St. Louis Photographer » A Journal by Holly McCaig

I’ve been so busy lately. I feel the blog has been slightly neglected. I have this strong feeling that your blog should be posted to at least three times a week. AT LEAST! I mean, if you’re in business, it’s important to stay in the face of those that are loyal followers to you. I usually am pretty good about this. But, I am here to tell you that I’ve been knee-deep in branding and design work for my business. My spring calendar is staring me in the face with nearly no weekends left (I’m on a mission). I feel that just in the past month I’ve been learning so much about my business and I thought a blog post was in order

What have I learned over the past month?

That doing my accounting on a daily basis makes end of the month reporting for my accountant easier. And, it means that I’m more in control of the every day expenses. I can see where money is going and what is not necessary any more.

With that above lesson, I’ve learned that my websites don’t have to cost over $700 a year just because some fancy flash template company hosts them. I am in the midst of a redesign – using my own skills – to save over $600 a year. I can’t wait to reveal this to you.

But, with that above lesson, I’ve also learned there are some things we just can’t skimp on doing ourselves. Like, the accounting and intricate web coding. Having an amazing assistant to go on shoots with me is worth the extra money you spend. You have to know your limits and what looks professional and what ends up being a huge mess in the end. You have to spend a little to look your best in business.

And, with that above lesson, I’ve also learned that for little to know money, you can learn so much about the business if you just look around. I often regret spending thousands of dollars for workshops. There are free webinars and lower priced education options like DVDs from Photo Vision. I have my own mentor program for such a low price going on – pretty much to cover the unlimited time my participants can get from me over a six month period. Don’t believe the hype of the A-list. Don’t be a groupie. Be your own person and chase your own adventures.

I guess that last little sentence was a lesson in itself, huh?

Okay, time to get back into this project. I can’t wait to share all the new things to come over the next few weeks with you. It’s like a rebirth from all the lessons I have learned.

PICTURE!

It’s taken me five years. Yes, 5 Years!

Five years to find my brand. When I started photography as a business, officially…you know, with real paperwork and filings with the state, etc…I farted around with various logos and names. I had owned Holly McCaig Designs because that was what I called my design business.

It’s stuck. I still use it. I think photography, the kind that I do, is design. It’s about designing a story with pictures.

Branding is a tough thing. I used to try my hand at logo design for people. I hated it. I admit it. I do NOT like doing logo designs for people. It’s like the one thing about design that I would rather poke my eyes out over than do. So there, no, I won’t design your logo for you.

But, over five years, I played and played with ideas, and logos, I even changed my name once and did a D.B.A. as Pink Gnome Foto. But, I learned quickly, that a “cutesy” name will never leave me with a strong reputation as a top, high-end photographer. People want to know who their principal photographer is. They want to build that relationship. They want to associate with the photographer taking their photos.

Let’s face it, they aren’t going to Sears! It’s not about a quick in and out, with cheesy setups and poor lighting. It’s all about me getting to know my client and learning what they want. When a client responds to seeing my photos, one of the many things I hear is, “you captured their personality!” and that’s what I strive to do. Showing people who that person really is, but in pictures.

Branding should be about you, the photographer. It’s been reiterated to me in the past workshops and other media that I’ve been reading about business and branding. Using your name as your business is the best thing that you can do. So, I embrace that. My last name gets murdered when people say it.

Mick-KEG – say it like that.

After five years of changing my logo and my colors, I have found my hearts desire. I designed this logo over the summer. It’s me. No, it’s not pink. But, I have always loved using my signature in some way. The “H” is there. The damask is there. It represents my style – vintage glam…that’s what I love. Give me vintage furniture pieces mixed with bright and fresh modern colors. Give me golden ornate frames mixed with hints of sleek accents.

That’s me. That’s my logo. That’s my brand.

Branding isn’t cheap. Branding is important. It’s the most important thing you will do. Hire a really top professional that can talk to you, learn who you are. Ask the right questions and incorporate everything that you want to show, what you want to represent.

You have to live with it. You have to use it on everything. People will recognize it. People will know who you are as a person when they see it.

Brand yourself strong.

(p.s., this is my opinion and experience from other top photographers…do what you want, just remember, this is how I feel about branding!)