Hello Harmony Studio

Really honoured and excited to be a guest speaker on the panel for this class at the Southampton Arts Centre! If you've ever dreamed of starting a creative business, this is a great opportunity to learn about what to expect and how to create a solid foundation for your business!

2018. A book with 365 blank pages in it. The new year means we get 365 days to continue to our creative journey. To grow our businesses and continue to do what we love day in and day out. Keep moving forward. Don’t be afraid of what others are doing or what they will think of you.... Your creative journey is beautiful. You are amazingly talented and you are not defined by what others think of you. Each one of us has unique and beautiful gifts and talents to bring to the table. Focus on your own journey without looking to others for approval. On that note, I will leave you with this quote from Brené Brown: Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embrace who you are.

The doors are open at the Holiday Soirée put on by @simcoecountyshoplocal! Stop by to check out the local talent and to say hi!

Dear Photographer, I don’t want you to fit into a mold. You may have started your business inspired by other photographers, but as you shoot and experiment you will realize that you will never be like them. And that’s okay. In fact, that’s ideal. You were not made to fade away into the background or get lost in the sea of photographers. You are one of a kind. You were made to be uniquely you and as you build your business you will see that your work is totally in its own leag...ue. You have a unique set of skills and collection of experiences that make what you do something that cannot be duplicated. I have worked with several photographers this past year and let me tell you no two of them are alike. They could fall into similar categories or had similar interests, but their bodies of work were exclusively their own. each photographer had a beautiful and entirely unique way of documenting the world around them. I loved hearing their stories and determining their strengths, what makes them unique and what aspects of their business and passions to highlight in the branding process. I was thrilled when Kassandra from Kassandra Arbour Photography asked me to help her with a new brand for her business. Above is a sample of the moodboard we created for her brand made from some inspiration photos and her stunning photographs. Stay tuned to see the final logo! Do you feel that your brand or logo shows you as the unique photographer that you are? Send me a DM and tell me why or why not.

Who is your ideal customer? That sounds like such a loaded question, and some of my clients have trouble answering it through the branding process. But we can approach it in a much easier way. Here’s what I tell my clients to consider: Think back to your favourite customers the ones you loved working with the most. Do they have anything in common? Are they all from a specific area? Are they mostly male or female? Are they similar ages? Do they work in similar field...s? Do they have the same problem that you are helping them solve? If you can make any sort of connection between these clients then perfect! If those are the clients you connect best with, those are the clients you want more of, and who we will have in mind as we create your brand. Has the idea of finding your ‘ideal customer’ or ‘dream client’ been overwhelming? Let me know! http://ift.tt/2gUAzlz See more

Just wanted to do a quick shoutout to let you know - I am still out of the office due to a flight cancellation last night. All messages and emails will be answered as soon as possible when I return. Thank you!

To the creative entrepreneur who feels like she doesn't have it all together you aren't alone. Building a business takes time, but you're already ahead of the game by building your business around something you love to do. You may be itching to invest in a new brand right off the bat. If you already have a good idea of your ideal client, and don't foresee your business changing in the future, then great! If you're unsure, I recommend to take your time in the first ye...ar or so. Create as much as you can. Do business and personal projects. Find out which customers are your favourites to work with and what aspects of your business set your heart on fire. Be open to change because you never know what will come your way. If you're interested to know what kinds of questions are asked in the branding process - click through to my mini branding questionnaire from the link in my profile. Happy creating! http://ift.tt/2wplD47 See more

Don’t be discouraged by the branding process. You don’t need to know exactly what you want. You just need to know what you want your brand to feel like. If you could describe your business in three keywords, which would you use? How do you want people to feel when they see your brand? Those are pretty typical branding questions, but good ones for sure. The answers to the questions act as the basis for your moodboard. If you look up moodboard in the dictionary, you’ll see ...that it is arrangement of images, materials, pieces of text, etc. intended to evoke a particular style or concept. This is exactly how it will be used for your brand. To create your brand mood board, I use keywords from these questions to search for images which evoke certain emotions and align with your keywords. This will provide a great visual jumping off point for the colour palette design of your brand elements. I love including my clients’ work if I can (the stunning cakes in this board are from a past client) to ensure that they fit in seamlessly with the inspiration photos. After the creation of your brand is complete, your moodboard will help you communicate the look and feel of your business. Words we used for this moodboard for @bakinguptreble were: creative, genuine and vibrant. I want to know - do you have a moodboard for your brand? Does it help you create a cohesive look across all platforms of your business? http://ift.tt/2xPRyZv See more

