After being in the business for over 20 years there are bound to be some changes! I sold my first images to Dawn Boerding when I was 13 years old. I didn't have an official name at the time, but I knew it was something special. Everyone has start somewhere right?
By the time I reached High School, I had been working with customers on a pretty regular basis, so a name was needed. The best that I could come up with- Pretty Peepers Photography. I was so proud of the logo that I came up using WordArt and ClipArt. But it spoke to two things that I loved. Kiddos and Flowers- two things that still bring me joy today!
During high school, Mr. Jones gave me the nickname KWeb. It was a name that stuck- and soon I was KWeb to most everyone around school. It was what I signed my 4-H projects with and what I still hear when Mr. Jones says hello when I see him around. It was a special gift for sure! When I arrived at CMSU (changed to UCM when I was a Sophomore), crazily enough I became known as KWeb to my friends on 4th floor East Ellis without them knowing that was my nickname in high school. I knew I wanted something more professional for my business name- Pretty Peepers was on the cheesy side. I didn't want Katie Weber Photography (in hopes that a hubby was in the future), and KWeb Photography seemed a little weird. So I came up with the alter ego lol and Kay Web Photography blossomed.
I was in my second year at UCM and I had just found out that I wasn't actually a graphic design minor, but instead a graphic arts technology management minor. The difference being that I was going to learn about how to print the design pieces not actually be the designer. At first it was a set back, but then it started opening some doors that I didn't know it would- the first being technical support for a yearbook company- that turned out to be a God Wink- it helped me get the job at H&H later on. One class I had required us to build a website. So I needed a website which meant I needed a logo. My second attempt at a logo came out of a LOT of design changes. I was pretty darn proud of myself at that point because I had started getting pretty good at Photoshop. That logo stuck and followed me through the rest of my college years.
After graduation from UCM in 2009, I feel like I went through a bit of a discovery period and tried out a few different logos over the next 3 years. I was trying to find a logo that fit my style. It was definitely a identity crisis there for a minute.
Finally in 2013 I found my groove. I was looking for a signature look, so that's what I went with! I can't tell you how many times I practiced it, but writing on the computer and writing on paper are two completely different things! Once I figured out what I liked and found a versatile version, I was good to go! It was a solid look for me!
10 years of the signature logo and after moving to Pleasant Hill and starting the business over from scratch, I got restless again. I had just left H&H and I was really wanting a refresh. I had planned on waiting for a while, but then everything was pointing to a marketing refresh. I needed new business cards, new t-shirts, new table coverings- all things marketing. I knew I was wanting a new logo but didn't know where to go. Then God sent me another wink. Brian Pilachowski entered the scene from an outstanding career with Hallmark Greeting Cards. He opened a t-shirt shop here in Pleasant Hill (Press Monkey Studio) and after a couple of meetings, we had a logo- THE LOGO. The logo of my dreams, the one I wished I could design but would have NEVER nailed, the one that could have only come about with Brian's genius work! The inspiration behind it was mercantile signage meets country belt buckle. BOOM!
Once I had this beaut in my hands it went on EVERYTHING! I purchased my first table cover (LOVE THAT THING!), T-Shirts of course, business cards, website, stickers, signage, and best of all I had my car logo'd (Shout out to Dos Gatos Designs)! This is one that I don't see changing for DECADES, I just adore it! Thanks again, Brian! You are the best! Also- if you need logo help you have to look him up! He's down at the heart of Pleasant Hill at Press Monkey Studio and Coffee Shop- tell him Kate sent ya!
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