Rachael contacted me a week before she quit her full-time job as a police officer.  She was moving quickly setting up her photography business after working as an assistant and learning the craft with a mentor for some time.  Rachael is also a new mom and having started my own business with a three-month-old by my side (7 years ago), I instantly got what Rachael was going through.  I was also super impressed at the rate of which she was accomplishing getting her business off the ground.

She was literally counting the days left at her job when we first talked, and already had so much in place.  Her logo was being designed, her studio location was established, and she had all her policies written in detail.  She also knew exactly who her client was and what her strengths are in attracting those clients.

Rachael had already purchased Pro Photo and knew she wanted a WordPress website.  She was planning on creating the website herself, as she was already competent in WordPress.  Then she decided before she even started that,“it was better left to an expert”, in her words.

Rachael’s inspiration board was filled with warm colors.

 

I loved the peach, tans, and greens together.  Rachael choose these plus a dark purple.

 

Rachael is warm and friendly.  Her brand is about being inviting and trusted.  Being a newborn photographer, she felt trust and being comfortable was key for her clients.  We wanted to establish a web identity that is friendly and relaxed, yet professional.

When Rachael submitted her design survey to me, I was absolutely baffled by the websites she chose as her favorites or inspiration. Typically my clients choose ones that have similar elements and go along with what they write in the survey.  With Rachael, I kept going over her likes and dislikes, re-reading her survey, looking at the inspiration board.  Then we chatted on Skype.

As always, I asked lots of questions about Rachael’s survey response.  Then I went to each website she liked and disliked, asking more questions.  That’s when it finally clicked.  User interface, navigation, organization… that’s what she saw in her choices!  It was very important to Rachael that the menu be easy to navigate, that the website has detailed information, including the ability to reserve and sign the contract online, and that everything about it be done with ease for her clients, to match the comfortable experience of her photography sessions.

We incorporated in Machforms so client surveys could easily be filled out, a top navigation bar that stays in place when you scroll through the long blog (not shown in my screenshot below), and quick access to everything important through a hover and click on the home page.

“I’m more than grateful for your tireless, hard work on this web project. I’m more than happy with my site. Thank you so much!”

 

Working with Rachael brought me back to a time that I remember so dearly.  I used to work with my daughter napping on me in a sling, while I bounced on a yoga ball.  I won’t romanticize it though. There are many struggles to being a new mom and starting a business, the scheduling, the time management, the chaos and craziness of your life while trying to be organized enough to run a business.  It is all worth it though, for the freedom of doing what I love and the time I got to spend with my daughter while she was super little.

It has been such a pleasure being a part of Rachael’s journey.  I found myself just wanting to help Rachael in anyway I could, and am so glad she choose me as her designer.