[Project Complete] - Logo for Headshot & Portraiture Photographer - $200

[AmberBella]

(Admin code added by Palmer - 4P8879397H915335P)

I really despise my current logo and am looking to totally revamp my branding, starting with a new logo. Here is a link to my current websites and blog:

http://www.amberbella.com/

I've attached a jpeg of things that might help to inspire logo ideas. I've played around a bit with the square amber pendant that I put in the orange box and have kind of liked the results of that.

Project Summary:
What text should be included in the main part of the logo? AmberBella Photography note: AmberBella is one word, though the B should be capitalized.

What type of product or service do you offer? Headshots and general portraiture.

How long have you been in business? 2.5 yrs.

What do you hope to accomplish with your new identity? I'd like to be memorable and look professional. I'd like to create a starting point for completely new branding.

What are your long term goals? Really hard to say. I'd like to expand my photography business, be considered one of the best in the headshot market, and be well known in the acting community for my work.

When is the deadline for final entries before choosing a designer? May 20th.

Audience Profile:
Please describe your existing audience - Mainly emerging actors. They need a headshot photographer that knows their stuff, will be competent, fun and easy to work with.

Who would you like to add to your audience? I'm happy with the headshot clients I get, I'd of course like to get more of them. I'd also like to pump up my portraiture business, young parents, couples.

Perception/Tone/Guidelines:
What type of logo would you like? Professional, beautiful, timeless. I'd like the elements to work together and stand on their own if necessary.


Do you have any colors in mind for your logo? (if so, why?) Fossilized amber tones: gold, orange, red, green. The business name is AmberBella Photography, so I "think" I'd like to use the amber concept in the logo. I am not 100% sold on the idea though, so if you have a great idea that you think suits the business name, I'd love to see it.


Do you have any specific images or icons in mind that you would definitely like to see incorporated into your logo? Amber and amber fossils. I've thought maybe my initials "fossilized" in a chunk of amber, or maybe a fossilized image of a person, camera, butterfly, or flower...something like that.

Communication Strategy:
What attributes would you like your logo to reflect about your business? This is the hardest part. I run two aspects of my business. I do both portraiture and headshots. I have found it impossible to find a logo that suits both businesses. The headshot business needs a logo that is modern, clean, and professional...and the portraiture business requires a logo that shows personality..

I'm thinking that I may need to have the ability to separate elements to be able to alter the logo slightly for each aspect of my business.

What is your tagline or slogan? For the portraiture, I'm thinking of changing the tagline to "Your memories preserved" or something along those lines to echo the amber idea. Head shot business has no tagline at this time. Working on it.


What is the overall message you are trying to convey to your target audience? Accessibility, professionalism, ease, beauty.

Where will your new logo be used? Website, letterhead, business cards, packaging, perhaps as a watermark for photos.

Competitive Positioning:
Who are your competitors and what do you think about their logos? I'm in Los Angeles, so my competitors are to numerous to list. They run the gamut of exquisite and clever to practically non-existent.

List competitive URLs if possible


Portraiture:
http://www.jengagliardi.com/2011/03/...-photographer/
http://www.saelee.com/
http://www.shootsandgiggles.com/
http://www.clairealysephotography.com/
http://www.bugandbeanphoto.com/
http://ariaphotographyonline.com/blo...-photographer/
http://www.brookelouise.com/
http://www.reddaisyphoto.com/index2.php
http://chelseaelizabeth.com/




What sets you apart from your competitors? Natural light, on location. From my headshot clients I hear that I'm much more relaxed and low pressure compared to other headshot photographer's they work with.

Targeted Message:
State a single-minded word or phrase that will appropriately describe your company: friendly yet professional

[xpressions]

I'll kick it off:

[AmberBella]

I was really hoping to see some other submissions before having to respond. But oh well.

First note...AmberBella is one word....a very simple fix.

I like this...but I don't really like the initials and the black and white version doesn't work well as a watermark. Of the three my favorite is the first one.

BUT, it's pretty much exactly what I had come up with on my own. I'd love to see something that I didn't think of. I'm not a designer and would love to benefit from the creativity of the amazing designing minds here.

Are there any other ideas out there?

[glyphica]

I will give this a try. I will post something later this evening

[glyphica]

[AmberBella]

Interesting concept glyphica. As a whole I think it's just too cold for me, if that makes sense. I really want to come across as friendly and almost casual.

The Amber in this example isn't really reading to me as fossilized amber...it looks more like a stone or marble.

