[Project Complete] $180 : Established Photography studio seeking dynamite logo

[JLMstudio]

Admin code added by Abby - 4DB33285TV032212C

Project Summary:
What text should be included in the main part of the logo?
jlm studio

What type of product or service do you offer?
Documentary wedding photography

How long have you been in business?
7 years

What do you hope to accomplish with your new identity?
For clients to get a sense of my style, and that I am not a newbie, I am established and experienced.

What are your long term goals?
I want to run my business solely off of word of mouth.

When is the deadline for final entries before choosing a designer?
December 15th.

Audience Profile:
Please describe your existing audience
late 20's to mid 30's engaged women. Educated, easygoing, multicultural, upper-middle class. Values art, beautiful products, and great customer service. My clients put all their trust in me and let me take care of them 100%. More mature brides than the average studio.

Who would you like to add to your audience?
More of the above.

Perception/Tone/Guidelines:
What type of logo would you like?
I have a hyphen in my website, jlm-studio.com, so I need the logo to reflect that and have something inbetween the JLM and studio to represent the hyphen. I think some sort of simple flourish. I like the lettering and logo I have now, but it does not look polished enough. I like having it (I think) all in lower case. Seems like every photographer has the initials in a box in script, and the second word in block, so I would like to stay away from that if possible. The logo needs to convey both confidence (strength, I am established) and be feminine (very important).

Do you have any colors in mind for your logo? (if so, why?)
burgandy (the dark royal burgandy) and light green (natural, like a light sage). I thought a dark color would be rich, strong, and have some depth and warmth. The green is for the feminine side. I am open to other colors as well. Must stand out against both white and be used as cutout on black backgrounds.

Do you have any specific images or icons in mind that you would definitely like to see incorporated into your logo? Please play off of the lettering in my current logo, but the current symbol has to go. view at www.jlm-studio.com
Please do not use rings, flowers, shilouettes of people, cameras, etc.

Communication Strategy:
What attributes would you like your logo to reflect about your business? Established, confident, artistic, feminine.

What is your tagline or slogan? none right now.

What is the overall message you are trying to convey to your target audience? I am established, confident, artistic, and feminine. I tell stories and capture relationships.

Where will your new logo be used? Website, businesscard (new design needed), brochure, other promo materials.

Competitive Positioning:
Who are your competitors and what do you think about their logos?
I am in a market that is super-saturated with photographers. There are many that have just come on the scene, and just picked up a camera. I need to make sure my clients know I am solid and established. Note: I like to use textures in nature for my fine art photos. I want to set myself apart from those looking like new york or LA photogs shooting models. I am more natural, and want that to come across in the colors and lettering.

List competitive URLs if possible
I will find some and post.

What sets you apart from your competitors?
Besides my awesome new logo (coming soon!) ?
I have experience and knowledge about photography through a fine art degree in photography. Also, I really do care about the families and photos, and telling the story the way they want it remembered.

Targeted Message:
State a single-minded word or phrase that will appropriately describe your company: Documentary wedding photography and lifestyle portraiture. When I send a client a brochure, hand a business card, they need to immediately think "confident, established, artistic, feminine".

[JLMstudio]

I'd just like to thank everyone in advance who chooses to work on this project. I am very excited to see your ideas!

[cazeyzman]

Trying to keep it simple, professional and a little fun. All comments welcome.
-Thanks
:)

[JLMstudio]

Thanks for your effort, but this design really isn't at all what I am looking for. The J reminds me of a boot, or a joker. I do not care for the lettering overall. Can we try some more script-like? I also do not like either color. Pink is not really an option at all, I want something feminine that appeals to a more mature crowd, and the pink is a little too girly. I am looking to work off the style of my current design, just update it. A more script-like font is more what I am looking for. Please view my current logo (see original comments). If you have any ideas that would fit into this, I look forward to seeing them.

[JLMstudio]

I am curious to know if anyone else is working on this project?

