Color, Pattern & Personality

Hello my fellow readers! It's been a while since I've made a new post.  Many good things have been happening and I've been lazy about writing on this blog... But there is no excuse for the latter.

I've been playing around with giving my brand a character... At the risk of sounding artsy-fartsy, I want it to represent the essence of how I feel about my work.  I have always been into antiques, the victorian era, steampunk, and the 1940s, and those influences make up a sphere of inspiration that makes me feel comfortable exploring it.   I really like things old-school, partially because I feel that is how God made me, and also because I learned photography in a darkroom.  I like to take a little of the old and the new, and put them together to make a classic yet modern twist on brand.  I wanted it to be a balance between masculine and feminine.  I feel that most wedding merchants (cakes, venues, magazines, photographers) only cater and market to the bride, when hey let's face it, there's a dude who only gets marketed to by Mr. Tux!  And for me that's just not okay.

Anywho, after doing much research and buying lots of samples, I really feel that my brand identity (patterns, colors, graphics, packaging materials, etc) has blossomed into a youthful prospect.  At least for now, it is a great place to start!  Below are some of my designs combined with the extreme talent of others, and there are links to each of my resources because they were there when I needed them!  They deserve a shout out!  All of the designs below were put together by me, however I had a little help from a few different vendors as far as resources.

My Finished Logo!  I used this graphic when I was just Caryn Winclechter Photography.  And the two became one!

My Coffee Date appointment cards for my clients, this is the back.

The front! Printed by Miller's Professional Imaging

                                              

                                                       Round Logo stickers from MOO.com.  Beautiful! 

Sticker books with my four designs from Moo.com, Digital floral papers from Sassy Designs, Inc.  Oh so classy, right?

If you are in the same boat yourself, building your brand from the ground up, I hope that the links provide you with the same help I found.  Again just to refresh you:

Floral Patterns & Digital : Sassy Designs, Inc.

Camera Graphic: The Graphics Fairy

Stickers & Labels: MOO

Ornate Cards: Miller's Professional Imaging

Many Blessings and thanks for reading!  I highly recommend checking out these vendors and hopefully they will prove both resourceful and inspirational!  

Love & Pretty Pictures,
Caryn

p.s. More to come!  Can't wait to show you some new products I am working on :)

The Thief Comes to Steal.

Indeed it has been a while since I have posted anything on my blog.  Several factors have led up to this factoid, and there are new recent developments underway.  Ahem... here we go:

Towards the end of June, I realized that money was just too tight to start investing in this Photography Business.  After we had paid bills, house payments, car payments and debt payments, there was not more than a few bucks left at the end of every two weeks.  Cody and I were really getting frustrated, and our finances were starting to affect our relationship.  One night that week while lying in bed, the Lord really impressed it upon me, clear as day, that I needed to get a job and fast.  I was filled with so much urgency that I decided to look at some applications online.

The next day I called a few places around Grants (where I live) but my search was unfruitful.  I figured there wouldn't be much available in Grants and that I'd probably have to find a job in albuquerque.  After about an hour of searching online,  one job opening caught my attention, at a well known branch of bank.  I decided to give it a shot, and applied online.  The next day I received a call from said local branch, and they set up an interview for a few days later.  I had my interview, and got the job, hooray!  While I've never enjoyed working 9 to 5, the extra money has been so wonderful.  I was able to start right away.

Training was in Albuquerque for three days.  My husband happened to have those three days off, and so we booked a hotel and stayed up in Albuquerque on a mini work trip.  On the second day of training, Cody picked me up at the end of the day, and he was in a strange mood.  I asked him what the matter was, and he said that our vehicle had been broken into.  The people who did it stole my work laptop, my external hard drive, my kindle, his work laptop, and his iPod.    It was upsetting, because I realized I had to start from scratch.  I had been designing my logo for months, I had about 5 years worth of customers photos, about 5 different software programs that I used for business, and all my backup work as well.

Sucky.  But amazingly enough the Lord gave me such a peace about it.  Granted, the rest of that week that followed was stressful, and Cody and I were both distracted by several other stressful things that were piled on top of us.  And even though I was so mad at the people who could be so selfish to take something that belonged to someone else, I knew that God would make it all okay.  No I did not get anything back that was mine, but I have been given a fresh start, a drive to fight for my dream of becoming a renowned artist, and desire to push forward in the pursuit of my career.  He really is good.  And despite the circumstances, several things that had become stagnate are bright and breezy.  All hope is not lost, and I have been given some perfect building blocks with which I can start over.

Anyways,
That is why there haven't been any recent posts.  But now please expect about one post a week from me!    Currently I am working on several projects, like making online ordering more convenient, brochures, business cards, marketing schemes, and a fabulous launch party for Metal & Lace Wedding Photography that will be coming to you in the very near future!

Love & Pretty Pictures,

Caryn

Meghan & Jeremy: June 4, 2011

Saturday, June 4, 2011, I made my way down to the Tierra Del Sol country club.  It was the day my good friend Meghan and I had dreamed of since we were 10 years old, and it was finally here 14 years later!
I was slightly concerned about the smoke from the fires in Arizona that had made its way down south of Albuquerque.  Unfortunately it threatened the deep orange daylight that would normally linger at around 8:00 pm.
But despite my reservations and ardent prayers, the smoke did not clear.  However God always works in mysterious ways.  Even though the evening was darker than I would have preferred, the evening was dripping with the blessings of God.  And most important of all, Meghan and Jeremy became man and wife.
So anyways, here are a few of my favorite images from that day!

I hope you enjoy!  To see these and more check out  my website, Metal & Lace!

Love,
Caryn

Metal & Lace: a Mark, a Mission, a Brand, a Name!

As I had mentioned before in a previous post, I am in the process of revamping and re-creating my brand, my logo, and even my name.  Also, I felt I needed to narrow my market some; I felt stretched very thin trying to reach out to clients who wanted graduation pictures, family pictures, possible fashion photography, and weddings & engagements.  While I still plan on doing all of said styles of photography, I feel that where I most want to focus my business is the wedding industry.   Simple portraits and fashion photography will be done on the side and out of the spotlight.

Through hours of scrutinizing, praying, dreaming and waiting, the deliberation is finally over.  I would like to introduce to all my readers, on blogger, on facebook, and on twitter, to Metal & Lace Heirloom Wedding Photography!

It is time to dissect this a little, because for some people the name might seem a little random. 

I suppose it may sound off the wall, but it was derived and inspired by years of things I know and love.  Like textures (i.e. metals and delicate lace), vintage texts and style,  ornate features on paper and stationary, beautiful script, subtle hues, or classic black ink in a fountain pen.

I wanted juxtaposition in my name, leaving it up to the interpretation of the person reading it to wonder at it's meaning, to leave a little mystery.  Juxtaposition in my name also reflects the juxtaposition of my photography itself.  I have a style in capturing people that is unique and features something else besides cute and romantic.  I seek out edge, simplicity, and a rawness when crafting an image, as well as elegance, subtlety, and beauty.  It was and is very important to me that my artistic works synchronize with my logo and brand, that they reflect and allude to each other effortlessly.

So tell me readers, do you think I have achieved my goals with creating a brand for myself?  I would absolutely love some feedback and to hear your thoughts!

Love,