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Passion project...side hustle… Call it what you want...there comes a time when you want (you need!) to do something more fulfilling with your days than working for someone else. At Fresh Leaf Creative I work with career changers who are tired of working for someone else, and who want to channel their interests, experience and passions into a business that's centred around what they love. When you're setting up in business, one of the first things you'll think about is getting a website sorted so that you can build your online visibility and give your business a sense of credibility. But in my experience, many female founders put it off... They might have their website build on their to-do list for months or even years before finally taking action to bring it to life... Why do so many people put off their website build? The most common reasons that people put off their website build are (in my experience): "I'm unsure of where to get started with building a website" "I get overwhelmed about the tech side of things" "I don't have the time to invest"(if you're DIY'ing your website) "I don't have the budget to invest"(if you're outsourcing your build). Plus..deep down, you're avoiding putting yourself out there with your new business (ladies, this mindset one is a biggie) And I get it, because if you've never built a website before how can you be expected to know what to do? It's easy to see why it can feel so blooming hard and so it's very easy to procrastinate. But wait, your competitors are delighted about your lack of a website... The problem is, if you don't have a website you're leaving potential leads on the table. Leads that would help you grow your business. Leads that the competition will be very happy to scoop up - boo! At a time when we’re digitally dominated and reliant on social media and the internet for so much of our decision making, not having a website can make the difference between your business taking off or not. If you get a website of some form in place from the get go, then you'll be giving your business a fighting chance. Here's why: Why a website is important even if you're only just starting up in business Your website will lend you credibility, trust and professionalism. It provides a platform to gather email addresses. It's your very own marketing real estate that no one can take away from you. It allows you start to rank for local search results. It means you can leverage the power of Google Maps for your business. You will start to build your site authority. You can start to share your brand values and unique point of view by adding a blog. It reduces your reliance on social media. It allows you to reach new audiences. It works hard for your business 24-hours a day. For all of the above reasons, if you're setting up in business then my advice is to not to put off your website build for too long. The sooner the better. It doesn't have to be complicated but you will be able to grow quicker, attract organic leads and reach a wider audience once you have a website in place. In particular, your email list is one of the most important assets in your marketing arsenal, and the sooner you start list building the better. How to get started with building your first website? * Keep it as simple as you need it to be You certainly don't NEED a website with all the bells and whistles from the off (although of course it is nice), but as a minimum a single-page scrolling website which explains clearly what you do and allows people to subscribe and contact you is essential. If you can start to gather email addresses with some form of lead magnet then even better. * Start before you're ready Don't let the absence of branding / photography prevent you from getting started with creating your website / landing page. In an ideal world, we'd all have unlimited budget to spend on brand development and website design, but in reality many people need their businesses to start making money before it can be reinvested. It's a bit chicken and egg. Starting before you are ready may involve relying on template fonts initially for your logo (just make sure what you choose is sympathetic to the message you are trying to communicate and will appeal to your target audience). It may also involve using some simple stock photography that portrays your aesthetic. Stay tuned for advice on where to find the best stock photography for your brand. * Choose a website platform that you find easy to use Your website shouldn't be static and it needs to evolve with your business. This is why finding a platform that doesn't bewilder you is absolutely critical so that you're not put off from making updates to your site. After many years of 'experimenting' with Wordpress (they were very sad times), my website builder of choice is Wix which I love for design flexibility, ease of use and search engine optimisation. Wix is what I recommend to small business owners and it's what I use when building websites for my clients. There are lots of options when it comes to website builders however, and the best choice for you will differ based on your business requirements and technical experience. If you want to find out whether Wix is the right platform builder for you I have a free guide that will help to clear up your confusion, along with some helpful advice on what to think about when choosing and securing your domain. >>Next up : Avoiding the common DIY website bloopers Website builders such as Wix and Squarespace have made it even easier than ever to build a website for yourself. But whether you're creating a simple landing page for your business or a more involved 4-page site, I know that you'll want to get it done but also get it right. And if you're not a website designer then the chances are that you don't know what you don't know...and it can be easy to make some simple website bloopers when creating your first site which are easy to avoid if you know. If you're wondering when's the right time to create your first website or how to get started with social media or building a cohesive visual brand, then stick with me. I believe that we should all be able to create fulfilling work doing what we love and I'll be sharing the very best ways of gaining traction for your brand so you can do just that. If you're a career changer with a seed of an idea that you want to nurture, then I'd love to help illuminate your path - sign up for my newsletter to join the community. About Lucy: I'm a brand designer, photographer and Wix website specialist based in Dorset. I help female business owners and career changers build their brand and online presence through photography and web, brand & human design, so that they can turn their passions into the business they dream of. Work with me | Book a Human Design Reading | Sign up to my email list to join my inner circle and for help on creating impact in your brand.