[OffbeatDesign]

Thanks for the invite. I'll get something to you this week!

[JLMstudio]

I am sure there are others out there who want to try to design something for me that will, in return, bring you fame and fortune. OK, so it will just bring you 180 bucks, but still, wanna give it a try???

I think the color green I am looking for is the celery green. Maybe that and black. Or a really dark, deep color.

I know you have it in you...lets see it!

[tini1]

I'm working on something for you:)

[Leclerk]

Hi!

http://www.logoholik.com/do/logoholik_jlms_01.jpg

Cheers,
Bojan

[Leclerk]

and #2

http://www.logoholik.com/do/logoholik_jlms_02.jpg

Cheers,
Bojan

[JLMstudio]

logoholic: Thanks for posting. I really like version #1, but it seems really familiar, and reminds me too much of a hollywood studio. I am going for a warmer, more natural feel. Also, can we try to make it horizontal? The JLM font has a neat enregy to it, but I am not a huge fan of the large loops at top and bottom. I really like the M in jlm. The colors are also good. As a designer, do you think these will stand the test of time? Can you also try to put something warm with the green? I'd love to see another version.
Version #2 is not in the direction I am trying to go, so maybe we should stick with working on the 1st. Thank you!

Do you have any realy simple flourishs that we can try? I am looking for some symbol or for the JLM to stand out and be able to be used alone as a logo on proof boxes, stickers, etc.

[JLMstudio]

tini1: Thanks for joining! I just looked at your webpage and the logos for the good carma cafe and the ella cafe are along the lines stylewise that I am looking for. I definately don't want something corporate-looking. Look forward to seeing your ideas.

[OffbeatDesign]

v1

[OffbeatDesign]

v2

[OffbeatDesign]

v3

[giant]

Here's from me... :)

[Leclerk]

Thanks. Here is a revision... more horizontal, smaller loops, natural texture added, warmer secondary color...

http://www.logoholik.com/do/logoholik_jlms_03.jpg

Cheers,
Bojan

[Leclerk]

and even more horizontal variation... i am certain this could become timeless...

http://www.logoholik.com/do/logoholik_jlms_04.jpg

Cheers,
Bojan

[Leclerk]

and last one...

http://www.logoholik.com/do/logoholik_jlms_05.jpg

Cheers,
Bojan

[tini1]

:)

[JLMstudio]

All of the designs are nice in their own way, and some really eye-catching, but none are exactly what I am looking for. I am looking for something softer. The green in this link: http://www.lisdesign.com/portfolio.html the plant a tree logo is more what I am going for. Very natural. I would like to stay away from the white, black, and bright green combination. I liked several of the designs in Michelle Haley or Leah Charbonneau threads that were recent. There was another photographer that didn't like one of her designs and i really did, I am trying to find it.

I would love to see some ideas with jlm studio on one line, in the same script font with something in the middle. My logo is at www.jlm-studio.com. Obviously, I do not love it but I would like to work with it in mind. Also, feel free to play more with the colors. I was thinking of a dark color, like the dark berry, as the main and the green as an accent. Maybe berry and light blue, instead. I need something more feminine.

Offbeat: I like the first version, but it doesn't fit my style. I need something much softer. Something with a small flourish or script. The second version I really do like, but I think it looks too familiar. I just figured out that it reminds me of Oprah's on-air logo. Version 3 the tail of the M is much too prominent. I really like your work, will you give me something else?

Giant: This is not the style I am looking for. I hope the above comments help in giving more direction. Please feel free to submit another idea.

Logoholic: Version 3 and 4 are still too familiar. They look like a big bright-lights studio, and I am a small studio specializing in telling stories of weddings. I don't think the block letters are working at all for me. Can we try a new font all together? Something with jlm studio on one line, and something either in between the words or above it. Maybe an abstract J or JLM? Your logos have the right energy to them, I would love to see more.

