Three simple and fun steps to …
Find your Brand
… in an hour
Branding exercises can feel like a root canal; necessary but excruciating!
Over many hours and iterations, you might be asked to think about your values, and then translate those values into colors, fonts, images, copy and content.
Here’s the problem with that approach …
As humans, we’re simply not good at seeing ourselves objectively or logically.
If you’ve read Thinking Fast and Slow, you know that thinking logically uses our slow thinking brain. That’s great for solving well-defined, structured problems.
But it absolutely sucks as an approach to solving ambiguous, emotionally charged questions, like identify your values.
Instead, we need to find a way to use our fast-thinking brain aka. our intuition or gut instinct, which has decades of experience and knowledge about our deepest selves.
What if you could channel your intuition to find your core values and personal brand?
This exercise is part of The Identity Lab, a framework I use with my photography clients to help them get stunning, authentic and powerful images. It has three simple steps.
A quick introduction to this exercise and where it comes from.
1. Create
Create a Mood Board, also called an Inspiration or Vision Board. You’ll spend some time adding images to this board that inspire you, making lots of intuitive snap judgements on the way.
2. Review
Observe what you’ve added to your board. You’ll notice the emotions they evoke, the themes and colors and other details you’re drawn to, the patterns that emerge.
3. Share
Share your board and notes with me via email; I’ll be delighted to review it and provide feedback. It’s completely free, no obligations at all. I love seeing inspiring photos from everywhere!
Step 1: Create your Mood Board
Set up Pinterest, start searching for photos, and most importantly, make lots of quick decisions!
Here’s how to set up your first Pinterest board, the Pinterest browser button, and add your first photos (‘pins’)
1 a. Set up Pinterest!
Get a free account on Pinterest.com
Create a Pinterest board
Install the Pinterest browser button (works on Chrome, Firefox and Edge, not on Safari)
Add new photos (‘pins’) to your board on Pinterest itself, using the browser button, or manually uploading a photo from your computer/phone.
If you don’t want to use Pinterest (I recommend it!), just drop your photos into a Google doc or Slide deck.
Starting your search for photos can be confusing! Here are some tips. The key is to start somewhere. You’ll soon find photos you love!
1 b. Start your search
Celebrities who inspire you in some way
Keywords reflecting yourself and your values e.g. confident female entrepreneur
Scroll on Instagram or stock photo sites like Pexels until you find something you like and go from there
Your friends, colleagues or competitors whose photos you admire (or envy!)
Other photographers whose work you love! (I always draw inspiration from other artists)
Take at least 15-20 minutes and go down some rabbit holes. Add photos that inspire you or evoke an emotion. Make snap judgements!
1 c. Fill out your board
Find 25-30 photos that inspire you and make you go: “Yes, I want to be seen like that!”
Don’t spend more than a few seconds on a photo. Make snap decisions! If something really strikes you about the photo, it’s in.
Extra credit: Find 5-10 photos that elicit a negative reaction: “Hell NO, I don’t want to be seen like that!”
Step 2: Review your photos
Observe patterns that emerge from your photos and draw insights about your brand.
Let’s use a client’s board as an example! I’m going through walk you through a quick example of how we drew insights from her board.
2 a. Study your photos
Go over the photos you loved. Notice what you feel when you look at them.
What do you love about each of these photos? The pose, the outfit, the emotion, the location - or a mix of these.
What does the photo tell you about the person?
Extra Credit: Now, go over the photos you didn’t like. What elicited that reaction? What message did you get from that photo?
2 b. Write it down
Jot down quick notes on Pinterest or comments on your Google Doc/Slides on each photo and what you noticed about it the most
Do you notice any patterns emerging from your Mood Board as a whole?
Anything that you learned about yourself and your brand through this process?
Any surprising insights?
FAQs
What if I don’t use Pinterest?
That’s fine! In that case, just drop your photos into a Google Doc or Slide deck, or even a shareable folder. As long as you can share a link to it, it’s all good! Ultimately, Pinterest is just a tool to make this process a little smoother and more fun.
How much time, how many images?
The more, the better. You can spend as much time as you like, and you can do multiple rounds of the exercise. However, at a minimum, I recommend 25-30 photos and spending 15-20 minutes on this. I also recommend doing the extra credit bit; finding a few images that you don’t like. You don’t need too many there; 5-10 photos will do. It’s surprising how much those choices can convey.
What if I already have my brand defined?
That’s great! For this exercise, try to set aside some of those preconceptions and just see what comes up for you. You can take those insights back to your brand. If you choose to work with a brand strategist later, they’ll appreciate this work you’ve put in! I see this process as complementary to your brand strategy work, rather than a replacement.
Step 3: Share what you’ve learned
Send me your board and notes using the form below, and get a free review!
I’ll review your board and notes, and share suggestions on how you can take your brand discovery process further.
You’re welcome to take those insights into your own photo shoot, whether you choose to work with me or not.
It’s completely free, no obligation.