It’s been a busy couple months here at Ribbons of Red, and I’ve been knee deep in print design, blogsites, and creating lots of logos for photographers. This past week, I finished a logo re-design for my first Australian client—Christine Pobke of Pobke Photography! Christine was such a joy to work with, and I wanted to share an inside look into her wonderful logo project.

About The Pobke Project

Christine specializes in capturing candid photos of children, couples, and families. Her style is beautiful, natural, and fun all wrapped up in one! When Christine first approached me to create a new logo for her photography business, I was instantly captured by her fun-loving, cheery personality. It was obvious that her current logo, although interesting, was not a good representation of herself or her business. After a few design chats, I discovered that Christine needed a logo that not only reflected herself, but one that also appealed to her three markets. Pobke Photography is a young business that is growing, changing, and bettering itself every day. Christine’s new logo also needed to be versatile and something she could grow into, not out of.

The Original Logo

As I’ve mentioned before, a lot of photography logos look the same; many use an initial for a main graphic and stop there. Unfortunately, Chrstine’s original logo had that same look. Although nice, it wasn’t unique. The dark color scheme also seemed a bit mismatched. I just didn’t see Christine as a dark colored girl—her energy is just too radiant! The original logo served as a great first logo, but Christine was ready to take her business to the next level, and so was I!

The New Re-Designed Logo

After getting to know all about Christine and her business, a few concepts came to mind initially. Three concepts were developed, but one in particular stood out far from the rest… which is the finished logo you see today!

The first thing you’ll notice about the new logo is the color scheme. It’s bright and inviting, just like Christine. The colors are playful and punchy for the children she captures, but not too overwhelming and still fun and energetic for the adults. The three circles represent the circular shape of a lens, and the image inside represents what she photographs. Each “lens” captures all three of her target markets: children, couples, and families. It was important for Christine to also grow into her new logo. Now, if at any time she changes markets, any photo inside can change to reflect her new growth. Her tag line, ‘real love. lifestyle portraiture.’ was also added and will can change from “lifestyle” to “wedding” or any other market she wishes to pursue!

To give the logo a final polished look, the three “O’s” in Pobke Photography were colored to match each of the three colored lenses. This addition allows Christine to use her type separately if she wants (as a badge on photos or elsewhere) and her clientele would still understand and recall the connection between her graphic and type!

Final Points

Christine’s new logo now represents her personality and her business, allowing her to better identify with her clientele. Gaining new business is all about the connection you make with a client. Having a logo that people identify with makes your business marketable and profitable!

See what Christine has to say about her new logo >
Need a logo or interested in chatting about one? Get in touch! >

When I started Ribbons of Red, I didn’t have a targeted niche. I worked with small businesses, household names, and individuals from all parts of the country. I loved designing for all walks of life and still do. It’s a great challenge, and it keeps my skills and brain sharp. I’ve always been a firm believer that if you don’t know your niche right away, it will at some point evolve for you. Recently, I’ve noticed I have two niches forming. One being small- to medium-sized businesses and the other—photographers!

I’ve seen what feels like millions (ok, probably just hundreds) of photography websites. Unfortunately, a lot of photography logos are the same. For example, if a photographer is using their birth name as their business name (which a lot do), the logo is normally spelled out in a plain, straight line using one font choice. There are so many more options that are out there; below is a list of 7 of my favorite photography logos and why they work so well.

1. Photography by Erin Vey

Above Logo: Photography by Erin Vey
Website URL: http://www.erinvey.com
Why it Works: Erin Vey is a very talented dog photographer based out of Seattle, Washington. She is absolutely crazy about dogs, especially Gracie—her Great Dane—which is present in her company logo. This logo works because it’s effective, personal, and fun. By looking at this logo you can easily identify Erin’s niche—dogs. Because of this, there is no need for long drawn out copy; you can simply look at the logo and ‘get it’ right away. The best part of Erin’s logo is that it incorporates something very near and dear to her heart, Gracie. The best logos are the ones that represent the heart and soul of a company, and this one does that wonderfully.

