!
Michele -September 25, 2009 - 2:19 pm
I am a newbie in this business starting from scratch,a friend helped me with a logo but that’s all I have I don’t know how to brand myself or promotemy business I’m all word of mouth right now and I’d love to have a look and a name people remember Its something I planned on doing eventually have started a little savings for it but to win some help would just be amazing. Thank you for the opportunity !! Ps I can rock the happy dance!!!.
I really don’t know where to start with branding. I am a do-it-yourself kinda guy and I am in over my head with branding. I have done some simple stuff myself but really need to take it to the next level. This would be an awesome opportunity that would help with branding and the overall identity of my photography business. Thanks.
Help me Kristen, you’re my only hope. I’ve kind of locked myself in the dog house. Several years back I decided to name my pet photography business after my dog Murphy who was the inspiration to start the business in the first place. Murphy Dog Studios seemed to roll off the tongue, it sounded sophisticated and I thought it would be the perfect branding for my business. Without any graphic design experience, I went with the tried and true KISS strategy and used simple black backgrounds with white text and the simple and smooth Century Gothic font. I used that design with everything from my website, blog, business cards, postcards, brochures, etc. All was going great until I decided to add child photography as part of my offerings. Now you can see where things got messy. Why would people contact me to photograph their children when the name of the business includes “Dog Studios”?
While the business has really begun to take off beyond my wildest dreams (at least on the pet side), I’m not getting the kid clients. A few here and there, mostly from referrals, but nothing to do a dance about.
There are more issues with the name I have discovered through the years.
- Having “Studios” in the name makes many people believe I have a formal portrait studio. I don’t. The world is my studio.
- Each month I get some type of client lead that thinks my name is “Murphy”.
- The way I display the business name and tag line doesn’t work for areas where I need a more boxy logo. I don’t even really have a logo.
- I have spent a ton of money of marketing materials and signage so I have been dragging my feet about even thinking about re-branding.
So help me Kristen. My business is really taking off and I want to re-brand before it’s really too late.
I created my logo for my computer business myself, but I kind of suck at Illustrator. So I gave up and did it mostly in Photoshop I think, which makes it not very scalable and therefore not as useful. People seem to like my logo-brand (builtbymom.com) but I would love to clean up the logo and figure out how to expand on it and use it in other ways.
Also, I have no logo or brand at all for my photography and I would like to change that.
Ok, so here’s my biggest branding woe: I don’t have a brand! Well, I’m sure I have one that my clients have created for themselves, but I haven’t figured it out yet. I know I try to be unique and original in what I do, but how I translate that into a consistent message that others can latch on to? I have no clue… Please help me!!!
My branding dilema is this: I know what sector of the market that I am after (late 20′s-30′s brides who are willing to pay for quality and shop places like Anthropology and Crate and Barrell. These ladies are savy modern women who unapologetically haven’t given up on the fairy tale).I am trying to build my brand as a signature photographer, so making my personality a strong element of my brand is very important to me. The dilema comes into play because I am a very ecclectic person who likes both very modern and whimsical vintage elements. I want to convey that range of possibilities but don’t know how to make all of those varied elements into a cohesive (not scattered and random) final product. Your help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
This is such an amazing opportunity, and I definitely am in need of some help!
I was living in the OC and was finally starting to get a good turn-a-round of people asking me to take pictures for them! Since I lived there most of my life, it was easy for me to start, and the word got around. And I just got kind of to the peak where things were going well, and I had to move! I moved to Portland, Oregon. I dont really know anyone here, I dont know where to start, how to start, what to do, and I want to keep my brand going, even if I dont live in the OC anymore..I have a website, a logo, all that…but now I’m just stuck with not knowing what to do next. It was easier back at home, because I knew a lot of people, but here I dont know anyone! HELP!!!!!!!!
brandcampblog -September 25, 2009 - 1:44 pm
I very much enjoy reading your comments, if not your woes.
Keep in mind, pretty please, that I’m NOT a graphic designer, so I can’t design a logo for you or you will make zero dollars with your business…I’m into asking deep & soulful, meaningful questions that shake you to the core in order to help you best represent your business. (And/or give instructions to a graphic designer that are more productive than, ‘Oh, surprise me!’)
