custom brand design for a kalamazoo brand photographer
kayla raquel photo
Kayla is a brand photographer and creative marketing professional who serves female entrepreneurs - not by being the fanciest option, but by being the most reliable one. The friend who happens to be incredible behind the camera. Who treats your dreams like her own legacy.
ABOUT Kayla Raquel Photo
When I asked Kayla to pin images that inspired her and spoke to her most, I noticed a lot of western imagery. In her questionnaire and from speaking with her, I noticed she also repeatedly used the words community, legacy, fun, and real life.
Through my creative brainstorming and research, I discovered that she embodied the cowboy spirit. Cowboys understand that true success isn't measured in individual achievement - it's measured in how well you've served something bigger than yourself.
Kayla isn't just taking photos. She's stewarding other people's dreams. She's building something that creates ripple effects - her clients feel more confident, their businesses grow, and they serve their communities better.
The initial over-arching brand direction
"A brand that carries the cowgirl spirit - steady as the sunrise, honest as hard work, and invested in your success like it's her own legacy she's building. A brand that feels polished enough that you trust her with your biggest dreams and authentic enough that you feel seen exactly as you are."
After I presented the creative direction to Kayla, this is what she had to say afterwards:
"OHHHH MY GOSHHH - Kaitlyn literally put my heart into a brand plan today. I am so excited to bring this vision to life. She is incredible yall."
the brand design
Every element, from fonts to colors, went back to embodying that cowboy ethos. We chose a bolder serif font, I designed a fun logo mark inspired by western elements (the curve of the cowboy hat and a lasso rope), and we chose a color pallet of muted rich colors that are very earthy.
This year I stopped playing small and started saying out loud what I've known in my heart for a long time... I'm meant to do this work. It feels so good to finally step into this business with both feet planted, in my blue cowgirl boots. My old brand felt too polished, too perfect, and not at all like the life I'm actually living. My real life is bare feet in the grass, birthdays on horseback, homeschooling, afternoons collecting eggs. And none of that felt like it had permission to exist in my "professional" brand. Until now. This brand didn't create a new version of me. It just gave me permission to be who I already was.
- Kayla Raquel
"This brand didn't create a new version of me. It just gave me permission to be who I already was."
