There are so many good things I could say about this project…where do I begin?!
As I work with more and more photographers, it can sometimes be challenging to come up with a logo that stands out in a sea of creative professionals. Austin, Texas is known for its high concentration of artists–from musicians to fire-breathing street performers, it’s what keeps this city alive and unique. Coolness aside, there’s a really competitive market here, to say the least. Every time I turn around, there are 35 new small photography businesses in this city, so it’s extremely important that our talented clients in the 512 area code are well-equipped with a strong brand.
When I present the first round of logo mockups to a client, there’s usually at least a smidge of hesitation when it comes to the so-called “wild card” of the bunch. For a long time, I thought for sure that my eyes had gone bad, because some of the best designs were being rejected for one reason or another. You know how it goes…someone’s friend of a friend (who happens to be a ‘designer’) takes one glance at the mockups and decides that we should add flying purple elephants into the mix, and the elephants should all be holding cameras with lens flares. While it’s always a good idea to get input from friends and family, I encourage clients to make their decisions based off of their own instincts. If a client books you as a photographer, they aren’t just investing in the photos; they are investing in YOU as a person, too! Personality and Professionalism are actually good friends, so I’ve learned!
Christina Carroll came along, and I was thrilled to be a part of something that was completely different from any other project I’ve ever worked on. She brought her own creative ideas to the table and listened to my ideas with an open mind. Christina put a lot of thought into her brand before her project even began, which also helped quite a bit. I could tell by her own style that she was really wanting to step out of the box, uniting elegance and style in a way that I didn’t know was possible.
I met Christina for the first time at a promotional event for The Knot, where I was convinced that she was paid to attend as some sort of model. Just look at her bridal portraits! Your mama’s got some good genes, Christina! You can really get a sense of her great style by looking at some of her photo sessions, complete with vintage props and couples who look like they just stepped out of a magazine. Oh, that’s another thing that inspired Christina’s brand–she grew up with a mother who loved fashion and has always had great taste.
After illustrating a silhouette of a girl with blue accents in her hair, I crossed my fingers with all my might that Christina would choose this concept. It was something that only seemed fitting for one person in the universe, and that was Christina Carroll. It was feminine and eclectic, and it had a style all its own that was sure to be memorable.
The text needed a little more liveliness to compliment the intricate illustration, so we added the leaves to the bottom of the letters in “photography.” The cameo, which makes its appearance as a watermark, fit in perfectly with the overall look that we were going for. We took elements from the illustration and added them to the outer edge of this frame, creating an enclosure that can also stand alone.
Christina, thank you for allowing us to keep Austin weird unique!
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