It's time to brand your business from the Inside-out I talk a lot about how your brand is an extension of you. And to be able to create a brand from the inside-out, we first need to understand who we are on the inside. This is something I’ve recognised for some time, but with no formal coaching qualification, I've had no way of going into great depth with my clients on this…until now. I’m excited to announce that I am now offering Human Design chart unpacks for you and your family. What is Human Design? You may be familiar with HD already, but if you’re new to it you can think of it as a cross between Myers-Briggs and Astrology. But WAAAYYYYYY more in-depth. Human Design provides you with a unique energetic blueprint (based on your time, date and place of birth) and a roadmap for how to live in alignment with your true self. You know you’re unique, but HD shows you exactly HOW you are unique, so that you can finally show up in life and business in a way that is authentic and true for you. Why am I offering Human Design as part of my Branding Offer? In business, you don't get very far if you ignore the cog at the very centre of the wheel - YOU. And because life is so busy and we can get stuck on autopilot, sometimes we need someone else to shine a light on both our unique gifts but also on where we may be out of alignment, so that we can truly step into our power. In finding Human Design, I have found a deep sense of comfort from knowing WHO I AM. It’s something I’m really passionate about which is why I’ve now started my HD training. Now I want to help you to discover your unique Human Design so that you can integrate it into your life and business and create more flow and ease. Book your Human Design reading with me Would you like to gain a deeper understanding of who you are and what you’re here on this planet to do? Why not let me be your guide. If you’re curious about Human Design and would like to book an introductory chart reading with me, simply head on over to book your session. #humandesign #humandesignchartreadings #humandesignuk #humandesignreading #humandesigntypes #humandesignforbusiness About Lucy: I'm a brand designer, photographer and Wix website specialist based in Dorset. I help female business owners and career changers build their brand and online presence through photography and web, brand & human design, so that they can turn their passions into the business they dream of. Work with me | Book a Human Design Reading | Sign up to my email list to join my inner circle and for help on creating impact in your brand.

Pinterest is a rich source of inspiration and the perfect place to gather your ideas for your brand, but I do get a lot of questions about HOW exactly to approach this exercise. Even though we're generally au fait with using Pinterest for wedding planning, kitchen refurbs, deciding on our next haircut or researching veganuary recipes, it seems we're less confident with using it to develop a visual style for our brand. If we're working together on your brand identity, a beautiful new Wix website or your brand photography, then it's one of the first places I'll send you as part of your branding homework. As a designer, Pinterest is how I see what's going on in your head. It's how I can tap directly into your visual influences to be able to translate your ideas from vision to reality. Here's how to get those creative juices flowing! How to create a brand vision board on Pinterest Create a secret board on Pinterest First up, get yourself an account for your brand if you haven't already got one because Pinterest is a brilliant place to market your business. Then create a branding board but make it secret so that you can pin with WILD ABANDON. If we’re working together then I’ll ask that you add me so I can see how you’re getting on - my Pinterest handle is @freshleafcreative. Call it something sensible like Your Brand Name | Brand Vision so that you can always find it to tweak and refine. Start to pin inspirations to your board Initially, I’d encourage you to start to pin anything and everything that you’re drawn to - Don’t hold back at this stage! Trust your intuitiion on this. You may not know what it is about the image that you’re attracted to, but you have to start somewhere and even though you may think that it looks like a random collection of pins with no cohesion, when we look at the board at a high level there will be several very distinct themes running through your Pins. This is where I can step in to help identify and articulate what these themes are. What should you Pin? If you’re stuck with where to start, good things to search for are colour palettes, fonts, logos, textures and shapes. For example, if you know that are called to and love the colour Teal, start generally with 'teal colour palettes'. But once you get into the flow you can get much more specific - think ‘tropic brights’ versus ‘muted desert tones’ - both will give very different results. Go down the rabbit hole to explore your inspirations fully When you find something you particularly like, click into the Pin itself and scroll down to the 'More Like This' section – you’ll see that Pinterest has helpfully selected lots of other images that are similar to your chosen Pin. It’s a brilliant feature and really helps to focus your inspirations. Once you’ve exhausted everything in there you can back up and start again. Rinse and repeat. Upload any personal photos to your board Don't forget that you don't just need to rely on other peoples pins for this exercise - you can also create your own! What inspires you in your home? Have you got a sofa or a book on the shelf that is THE perfect colour of pink for you? Is there a font in a magazine