I redesigned my website!!!  Woo Hoo!!!  It has been a long process, but it is finally where I want it to be and I’m so relieved to have that templated site gone & done with!  Check it out www.femforceshoots.com.

My Thinking Behind My Site Design

So I figured I’d give you my two cents on branding- I’m not saying it’s right or it’s what everyone should do, but it’s what’s working for me.  When I first started my business, I knew how important branding was.  After all, before I started my photography business, I had a graphic design business where I would help photographers with their branding & logo design, etc.  With that being said, I’m proud to say that my logo and branding colors will not be changing!  My logo is simple & clean and I like it that way.  But, what is changing is my website.  As I was coming up with designs (I think this is design #5- I just wasn’t feeling designs 1-4 ha!), I kept asking myself what does Stacey Poterson Photography have that no other photography studio has?  What made me different?  Was is excellent service?  No.  Was it amazing photography?  No.  Was it awesome products?  No.  While I have all those things I just mentioned, they aren’t what sets me apart.  There are lots of amazing photographers who have those same qualities (at least they should, because that’s what is expected from the client) so that’s not what makes me different.  After thinking about this question for a while, it finally dawned on me- no one else has ME, no one has Stacey.  I am what makes my business different.  So that’s what I based my website design on- me.

With that in mind, I decided to put myself out there with this website, to let my clients really get to know me through my website.  I custom designed the landing page (the first page that pops up when you go to www.femforceshoots.com) with a picture of me & my camera and a little welcome message, welcoming visitors to my site.  I also put a video of me shooting a high school senior.  Again, I’m wanting my clients to get to know me and see what I’m all about through my website.

I also knew that I really want to go after high school seniors.  So I custom designed my senior site- so it won’t look like anyone else’s.  I wanted it to be easy to use, simple, and to the point but have a little flair, of course (and that pretty much describes my personality to a T).  I wanted it to be image heavy and light on the text and information.  So that’s what I did!  Everything that I send out to my clients (pricing pdf, welcome pdf, business cards, etc) all match my website- so my branding is consistent in everything the client sees.

For my brides site, I took a style group from Show-it and customized it to fit me.  Again this site is easy to use, simple and to the point.  And that’s my style and that’s who I am.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the layered, textured, full, websites that have lots going on, but it’s just not me.  And I gotta stick with what is me.

So I encourage you- if you’re new to the photography business- really dig in and make your brand about you, because no one else has you.  Lots of photographers have excellent service, amazing talent, and awesome products, so the only thing that will make you stand out is YOU.

Big thanks to Show-it, a program that allowed me to really customize my website and make my vision come to life!  Their customer service is amazing!!