I'm not originally from Toledo—I moved here in 2016—and for a while, I struggled to feel at home. But since opening my business and putting down roots, Toledo finally feels like a place filled with hope and opportunity.
Viewing entries tagged
branding images
“Rebecca gave me an opportunity to see myself in a way that I never had before. I had an image in my mind of what I expected to see in the photos, but instead I saw a happy, successful entrepreneur who was living a really great life. Rebecca you captured my space beautifully and I'm so excited for the next photoshoot!”
Having your employee’s faces on your business website can help your office to stand apart. As I peruse many websites for local businesses and services, I am disappointed at how many do not include the faces of their staff, owners or management. Putting real faces with your brand’s name helps to convey a sense of trustworthiness and responsibility to potential clients.
Is there a piece of professional advice you received that has stuck with you on your career journey? Every call counts. Every day counts. It's easy to allow negative experiences and failures to discourage you, especially early in your career. However, we can learn from every experience and grow. I believe that failure is essential. I don't fear failure for this reason - I'm actually motivated by it.
“Femininity appears to be one of those pivotal qualities that is so important no one can define it.” -Caroline Bird
Working with my Amy to pursue the creative things she loves has been such a fun experience. We have photographed outfits in snow, in rain, in summer heat. We have made some tricky locations look great and working with Amy has taught me new things about my own craft as well. Fashion photography is very different from portraiture or event coverage. I thrive on the textures, patterns, colors and flow of each outfit. I can’t wait to see the next ensemble she has for me to photograph.
I was contacted by Stacey a couple days later and we set up a networking meeting. As a business owner, it is so beneficial to make connections and grow relationships with other local professionals. I highly value having a list of service providers that I trust to refer my friends and clients to. Stacey explained how passionate she is about changing the face of her industry and calling her peers to a higher service standard. She hopes to see more diversity in the professional world, specifically more women entrepreneurs. Stacey enjoys using her time to network and invest in the community as well.
What is one tip you would give other self-employed professionals who are just starting out? Business can be rocky, especially at the beginning, so it’s important to keep developing ideas—to be innovative, to try new things. Don’t become stagnant. Keep learning—attend conferences, workshops, webinars. If one thing doesn’t work, try something else. Observe and learn what your clients want, and adjust your services accordingly. I’ve learned in life that things often don’t go as planned. This is true in business as well. Don’t fight it; go with it! Being stuck in one certain mindset can be damaging to your business’s success.
Every business need a strong brand. A large part of building an iconic brand is having professional images that show off your services, products or people. Check out a previous post I wrote about this topic here: “Commercial Branding Shoot. Why You Need One”. Working with local Toledo professionals to create high quality branding images has been a rewarding experience and I enjoy seeing how my services can make a difference in their business.
Commercial photography makes up a good portion of my business. I work with a variety of businesses and professionals in different fields. Some need branding images for their websites, some need social media content, and others are looking for headshots. Every business needs documentation of their product, service or professional faces. High quality commercial images play a large role in marketing to potential clients. I really enjoy being able to offer this service to Toledo area businesses. I love getting to know more about other professions and brands as I work with them on their commercial photos.
March 2019 was my fourth year documenting the Water for Ishmael annual fundraising event. Each spring the staff, students, and volunteers put together a special event to raise funds for scholarships for ESL students. Dinner is served and includes dishes from many different countries. Some food is homemade and some is donated by a variety of local restaurants. The event also involves a silent auction, a bazar, cultural demonstrations and traditional dance performances.
Anva is a very cute place. The decor is fun but relaxing and comfortable. I am a lover of textures and Anva is full of lovely ones to look at and feel. I felt like the whole place spoke to me saying, "just breathe and be". Val is one of the most positive people I have ever met. Every other word out of her mouth was a compliment. I am drawn to people like that because I highly value words of affirmation. What better place to get a self esteem boost than your stylist's chair? Val was very knowledgable about her business and her services. She has her client's well being in mind.
Branding your business might sound like something that just happens. When you start your shop, your service, your product, branding and public image will just fall into place right? Wrong. Branding is something purposeful that every successful business has done. Branding has to do with logos, color schemes, names and aesthetic. But it is even more than that. From the way you speak about your business on your website to the smell your clients associate with your company, everything you do can impact your branding.