that gives you all of the vibes? Do you have a special place or item in your home that exactly encapsulates the feeling that you want to create? Take a look around and see what calls to you, because we do tend to fill our spaces with things that we love and this can give us clues for our brand. Find these clues, then take a photo and create a Pin on your board. A note on you versus your brand It’s ok to separate the two. But in my experience - and to call in the most flow and ease in your business - you would do well to create a brand that is built from the inside-out. One that one that embodies your personal values and purpose. By means of an example, if you are a loud, highly active, vibrant character, then creating a brand that exudes peace, serenity and calmness, might not be the best match. You'll find it hard and exhausting to channel this vibe authentically in your communications if you're constantly fighting against your true nature. Bring your signature energy to your brand - it's your main area of differentiation from your competition and embracing this will allow you to set yourself apart. When to stop adding to your Pinterest board When you look at your overarching board, it should excite and inspire you. You might not know how it will be further refined, and that's ok at this stage. Ask yourself if it is a good reflection of what you want to encapsulate in your brand, or is something missing? How many Pins are enough? This will differ for everyone. If you have great clarity over your brand inspirations then you might be able to nail it with 20-30, but I find that most clients tend to pin at least 75 inspirations. It’s worth mentioning that some pins may now look out of place when you look at everything together – especially the ones at the beginning of your journey, so feel free to remove these. If we're working together however, then please leave them there so we can have the discussion - it's useful for me to see how your thinking has evolved as you've pinned. Refining your moodboard If we're not working together, the next part in the process for you is to refine your inspirations into approx 10-15 pins which truly embody the brand that you want to create. You'll then want to save these images to your desktop and head on over to Canva to create your brand vision board. From there you can start to develop your colour palette. If we are working together however, then all of this leads to the first stage in my process, which is to meet with you to talk through all of the gorgeousness on your board! I LOVE this part! Together we’ll unpick what it is about the images that you’re drawn to and identify your common themes. This is always best over coffee at an inspiring location but can be done remotely if distance doesn’t allow. That's all for this post, I hope this has got your creative juices flowing! If you’re interested in kick starting your brand this year then why not have a look around my website to find out more about what I do. You can also subscribe to my newly refreshed mailing list so I can continue to help you in your brand building endeavours with actionable advice and quick wins for your business and marketing efforts! With heart Lucy About Lucy: I'm a brand designer, photographer and Wix website designer based in the UK. I help wellness & creative businesses build their brand and online presence through photography and web, brand & human design, so that they can create positive ripples in the world. Work with me | Book a Human Design Reading | Sign up to my email list to join my inner circle and for help on creating impact in your brand.

There are so many photographers encouraging you to "be visible in your business" and to "be the face of your brand" so that you can "build your know like and trust factor", that it can be hard to know's going to be the right person for you. Finding the right photographer is pretty critical when you are brand building because as highly visual beings, photography plays a significant role in attracting and calling in the right people. How to find a personal brand photographer? 1) Decide what you want from your brand photographer Before you start firing off emails, consider how you want to partner with your photographer. Is this a one off or do you want a trusted partner to build a relationship with over time? Do you have a strong idea of your brand aesthetic or need help translating your inspirations into your shoot? As a brand designer as well as a photographer, this last one is my area of specialism and something that my clients really value - I like to think I offer a unique perspective on the best locations and styling to communicate your brand essence. 2) Start with your brand Before you even start looking for a photographer to work with, you should consider your brand essence and the look and feel of your brand. This is the most important thing you can do for yourself. I work with my clients on brand discovery before we even start to talk about locations, clothes and accessories. I'd encourage you to create a Pinterest board to hone your brand style before finding someone who suits that style. 