Your logo and brand colors aren't the first thing people connect with when they land on your website or social media. It's your face. Your energy. Your vibe.

And all of that should come through in your brand photos.

In this episode, I'm breaking down why brand photos are arguably the most important part of your visual brand and why most people are doing them completely backwards. If you've ever felt like your brand photos don't quite fit, or you're stuck recycling the same five images over and over, this episode is for you.

I'm walking you through exactly what you need to know before booking a brand photo shoot, including the biggest mistakes I see clients make. I'm also sharing what I'm doing differently for my own upcoming brand photo shoot, and how you can avoid the mistakes I made eight years ago.

If you're considering a brand photo shoot or if you already have photos that you're not using this episode will help you understand how to make your photos actually work for your brand.

👉 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why brand photos are more important than your logo, colors, or fonts
• The biggest mistakes business owners make when it comes to their brand photos
• How brand strategy informs everything from your outfit choices to your photo locations
• Why and how to show up authentically for your brand photoshoot
• The types and variety of photos you actually need
• How I'm planning my own brand photo shoot after 8 years
• The one question to ask yourself when it comes to deciding if you need new brand photos

🎧 Tune in for a practical, strategic breakdown of how to make your brand photos work harder for you—and why they're the missing piece in so many brands.

🔗 Links & Resources:

➡️ Follow me on Instagram @spechtand.co
➡️ Book Your Stand Out Brand Strategy Session (use code SFBPOD for $100 off)
➡️ Learn more about the Ultimate Brand Experience
➡️ Book A Brand Chat
➡️ Follow WorkPlay Branding on Instagram @workplaybranding

The Stand Out Brand™ Audit is an AI powered guided audit that shows you exactly what’s working, what’s not, and how to strengthen your brand using my proven Stand Out Brand™ System.

If you’ve been feeling like your brand needs a little love, but you’re not sure where to start, this tool will give you clear next steps to move your brand forward with purpose in 10mins or less!

Get started here!

Book Your Stand Out Brand Strategy Session Today!

In just 90mins you'll the clarity, tools, and plan you need to build a brand that can grow with your business. From your messaging and audience to voice and positioning, we'll turn the chaotic, jumbled, and half-baked thoughts in head into a polished brand strategy that finally makes sense.

Book Your Session Here
Promo Code: SFBPOD

After nearly a decade of designing brands, I don't think your visual identity is the most important part of your brand.

And I'm not the only one who thinks so.

In this episode, I'm sitting down with fellow brand designer Brannan Arnett of Hone Creative Studio why your logo, your colors, and your "aesthetic" aren't actually the magic ingredients to a successful brand.

We met on Threads over this shared unpopular opinion, and honestly? This conversation went exactly where I hoped it would: deep, honest, and full of the things brand designers talk about when we think no one's listening.

We're breaking down why strategy matters more than a pretty logo, what to do when you're tempted to rebrand out of desperation, and how to actually use your brand once you have it (because most designers don't teach you that part).

If you've ever felt paralyzed by your brand, convinced a new logo would fix everything, or wondered why some brands just work, this one's for you.

👉 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How Brannan's background as a preschool teacher shaped her approach to brand strategy
• Why your visual identity isn't the most important part of your brand (and what is)
• The parts of your brand that matter more than your logo
• The biggest mistakes designers make when creating brands
• The difference between rebranding from abundance vs. desperation and what to do instead if you're struggling
• What to prioritize when you're just starting out (hint: don't hire us yet)

🎧 Tune in for a real, unfiltered conversation between two brand designers who care way more about strategy than aesthetics and why that actually makes better brands.

🔗 Links & Resources:

➡️ Visit Brannan's Website
➡️ Follow Brannan on Instagram @honecreativestudio
➡️ Follow me on Instagram @spechtand.co
➡️ Book Your Stand Out Brand Strategy Session (use code SFBPOD for $100 off)
➡️ Book A Brand Chat➡️ Book Your Stand Out Brand Strategy Session (use code SFBPOD for $100 off)

The Stand Out Brand™ Audit is an AI powered guided audit that shows you exactly what’s working, what’s not, and how to strengthen your brand using my proven Stand Out Brand™ System.

If you’ve been feeling like your brand needs a little love, but you’re not sure where to start, this tool will give you clear next steps to move your brand forward with purpose in 10mins or less!

Get started here!

Book Your Stand Out Brand Strategy Session Today!

In just 90mins you'll the clarity, tools, and plan you need to build a brand that can grow with your business. From your messaging and audience to voice and positioning, we'll turn the chaotic, jumbled, and half-baked thoughts in head into a polished brand strategy that finally makes sense.

Book Your Session Here
Promo Code: SFBPOD

Building a team wasn't part of the plan. For years, I was convinced I'd stay solo forever. Just me, my dog, and my laptop. But as my business grew, so did the overwhelm. And eventually, I had to make a choice: burn out or bring in help.

Spoiler: I brought in help, and it changed everything.

In this episode, I'm walking you through my entire journey of growing a team from my scrappy freelancer days in 2016 to where I am now as a creative director leading a small but mighty micro-agency. I'm sharing the mistakes I made (like hiring based on vibes alone), the lessons I learned the hard way (hello, burnout), and what finally clicked when I got the hiring process right.

If you've ever felt torn between wanting support and fearing the responsibility of being someone's boss, this one's for you.

👉 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• My evolution from solo freelancer to agency owner (and why I resisted it for so long)
• The emotional roller coaster of that first year in business full-time and how it affected my early hiring decisions
• Why I hired a VA first (and why that was the right move)
• The mistakes I made with my first graphic designer hire—and what I'd do differently
• How preparing for maternity leave forced me to build systems and hire strategically
• What my team structure looks like now (and why I'm not trying to build a massive agency)
• The mental and emotional reality of being a leader when you have zero formal training
• My top 5 takeaways for hiring and growing a team that actually supports your life

🎧 Tune in for an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to grow a team including the messy parts, the wins, and why it's worth it even when it's hard.

🔗 Links & Resources:

➡️ Follow me on Instagram @spechtand.co
➡️ Book Your Stand Out Brand Strategy Session (use code SFBPOD for $100 off)
➡️ Book A Brand Chat➡️ Book Your Stand Out Brand Strategy Session (use code SFBPOD for $100 off)
➡️ Connect w/ my VA Agency, Prestridge & Co.

The Stand Out Brand™ Audit is an AI powered guided audit that shows you exactly what’s working, what’s not, and how to strengthen your brand using my proven Stand Out Brand™ System.

If you’ve been feeling like your brand needs a little love, but you’re not sure where to start, this tool will give you clear next steps to move your brand forward with purpose in 10mins or less!

Get started here!

Book Your Stand Out Brand Strategy Session Today!

In just 90mins you'll the clarity, tools, and plan you need to build a brand that can grow with your business. From your messaging and audience to voice and positioning, we'll turn the chaotic, jumbled, and half-baked thoughts in head into a polished brand strategy that finally makes sense.

Book Your Session Here
Promo Code: SFBPOD