Why I Rebranded | Mandi Mitchell Photography

12

Mar

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Just for fun, Uncategorized

I keep getting asked “why did you change your business name?” What was the purpose of this whole rebrand and essentially starting over? Why not keep a name that I have been established with for over seven years? Wouldn’t it hurt my business changing everything?

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When I created my business over seven years ago, I started out as MM Photography. I changed it to Making Memories Photography within the first year, making myself 4M/Making Memories Photography. I loved the whole idea of Making Memories by Mandi Mitchell (aka 4M), so I made my website 4Mphotography, but 4m wasn’t available, so I had to be 4m-photography.com. Can you already see the confusion this might cause when brides are trying to find me? I don’t know why I didn’t see this as an issue back then. So I was 4m-photography to find me online, but I was Making Memories Photography everywhere else. Not to mention that Making Memories Photography (or some version of it) is all over the place on the internet. I looked on Facebook alone and there are over FIFTY Making Memories Photography’s! There is even one in Georgia just an hour south of me… although not sure how that is possible since I was registered with the state, but anyways. See why I needed to change my name?

Last fall, I decided that I wanted to rebrand and change my business name. However, I did not want to use my name, Mandi Mitchell. I felt like it was overdone and not creative to use my name when coming up with a business name. Ben and I sat down and talked for weeks. We had the idea to just keep the 4M Photography and drop Making Memories, but then what does 4M stand for without having to explain it? Then Ben came up with the idea of using a Bible verse to represent my business. I LOVED the idea. We decided to use Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” and be 5:16 Photography. BUT there was another photographer in Florida with that name and she had purchased all domain names related to her business, so that wasn’t an option anymore. So then we decided to go with John 8:12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness.'”  I wasn’t as in love with it, but that’s what we decided to use. We began designing logos, and I even sent my new name to the state to be registered as Eight Twelve Photography.

Then I went to Katelyn’s workshop… I shared with her that I was rebranding away from Making Memories and she loved the idea! I then shared with her I was going to be Eight Twelve Photography. Katelyn explained to me why she went from Inspired Designs by: Katelyn James to Katelyn James Photography. I told her that I didn’t want to use my name because I felt like it was overdone, but she said “it’s overdone because it works.” Her whole workshop was about ME being MY brand and sharing myself to my clients. How could I create an online presence that would be relatable to others if I was “hidden” behind a name like Eight Twelve Photography?

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She also made another very good point. She asked me to think about all of the well known photographers in the industry that I follow; and as I thought about Justin and Mary, Jasmine Star, Amy and Jordan, Matt Kennedy, herself, I totally got it. People know their business is run by them and they get a chance to know them. She also talked about all of the high end products out there: Michael Kors, Vera Wang, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren… you get the point. They ALL use THEIR names. So why shouldn’t I? Make my name a brand that people know and can follow. It all made since.

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So I came back from the workshop, driving the nearly nine hours to get home calling Josh to tell him the BIG changes going from Making Memories to Eight Twelve to actually going to Mandi Mitchell Photography! I called my logo designer, Sara Alread, and began to talk to her and decided she would be a perfect fit to help design my new logo! From there, the work began and didn’t stop for the next few months! Ben and I worked hard to get everything together for the next brand and design. I wanted something that would last and not be something trendy that I would have to change in a few years. I couldn’t be happier with the new design of my logo and website! I couldn’t thank Katelyn enough for all of her advice and wisdom she shared in helping rebrand my business. Thanks so much to all of my clients and fans for celebrating with me!

Make sure you head over to my blog post on Monday to enter in the giveaway! Today is the last day to enter! Tomorrow I will announce the winner!

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  1. Carissa Kennedy says:

    Yay!!! Can’t wait for the big reveal!!

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