3) Consider what photographic style best reflects your brand We brand photographers all use the same equipment and lenses, but our shooting and editing style is a very personal thing and this is what makes the results vary hugely from photographer to photographer. It's important to consider which style will complement the look and feel of your brand best, because otherwise it will be fighting with your message rather than amplifying. My signature edit is a light, bright & airy look which works well with people who are looking to create vitality, freshness and optimism in their brand (you can take a look at my personal brand portfolio here). I like my whites to be whites and colours to pop! Popular photography editing styles right now include: Light & Airy Dark & Moody Earthy & Muted Classic Editorial grunge 4) Research brand photographers in your county Start on Google to research your options and head on over to Instagram to get a quick visual look at a photographers personal branding portfolio. If you were looking to find me for instance, you'd want to be Googling keywords such as 'branding photographer Dorset' and 'personal brand photography Dorset'. These search terms will bring back lots of leads to explore. Be guided by your intuition. Contact the photographers that align to your brand values and style, have experience in personal branding and that you know will do an amazing job of translating your brand vision into the images that will connect with your ideal audience. 5) Don't base your decision on price alone A photographer might be dominating in a local area or industry niche because they are the cheapest option...but that isn't a reason to book with them in itself. Consider instead how you can stand out from the crowd by working with someone else, so that you can create your own individual style. 6) Get to know your photographer before the shoot It's really important to get to know photographer before your shoot to ensure you are a good fit, to share ideas and inspirations for the images and to discuss set-ups and locations. The right photographer will be interested in your brand and take time to understand your business and vision rather than just applying a 'one size fits all' approach to your shoot. Check that you are feeling seen, heard and understood. 7) Trust your intuition when deciding You should feel comfortable with your photographer and confident that they are qualified to do the best possible job for you. You might not feel overjoyed at the prospect of having your photograph taken so make sure that you speak to your brand photographer about any reservations you may have in advance. They should quickly be able to put your mind at rest and allay any fears. I promise you that even the most camera shy of my clients has really enjoyed our session together! I myself am not great in front of the camera...but I faced my fears just recently and it was a great experience. If you're feeling nervous about the prospect, I'd love to chat Here's one just to prove I did it! :) I hope this little article sparks some ideas and helps you to find for the right brand photographer to work with. If you're considering a personal branding shoot and think we could be a good fit for, I'd love to hear from you via my contact form. You can also feel free to take a look at my portfolio or find out more about my personal brand photography options. I am based in Dorset, but for the right clients I cover the South West, Hampshire, Surrey and SW London. About Lucy: I'm a brand designer, photographer and Wix website designer based in Dorset. I help female business owners and career changers build their brand and online presence through photography and web, brand & human design, so that they can turn their passions into the business they dream of. Work with me | Book a Human Design Reading | Sign up to my email list to join my inner circle and for help on creating impact in your brand.

Autumn. Season of new beginnings - a fresh new term and some much needed routine. But it also feels a bit ominous this year, doesn’t it? Against the economic, political and environmental backdrop. I still have the same joy for the season, but with the end of the Summer comes so much uncertainty for how the next few months will pan out. It’s ok to be human and feel it, we're not robots So many business owners and freelancers I’ve spoken with have said that this year has been the hardest emotionally and financially since Covid, and I’d agree with that sentiment. Our reserves were never fully replenished following Covid so it's easy to understand if your tank (energetically, emotionally or financially) could do with a pit stop. I’m sure within months we’ll be sharing tips on batch cooking, thermal layers, 'cooking once and eating twice' and arranging co-working at local hubs to save on heating...and of course our communities, as we did with Covid, will come together to help those most in need. But until then it feels as if the unknown is looming. Which might make you feel a bit nervous about how your business will fair on these uncharted waters! If you're starting your business from scratch in uncertain times. If you're getting cold feet about your venture, it's easy to understand why. But for those setting up your business anew, know that there is no ideal time. our ducks will never be perfectly aligned, and whilst it might sound exciting to quit the day job and go all-in to follow your dreams, building your business while you're still working the day job is actually a brilliant way to do it. Apart from anything it allows you to test the waters on your idea with a safety net in place and you'll have the funds to invest in your branding foundations. It's what I did when I left John Lewis and set up my business 4 years ago. If you're up and running in your business and looking to build your online presence If you're looking to build out your online presence to get more eyes on your business, then now is the time to get your social media and website in as good a place as it can be. People need to see you multiple times before they form an association and reach out to work with you, so there can be a 2-3 month lag between your activity and when people actually contact you - so start sooner rather than later. I want to help you navigate the waters... Website