I'm not a fan of the A by itself...if I'm going to incorporate initials I would really want to include both the A and the B. If the initials are throwing everything off...they are not a must have. I think that it would be a good option for the head shot business...but I am almost certain that I'm wrong about everything that I think. LOL. I could probably just as easily use the text alone for the head shot side of my business if needs be.

I'm definitely open to other concepts. Excited to see more submissions!

[pracus]

Hello!

I hope that you will like it

[AmberBella]

It's nice but not quite what I'm looking for. I really would like some sort of logo element.

I'm so sad that there haven't been more responses. I'm feeling like I must have done something wrong here.

What if I just said scrap the "amber" idea altogether? Help me out designers...what can I do to help this process?

[tini1]

HiI am working on something...will post soon:-)

[tini1]

.....

[pracus]

[im3d]

my entry

[AmberBella]

So happy to see a few more entries!

I'd like them to be a bit prettier. I like the idea of the dragonfly a lot, but I'm not fond of the colors and it's very masculine in general. I'm definitely a girl with feminine sensibilities.

For text, I usually lean more towards Serif fonts than Sans Serif. Or perhaps a script like font for part of it and a serif for another.


Right now xpressions and Tini1 are my favorites, though neither of them are quite right.

If xpressions is still around I'd love to see it tweaked a bit.

Is there any way to extend the deadline? I'd really like to see some more submissions.

[xpressions]

Yes; still around. Do you have any thoughts on what you would like to see tweaked on that design? Or would you like a different concept altogether?

[AmberBella]

Oh good!

I'd like to see a different font for the initials on that first one. If possible, I'd also really be interested to see it with maybe a butterfly or something as well.

Also with the simple tweak of making the name AmberBella instead of Amber Bella.

If you have any other concepts....feel free to throw them in there!

[tini1]

Hi...thank you for your feedback......I guess I was inspired by all the images you post...;-)....hence the colors......

[AmberBella]

Originally Posted by tini1

Hi...thank you for your feedback......I guess I was inspired by all the images you post...;-)....hence the colors......

Yes, I do like the red and orange hue's, but I not specifically the versions of those colors that were in your first example.

This is better style wise, but perhaps a bit block like for my particular photographic style. I lean a bit more towards elegance. Not exactly sophisticated...but certainly beautiful.

My husband offers that the dragonfly, while very cool, doesn't really speak to my business. Perhaps the "amber" part just doesn't read.

The idea of using something like a butterfly or dragonfly was to have it captured in the amber....frozen in time. It may not be possible to have this work. If that's the case I'll abandon the idea completely.

[tini1]

thank you for feedback, will try to work on different concept if time allows.

[xpressions]

Here is a revised version:

[AmberBella]

This project was supposed to be extended....but the original post and title are not reflecting that. I'd still really love to see more concepts. Nothing has hit the nail on the head yet.

[AmberBella]

Pracus...thanks for your submission.

This logo reads very hard to me...almost like a rock star. I'm much more gentle and sweet.

Any other ideas?

[AmberBella]

IM3D

Thanks for your submission...this entry reminds me a lot of flames. It just doesn't have the sense of beauty I'm looking for. Again, very masculine.

I'm looking for pretty....kind....gentle.

Any other ideas?

[Palmer]

Project Update: The deadline has been extended to May 20th. Please review the Client's feedback and original post for a clearer idea of what she is looking for.

Thank you

[AmberBella]

Thought I'd add some things that match my sensibilities.

Here is some marketing materials I'm considering using. I love the style of these, though the color may need to be tweaked slightly to work with my future logo.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/70103922...ce-photography

Some logos I like. I realize that they are very different in subject than what I'm looking for, but hopefully they will help give a sense of the feeling I'm going for.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/66737425...-your-business

http://www.etsy.com/listing/65636261...-watermark-for

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61935037...cherry-blossom

http://www.etsy.com/listing/65242431...rk-perfect-for

http://www.etsy.com/listing/72207236...emade-logo-and

http://www.luxecetera.com/2009/12/05...raphy-branded/

http://www.amylynnsmith.com/

[shnickerdoodle studios]

One from me...Thanks, D

[shnickerdoodle studios]

:d

[AmberBella]

Oh, please let there be a few more ideas out there. I'm just not feeling anything. Nothing seems to fit what I'm looking for.

Can we just forget the "amber" idea completely for a few more ideas thrown into the mix that more closely match my style?

I'm really worried.

[shnickerdoodle studios]

Another one from me...thanks

[AmberBella]

Ohh, I really do like that last one Deanna, but just don't think it will work with the more elegant direction I'm going.

Too bad, it's definitely my favorite so far, but just more cute than elegant. Beautiful job....thank you so much for submitting and for listening!

[xpressions]