Let the Branding Continue!

The branding process is much tougher than I thought it would be. It's very introspective. Since I consider myself a fairly introspective person, I thought it would be so much easier. Just figure out what your essence looks like: colors, symbols, patterns, etc. and put it out there, right?

Haha! Anyone who has been through the process is probably laughing at that statement.

As a photographer, I spend a lot of time behind the camera, making others look good and showing them in their best light. But I'm not used to digging deep to figure out what I want to look like for the outside world. And I think it's been tougher on me because I'm trying to be so careful about what I put out there. Will others like it? Will it attract the right clients? Will it give off the right vibe?

But then I realized I wasn't alone in this process. First, I have an awesome designer - Katie - who is oh so patient, responsive, and just plain good at what she does! And more importantly, I finally understood that this business is a joint venture. (And honestly, anytime my incredible husband is involved, things just get so much better.) It's no longer me - it's we. We needed to show who we were, as individuals and as a couple. So we dug deep. Greg is very grounded, very sensible, very intelligent, and very deep. And I'm very passionate, bubbly, vibrant, and - so I've heard - a person with a pretty bold personality.

So what does this look like? Well, we like to think it looks like this:

All the elements work together to capture that grounded, neutral essence with added pops of personality. They're warm and inviting, yet bold and vibrant. They're cozy, yet professional.

The logo was probably the hardest part of all. There was so thought that went into it's meaning and symbolism. I'll be doing some blog posts about that very soon! Hopefully it's pretty easy to figure out what it is, but even more important is why we chose this symbol that represents our business. My husband and I both love coffee and photography...a lot! But we also think the two have a lot in common. Both are crafts that take a lot of patience, a lot of practice, and a lot of passion if you want your product to be the best it can be. Both are about people; they're about relationships, and sharing a love of one's craft with the world. Most importantly, for me, one makes the other possible! (Okay not really, but I really do believe that coffee makes me a better photographer - hence the common nickname "Photographer Fuel!")

So there you have it. The beginnings of something beautiful!

Good Things Come in Cool Packages!

I like noticing the little things. And I love showing others that I've noticed those things even more. Not only do I like showcasing this fascination with the "often overlooked" in the photos I take, but also in the way I package and deliver those photos.

So we when we were blessed to photograph the wedding of two awesome friends last month, we knew exactly what to do! He loves beer. She loves music. What a beautiful combination. :)

The coolness factor is a bit deceiving at first.

And then, BAM!

In case you're wondering, my awesome husband did most of the grunt work on this one. I had one of the bridesmaids help me get a few empty beer bottles from the reception, and he made them into magical LED lamps. He's so crafty - in a manly way of course! One of the many, incalculable reasons I'm glad he's on my team. 

I hope everyone has a great week, filled with things that make you happy. Like beer and good music!

R&R (Rebranding & Rachel): Building Community

As you may know from an earlier post, I'm rebranding! This means a lot of things: new logo, new website, and new vision for the business. And this also means lots and lots of important decisions. But I don't want this process to be solely about me, because I want my business to embrace both community and creativity.

You see, as I dive deeper into the journey, I've come to a few important realizations, the most revealing of which is this: if I don’t respect, embrace, and advance who I am as a photographer, then my photographs will suffer. In other words, I have to invest in my development as a creative being, just as much as I develop my technical skills behind the camera and sitting behind the computer.

And if there is one thing I know about myself, it is that I thrive within a community: a group of mentors, peers, and clients who will encourage, challenge, and walk along side me...and allow me to do the same for them. So in order to become a better photographer, and create better photographs, I want to build and nurture the community I am blessed to be a part of!

As I embark on this next portion of the journey - the branding process - I want to offer up an opportunity for you to get to know me as a photographer. During each stage of the process (typography choices, color/texture choices, logo choices, and any other major decision point along the way), I'd like to involve you by presenting the two options that speak to me, offering the reasoning behind each selection, and asking for your very valued opinion. I hope this will give you a chance to experience how I think, how I process, and what I value...and then help me communicate that to the world!

Be on the lookout for the first set of options tomorrow! And thank you so much for being a part of my life and my business!

Let the Branding Journey Begin!

When I began this photographic journey two years ago, I realized that it was going to take a lot of "vision" (cue canned laughter from the sitcom audience). And while I've been working hard and investing in crafting the vision that's created through the camera, I've been holding back on the other type of vision - the overall vision for the business. Who am I at the core? What do I want my business about? What promises do I want to make to my incredible clients? How will I give back? And how will I move forward as the business grows?

So realizing how vital this step will be for both me and my business, I've taken the plunge and started putting my money where my values are. I'm finally investing the time and energy needed to brand Rachel Lowe Photography - to bring more "Rachel" into the business!

I'm excited to announce that over the next few months, I will be working with an awesome lady named Katie from KD Creative! She's helping me turn the random descriptors, vibes, and overall feel I want for the business into a tangible reality. She's helping to put my personality on pages.  She's helping me translate the inner vision into an outward expression (in the form of a website, blog, etc.). And for this, I am sincerely grateful.

To give you a slight taste of what's in store, here is our finalized "inspiration board". I'm seriously swooning.

Isn't it awesome?!?!? I'm so excited for this journey and look forward to bringing you along!