Have you noticed the new digs around the site? I am hoping so- they have been in the works for a few months, and I am so excited about the new facelift my blog and splash page got! Its styled around Jcrew and Kate Spade {my two favorite places} and is a bit more like me and my style- colorful and fun!

This is my third redesign is as many years {and yes an exhausting and expensive process} and I have learned a little about design that I wanted to pass along.

1) I am a photographer NOT a designer

As a control freak, its  a bit hard to let go and let someone else “see” me and my style. But each time I head into photoshop and try to design something for myself I end up in a cold sweat and feeling ill! I just dont see it! But luckily, I found some people who did! I cant stress this enough- let someone else take control here! You can always find someone in your budget- and trust me, I have done expensive and not so expensive- you have to find the right price and the right FIT. Its all about style, and letting that show through- and I’ll say, my photograph is getting there, my design work, eh, not so much. Let go, and give yourself the freedom to do what you do best!

2) know who you are even if you dont know what you want!

As I start my 6th year in business I have a better idea of my own style and who I am in photography. This redesign I also spent a lot of time looking at who I am! My last brand was very natural- soft colors, soft designs, with fruits and a fresh look to it. Well let me tell you- I am the farthest thing from all of that! I am loud, and boisterous and I always have been! And I feel like my photography is a reflection of all that- fun and colorful and bright and sometimes LOUD! But, it took me SIX years to see that! I jumped on the vintage bandwagon, but I never really enjoyed that ride. So, this time I did  a lot of personal soul searching not only in what buttons I wanted to have on my blog, but what I wanted to show as the online version of me and my business! This site is all me and i love it!

3) Talk to your designers, and then talk some!

When I first met this design crew {more on them in a few} we met at a dunkin Dounuts and just talked- about what I like, and what I don’t and who I am. I felt like by the time I left that shop, they knew me- inside and out and probably more than they wanted to! But I felt with every design I got that they knew what I wanted. Elegance with a pop of color and fun- and i think its me…well, somedays minus the elegance!

4) LOVE and I mean LOVE your creative team!

I seriously wanted to take these two out for mojito’s! I adore them- and I think that’s what made this process unlike any in the past. This was awesome { and the last two, well not as awesome} and honestly, I told them that too. What I liked and did not like about the design stuff I had been through before. Because I think you learn as much about yourself and your style when you access what you don’t like as when you access what you do! Its all a learning experience!

When I saw Red Met Yellows website, I loved it. It was fun, and creative and modern, and I knew I just had to have them! Luckily for me, they were in my own backyard! From the moment we started to collaborate they say my vision, and took what I wanted {which was not easy} and made it come to life- better than I thought possible. But more than that, they were fun! I am in the process of doing letterpress cards, which anyone who has done letterpress knows is an investment, and not one you want to have an error on! So we worked to create the perfect design,  but could not get the sizing the way the card company needed it. I must have emailed Meghan {red} on this 20 times! and she helped me every time with a laugh and did it RIGHT AW AY! These two met my expectations and then leaped over them – seriously AMAZING!

I cant say enough, love who you work with and love what they do, and hope that they love what they do too! Because if so your Brand will be YOU and it will speak of your work and your style and the process will be fun! And not just “yeah, I got a new blog” fun, but shout from the rooftops and drink mojito’s in the sun FUN!

Happy Branding!

My fab duo {and a clear explanation of why they are “Red met yellow”-