was chatting with another photography friend last night... and I brought up 'branding' and if she had a brand.. she responded with - "I'm kind of in this place of trying to find my style.... I'm at a stage in photography similar to the awkward middle school hair cut. Somedays you can make it into something, other days it's just plain weird." 
 
I think for those of us who have finally found our 'brand' we've all been there.. we've all had that awkward hair cut.... braces... and coke-bottle glasses... but the great thing about life -- is we always grow.. in fact, we often out-grow ourselves!!! We spend years trying to catch up to ourselves! 
 
Here are some questions I asked her: 
 
List 3 things that describe YOU.... 
List 3 things that you WANT your potential clients to get from your pictures..... 
What do you love photographing MOST.... 
 
If you're still in the process of trying to define your brand.. these are all questions you need to ask yourself!  
 
When you're trying to define your 'brand' you first need to define YOURSELF! 
 
Who are you?!!?!? What motivates you?!?!?! What are you passionate about?!?!!? 
 
It has taken me years to answer these questions.... but over the past year -- I've really found 'myself' in this industry. 
 
Three things that describe me: 
1. All-American 
2. Simple 
3. Natural 
 
I'm a small town -- all american girl... The girl next door if you will... I drive an all american car... wear jean jackets with dresses... pearl earrings everyday and love homemade lemonade...  
 
I'm a simple girl.. I appreciate the simple things in life -- clothes on a line.... dirty paw prints.... having the windows down on a backroad... Simple life.. Simple pleasures. 
 
As for natural --- most of my days are spent with my hair in a wet bun... no makeup on... and sitting in an office full of wooden crates and dried bouquets... What you see is what you get with me. 
 
All of these things are true representations of who I am... and in turn, they have become my brand. You can't have a brand made on 'words' and pretty colors... your brand has to be a true representation of yourself... or else everyone will see right through you. 
 
Another thing to keep in mind when defining your brand... is making sure that you are 'relate-able'... at least to SOMEONE... because if not, then your brand won't be effective.  
 
I think coming from a small-town with only one stoplight has it's 'mystery' to some people.. What do those small-towners do on a Friday night!?!? People are interested and because of that I think that I am relate-able.... at least to SOMEONE... And I think I have a gift of writing.... a gift that SOME people can relate to... it's what makes the whole 'brand' thing work! 
 
So the next thing you need to ask yourself is... what are 3 things you WANT your potential clients to get from your pictures..... This can be a difficult question -- because you want your clients to ultimately 'book' you... but why... what type of clients are you attracting?!!?!? 
 
For me.. I want my clients to see simplicity... no crazy backgrounds or crazy outfits... just simple - natural beauty.... I want them to see my clients... not the location. Because my clients are what's important not the alley-way they're standing in. 
 
I want potential clients to see the connection I have with my clients... and I want them to see my clients 'natural' self..... their laughter - their smiles... their love for one another. If the day comes that I'm unable to portray that - I want to put my camera down.... The connection I have with my clients is SO important to me... and capturing a couple's love for one another is just as important... I want everyone to see that the moment I captured.. is real.. it's natural...  
 
With that, I want to portray the best possible version of my clients.. I want them to look at themselves and think "WOAH.. I'm SMOKIN' HOT" -- and I want my couples to walk away feeling more in love than when they came to the session. 
 
It took me SO long to figure those things out... to put them into words. I knew what I wanted -- but I wasn't able to 'convey' what I wanted... It's difficult. 
 
And the last question.... what do I want to photograph!?!?!? Ahhhh -- the ever-changing question... I think one of the hardest and most rewarding things I've done as a business owner.. was answer this question and actually stick to it.... No, photographing buildings - isn't my forte. so therefore I shall not do it! :) 
 
What do I want to photograph.. I asked myself this question for over 3 years..... 
 
BUT- I finally figured it out!! HALLELUJAH  
 
I want to photograph women/girls -- I want to show them how beautiful they are... the moment a girl feels beautiful is an INCREDIBLE moment.. that I love being a part of! 
 
I want to photograph couples -- I want to remind them what it's like to really love each other... What it felt like when they first started dating! 
 
So those of you just starting out... ask yourself those questions!!! Be honest - even if it takes you hours... months.. years.. Be HONEST!  
 
Beyond those questions.... there is one last thing that I recommend doing... 
 
Creating a 'YOU' board... Everytime you find a picture - a word.. save it.. print it out. until you have an entire collage of things that represent you!!! Pinterest is an amazing tool -- use it! =) I created my board years ago... and I shared it last night with my photog friend..... I was actually REALLY surprised to find that..... everything I put on that board still represents me 100%.... and ultimately represents my brand now!!!!