Instead of wishing you were someone else, be proud of who you are. Never let the things you want make you forget the things you are and the things you have”

So these past few weeks – though they’ve been feeling like monnntthhhss – as I was designing my logo and thinking of ideas , and of course, scrolling through Pinterest, I became VERY indecisive, dragging my amazing uncle/graphic designer and brother/graphic designer along with me. I was back and forth about what I wanted and I was very unclear at articulating it to them.

I kept pinning and saving images on Pinterest that I WANTED so badly to represent me.

I kept running towards something I would like my pictures, logo, brand, to be like but it just wasn’t really coming out like I wanted to.

I wanted soft, fresh, elegant, romantic, pastel colors, and light and airy pictures.

I wanted my images to look like other photographers who I was inspiring to be like.

I was comparing myself to others and when I wasn’t getting close to what their style looked like, I kicked myself…hard.

For weeks i was putting myself down and I was getting really stressed playing the “comparison game”.

Creativity is NOT a competition”

But at the end of July I hit a wall. Call it “writer’s block” if you will. My inspiration pool dried up. I had no more ideas for logos left. I just wanted to break down and cry. Yes, this amazing job of photography that I decided to take on become very hard and stressful. I didn’t want to be locked in my room anymore glued to my computer. I didn’t want to be getting upset over silly things such as editing my pictures a certain way (something only my fellow photographers may understand 😉 ). I wanted to be outside, enjoying the weather, spending time with my family, going out with my friends and NOT stress or think about what I have to do later or haven’t done yet.

There was just some things I couldn’t get away from.

I realized something as I was just staring at my computer screen one day, looking at my images on my new website: those images represent me, who I am, my creativity, my heart put into my work. They ARE beautiful, they are perfect just the way they are (Bruno Mars now playing in my head..) I shouldn’t be trying to change them or make them into something else. No, their not soft, or airy, fresh or romantic. They are crisp, outdoorsy, organic/natural and sometimes bold. Just like we can’t change who we are, what we look like, or our personalities, I couldn’t change my style of pictures with the snap of my fingers. I needed to run with what I had, not run away from it. That was my “lightbulb” moment. My logo needed to represent my images, what they look like and everything they contain. So I decided to break down those words that can to my mind when I looked at my images. Crisp: the lines in the box around my name. Bold, organic & outdoorsy: like the flowers that are around the box. Beautiful: like the name in the box.

Finally. Everything else faded. All those other logos, all those other beautiful images by other photographers, they all disappeared and what remained in front of me was my pictures and the words of my art. I finally came up with what I wanted. Finally I can finish what I started.

So after weeks of deciding, stressing, ups and downs, rejections, I can now say that my logo and website are complete!!

Thanks to my brother who stuck by my side throughout the whole process of working on my website and the beginning fazes of working on my logo. Thanks to my uncle, who helped me really talk my way through what I wanted, made the words behind my images come to life in my logo and for being so willing to work with me. And thank you to all of those beautiful people who I’ve taken photos for so far. You all have really helped me shape my business into what it is now. Can’t wait to meet even more people who will cross my path as my journey of growing my business continues!!

Kate ❤︎

8 comments

Comment by ashton

ashton August 12, 2015 at 12:29 pm

SUCH a great post! We try so often to put ourselves into that cookie cutter shape of what we think success is. I’m so glad you pushed through and were true to yourself! Can’t wait to see everything.
Comment by Candi

Candi August 12, 2015 at 12:34 pm

I went through the same thing when I rebranded. Embrace who you are and forget the rest! It’s a hard lesson!
Comment by Gord Chicquen

Gord Chicquen August 12, 2015 at 12:39 pm

Great advice. This is one of the biggest steps moving forward.
Comment by Katie Whitcomb

Katie Whitcomb August 12, 2015 at 12:42 pm

Such great advice! I wish I learned this earlier than I did, but such a relief when you do!
Comment by Michele

Michele August 12, 2015 at 12:43 pm

I went through a phase where I wanted to be more like this or more like that and found that I began to lose who I was! Perfect post for anyone who needs a boost.
- Comment by admin
  
  admin August 12, 2015 at 12:48 pm
  
  Thanks so much! I was hoping it would inspire other photographers who struggle with the same thing. 🙂
Comment by Clara

Clara August 12, 2015 at 12:45 pm

It’s definitely not an easy process! Glad you got it all worked out =]
Comment by Emily

Emily August 12, 2015 at 3:34 pm

Love your words! So perfect! I needed to read this today!