Refresh your Brand: A simple branding exercise & May photo special for Grand Rapids' small businesses and entrepreneurs

Spring is a natural time for freshening up our lives, our living spaces, our looks.. why not our brands?

As a small business, I know the laundry list of "to-do's" can feel as long as a string wrapped around the Earth (twice), but it's so important to take a step back to take inventory of our brand image now and then.  

Last Spring, I completed a much needed spring-cleaning of my photography business – new look, new copy, new website - to reflect my current values and passions. Every detail was re-imagined and renewed. 

It felt freakin’ fantastic.

This Spring, I’d love to help you.  Your bio picture(s) / headshots alone make up a huge part of your brand image and help your prospective clients get to know you before they even meet you.  

We can create an engaging headshot or a complete photo library to help elevate your perceived value and allow people to better understand your product or service from the second they visit your website.

Take inventory of your brand in 15 minutes:

But, first, what exactly is a "brand"?

Your "brand" is what people feel when they think about your business, product, etc.  Your brand image is everything from your website copy to the photographs that tell the story of who you are and what you have to offer.  It is vital to make sure the feelings and thoughts that are conveyed are true to your current passions, your intentions, and your authentic, unique self.  

Try this simple branding exercise:

Brainstorm a list of 20 words that describe your brand.  Narrow that list down to 10.  Narrow that list down to 3-4.  Sit with the feelings of those words for a few moments.  

Next, visit your website, read your copy, look at your imagery.  You might ask a friend (with a "pretty please") for their opinion, as well.  

Are your top 3-4 brand qualities accurately represented?  What needs to be refreshed to build a more consistent brand?  The goal is to dig deeper, move beyond the typical words that are easily plucked from the surface, and discover your differentiating qualities that will truly allow you to stand out from the crowd.  
 

To celebrate Spring and this time of renewed energy, let’s DO this. 

For the month of May, I’m offering 100. off Lifestyle Portrait / Branding photography sessions.  If you would like to learn more about how I can help you, let’s chat. 

p.s. I know what you're thinking.. "I'm SO not photogenic... I'd rather organize my closet than be photographed.."  Even as a photographer, I feel the same way.  Luckily, it doesn't have to be painful.  I hope you'll allow me to take you through my thoughtful process to ensure a completely relaxed and comfortable photo session and your authentic self WILL shine through.  I promise you that :)

Meet Laura of Real Food Wellness | lifestyle portrait and branding photography

There are a few people in this world who commit to their work with their whole hearts and Laura Burkett of Real Food Wellness is one of them.  Specializing in holistic health counseling for women, Laura is so much more.  I know firsthand.. she is medicine for the soul.

p.s. If you'd like to receive daily inspiration for living more mindfully with a food and health twist, follow Real Food Wellness on Facebook.  You won't regret it :)

tiny warrior: within

"How is love defined in yoga? It is nonharming, honesty, nonstealing, moderation, nonhoarding, purity, contentment, zeal, self-awareness, and surrender. It is being who we were born to be. Love is being who we are." - Rolf Gates, Meditations from the Mat

meet Mandy: a beautifully talented yogi and inspiring teacher, who will calm your mind and challenge your entire being simultaneously. a special thanks to Seva Yoga for this beautiful space.

i'll soon be posting more photos from Mandy's lifestyle maternity session on my Facebook page.. i hope you'll follow me there!

Plant Good Seeds / Awear Yoga Clothing

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?"  Actually, who are you not to be?  - Marianne Williamson

.    .    .

Meet Jill:

a kind-spirited, deeply inspiring, and soulful yoga teacher and fashion designer who founded Awear Yoga. i recently had the honor of photographing her unique yoga clothing line: locally-made, organic, inspiring designs.. many of which are handmade and all of which are truly beautiful pieces to wear on and off the mat.  a portion of her profits are also donated to various charitable organizations.. jill is doing all sorts of good!

i just happened to meet Jill within days of moving to Grand Rapids at the first yoga class i attended here, nearly a year ago.  our friendship has been blossoming ever since and i am beyond grateful that our paths have crossed..

A huge thank you to the lovely models who spent their day with us in and around Grand Rapids!  This yoga community is a pretty special one - I'm so proud to be a part of it  :)

Follow Awear Yoga on Facebook

maybe my wishes get carried away..

"Maybe my wishes get carried away,merely well planned exaggerations. But foolish or not, it's merely my way, my very own unwritten legislation.

All I can be is me, there are no more options. You better learn to take me as we go. Until then, I'll keep writing songs on coffee shop napkins, waiting for you to see me through the window."

- Mike Bass, East Lansing based Singer/Songwriter (excerpt from an unreleased song called Unwritten Legislation)

p.s. Mike is a dear friend and a very talented musician who taught English and performed music for many years in Japan.. you should really check out his website and join his Facebook group!

for no reason other than love

as a collective society, i don’t believe we take enough time to appreciate and honor the love that exists in our lives. we are too busy and too distracted with work, technology, and things; but that is all nonsense. the distractions fail to compare to what is really most important: love, in all its capacities and forms. making these photographs, even for someone else, gave me a reason at the end of the day to squeeze my husband a little tighter and to see him more clearly. take time out today to hang on to the ones you love - with your arms and eyes wide open.

this is my friend robyn with her boyfriend, chris. robyn is an exceptional person, role model, and friend. if only there were more people like her, the world would be a lighter, brighter, gentler, wiser, more honest, kind, and loving place.