Tini: I think this color works really well. I would like to see something that is not constrained in a box. I am not sure I want leaves in the logo, but some sort of abstract shape. Even just with a J would be fine. I am picturing the abstract J in the green (light or faded?) with the berry jlm studio in front in one script font. Maybe an ornate J with some swirls. I look forward to seeing what comes next!

Thank you!

[OffbeatDesign]

thanks for the feedback

[tini1]

:)

[OffbeatDesign]

v5

[OffbeatDesign]

v6

[JLMstudio]

I think I definately like the jlm studio on one line. Can we try that in the berry color and some sort of symbol (maybe in a box) on top or behind? Can we do an abstract J or abstract JLM? The symbol in either the green or a light blue (not both).

The fonts are getting closer, but none of these strike me quite right.

Thanks so much.

[xpressions]

:)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/jlmstudio.png

[Taldo]

:) hi

[JLMstudio]

Offbeat - Can I see version 6 without the loops on the l's or the loop on the m? Can you make the text in the berry color and the add something else to it?

Xpressions - that font is almost exactly what I have! I wasn't trying to reinvent the wheel, so we can stick with that for now. Can you take out the shadow of the circle and the circle in the middle? I like the shape inside, and I think I see where you are coming from. Can you try something else with it, like maybe flip it so that one line goes below the jlm and the other above studio, or something like that.

Taldo - I like your idea, but can we make it look a bit less like a bouquet? Can we lose the bow? I really like these colors. Can I also see it with the text in berry?

[JLMstudio]

FYI to all: if you know any neat symbols for light (natural light, besides an obvious sun, of course) that you can incorporate that would be another idea. The thing in the middle of the current logo is supposed to be the nautical sumbol for light but it doesn't work like it is. Maybe work that into some sort of prism with the colors in message 23, 25, or 28 (not too many colors please). Thank you!

[xpressions]

Thank you for the feedback. More like this?

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/jlmstudio2.png

[Taldo]

:)

[JLMstudio]

xpressions - Wow, that is exactly what I was talking about. unfortunately, I think it is just way too busy. My eye is drawn to the center of the circle and the swirls with the tails on the font is just a bit too much. Can you put the design in a square or rectangle, turn the way it was before to make a J, offset to one side of the square in knockout and put above the text? And maybe a simpler text would work. I feel like you are definately onto something.....


Taldo - I do like this! I like the soft colors. Can we see what happens with the center image taller? I think I am stuck on that image sitting on the line with the rest of the text. Can we try a text with a *little* more flair?

Giant - Would you like to submit another idea? I like your post for Ursla Graham (I hope I am allowed to say that) version 2. It made me go *wow!* I would like to see something in that same genre.

I definately feel like progress is being made, and everyone is producing great stuff. I am very excited! Thank you.

[JLMstudio]

BTW - the name is jlm studio, without the extra s.

[nhr]

Hello:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b92/nhrdesign/DOO/jlm1_nhr-1.png

Thank you.

[giant]

Here's from me again... :)
Thank You.

[JLMstudio]

Wow, these are all starting to look good!

NHR - I like this idea, and how a piece of each letter breaks out of the box. I don't care for the bubbles around the letters, they seem to cartoonish. For the font, I like the J and L but dont like the M, can we try another look? I love the green, but the other color is too orangy for me.

Giant - This is what I was talking about, thanks for your quick reply. Is is possible to make the letters a little softer, without the points on the L and M, and maybe a more feminine, not so heavy swirl? Feel free to play a little and make it more abstract. Can you also put jlm studio on one line, not touching the box, in a new font? I like the two-tone, but am looking for a different color, more in line with the berry/green or berry/light blue.

THANK YOU!

[tini1]

swirly..:)

[xpressions]

Thank you for the feedback. Here are a couple of revisions:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/jlmstudio3.png

[xpressions]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/jlmstudio4.png

[shnickerdoodle studios]

One from me...
Thanks,
Deanna

[Taldo]

:)

[JLMstudio]

Tini - Thank you for this idea. I don't think it works for me, my eye is drawn to figuring out what the design is.

