Moving Forward with Your Brand

For those of you that have been following me for a while, you're probably pretty familiar with my process. It's actually very detailed and in depth, but if I had to summarize it - it would go like this: brand homework, brand assessment, storyboarding, team curation, production, and strategic execution. 

I did that exact process for my brand. Because I had to fill out homework for my logo and website (and truthfully, I've sort of always had random stacks of notes about my brand :), I went straight into storyboarding. I made a private Pinterest board and was extremely, extremely particular about what I would pin. I had to clear my head of the things that I loved but I knew weren't true to me. You have to pin with your gut... your honest instinct. And most importantly, I wanted to tap into visuals that reflected my vision moving forward. 

After curating my team, I set up the shoot. My studio manager was there to capture behind the scene images and even video clips. Before the shoot started, I communicated to her that I really wanted some footage of me engaging with the stylist and makeup artists, as well as me directing the model. Why? Because I really wanted visuals that showed the one thing I know is special to my brand - my connection with my clients. This connection happens when the entire team understands the vision, and sometimes it takes life during the actual shoot. Let me just say - it was OVERWHELMING! And I mean that in the best possible way. The inspiration was everywhere and I had to constantly focus on my vision board to make sure I was nailing my visual objectives for this project. 

Coming home with this content was exciting, a bit daunting, and left me with a buzz. I know I've only shared it in glimpses over the past month or two, but that's what this particular project was called to do - leave a trail of where I have been heading to. In a way, these are my visual footprints that mark my ever growing path. Sometimes we need projects like these that we don't share all at once because they serve a different purpose. It's quite funny actually, to do a brand shoot for myself when my work is based on other's brands. But my message and who I am remains the same: I am a risk-taker, a dreamer who works for other dreamers that will always seek the human connection between a brand and their audience.

An Imaginale Design Experience: Brittany Oswald

Meet Brittany..

(by Thomas Garza Photography)

I've mentioned her before and the great photographer that she is. In fact, you will find that picture up there on her "About Me" section on her website... but not for long.

You see, this pretty lady has been re-branding her entire business and guess who had the honor of taking her promo pics?

(I'm wearing a black glove, if you're looking THAT closely :)

Itsa me, mario! But around here in Imaginale land, we don't just take pictures. Brittany trusted me not only as a photographer, but as a stylist as well. As part of her re-branding, she wanted her photos to portray her new look -- this included a mini make over ;)

Brittany has THE straightest and softest hair. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! I decided to give her some soft, loose curls to add volume and layers to her hair. We started off by adding some volumizing foam and shaking her hair to lift the roots up and drying it with a round brush. Then you section the hair off....



.. and start the curling process. The best way to do this is by using a VERY hot curling iron and wrapping the ends around it without using a clamp. In this case, I own an iron that doesn't actually have a clamp. Yes, I'm wearing a black glove -- err, actually a mitten -- so I can hold the hair against the hot iron without burning myself. Believe it or not, I don't own GLOVES!!! But somehow I manage to own mittens. I dunno.



Make sure to clip the already-curled sections together while you're finishing up the rest so they don't get weighed down. And voila!



All we needed now was an outfit. And while Brittany has always pulled off t-shirt and jeans beautifully, she felt it was time to add a little more flair to it. Nothing drastic... just small details to pull the look together.



Bam!! Just gorgeous! Enough subtle hints without changing who Brittany is.

Brittany has such refined beauty and THE best laugh.



And let me tell you, directing Brittany is a photographer's dream. I don't know how much of it is her being a photographer too, but even down to how she placed her hands was perfection.




Oh, you know I had to bring the sassy out.



I have to refrain my words because I'm sure Brittany is probably blushing :) Sorry girl, but you were on fire!!





But this wouldn't be a Brittany shoot without some of these moments.....



Hahaha, I love you girl :)

You think it ends here, but oh nooooo. You see, these were for her business. A slightly tamed version, if you will. But what if a girl wants to get all dressed up? Something that pushes her out of her typical element? Well, that's part of what Brittany's trip was for and I was going to make sure I delivered. I'll be sharing those next week!

Wishing you a slightly untamed Friday ;)