From The Desk Of Pamela J. Bates

Logo Design: Dalton Lane Portrait Co.

I've had the pleasure of working with some really wonderful people lately, a good majority of them young women business owners.  I just love that.

One of them in particular is Jessica of Dalton Lane Portrait Co.

You'd never guess it by looking at her work, but Jessica just picked up a camera three years ago! Say what?

Her husband was deployed in Iraq and she was home with their two little ones. When she got the news that her husband Jessi would be part of the biggest troop movement in history, from Iraq to Afghanastan, Jessica was watching the news every night trying to get a glimpse of him. She thought, if one picture could mean this much to me, a photograph must mean the same to others.

Jessica found me via our etsy shop, Bates Mercantile Co., and I'm so glad she did. She'd already tried a multitude of logos, but was striking out. None were truly what she wanted them to say about her business or where she wanted her business to go. She wanted a mix of Classic Americana, with a hint of Irish in the form of a shamrock, since her studio loft/home is located on N. Irish Street.

It doesn't happen often, but she loved one of the first initial drafts I presented to her. She honestly couldn't believe it. Neither could her husband. Jessica told me she'd been through too many logos to even count and was just beside herself that I was able to design something that really spoke to her on the first go round. 

The only thing we really changed other minor tweaking, was the color. She'd been thinking about navy and red, but had just finished painting the studio organic gray and wanted it all to be cohesive.

This is where we ended up.

When I get messages like this from my clients - " I LOVE it. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it." - it sure does make my day.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my job and working with people like Jessica.

I am currently finalizing a logo for another young business owner in Indiana.  Lo and behold, it's another design that worked out on the first go round.  I'll be sharing that with you soon.

Beyond that, there is a mad gang of neighboorhoodlum marauders in the pool out back.  Neighbors Sandee and Gerry just jumped in with their grandchildren. Glad somebody is swimming around in this heat!

What's happening in your world?

Have a fantastic day.

Ciao for now,

Still Life: Summer

Pulling Weeds

The gardens are in full bloom. Lilies, coreopsis, bee balm and the like. And then, there are the weeds.

That said, there are weeds that I love too much to pull. I let them do their thing as part of my gardens. Milkweed, poke weed, Queen Anne's Lace (more of a wildflower I guess, but some people consider it a weed).  Of course, there's also the unidentifiable.  As long as they're pretty and they don't choke everything else out, they're keepers in my book. There is something inspiring about the strength of a weed.

 

What's not to love?

Hotter than Hades again today, though I'm cool in the AC. Gotta run it for the old hound dog.  He doesn't even want to venture out in this humidity and I don't blame him.

Pool time later, no doubt. I am so thankful for our pool.

Lots of design work on the plate today. Saving final logo files for my client Jessica from Dalton Lane Portrait Co. who's a peach and one talented portrait photographer. I'll be blogging about her logo project soon and she'll be launching her rebranding asap too.  This is the message I received from her last night:  "I LOVE IT. LOVE LOVE LOVE it." That sure makes me happy, especially coming from someone with such a great eye. If you're in her area, honestly, her pictures of kids are amazing. Book a session.


I'll also be working on logo design for my newest client, an event planner from TN; an email design for my long time client Top Drawer; as well as logo adjustments for a couple of other customers.

Dang if I don't love being busy, especially with design work. I get lost in the day.  Isn't that the best?

Make it a great one in your corner of the world and I'll do the same.

Ciao for now,