Why It Was Important For Me To Rebrand

Well hey there, long time no see! How about we pop the champagne and get right into it. I'm back, full force, and better than ever with a brand new website and a fire burning under me. So grab a glass, pour a drink, and let's get into it!

First things first: Why did I rebrand?

Number 1:

It was time.

I've been doing photography for about 4 years now and I've always thought I could do MORE than what I was already doing. I started off just like anyone else in this business, shooting anything and everything I could get my hands on, and quickly came to realize that doing so was mentally and physically exhausting for me.

But something else I realized fairly quickly is how much I adored shooting freely and creatively. This past year I made a big move from Missouri to Colorado and doing so allowed me the time to really figure out what exactly I wanted to do with photography and with my business as a whole. I swallowed my pride, ego, and fear and decided to go full time, and with that came the decision to go full fledged into making my brand an accurate representation of me and what I love to do. It was a huge leap for me, but clearly, you guys can see just how worth it, it was for me to do!

Number 2:

my style was changing.

As we go on in any business, growth and change go hand and hand. I became literally obsessed with gaining as much knowledge as I could about editing, photography gear, running a business, traveling, and photography as a whole. I spent hours of my day watching youtube videos, reading articles and blogs, and getting out in the world shooting whoever would stand in front of my camera so I could apply my new knowledge and skill set. With that came a change in my editing style which used to be fairly dark and very moody, posed, and still, to now realizing how much I love the warm, golden tones in my photos that tell a story with genuine movement and emotion. Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate my previous style by any means, however what I have now feels so much more like me. I feel like I'm now able to truly capture REAL moments in time for my clients. My shooting style has gone from stand still portraits to straight up love story documentary. I love my clients to move, and laugh, and just be completely themselves and getting to capture that is the absolute best part of my job.

Number 3:

I finally niched down.

As I mentioned above, I started out just like any other photographer, shooting anything and everything. I'm talking families, couples, seniors, engagements, weddings, boudoir, fashion, maternity, newborns, you name it, I've more than likely done it! I always told myself that I wouldn't have to niche down because I love shooting everything so much, but was quickly slapped in the face with reality when my schedule became extremely overwhelmed and I got extremely burnt out. So much so that I took about 8 months off and away from the photography business all together. I knew in that time that I didn't want to 'quit' being a photographer, but I knew that something had to give, I just didn't know what. I started really researching and paying close attention to the photographers I followed on instagram and elsewhere and trying to see what the main thing was that they had that I didn't. Then BOOM it hit me. They all had a niche. Wether it be one thing they shoot or just 2-3 things they shoot, they had a niche and they stuck to it. Soooo I got to thinking, what do I love shooting the most? What really burns a fire under me? What leaves me feeling excited and creative after a shoot?

The answer?

COUPLES. I LOVE shooting couples!!! Why? Probably because I'm secretly a hopeless romantic who just loves love. So I decided to start gearing my business toward couples, intimate weddings, and elopements. But not just any couples, adventurous couples. You see, another passion of mine is travel. So I had to figure out how to keep my spark while also serving my clients and myself. What do I love more than love? Adventurous, crazy, unbound, love. And so here we are! I still have other specialties I shoot, like boudoir (I have a private online woman's only group if you wanna join the sisterhood), and I always love a good concept shoot because they keep me motivated and allow me to get super creative, and I do still shoot and offer those things. My heart just lies with my couples and getting those true moments in time for them.

Number 4:

I realized my worth.

So this was a HUGE thing for me. Starting out, I did photography for fun. It's something I've dabbled in since I was about 9 years old. I never even thought to charge for a shoot until I was about 19, I got my first really nice camera and I had just taken the leap of faith to make a facebook page for my photography and to start booking real clients! You'll cringe when I tell you how long I shot for and how much i charged for my very first 'official' shoot... 2 and a half hours of shoot time and I only charged $50. Yup, you read that right. $50. What's even more interesting is that when my client handed me the money, I felt extremely guilty for some reason and tried to give the money back to them. They insisted I take it and they left with a smile. I sat there for a moment after they left, feeling very confused. At the time I knew that I was good at what I did, I also knew I had a long way to go and much to learn, but my self confidence and self faith was very low. I didn't know how good I actually was and I also didn't know how much work I was about to be putting in. Since that day, I've never stopped learning.

I raised my prices about 2 months after that first shoot. My bookings were coming in hot and my schedule was over flowing. My prices were still very much in the low range, but I was happy to be booking clients and doing what I loved.

Fast forward about a year from then and I decided after getting so much experience and constantly consuming education that I would raise my prices again. Being from a small town with a decent amount of competition, I didn't want to raise them too much so my sessions ranged from $100-$250 and they stayed that way up until the beginning of 2020. I never thought that I would be booked if my prices went any higher.

BOY WAS I WRONG.

You see, once you're in this business and you start to take yourself seriously, other people will too. It took me almost 4 years to finally come to terms with my worth as a creative and as a business. I provide what I like to think is a magical experience for my clients, I drive or fly hundreds of miles monthly to capture their moments. I spend hours up on hours editing, and learning, and making real life connections with my clients. I spend a lot of time away from my family, and I have put a lot of money, sweat, blood, and tears into my business. It took a friend of mine literally grabbing me, shaking me, and saying "Diamond, you are worth so much more than you are giving yourself credit for." for a light to go off in my brain.

I since have raised my prices to what I believe is an appropriate representation of what I provide and give back. My clients are the most amazing, caring, supportive people and I have never been more thankful for a single realization in my life. Taking a leap like that into big change is really scary for a lot of photographers, but in the long run, its worth it to acknowledge your hard work and what your time is truly worth.

Number 5:

I wanted to be more than a business, I want to be a brand.

Fun fact: I'm a jack of many trades. I love photography and it is my main squeeze, but I also am a writer, I model, I sing and play the ukulele, I'm an educator, I love designing clothes, I've been a dancer for 14 years and a dance teacher + cheer coach for about 4 of those years, I'm a bartender, I'm an avid traveler and explorer, I'm a wife, I do a podcast with two other amazing ladies, and my youtube channel is well on its way to being added to the list.

Diamond Israel is more to me than a business name. Diamond Israel is my brand, and I felt that it was time to start treating it that way. Yes, Diamond Israel Photography is at the forefront of my mind, but there would be no Diamond Israel Photography without Diamond Israel, would there? That's what sets me apart in my eyes. Diamond Israel is a woman with huge dreams and goals, she makes it her mission to spread love and light, she is a self proclaimed hype woman and professional third wheel. She's a natural creative. She's a little loud, a little crazy, but a lot of fun. She's obsessed with the world and learning peoples stories. She loves to help people and show others the best versions of themselves. She loves to make people laugh, and can't help but dance when almost any kind of music is within hearing distance. She loves nature, and exploring the little nooks and crannies of this floating rock in space, and she is the most authentic version of myself. I will always be a photographer, but my name spans across many areas in the world. I wanted this rebrand to showcase my work, and who I am as a person. It was time to take advantage of that and truly give you guys the real me. I think that's the most exciting and beautiful part of this rebrand. Getting to make it completely my own, and getting to share all of me with my favorite people: you guys.

Rebranding has been a hell of a journey, and this is only the beginning for me. It's been a long time coming and it's almost surreal that it is actually happening. I couldn’t be more grateful for all the support I've received through the years and especially through the last few months. I'm beyond excited to see what the future holds for Diamond Israel Photography and beyond, none of this would have been possible without you all. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you for sticking with me through this wild ride!

But buckle up, because we're just getting started 🤩

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