and branding workshops to get you primed for whatever is coming I've been thinking how I can help you to be in a better position for whatever is coming our way over the next year. And obviously my thoughts turned to boosting your online presence via your website, blog, socials and email list. So I will be offering a series of workshops to help boost your online presence so that you can better weather whatever the world is going to throw at us. Knowing the pitfalls to avoid when setting up your website for the first time Getting started with creating a visual style for Instagram Nailing your message so you know what to say to your audience Adding a blog and knowing what to write about Creating a lead magnet and setting up your email nurture sequence Understanding how to use Canva / Wix / Mailerlite to grow your brand Improving your search engine optimisation Optimising your Google Business Profile And lots more... So I need your help! Please share your thoughts... What do you struggle with in terms of your online presence? I value your opinion and want to make these sessions as useful as possible, so I would absolutely love to hear what's on your mind - what do you struggle with in terms of your brand? What do you wish you could nail? What feels harder than it maybe should? This could be related to your brand visuals, marketing strategy, website, social media or overarching messaging (or something else completely). Please share your thoughts by spending a few minutes to fill out my questionnaire. I will be so eternally grateful to you and you will be directly shaping the development of the workshops whilst helping so many others at the same time. Collaboration opportunities I would love to bring in other experts from my network to cover topics such as Facebook Ads, Google Ads and Linked In, where I have less experience. And also to touch upon topics such as self care and wellbeing (your business is a reflection of what is going on inside you, after all!) If you're an expert that feels called to share some knowledge with a group of likeminded women about any aspect of running a business and looking after yourself, then please get in touch to explore a future collaboration. I want to keep these workshops small and intimate to deliver as much value as possible and also give you the chance to network with some fellow female founders (I am not excluding anyone who identifies otherwise, but we will be channelling lots of feminine energy so please be down with that) How to find out about upcoming branding and website workshops In the first instance, please sign up for my email list to hear about dates. Just hit the button below when you're ready, but not before you've given me your thoughts above! :) Have a beautiful day, Lucy About Lucy: I'm a brand designer, photographer and Wix website specialist based in Dorset. I help female business owners and career changers build their brand and online presence through photography and web, brand & human design, so that they can turn their passions into the business they dream of. Work with me | Book a Human Design Reading | Sign up to my email list to join my inner circle and for help on creating impact in your brand.

I completely get it - when the sun is shining and the kids are off of school it can be so hard to stay on track with being visible on social media. But when so many people are ducking out, it’s actually a great time to be visible! If you’re struggling to find content to post this summer then maybe a mini photoshoot could be just the thing to give your online visibility a bit of a boost. Purbeck mini personal branding photography shoots Do you live in Purbeck and is 'becoming more visible in your business' on your to-do list? Or maybe you're visiting Purbeck on holiday over the next couple of months? Now it might not come top on the list of 'things to do in Purbeck'...but why not combine your stay with a shoot and do something special for yourself or your business. What's a mini shoot and why would you do it? They are shorter than full personal branding sessions and are a fantastic way to refresh your brand imagery and create content for your website and social media. Mini shoots are great all year around, and many of my clients like to do a seasonal refresh each and every year, but for me Purbeck has a very special vibe in the late summer and Autumn, making it a great time for a mini shoot, If you hate the idea of having a personal branding shoot... I completely understand. Many of us aren't used to seeing photographs of us that we actually 'like', so opting to be photographed out of choice might feel like an alien concept to some of us. But we need to find a way to test the water if online visibility is part of the game plan when it comes to growing our business. Mini branding shoots are a brilliant way to experience being in front of the camera for the first which is great if you’re feeling a little anxious about being photographed, but want to get started with building your personal brand. Let me tell you now that there is not one woman that I've worked with that hasn't had at least some kind of apprehension about being photographed. It's completely natural. But I'm here to reassure you and help you feel amazing, and I promise that you'll actually really enjoy the experience! The start of your personal branding journey You don't have to do all of this yourself and it's ok to ask for help sometimes and I'm here to support you as you become more visible in your business. Yes, iPhone photos are amazing, but a branding shoot lends professionalism and sends a message that you’re serious about your business. It means we can get to know one another and it's a perfect lead in to a deeper more involved shoot for your business should you wish to develop your brand further. How to book your photoshoot Ready to set aside any fears you have about being photographed and become more visible in your business? I'd love to help. We have so many beautiful locations to choose from here in Purbeck so we can be sure to find the perfect backdrop for your images - forest, beach, idyllic villages, fields, riverside - so much variety all within easy reach. Here are a few shots from recent shoots in Corfe and Studland to whet your appetite. You can get in touch if you’d like more info about a mini shoot or a full personal branding session, either by DM or via email at lucy@freshleafcreative.co.uk. Much love, Lucy