Deanna - I don't this this one works for me, either. I think it is a really cool logo for an electric company or something, and I like the filament witht he JLM, but the lightbuld won't work for what I need.

Taldo - I still like this one, but must have not been clear about what I wanted to see different. The letters and the box are all sitting on the same line. I would like to see this version where it is more fluid, and not everything is sitting on the line. By "taller", I thought the bouquet top would be towards the top of the box and the stems would be lenghtened to the bottom. I hope this is a better description!

xpressions - I really like both versions 3 and 4. These are so far my favorite! On versions 3, the bottom left corner has a little line that I think is distracting. Can I see it without that? Version 4 is also really great. Can I see that one in just one color? Can I also see it with the background in green and J in the redish color?
For both versions 3 and 4, I would like to see them horizontally, because I need to use it that way several times. Can we also try some different fonts? Again, I am not sure I like how the letters are all very rigidly sitting on the line. Do you have any text that is a bit more artsy, or script-like, but still has the clean look? I look forward to seeing more!

Thanks for everything.

[xpressions]

Thank you for the feedback. Here are a few revisions:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/jlmstudio3rev1.png

[xpressions]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/jlmstudio3rev2.png

[xpressions]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/jlmstudio3rev3.png

[xpressions]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/jlmstudio4rev1.png

[xpressions]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/jlmstudio4rev2.png

[xpressions]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/jlmstudio4rev3.png

[JLMstudio]

Giant - I have gotten feedback and agree with others that this is a really good concept. Can you do another for me? These are comments I posted above, incase you didn't see them: Is is possible to make the letters a little softer, without the points on the L and M, and maybe a more feminine, not so heavy swirl? Feel free to play a little and make it more abstract. Can you also put jlm studio on one line, not touching the box, in a new font? I like the two-tone, but am looking for a different color, more in line with the berry/green or berry/light blue. I look forward to seeing another.

Xpressions - THANK YOU for making all these options. They have helped with color, I definately like the green/grey combo the best by far. These are all so close, but nothing is really striking me as perfect yet. I know I asked for a more script text, but these all go a bit too far and don't have the clean look I want. Are there any other fonts we can try? Something between the original and v 4.3. If you have any other versions of the design in the box, I would love to see them. A bit more of a flourish, or abstract J without the bump at the end. I really like these designs, but there is something not quite convincing me all the way.

If anyone else wants to jump back in, I hope I have been more helpful in what style I am looking for. I would love to see the box as some sort of prism with versions of one or two colors that make the JLM, if that is possible.

I also have the idea that a box with a knock-out J in it with some feminine swirls coming out on all sides may also look nice. I hope that makes sense.

[Taldo]

:)

[nhr]

Thank you for the feedback and hello again:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b92/nhrdesign/DOO/jlm2_nhr.png

[nhr]

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b92/nhrdesign/DOO/jlm3_nhr.png

:)

[JLMstudio]

swirly..:)
Tini -

I was just looking through your portfiolio, trying to find something to accurately describe what I am looking for. The background of your pailtre logo has an artsy, feminine feel. I have seen this before in a flourish (light, feminine lines) and would love to see it for jlm studio. I definately prefer jlm studio on one line, in one font, set up like the swirly above. Thanks.

[JLMstudio]

:)

Carol - I really like the feminine feel your designs have. I have gotten feedback, and agree, that the bouquet makes it seem like I am a flower studio. I am looking for a simple design that I can put with the text jlm studio horiz and vertical, but also something that can be made into stickers with just the stand alone design no text. The flowers won't work for that. I really appreciate you working on this one, though. Do you have another simple, abstract flourish that can be put with this logo?