2. Jasmine Star

Above Logo: Jasmine Star
Website URL: http://www.jasminestarblog.com
Why it Works: Jasmine Star has a rather unique name, which really came in handy for her logo. I know this logo may look like a no-brainer, but it’s actually really thought out. For example, it would have been really easy to write out Jasmine’s name, throw a star above it, and call it a logo. Having said that, it would have been even easier to simply dot the “i” in Jasmine with a star and be done as well. There are so many easy (and cheesy) possibilities, but the logo above works perfect because of its unity. The cursive “j” flows right into the star, and the two pieces don’t miss a beat. The star and letter look as though they are one bound font and symbol. Something clever like this is not only highly recognizable but also really memorable.

3. He & She Photography

Above Logo: He & She Photography
Website URL: http://www.heandshephotography.com
Why it Works: He & She Photography is a husband and wife photography team. Randy and Erin are graphic designers turned photographers, and you can tell. Their website is sprinkled with custom designed graphics and their logo reflects their artsy background. He & She’s logo is very indie, funky, and hip which describes the type of photography Randy and Erin shoot. Their work is beautiful, fresh, and fun. The clever ampersand, which is enclosed with a heart, is the perfect touch; it represents their love of photography and love for each other in a very cool way.

4. Ann Hamilton

Above Logo: Ann Hamilton
Website URL: http://www.annhamilton.com
Why it Works: If you haven’t guessed it already, Ann Hamilton shoots weddings and dog photography, which is quite the mix. Capturing a logo with two unique niches can be difficult, especially when ‘weddings’ and ‘dogs’ evoke two different sets of feelings and images in people’s minds. Ann’s logo does a great job of encompassing both feelings into one piece. Logos containing figures can look out of date or cheesy very easily, however this logo is not only elegant, but timeless—even with the dog!

5. Shootsac by Jessica Claire

Above Logo: Shootsac by Jessica Claire
Website URL: http://www.shootsac.com
Why it Works: The Shootsac is a fashionable yet practical photography bag that was designed by Jessica Claire. When looking down (from an aerial view) into a Shootsac, whether you are loading it or wearing it, there are three compartments where you can drop your lenses into for safe keeping. The Shootsac’s logo is an abstract play off of that feature. The three circles in the logo represent the three lenses loaded into the bag, and the three lines are the compartment dividers which keep the lenses from knocking into each other. Once I realized the connection between the bag and the logo, I couldn’t get it out of my head. It is by far one of the most brilliant logos for a photographer (and even a product) that I’ve seen.

6. Laura Leigh Photography

Above Logo: Laura Leigh Photography
Website URL: http://www.lauraleighphotography.com
Why it Works: Earlier in this post, I mentioned how it’s very popular for a photographer to use their birth name as their business name. Sadly, a lot of those logos are spelled out using plain text in a straight line. I chose this logo to show there are more ideas out there than simply typing out a name and calling it a day. I designed this logo for Laura Leigh Photography. When Laura and I first talked, she mentioned her love for logos with hidden meanings. For her design, I took the two “L’s” used in her company name and faced them towards each other. Lucky for me, this made a camera body shape. To finish the look, I then added a simple lens and shutter release to the “L’s”. When finished, her “L’s” made a clever looking camera.

7. Mike Colon Photographers

Above Logo: Mike Colon
Website URL: http://www.mikecolon.com
Why it Works: Mike Colon is a celebrity wedding photographer located in Newport Beach, California. He’s shot weddings for Timberland, Usher, Amy Block, and a long list of others. His clientele expects excellence and professionalism so his logo needed to portray those qualities. Mike used his signature as his logo, and like a fingerprint, everyone’s signature is unique. Script fonts also convey the feeling of high-end and elegance, so Mike’s script signature fit perfectly for his line of work.

Conclusion

Each year more and more photographers are leaving their corporate studio jobs for the self-employed life. Competition is always growing and when the average American sees around 3,000 brand messages a day, it’s important that your logo (and brand) stand out. If you are serious about your business and want to take your photography company to the next level, you should definitely have your logo professionally designed. After all, professionally designed photography logos increase sales and grow businesses! I hope the 7 photography logos above provided some great inspiration and ideas for your own photography brand.

Need a logo or interested in chatting about one? Get in touch! >