Dear entrepreneur, Don’t be afraid of stepping forward for fear of what others think of you. Your creative journey is beautiful. Your story won’t be like hers, and that’s perfectly okay. Your story and your business are what you make it. You are not defined by what others think of you. Yesterday I shared a part of my creative journey with you. One thing that held me back was the crippling fear of failure, and looking like an imposter. I struggled with my outward image in many... aspects of my life. As soon as I realized that each one of us has unique and beautiful gifts and talents to bring to the table, something changed. I stopped worrying about competition and instead celebrated community. I was able to readjust my perspective and started focusing on my own journey without looking to others for approval. On that note, I will leave you with this quote from Brené Brown: Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be and embrace who you are. . That's enough about me. I want to hear about you - is there something holding you back from continuing your journey? http://ift.tt/2woi1hv See more

Happy Tuesday, everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve shown my face around here. I’m Rebecca, the designer and illustrator behind Hello Harmony Studio. I talk and post a lot of encouragement for entrepreneurs. I know what it’s like to be in the middle of it all. I am not perfect - my posts are just as much for me as they are for you, and I hope you find them valuable. I wanted to share a little bit of my story with you today: ... I opened up an Etsy shop while I was in University. Its purpose was to be a creative outlet to share my love of photography and design. I didn’t have a direction or a focus, so I did everything. I did things that I thought I was just supposed to do, being a photographer and designer. I followed trends. I yearned to be like other, successful entrepreneurs and Etsy sellers but my heart wasn’t fully in what I was doing. Trust me, there were many days where I stared blankly at my computer screen, wondering what I was doing with my life. I felt purposeless. When I was introduced to the Rising Tide Society, it changed everything. I found a community of incredibly talented entrepreneurs who could relate to my story, but even more so, I found purpose and direction in my creative life. I realized there was a need for something I loved doing, so I jumped in head first with everything I had. I started working one on one with local business owners. We would talk about their business and I would create a logo for them that aligned with their voice and their values. I finally felt like my work had meaning and value. So thank you for reading this. And thank you for the support and love along the way. I've been truly blessed to work with such incredible businesses through the years. That’s a small snippet of my story for today. How about you? Was there a moment you realized the purpose for your business? I would love to know. Photo by Emily Jean Photography http://ift.tt/2vGaMiU

Dear entrepreneur, I see you hustling. I see the cold mug of coffee next to your desk as you scramble to reply to emails, create purposeful content and meet client deadlines. I see the passion in your work. ... Entrepreneurship is full of struggles, but sadly, they aren’t part of the romanticized view of the ‘hustle’ we see today on social media. Instagram feeds have become a place to show off and market our businesses by showing only the best sides of our selves and the tidiest corners of our offices. Let me tell you something: you don’t have to do it all. Slow down. Take time for yourself. Enjoy the process. Focus on what you love doing. Don’t get too busy trying to make a living that you forget to live your own life. Sometimes it helps to reach out and ask for help. Many of my clients reached out to me after failing to create their own logo. Having an outside and professional perspective on your brand is invaluable. You don't have to do it all yourself. Are you tired of doing everything yourself? Do you need a business bestie for your brand’s visual identity? Send me a DM and let me know! http://ift.tt/2wMfCjq

She decided to take her passion for creating and crafting to the next level, so she opened a business. She decided to create her own logo, piecing together fonts and graphics, but when it didn't pull at her heart string. It was an okay job, but she wasn’t sure what it communicated about her business. She felt unprofessional and insecure as a business owner. It was glaringly obvious that the visual identity of her business was incohesive. Branding is so much more than a fresh logo and a collection of pretty visuals. It's about who you are and your "why." Your brand reflects your values, your talents and your unique voice. You are one of a kind and your business deserves a one-of-a-kind visual identity. Did you DIY your logo? Are you curious about what it says about your business? Send me a DM and let’s chat! http://ift.tt/2vvyWMW

To the entrepreneur who craves success, this is for you. Stop comparing yourself to other entrepreneurs. It's too easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing that you may lose sight of your own successes, whether big or small. Business growth looks different for everyone. Every business has struggles that you can't see. Over the weekend I heard this phrase, and I knew I had to share it with you: "It's not about being better than anyone else. It's about being your best." Remember that we're not in a race or a competition. Build a business that is as unique as your incredible talents. Find happiness where you are. I want to know How do you define success? http://ift.tt/2wtK3dm