And Kat — the problem with nailing down those psychographics/demographics is that in many cases, you’re providing a service the client only uses once (wedding photography) — and if you’re leading the pack, you don’t have time for the data to come out because you needed to have been implementing it three years ago to achieve the desired results now.
PPA’s ‘best practices’ survey, while helpful, is a glimpse of the market 24 months ago at any given point. And 24 months ago, well…the economy was a WEE bit different than it is at the moment.
First of all I adore your blog Kristen, and the work you do with TRA. I am horrible, I never comment. My problem is my need to condense. I love my logo, my look & my blog. It all works, but I need to do a few condensed printed pieces to leave with other vendors & colleagues in the industry who promote me. I for the life of me can not condense the wedding work I do into a sweet little tri-fold. I would love some help from the branding master!
I’m struggling not to build my brand on an ad-hoc basis. I want real information about industry psychographics and facts about what my clients will respond to. It’s frustrating because despite my exposure to the wedding industry over the last two years I still feel as though I am still guessing at worst and being responsive at best, rather than building an innovative, proactive brand that will express my creative competencies. I don’t want a weak brand and I’m really concerned that I’ve made bad decisions so far, despite the initial positive response.
I would love professional help to assist me in building an innovative brand that will attract people to my services just through the look and feel of my font, my logo, my site design. Your help would be greatly appreciated!
I think I currently have pretty good, and consistent, branding. But I don’t think it gives the right image of what I want for my studio. I don’t know how to incorporate my “image” into my brand.
In GPS terms, My branding is still searching for signal. I would welcome the opportunity and use it to create my path that I need to move forward. Thank you. – Alex Garza
I totally lack in the branding department. I want something simple but simple really isn’t memorable these days. I’m all over the place and just need something that meshes together. Thanks for the opportunity. You are awesome!!!
My biggest branding woe is… well… branding. The whole concept eludes me. Honestly, I want to brand myself, but I can never figure out exactly what I want to be and how I want to be perceived. Pleas help me!!!!
kim -September 25, 2009 - 1:19 pm
Biggest woe is deciding what kind of stuff to use for advertising. Coming up second is actually deciding on a strict style to sell myself as.
I feel with a graphic design background that I’ve got the logo and all the marketing pieces down, and with a husband who does web – a snazzy new website rolling out later this month. However, my branding woe is – how do I make my clients and those I come in contact with fanatics about my brand? How can I exceed their expectations with each contact, and what does it look like? What things can I do that will turn my clients into fanatics beyond great photos and nice marketing pieces?
Just would love for someone that doesn’t know me already to look at my branding. I started my business in Aug and would love any extra help.
juliet -September 25, 2009 - 11:24 am
Awesome opportunity Kristen! I’m in need of some branding re-eval. I recently put down $250 on a new logo and completely hate it 3 months later. Especially since everywhere i look i see the logo font on a bunch of other photographer’s websites and even the new logo for Michael’s Craft Store. UGH. So, its my fault for not communicating to her what I wanted, since I have no idea. I thought I did, but turns out, no. I was wrong and now I want to create a brand from the ground up. Would love your help!
First, thanks for your blog! I visit often for all the practical advice you give — too often I feel like things are in abstract form — lots of pretty words and impractical advice that doesn’t translate to much in the end. Your blog is the total opposite! (I’m not afraid to brown-nose a little, haha!)
Anyway, what branding woes DON’T I have? I’ve just barely started being able to wrap my head around the concept and struggle with things as basic as the colors for my website and printed materials, and what these combined with my photographic style and pricing structure convey about my business. Ultimately, I would LOVE some honest, constructive criticism on what I’m doing wrong just to get a sense of direction.
i’m a photographer, definitely not a marketing/branding/identity guru,not even close. my attempts at branding myself are what i call ‘eh, this’ll work for now’ but i need help!!! thank you!
Wondering first impressions of my brand from someone besides a friend or family. I can’t judge my brand because it will always be a warped view of reality! And I wonder if my brand portrays a consistent message.