[JLMstudio]

Thank you for the feedback and hello again:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b92/nhrdesign/DOO/jlm2_nhr.png

Thank you for this submission. It is a very nice logo, but still not what I am after. I take responsibility because it is hard to describe this! I see where you got the swirls, and the triangle (prism). I need something with more feminine, flowing lines. Something with a bit of detail, but simple and modern. The swirls that I am seeing are too child like. There are lots of good logos here, I just don't see the right one yet. If you have any other ideas, I'd like to see them. Thank you for your time.

[giant]

Sorry for the delay...
Here's from me again... :)
Give some advice please...
Thank You.

[JLMstudio]

xpressions - I found a letter J that I really like and i think it would look good in the box. It has more of the feel I am going for. here is the link (free download I think) http://www.urbanfonts.com/fonts/Selfish.htm

I like this font http://www.fonts.com/findfonts/detail.htm?pid=403335& for the jlm studio. If you don't have this font, something close would be nice.

I am excited to see this. Thanks

[JLMstudio]

giant - sorry for the lack of direction. This is a bit harder than I thought. I hope this is more specific:
This link for jlm font in bos http://www.fonts.com/findfonts/detail.htm?pid=415297& If you don't have this font please use as a guide. I will purchase font if necessary.
use colors ps377u and pms 195c, or something like that.

[JLMstudio]

I'd also love to see the capital J used creatively from this font
http://www.urbanfonts.com/fonts/One_Fell_Swoop.htm
thanks!

[xpressions]

Thank you. I don't have the font you mentioned, but tried a few others:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/jlmstudio5.png

[xpressions]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/jlmstudio6.png

[xpressions]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/jlmstudio7.png

[JLMstudio]

Yeah! This is definately what I was looking for! Can I see version 7 slightly differently? Can you make the jlm studio bigger compared to the J, and reverse the colors so it is like the other versions? Just do the green, I don't like the other color.
Thanks.

[xpressions]

Did you mean like one of these?:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/jlmstudio7rev1.png

[xpressions]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/jlmstudio7rev2.png

[xpressions]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/jlmstudio7rev3.png

[xpressions]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/nemagazine/jlmstudio7rev4.png

[giant]

Here's from me again... :)
btw, I don't have that font...
Thank You.

[giant]

Here's some fonts sample I have...
Thank You.

[OffbeatDesign]

v7

[OffbeatDesign]

v8

[OffbeatDesign]

v9

[JLMstudio]

Offbeat - I am taking another look at your version 4. I have gotten a lot of positive feedback on it. Can you show me that in the colors you have for version 8? Can I also see it with a grey "studio"?

General question- can I have the design I choose in several colors? (Like green/grey, bloack/white, white/black, green/green, knockout)

[OffbeatDesign]

Here's the revision. Most of us can supply the chosen design in a variety of colors. Also, the files you receive are completely editable so the color can be changed in either Illustrator or Photoshop.

[OffbeatDesign]

v11

[BlueCherryGraphics]

v1

[BlueCherryGraphics]

v2

back to back "J"s represent sunlight/light thru windows, etc.

[OffbeatDesign]

v12

[JLMstudio]

I would like to thank everyone who choose to work on this project. All of the logos had some really nice features!

I have chosen to go with Offbeat Version 10 and 11. Congratulations! You did a wonderful job! Could I have all of the version 10 plus a white lettering with no background (I know I won't be able to see it!), and one with green jlm studio. Version 11 I would like everything here plus one with green background, white jlm and grey studio. Could you let me know what two fonts you used, and where I can get them? THANK YOU!

[OffbeatDesign]

Thanks! I'll put everything together for you and get you files in a bit.

[OffbeatDesign]

Files sent via e-mail as requested. Thanks!

[BlueCherryGraphics]

Congratulations Jeff.

This thread has been moved to Revisions.

Client, please post a note in the thread once you receive the finals.

Thanks! :)

[BlueCherryGraphics]

PROJECT UPDATE: moved to Logo Project Archives.