Dionne Design

A moment of vulnerability here: I recently had a brand photoshoot with my husband/collaborator Loyal Creatives and it forced each of us to face our respective insecurities in a way that was very uncomfortable. But we each grew from it and, in the end, I have a small collection of brand photos which I can use to support my business.

And these photos definitely match my vibe! They're dark and moody but somehow also friendly. It feels good to have brand photos that match my aesthetic and that I know without a doubt no one else has!

I’ll admit that I’ve prettied these up with Photoshop. While I appreciate being authentic, I also am a perfectionist who doesn't want to show the worst parts of me to the world. I'm not ready for radical self acceptance; I'm still trying for self-improvement. But until then, knowing the importance of showing up for my business, I'm doing it any way I can.

And as a final plug if you're a business owner in the Boston area, check out https://www.loyalcreatives.com for distinctive portraits and brand photos!

Quiet moments. 🍊

Here's a question: Is "trendy" a bad word?

When developing social media content, should you follow trends or do something different to set yourself apart?

A trend is the feeling of the time. So if you set yourself too far outside of it, you risk alienating your audience. They won't understand you and worse– if you're a business that relies on style– they won't trust you with their business.

But, on the other hand, if you slavishly follow trends, you risk blending in with the crowd. And if you stick with the trend a moment too long, you risk looking out of touch and dated. And again– if you're a business that operates on providing an aesthetic– you may lose business.

I was talking to a friend about this recently especially in regards to trending audio for Reels. Jumping on every audio clip to create your own version can be exhausting. But the truth is, using trending audio can give your content a bump in views.

So try to stay balanced. Stay true to yourself by only choosing social media content trends that are in line with your brand and add a healthy dose of your own brand personality.