I hope you enjoyed 'Everything is Figuroutable' by Marie Forleo if you were reading along last month - I've loved sharing our thoughts in our small but perfectly formed FB group. Come and join in if you haven't already :) There is literally no pressure - you can dip in and out as you fancy and read as much or as little as you want. Why not join the group and see where it takes you? Onwards for Feb from one inspiring female voice to another... So many of you mentioned the Happy Place podcast as your favourite listen, that we couldn't not have Fearne's new book as the Feb book club #BOTM. It's currently in the top ten (in the UK, anyway) so should be very easy to pick up a copy along with your groceries, I grabbed a copy yesterday (even the teeny Sainsbury in Wareham had it in stock). Or...if you don't have time to read you can always download the Audiobook and turn cleaning the bathroom or doing the ironing into pleasure rather than a chore! (Seriously a gamechanger - if you don't do this already, you have to try it) Who's up for this one then..!? I hope many of you will read along and share your thoughts and insights Happy Reading! Lucy xx

If you've joined the bookclub group on Facebook, thank you so much for coming to keep me company - I am truly grateful for you! I'm really looking forward to exploring some amazing books and podcasts together this year. I recognise that Facebook isn't everyone's favourite flavour (me included! :) - so please feel free to dip in and out of the group as you can. Going forwards we'll vote on a selection of books in the group, but for this month I thought Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo would be a great place to start. I love Marie for her no-nonsense approach - she all about GOING FOR BIG DREAMS whilst GETTING PRACTICAL and CUTTING OUT THE BS/EXCUSES along the way. No fluff here. I think we could all do with a bit of Marie in our lives as we set our new intentions for 2022...Because intentions are all well and good but we need to take action and make behavioural changes if we're going to make our dreams a reality. Whoop! If you've read this one already, I'd love to know your thoughts. If you'd like to join the group, just hit the button below, complete the form and come and find us. It's completely free. Alternatively, if you've landed here and would like to find out more about my brand services for female business owners feel free to start HERE Have a beautiful weekend lovely! Lucy x #femalefoundersbookclub #bookclub #botm #femalebusinessownersunite

It can be lonely working for yourself, but it doesn't have to be! We all recognise that connecting with likeminded women who are on the same path of growing a business is crucial to staying inspired, motivated and grounded. Since I started Fresh Leaf a few years ago, I've taken so much inspiration from the amazing business and personal growth books & podcasts that I've poured over...many of which have only fallen upon the deaf ears of my husband. And the husband...let's face it...will never really get it! So this year I thought I’d set up a space to connect with other female business owners over inspirational books & podcasts. Somewhere to share our thoughts and recommendations with likeminded souls. This will take on a book club format with one new book a month, but it can evolve into whatever we want it to be. This will be a facebook group initially as sadly there don't seem to be many other good options, but I will be investigating this more. I hope that won't put you off. I’d love for you to come and join Have a beautiful day! Lucy x Alternatively, if you've landed here and would like to find out more about my photography, website design or brand design services, just click HERE

I can’t ignore the fact that that setting up business in 2020 is a completely different beast. Filled with uncertainty, yes, but also ripe with huge opportunity to follow your true path. Setting up business is exciting but can also be costly, and for many of you I know that a bespoke branding package might not be an option right now. ... and for some of you, it will be important might to LIVE your business for a while to let your brand evolve before undertaking a full rebrand. In the meantime though, you still need to look professional - therein lies the quandary! Pre-made designs are classic, beautiful branding concepts designed for affordability. They are versatile enough to lend themselves to many different business types and will be customised to carry your business name, details and preferred colour(s). Leading heavily with timeless font pairings, I’ve designed each of these with all of the love and attention of my bespoke branding, but as each will be sold more than once I can offer them at a great price. They'll also give you far more than just a primary logo - it's a whole kit ready to get you started. Want to learn more? Head on over to see the current Premade Concepts. Be sure to check back regularly as I'll be adding to these all of the time. Looking for a one of a kind design instead? My Brand Studio service may be a better fit. If you're unsure which would be the best fit feel free to contact me to discuss your branding requirements - I'd be delighted to hear from you. Sorted with you branding and need help with your brand photography instead..? Why not take a look at my personal brand photography portfolio or learn about my photography packages Lucy

