Well, I'll just come straight out and say it...last month I started the rebranding process! I've had the same logo since the very beginning of my business, and have stuck with it despite seemingly everyone else getting a new logo, colors, and a fresh face. The reason I have kept my same logo this whole time is two-fold:
1) I honestly really like it! My graphic designer friend made it for me a couple years back and it was perfect for where I was when I started. I still like it up to this point.
2) I didn't want to get a new logo just to do what everyone else was doing. I felt like I needed time to get to know myself and my photography style fully before slapping a new face on my brand, because I didn't want to change my mind again the next year.
I really started the rebranding process in February or March, when I initially sat down and looked at my business. I contacted some very talented designers (but chose not to book the first few I talked to) and began to get a good grasp of what I needed to know about myself and my business before jumping into a new brand. I honed in on a few key factors that are going to be crucial to my new logo, colors, and the overall feeling people will get when they come in contact with my brand.
The biggest thing I want to communicate with my new brand is what I call 'laid back elegance.' It means that Maria Grace brides have a love for elegance in their wedding details, and yet aren't stressed about every little thing - they just want to enjoy their day as they begin their marriage. I always tell brides that my goal is for photography to be the least stressful part of their day, and I communicate this by giving them resources leading up to the big day, helping plan their timeline if needed, and going above and beyond on the wedding to serve them in any way that I can. On a wedding day, even if I am a little stressed on the inside, I will never let this show because I don't want that to be even a thought in my brides' minds.
I also didn't want to be trendy. Modern, current, and updated, yes, but in two years I don't want my logo to look like it was designed in 2015. I want it to be classic and refined, not influenced by trends and styles that are here today and gone tomorrow.
With that in mind, I started the rebranding process with an amazing and talented designer who has taken my vision for my brand and made it visual. The work of maintaining my brand through all my client interactions and the booking process is still up to me, but I will soon be able to do so with a logo that matches who I am today. And I can't wait to show you what that is! Until then, the above sneak peek will give you a little idea of what it will look like (put together by my talented graphic designer who I'll introduce soon!).
