Do you run a small business, whether photography based or not? Did you put hours into your branding when you launched? Or just jump feet first and hoped for the best?

I figured, what better topic for my debut blog post than rebranding! Coming out of lockdown with the launch of my new website and a complete business overhaul, it’s a subject that’s most definitely fresh in my mind.

For those who knew me as Wiggly Piglet Photography, feel free to skip the next few lines. For those of you that didn’t know, read on. I set up my business five years ago as Wiggly Piglet Photography, with the intention of offering baby focused photography from the comfort of home. I very quickly knew my style was evolving, and by around year three, I felt my ‘cutesy’ branding wasn’t in line with where I saw myself and my work heading. I had a strong brand name with almost 5,000 Instagram followers and a name that people definitely remembered, but it wasn’t an image I wanted to portray any longer, and more importantly, it didn’t reflect me.

So here I am, year 5 of business and not a scrap of Wiggly Piglet remains. The brand grew up, took on a new identity, and now I’m serving up images that I feel more passionate about than ever before. Here are the 5 things I did to help structure my rebranding process:

#1 Identify ‘why’
I know it’s talked about a lot, but if you want to rebrand, you need to work out why you are doing this job and why is that not in line with your current brand image. If your ‘why’ hasn’t changed from when you first started, then maybe you just need a new logo to spice things up a little. For example, when I first started my business, my ‘why’ was to capture newborns at home, so that clients didn’t have to venture too far in those early weeks. Now? My ‘why’ is that I want to offer all clients a calm and safe space to express themselves and feel confident, and my heart is drawn more towards photographing relationships than capturing a lone baby on a beanbag.

#2 What are your core values?
Identify what you want your work and brand to represent, and list three core values that reflect that. These will be the foundations from which you build everything - from the clients you target to the products you serve.

#3 Don’t be afraid to ask for help
If, like me, you already had a reasonably strong and loyal following, don’t be afraid to float ideas to them or even ask what they think your brand represents. I asked my followers what three words they would use to describe my work? It was so good to see the flip side because it’s easy to get caught up in our own ideas or visions and forget what your clients really see or want.

#4 Get creative!
Put together a physical mood board that you can touch and feel. Something that can evolve as your ideas evolve. Use Pinterest to begin with, as it’s such a valuable tool for creatives, and a simple search can throw up a ton of inspiration. But don’t be afraid to use that as an ideas pantry, then just bring out the best bits for the recipe and stick them up on the wall to enjoy the carefully balanced flavour. Having a vision of where you see yourself and your brand in 5 years time is a wonderful process. Visit my Instagram for a 2-part Reel with my tips on how to make a mood board at home.