I’m a HUGE believer that your website should be a living, breathing extension of yourself…and by that, I don’t just mean it’s somewhere to add a new blog post once in a while (sorry ladies) If you have the inclination, I’m über passionate that small business owners should be empowered to create and make regular changes to their website THEMSELVES, so that it becomes an evolving thing. Yes, this may mean refreshing gallery images and availability, but it also means feeling confident about making changes to existing structure, adding a page to showcase a new service, owning your look & feel and knowing how to tailor your SEO (search engine optimisation) to show up! Technology should not be a barrier that feels scary - it should be an enabler! It’s boring to be tied to a designer for all of that stuff…hanging around with a great idea…waiting for a gap in the designers schedule…waiting for someone else in your industry to have the same idea and act on it first. Eeek. Having control of your website means you can strike while the iron is hot, be reactive to opportunities as and when they arise and, ultimately…take ownership of steering the sails of your business. It’s why I love template building sites such as Wix & Squarespace. Where will you sail?! This next bit is controversial (but what is life without controversy? ha ha)... Here goes...most small service-based businesses don’t need a Wordpress website unless they're building something very technically advanced. I’m pretty tired of the attitude in the industry that 'Wordpress is king' and everything else plays second fiddle, because it’s exactly like choosing a car and what's right for one person is wrong for another. We all have different needs and requirements. My minimum requirements for my website are that: I can update my site and add new content and pages quickly I have complete creative control over what it looks like It ranks highly for my chosen key search terms It generates a constant flow of enquiries The process of making updates is fun, not stressful! For me, Wix ticks all of these boxes very nicely and in many cases knocks the ball out of the park. I had Wordpress for a different business years ago. Whilst it was ok on 3 & 4 for a time, having my hands tied in terms of structure, updates and look & feel meant I couldn't react quickly to changes in the industry, which eventually lead to a decline in SEO and enquiries. Now I know that Wordpress has moved on since then...but for me it left a bad taste in my mouth. It was a dealbreaker. So whilst the Wordpress designers will be rolling their eyes at all of this rather than opening them to the changing landscape, I’m liberated from the shackles and free to steer those sails anywhere I want. As a small business owner, THAT feels amazing. If you're interested, in another post I'll be giving you my run down on whether Wix or Squarespace could be right for you. Plus I'll also be writing a couple of myth busting posts on Wix and showing you a comparison of how my client's first page ranking improved dramatically within the space of 24 hours after making the switch from Wordpress to Wix (yes, just for all of you Wixsceptics out there). By the way, if you want me to do the same for your Wix website, you know where I am - Did you know that I offer a standalone SEO service? PS. It's worth saying that Wordpress is an amazingly powerful platform, especially for bloggers, and I am good friends with many brilliant WP designers! You know who you are and I love you to bits. Wordpress is the perfect fit for some businesses, but not all...so how about we just agree that the roads are a more colourful place with the variety of car makes and models on offer? Mwah.

Did you know that I offer complimentary brand discovery calls? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This is a completely no-strings-attached call to understand a little about your business and offer some tips on how to increase your visibility and online presence - and come out of lockdown stronger. ⠀⠀⠀⠀ We can touch upon your brand identity, social media, website and brand photography to look for the opportunities and low hanging fruit. What's to lose? At best you'll be armed with some new information, at worst you'll have made a new contact. I love chatting with like-minded people and hopefully one day we could even meet in person! Sometimes just talking and brainstorming with someone who understands what you're working on is enough to feel inspired and focused to take action! And you don't need to be based in Surrey - one good thing about lockdown is that I'm connecting with more and more people across the UK and further afield. These brand discovery sessions are ideal for creatives, artists, coaches, health & wellness professionals, bakers, beauty professionals, stylists and photographers (and indeed anyone with a service based business in their local area) ⠀⠀⠀ To book your 20 minute session, simply email me at lucy@freshleafcreative.co.uk or complete my contact form Longer, more thorough sessions are available at an hourly rate if you’d like to prefer a deep dive or to pick my brains on anything from choosing a web platform or getting started with understanding your brand aesthetic to practical photography techniques and styling/shooting for your brand. Lucy x