A Brand Refresh with B is for Bonnie

SURPRISE!!!! I’ve done it again. Which may or may not be a good thing. I decided this summer that this business of mine was going to get a refresh. I’d like to say a brand refresh is like watering a garden with miracle grow and watching the flowers grow bigger, fuller, and more vibrate than the previous season!

Since switching my website over to Showit5 a year ago, I knew that a refresh was coming. You may remember that I traveled Denver in July. For the second time in my business, I attended the Creative at Heart Conference with 70 other creative boss ladies. I had the chance to hear Bonnie speak again. Something in my gut told me she was the designer I was going to hire for my future brand refresh.

When Josh and I returned from our trip, I started giving more thought to the brand refresh. Business transitions were beginning to happen that required a better-built site than the one I put together in February. I also know and understand the power of a beautiful, well-organized website.

Finally mustering up the courage to email Bonnie, I knew from the start she was the girl for the job. After getting off the phone with her, Josh and I had a conversation with the typical business questions: “What do you think? Are you okay with this investment? It’s going to benefit my business so much in the long run” were common statements that I made that afternoon. Friends, when I say that my Husband is the most supportive person I know, I 100% mean it. He knew how much this project meant to me, and never hesitated in his answer!

Fast forward to the end of October. My fall schedule was jammed packed. I wouldn’t be able to dedicate the time this project needed and deserved from August to October! When the end of October arrived, I was so excited to wrap up my busiest season to date and get started working on a brand refresh with Bonnie. She created some serious magic with this beautiful new website design and custom stationary!

My Five New Favorite Elements

The Wheat

This graphic gets me the most excited about my brand refresh.  When Josh and I first started dating, we spent five months apart.  He traveled out west to cut wheat for farmers.  From Texas to Montana, that man of mine spent six days a week harvesting this grain.  Because of Josh’s love for harvest and the start of our relationship that wheat was added to my wedding bouquet.  I love that Bonnie was able to incorporate something so personal into my new refresh!  The graphic we decided to go with reminds me of two separate people who are rooted in the same faith and loyal to each other.  Just like a marriage.

Logo

When Bonnie and I began chatting about the new brand refresh, I knew that I wanted to keep my signature logo.  After a year of using my logo, I was only looking for a facelift.  The finished product is beautiful.  It’s me.  110% me.  Wheat in the logo ties so much of my marriage into my brand that I can’t help but smile every time I look at it.

Stationary

When I receive a handwritten note, my heart nearly explodes.  I can’t remember a time that I didn’t love getting notes or even writing them myself.  Before Bonnie even began to design my beautiful new website, she created stationary for me so I could continue writing letters to my couples.  The difference from my notes now, to notes written in the past – custom stationery.  I can say goodbye to Target runs just for cards when I run out last minute!  I love these cards, and I already started using them!!

“For Creatives” Page

I photographed my first wedding in June 2011. I knew absolutely nothing on that day and somehow managed not to screw anything up. In the last six years, I have grown so much in my business. What started off as a hobby grew into a successful full-time career. I’m my boss. If you would have told me when I bought my first digital camera I’d able to pay my bills, pay off debt, and still live comfortable doing something that I am passionate about; I would not have believed you. And this is why I have a bachelor’s degree in education.

When I gave my resignation letter to my Principal in April, I was unsure if I would ever use my degree again. The good Lord has a funny way of doing things, because, in recent months, I have found the courage to start offering something that for years I have told myself I was unfit to provide. I believed all the lies in my head.

Starting from this moment, I will begin offering mentoring sessions, a chance to shadow with me on engagement session and pick my brain afterward, and brand coaching.

I’m so excited to start offering education and help other business creatives grow their business. It’s time to turn dream jobs into real bill-paying jobs!

A Newsletter for Creatives

To go along with the offering education to business creatives, I also set up a newsletter.  Twice a month, FREE education will hit your inbox when you sign up.  Since December I have been working hard on content that is valuable for those hustling their dreams.  If you’re a business creative, you won’t want to miss these helpful newsletters!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER

Venture around the new website, and let me know what you think!  I’m so excited the news is finally out, and I can share with everyone the amazing work Bonnie created!!!

P.S.  If you don’t yet have a Showit5 site, you need to look into one.  They’re beautiful and easy to build if you’re on budget!