The real reason your weirdness is your secret branding weapon
Can we get an AMEN to this?! When I was still on social media, scrolling through my feed was like déjà vu — the same airy, “neutral” vibe on repeat. Beautiful? Sure. Memorable? Not so much.
I felt the pressure, too. There was this moment (more like a few years) when every photographer seemed to be chasing that trend — and for a hot second, I wondered if I should too. But my heart leaps for color, contrast, some fun, and actually seeing who someone is, not just what’s on trend.
So I ditched the copy-paste game and started digging deep with both with myself and my clients. Asking questions like “What lights you up? What’s your actual vibe? What is your brand personality? What’s your personality? How do you want people to feel when they land on your site or your feed?” And that’s where the magic — and connection — really happened.
Why blend in when your peculiarities are the very thing people will remember?
It’s easy to look to what someone else in your industry is doing, and automatically think that’s what you should do too – because it seems like it’s working for them. And as humans we’re also risk averse – it’s natural, but it ends in a landscape of sameness. The problem is you have no way of knowing if it really is working for them – aside from a pretty grid.
The image below is the workspace of an extremely creative and imaginative artist who works mostly with textiles. This capture of her in her element tells a true story of her process – which, I would argue, most people would find fascinating. She also has a quirky side and is not afraid to push boundaries, like in the second image. Her website and feed are a magical, whimsical rabbit hole that’s so fun to get lost in – and you definitely remember her.
The things that are unique to you – your personality, your process, the values you hold, the sometimes strange things that attract you, how you view the world and the kind of person you want to do business with are all ways of making a real connection that sets you apart and makes you memorable and relatable…and also what engenders trust with the viewer.
“The world accommodates you for fitting in, but only rewards you for standing out”
Matshona Dhliwayo
What’s your odd, weird, fun, or otherwise surprising thing you secretly love about yourself or your brand? Make sure to share it — loud and proud!
