What is Branding?
"What is branding?" This is a question I hear quite frequently when I tell others about what I do professionally. As someone who has a BFA in Graphic Design, it's second nature for me to jump right into knowing, but for someone who isn't a business owner, they may think about cattle first (iykyk!).
Most people might know branding in the context of working with cattle and leaving your mark on them, and in a way, that's part of what the world of branding is: Branding is all about the way you're being perceived by others. Often times, it is your first impression of yourself or your business before anyone interacts with you. Branding isn’t “just a logo”: it includes your logo suite, colors, typography, graphics, and imagery, but that's just the "seen" parts of what goes into building a brand!
Branding is not just a logo, a color palette, or a set of fonts. Branding is the experience people have with your business—how it feels to interact with you, what they remember about you, and whether they trust you enough to take the next step.
At its core, branding is strategy. It’s the intentional combination of messaging, visuals, tone, and values that communicate who you are, what you offer, and why it matters. When done well, branding creates clarity—for both your audience and your business.
As a brand designer and brand photographer, I see firsthand how disconnected branding can become when strategy and visuals aren’t working together. A business might have beautiful graphics but no clear story, or professional photos that don’t align with their brand voice or goals. That disconnect creates confusion—and confusion costs trust.
This is where thoughtful brand design and strategic photography come in. Brand design builds the foundation: defining your brand’s purpose, positioning, and visual system. Brand photography brings that foundation to life, translating strategy into imagery that feels authentic, cohesive, and unmistakably you.
My background in graphic design allows me to approach brand photography differently. I don’t just consider lighting and composition—I think about how an image will live on your website and social media, support your messaging, align with your brand identity, and guide your audience toward action. Every visual choice is made with intention.
Branding isn’t about following trends or looking like everyone else in your industry. It’s about showing up consistently, confidently, and clearly—so the right people recognize you, connect with you, and trust you.
When your branding is aligned from the inside out, your visuals stop being “just content” and start becoming a powerful business tool! So, are you ready to get rid of the stress in your life around creating visuals and partner with a professional brand builder so that you can spend time focusing on what you do best as a business owner?