Dear entrepreneur, I don’t just want you to have a beautiful logo. I want you to have a an entire visual identity that is filled with purpose. Your brand tells your story, your values, your why and positions you as a professional to your customers on the very first impression. First impressions are so incredibly important while marketing your business online and when your brand has a cohesive look, it develops trust in your clients. So how does this work? Tell me about your... business. I want to hear your dreams, your values, your favourite clients and projects, what you love most about what you do and where you see your business in the next 2-5 years. Together, we sort through all of the thoughts swirling around you head and make connections, determine your brand focus. We bring all of the elements of your business together to form a visual identity that is filled with purpose and an extension of your business. Send me a DM if you’d like to connect and talk about purpose in business branding. I want to know what you feel is your purpose (maybe you don’t have one, that’s okay too) and let’s talk about how you can infuse that into your visual identity. Don’t be shy! http://ift.tt/2uUmGWF See more

To the entrepreneur who feels like she is all alone I see you. Owning and running a creative business is not easy. There are days where you feel over-the-moon ecstaticic to do what you love every day, and then there are days where it seems like everything is crashing down around you and it makes you question why you started this business in the first place. I see you because I am you. As my business has gone through changes and growing pains over the years, I’m so grateful ...for the community I have in @risingtidesociety. Running a business can be stressful and it's not easy to go through it alone. I consider my Barrie group to be a second home and have made so many valuable friendships over the year and a bit I have been a part of the Rising Tide Society. I couldn't be happier to know these amazing business owners! #WeAreTheCreativeEconomy http://ift.tt/2wbsajh See more

Light was her muse and photography was her medium. She received a hand-me-down camera and started shooting every day. After a few years of being inspired by other photographers, techniques and trends, her style had evolved. It evolved into something totally unique and instantly recognizable as her own. But her logo didn't reflect that. Her visual identity was outdated and far too 'trendy' - she has created it back when she was following the crowd and it blended in. Her logo n...o longer reflected the quality and the uniqueness of the work she provided. I truly believe that each and every creative entrepreneur has a unique set of skills and talents to offer their clients. Your logo, brand and entire visual identity should speak to that. Your business deserves a custom, authentic and original brand because you are one of a kind. Has your style of work outgrown your logo? Does your logo look too similar to so many you've already seen before? Send me a DM and I will tell you the beauty I see in your work in three keywords. . Photo taken in Italy . . . . . #creativehappylife #RTSBarrie #girlboss #barriedesigner #designspiration #creativepreneur #risingtidesociety #communityovercompetition #womeninbusiness #designer #savvybusinessowners #findyourflock #inspiredwomen #creativeprocess #liveintentionally #purposeoverperfection #heartinthehustle #designwithpurpose #branding101 #visualidentity #visualidentitydesign #brandingstudio #photographerlogo http://ift.tt/2vCOdwX See more

Integrity. Empathy. Trust. Those aren’t words you would typically pair with the words sales, but with Heidi, they work together perfectly. Heidi has built her business on the idea that sales don’t always have to be gross. Sales that are authentic, built on relationships, and best of all, feel natural. Heidi came to me needing a logo and visual identity that reflected her values and positioned her as a sales coach who is relational, approachable and professional without bein...g cold and corporate. I loved going though the process of creating an original logo with Heidi. The end result is a logo that is authentic, warm, inviting and approachable. If you’re a creative business owner like me, you will thoroughly enjoy @heidilistening’s insta feed and reading the little golden sales nuggets she posts! . . . . . . #creativehappylife #RTSBarrie #girlboss #thehappynow #barriedesigner #designspiration #creativepreneur #makersgonnamake #risingtidesociety #communityovercompetition #womeninbusiness #designer #savvybusinessowners #findyourflock #inspiredwomen #creativeprocess #liveintentionally #purposeoverperfection #heartinthehustle #designwithpurpose #brandingstudio #brandidentity #visualidentitydesign #visualidentity #logodesignlove #salescoach http://ift.tt/2vM9aIg See more

