Boudoir branding - opinions appreciated

[Flashman]

It's long overdue but I've finally decided to completely separate my boudoir work from the rest. I've registered new domains and the website is under construction, I could do with some opinions on the branding though.

The designer's first logo idea is below in red... I can't decide whether the red is too aggressive or not so have quickly recoloured it pink to see if that works better. I'd really appreciate any first impressions, particularly from lady members... if you were looking for a boudoir studio, would it give the right feel? Is the pink better or should I stick with the bold red?

 

[Keith W]

My very first impression when I saw the logo was sex shop, massage parlour, porn & prostitutes

Doesn't do it for me, the logo or the name, sorry

 

[Flashman]

My very first impression when I saw the logo was sex shop, massage parlour, porn & prostitutes

Doesn't do it for me, the logo or the name, sorry

No don't apologise, I need honest opinions... I didn't design it so I can't be offended, but I do need to know what impression it gives... Thanks!

 

[AJQS]

Sorry, I get the distinct impression of a burlesque club. Perhaps a model looking a little less intense would help?

 

[Flashman]

Sorry, I get the distinct impression of a burlesque club. Perhaps a model looking a little less intense would help?

She is actually a burlesque performer! I hadn't asked them to use an image in the branding at all, they just pulled it out of my port... useful to hear your impression and a very good point, thanks.

 

[StephyB]

I much prefer the pink to the red, but a happier expression on the model pictured would lead me towards booking. Bluntly, while I'm sure that the intense expression looks amazing in the original image, it looks like she is a) being forced into something that she doesn't want to do or b) is glaring at the company name... neither option seems appealing to this female!

I apologise for being so blunt!

 

[Alastair]

It doesn't really get across that it's photography that you're selling. The most positive impression is that it might be lingerie. I suspect this might be one of the few occasions it becomes necessary to include the word "photography" or a close synonym within the branding message ("portraiture", etc.).

Perhaps add a sentance or two as a tagline? - something that gets across the right key words and emotions (intimate, feel good, passion, pampering) and avoids the negative (glamour, porn, sleazey).

It's probably the wrong image for that message - perhaps your designer doesn't understand the brief, or you didn't work out the right brief with them before starting.

 

[Flashman]

I much prefer the pink to the red, but a happier expression on the model pictured would lead me towards booking. Bluntly, while I'm sure that the intense expression looks amazing in the original image, it looks like she is a) being forced into something that she doesn't want to do or b) is glaring at the company name... neither option seems appealing to this female!

I apologise for being so blunt!

Thanks Steph, very valuable to get a woman's perspective, I really appreciate it. I'm going to ask them to go back to the drawing board leaving out the image altogether... maybe some curvy line art or something would be better.

 

[StephyB]

I actually think that an image would be a good inclusion, just maybe not that one. If you don't wind up using an image, as suggested by Alastair, a tag line or synonym of photography would be useful

FYI, I love the fonts used for the words on the banner.

 

[Flashman]

Y

It doesn't really get across that it's photography that you're selling. The most positive impression is that it might be lingerie. I suspect this might be one of the few occasions it becomes necessary to include the word "photography" or a close synonym within the branding message ("portraiture", etc.).

Perhaps add a sentance or two as a tagline? - something that gets across the right key words and emotions (intimate, feel good, passion, pampering) and avoids the negative (glamour, porn, sleazey).

Yeah, I hear what you're saying Alastair... although it will be obvious what I'm selling as soon as they hit the site and see the homepage for the first time. Adding the text is actually under debate at the moment, like they do HERE. We're chewing that over... good point thanks.

 

[Derek Rixon]

Defo sounds like a parlour or something on those lines, would never think of photography....sorry

 

[Flashman]

FYI, I love the fonts used for the words on the banner.

Ah now that's interesting Steph... my first impression was that I liked the fonts but thought the overall feel was, as you are all saying... too <AHEM> 'tarty'. So here are the fonts on their own, used as a starting point is it worth sticking with them?

By the way, I'm not bothered that it doesn't shout 'photography' or anything, that will be very clear in the context it is used.

 

[StephyB]

Looking at it like that, I like the script (and its a shame that a lot of people look at script style fonts and think umm 'tarty' imo lol). I'm great with giving a very decisive opinion when shown options, but I'm not creative really...

I like it though, and without the image it is certainly effective.

For me the immediate detraction from the original was the photo shown.

 

[Flashman]

Defo sounds like a parlour or something on those lines, would never think of photography....sorry

Yeah, thanks for the input Derek, you're quite right that as a standalone logo you wouldn't think photography. When it's put into context however, the association with photography will work... I'll make sure of that! Like the Mighty Aphrodite branding HERE. Take that logo on its own and you wouldn't have a clue!

 

[Alastair]

Are you only going to be using the logo on the website? - how it appears on other formats really ought to be considered sooner rather than later. For example business cards and brochures. The business card would definitely need additional context that the website may already have, but you've got the cocnsistency of the brand to consider (the website and business card need to share the logo and identity). Your designer is hopefully presenting you with how this would appear on a range of business formats and not just as a website banner. Because you're right, a website does have a lot of additional context information.

Without the image the pink font looks much better than it did with the image - and much less purple (I think the proximity of the purplish hue in the image was creating some eye-bleed into the font colour).

 

[Flashman]

Looking at it like that, I like the script (and its a shame that a lot of people look at script style fonts and think umm 'tarty' imo lol). I'm great with giving a very decisive opinion when shown options, but I'm not creative really...

I like it though, and without the image it is certainly effective.

For me the immediate detraction from the original was the photo shown.

Steph, that mirrors my own thoughts exactly

I like the mixed fonts as a starting point but I do think it needs something more... maybe just a simple line drawing like this:

Not sure, but I'll see what they come up with next anyways... Thanks again, I really appreciate it.

 

[Flashman]

Are you only going to be using the logo on the website? - how it appears on other formats really ought to be considered sooner rather than later. For example business cards and brochures. The business card would definitely need additional context that the website may already have, but you've got the cocnsistency of the brand to consider (the website and business card need to share the logo and identity). Your designer is hopefully presenting you with how this would appear on a range of business formats and not just as a website banner. Because you're right, a website does have a lot of additional context information.

Without the image the pink font looks much better than it did with the image - and much less purple (I think the proximity of the purplish hue in the image was creating some eye-bleed into the font colour).

You're absolutely right Alastair, it has to work with all media... I've got a great relationship with this agency (they send me a lot of commercial work too!) I'm sure the finished products will work well.