Okay, so my branding woe isn’t so much w/ the main part of my photography business but with the pet portraiture division I’m planning to launch after the first of the year … I honestly don’t have a clue on where to start other than having already picked out the name and making sure the domain was available. I also want to stick w/ the color scheme I have for w/ the main part of the biz so I don’t have to buy more packaging materials I don’t have the space to store Revamping/overhauling my portraiture side wasn’t this hard!
ps- almost pee peed in my chair last night after i broke down and bought TRA dirty pictures. had so much fun playing with it i held it till it was *almost* too late. dragged my husband over to read the “legal notice” …loved it.
I can never decide on a branding. I designed one myself as right now I can’t afford to pay for one. I had one done 1.5 years ago but it was too “old” looking. You can view my old logo at http://www.jenaphotography.com. I need to design a new header with the new logo. The new logo can be viewed as a watermark on my blog http://www.jenaphotography.com/blog.
Ok, so {doe•ee•bird} is my daughters nickname which is why i chose it for a children’s photography business. I have a whole explanation of the origin of that nickname on my website.
I like the tagline “photography for little peeps” I think the name and tagline are fun. BUT at the same time I sometimes wonder if instead of being whimsical and something that sets me apart, its maybe just downright silly and hard to remember? My real name is totally boring, so that’s out… I have thought about using my daugter’s name as the name of the business bc it is way more original (Presley Asa)
Also, the logo uses little bullet points, and I like the way that looks. BUT those little bullet points are hard to find on a keyboard (special keystrokes to get there) and I have discovered a ton of fonts wont accept the special keystrokes, and I get something that looks like this: {doeÂ.eeÂ.bird} .
I do get a lot of compliments, people think its a really fun name and appropriate for my style, but then i also get a lot of strange looks and believe it or not , people cant pronouce it. I get calls going “doe-doe-bird” and other calls with people just tripping all over the name. What to do? Change the name?
The most frustrating part is the most fonts not accepting bullet points (for example, I can’t get Finao to print my albums with this:
My biggest branding woe: I feel like I have the basics of branding going for my business, but I don’t have a clear direction as to how I am going to get it to that “recognizable” or “lovemark” status. That, and I think that I have the basics of branding, but I’m not sure… *gulp*
My biggest branding woe has been finding a local logo designer who “gets” my brand! Thanks for the mini-consult drawing… I have my fingers crossed, ha ha!
I have received 6 mock-ups from a graphic designer for the creation of my logo. I have been sitting on the decision for almost 8 weeks. I surveyed friends and everyone likes one design more than the others and yet it is less legible. I also have no idea how t carry the logo with the website together. My next dilemma is to figure out my best products to use a promotional items and then how to consistently carry things through with my tools and how to brand myself when I am onsite. My biggest dilemma is claiming my brand and how to carry it through right now- a little overwhelmed. Hope I win…’cause my designer is on hold
You’ve come a long way as a business owner. I know this, because if you’ve been an entrepreneur for more than three weeks, you’ve had to grow, adapt, think fast, swerve the dodge ball, fail, and recover. Sometimes simultaneously.
So please, take this moment and appreciate where you are. Right now.
My life right now is full to the brim, and I look forward to quiet nights at home with lounging kitties. Since there’s a dog in the mix who will be getting the pickup/rescue treatment this week, the peace is extra-special with cherries on top. And Polaroids are good for nothing, if not catching moments and framing them up in white.
In the past year, I’ve grown as a business person, a writer, a photographer, an artist, a social media adventurer, a Facebook-er, and a marketing…person. Oh, and I started this blog. You all seem to like it.
That’s not to say YAY ME!!! as much as to encourage you to take stock of the past year, too.
What have you done? How have you grown? How has your business developed? How has your marketing taken shape? How far have you come? How far can you go?
Awesome post. When I first started my business, I thought there were two areas of my life, business growth and personal growth. I’ve just begun to realize that there is no separation at all between them.
There’s a point where books are kind of useless. When it comes to navigating the world of Facebook ads to drive clients to your doors, well…I’ll wager that there isn’t a book in print that delivers the knowledge one go-round of real-world experience can provide.