Have you ever looked at another entrepreneur’s work and thought to yourself, Wow, I love their style! I wish I could be more like them. Yeah, me too. Let me tell you something. Someone, somewhere thinks the same thing when they look at your work. It’s all too easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing that we lose sight of the things that make us so unique and talented in our own right. You were made to be uniquely you and your work is in a league of its own. Your... work is as individual as your fingerprint. I want you to have a visual identity that shows you as an individual. A visual identity that showcases your incredible talent and aligns with your values. A visual identity that is uniquely you, and perfectly suited to your work. Do you crave a visual identity for your business that fits you perfectly? Fill out my mini branding questionnaire (through the link in my profile) and hit ‘send’ when you’re done! . . . . . . #creativehappylife #RTSBarrie #thehappynow #designspiration #creativepreneur #risingtidesociety #communityovercompetition #womeninbusiness #brandingstudio #savvybusinessowners #findyourflock #inspiredwomen #creativeprocess #liveintentionally #purposeoverperfection #heartinthehustle #designwithpurpose #visualidentity #visualidentitydesign #branding101 #inspirationfound #creativityfound http://ift.tt/2ftILbM See more

She told me she was nervous to reach out to a designer. She didn’t quite know what she wanted for her brand, but all she knew was she needed a change. Her photography business had undergone some changes and she had a vision of where she wanted it to go, but she wasn’t sure how her logo would fit into the new look and feel. That’s totally okay. You don’t know what you want your brand to look like. You just have to know what you want it to feel like. You don’t ned to know the a...nswers to all the questions. That’s what you designer is for. The questionnaire will help you sort through the thoughts swirling in your head and get to the core values of your business and some keywords that evoke that. After that’s done, we will create the mood board and colour palette which aligns with those keywords and emotions of your brand. The mood board will set the tone for the logo concepts and everything that follows. Having an outside, professional perspective can be so valuable to help you communicate the feel of your business in a visual way. If you are feeling lost trying to communicate the feel of your business and style to your customers, send me a DM. What are you having trouble communicating to your clients? . . . . . . #creativehappylife #RTSBarrie #thehappynow #barriedesigner #designspiration #creativepreneur #makersgonnamake #risingtidesociety #communityovercompetition #womeninbusiness #designer #savvybusinessowners #findyourflock #inspiredwomen #creativeprocess #liveintentionally #purposeoverperfection #heartinthehustle #designwithpurpose #moodboard #brandboard #brandidentity #brandingstudio #branding101 #inspirationfound http://ift.tt/2ulMR8x See more

Dear entrepreneur, you are one of a kind. Not one person on this earth is like you. Don’t get discouraged that you are one of hundreds or even thousands of other photographers, bakers, coaches, writers or artists. What you do can be imitated, but never duplicated, because you are one of a kind. Your uniqueness is translated into everything you do, including your business. Because of your fresh perspective, incredible talent and collection of experiences, the work you bring in...to the world is unlike anything else. It is like your fingerprint - unique to you and you alone. I truly believe that each and every entrepreneur has a unique set of skills and talents to offer their clients. Your logo, brand and entire visual identity should speak to that. Your business deserves a custom, authentic and original brand because YOU are one of a kind. Do you feel like your current logo is one of a kind and authentic? What do you feel when you look at your logo? Send me a DM and let me know! Photo taken in Iceland . . . . . . #creativehappylife #RTSBarrie #girlboss #thehappynow #barriedesigner #designspiration #creativepreneur #makersgonnamake #risingtidesociety #communityovercompetition #womeninbusiness #designer #savvybusinessowners #findyourflock #inspiredwomen #creativeprocess #liveintentionally #purposeoverperfection #heartinthehustle #designwithpurpose #creativeentrepreneur #creativityfound #inspirationfound #inspiredesign http://ift.tt/2urxlXR See more

You already have a brand. You have incredible talent, a unique voice and values that drive your business. But let me ask you one thing do you have a visual identity that reflects those amazing things you’ve been doing in your business? What I mean by a visual identity is that every visual part of your business is consistent with your brand and reinforces your values. Whether your brand is colourful, bright and fun or moody, dark and romantic, your clients should be able to ...see and feel that in not only your portfolio, but your logo, business cards, social media feeds, conversations and website. When your visual identity is consistent with your brand and who you are, it creates trust and professionalism. Do you feel like you have a visual identity that speaks to your brand? Send me a DM and tell me 3 keywords you use to describe your work. I will look at your feed and tell you what I see. For free! . . . . . . #creativehappylife #RTSBarrie #girlboss #designerlife #thehappynow #barriedesigner #designspiration #creativepreneur #makersgonnamake #risingtidesociety #communityovercompetition #womeninbusiness #designer #savvybusinessowners #findyourflock #inspiredwomen #creativeprocess #liveintentionally #purposeoverperfection #heartinthehustle #designwithpurpose #workinprogress #illustration #sketchbook http://ift.tt/2u0pNvV See more