So, I just did it. I created a pair of Facebook ads. They had a cage match. And the one I thought would win showed up a bleeding, wheezing mess. (Shows what I know.)
In the interest of any of you dear readers taking the ad-creation plunge, here’s how I went about crafting my Facebook ad campaign.
I created two ads, one centered on the holidays and one centered on the fun experience that’s to be expected with my portrait business. I figured pushing the holidays would be a big hit, and the other one would get practically no attention. I then chose two images indicative of my body of work to accompany the ads and their copy.
When creating the ad, I set an incredibly modest budget of $10 per day, per ad, and ran the ads during the same five days. (Read: I’m only losing $100 if I screw this thing up, big time.) I chose the attributes of my target market (gender, region, education-level, marital status, etc…) and let the ads play out.
The experience-based ad got SIX times the clicks of the holiday ad, and resulted in a few inquiries, one of which resulted in a booking. Not exactly off-the-charts-remarkable, but not an utter failure.
The video below outlines how to make a Facebook ad with screen captures and the like, for those needing a more technical explanation of how to make this work.
So, what did I learn that I can pass on to you?
1. CHOOSE YOUR AD VENUE WISELY.
My potential clients chill on Facebook when they catch a moment of down time. Yours might be drawn to Google, or on a certain blog or forum, and if that’s the case, please oh please spend your ad money there! I chose Facebook for my business, and encourage you to choose the venue right for yours.
2. LET YOUR ADS HAVE A CAGE MATCH. IT’S MORE FUN THAT WAY.
Yes, creating an ad can be a bit dull, BUT checking your ad stats is a little bit fun. (Way more fun than having just one would be, anyway.) Just hit up http://www.facebook.com/ads/manage while logged into your Facebook account. In my case, the ‘lame’ ad got click after click, while the ‘good’ ad languished. This also helps me to hone in on what appeals to my target market, providing valuable insight for later campaigns and brochures.
3. CREATE A LANDING PAGE FOR YOUR AD.
I got lots of people to click the ad, and not too many conversions. In part, I’m sure, that’s because my photography isn’t cheap. But for those Moms that were interested, creating a landing page on my blog that gives them the rundown of who I am, what I do, and what I’d like them to do (Call or e-mail me!) would have been a lot less confusing than clicking on a link that just takes them straight to my website.
While my website is great, those who click ads want to find a purpose for their click quite quickly, and I failed to provide that. Next time!
4. JUST DO IT, ALREADY.
I couldn’t stand the not-knowing: what if one ad resulted in a year’s worth of bookings? I HAD to know if this was an effective way to reach the people who value my work. Turns out it is, but I need to tweak my message and my conversion methods.
I’d love to hear about your adventures in small-time, small-budget advertising, peeps — let’s learn together!
I did the same thing on FB last year for a non-profit survey. It IS fun to watch them compete and amazing to see what people will/won’t click on. Maybe it’s time to give it another try. =) Yes, the landing page is crucial. I tried my hand at pay-per-click marketing a little bit last year – enough to know I didn’t want to do it full time, but I learned a lot about writing ads and those landing pages – if they are part of a real site with real content, that makes Google happy and that’s even more searchable content that leads people to you. =)
I definitely like the cage match approach. For me it would interesting to compare how an ad does with the singles vs. the marrieds, even a match between the the w/ or w/o children crowds could be interesting. I also *really* like landing pages. As someone who is working on a blogsite, I am hoping to utilize landing pages in a couple of ways. As always, thanks for sharing , Kristen!
Okay, so…I’m not really into being a salesman. And yet, I’m telling you to GO BUY THIS BOOK. Wait wait, back up…if you haven’t already, subscribe to Photojojo. Get hooked on their killer content, rad ideas, and ways to hack plunger hardware into a tilt-shift lens. (That’s a screen capture below, so don’t go clicking on the links, lovely…)
I got this book in the mail yesterday, hot off the presses, and literally GASPED at the clever uses of everyday products to make fun, unique, witty, and downright fantastic things with your images. My clients will all be getting the photo ornaments the book includes!
So go! Get inspired, make stuff with your hands, and love your camera even more!
HELP!!!!!!!!
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