Tag Archive for: entrepreneurship

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Behind Bryony: How to Plan a Branding Photoshoot

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Create a color story

Keep your brand color palette in mind from the start. If you don’t have a style guide, upload your color palette to a program like Coolors or create a Pinterest board and share it with your team, so that everyone is on the same page about the colors that should be in the shoot. Trust us, you don’t want a random orange pillow getting in the way! Keeping your color palette in mind, select a couple outfit options that Keep the new brand color palette in mind for all of the shot details. All backgrounds should be light, neutral and minimal and any pops of color should be either a matching shade of blue, dusty rose, or a simple plant.

Choose a venue and time of day that fits your vibe.

If you’re going for a natural and organic vibe, you’ll want to find a photoshoot venue that has big windows and a lot of natural light. If you want the lighting to feel soft, and not contain too many harsh shadows, be sure to chat with your photographer ahead of time to discuss the best times of day for the shoot.

Did you know that at Bryony & Birch, we have a photo studio that’s ready and equipped with everything you need? Check out The Space at Bryony and email bookings@bryonyandbirchstudio.com for more information and to request your dates.

Help your web designer out: consider photo orientation.

When shooting for a website, a landscape or portrait view works, as long as there is plenty of blank space surrounding the subject… aka, you! That space allows your web designer to add a text overlay on the photo, which gives an open and elegant feel to the website.

Make a shot list

The best way to show up prepared for the big photoshoot day is with a shot list. This is a list of every single photo that you want to make sure to get in your allotted time. If you want certain outfits and/or props for certain scenes, make sure to mark them down! And if you’re shooting a team, make sure to map out every headshot or group shot needed. It can get hectic with a ton of people, so having a list will ensure everyone gets their photo taken.

Photoshoot tips from a photographer

We sat down with our resident photographer, Kate Donovan, to ask her for some tips for branding photoshoot success.

What kind of creative direction do you need a business owner to prepare ahead of time for a branding shoot?

We typically have a creative meeting and create a mood board, discuss props and attire to bring prior to the shoot.

What should someone wear for a branding shoot?

Bring options! For a 1-hour shoot, I encourage clients to bring 2 options, one casual and one more formal. For a 2-hour shoot, we can shoot 2-4 looks. We discuss brand colors and what to stay away uncomfortable clothing prior to the session.

Is it better to do a branding shoot outside or indoors?

We definitely try to utilize both. We make the most of our time by planning ahead, changing outfits and location during the shoot. So lucky to be located right downtown Amesbury and often utilize brick, cobblestone, and downtown backdrop!

Last tip: have fun!

Photoshoots are one of those very few adult moments that make us feel a little bit like a rockstar. Have fun with it and dive in fully. Get your hair, nails and makeup done (we can help with that!) And maybe bring a bottle of champagne (or two!) and make a special playlist. Keeping the vibe fun and lighthearted will make everyone feel comfortable and when everyone is feeling good, that’s when the best photos are taken!

New Year, New Business? Here Are 3 Things You Need To Know Before Launching

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If this is the year you’re bringing a new business to life, you’ve come to the right place.

As a collective of entrepreneurs, we’ve successfully planned and launched over ten businesses between us, including Bryony & Birch. We’ve done a whole lot of wrongs, a whole lot of rights and a whole lot of learning.

When it comes to business, everyone has their own style. Some people need fifty page business plans with clear objectives, milestones and a detailed projection of how their business can scale. Others opt for the more organic approach of – let’s just hit ‘go’ and see where it leads us. We’ve seen both of these models work, however, it’s because the founders all knew three very important things.

Scroll down to learn more.

1.) Assumptions Are Not Your Friend (However, You Need to Identify Them)

It doesn’t matter if you’re launching an app or are selling handmade macrame coasters, it’s easy to make assumptions about who your potential customer is, why they’re going to be satisfied with your product or service as well as your ability to deliver.

When you make assumptions, you can often end up limiting your success and/or leaving yourself vulnerable to unexpected bumps along the way. (Such as a global pandemic.) As soon as you start conceptualizing your business, become aware of the assumptions you’re making and question why you’ve come to that conclusion. Challenge yourself by doing market research, testing your brand’s messaging and looking at case studies of similar businesses.

One of our clients has an organic pima cotton clothing company. They made the assumption that they’d always be able to get their clothing manufactured ethically in Peru and shipped on time. 2020 proved them wrong. After realizing they had all of their eggs in a Peruvian basket, they’ve now minimized their risk of production issues by getting a US-based supplier and manufacturer as well.

Another client of ours assumed her customer base would just be on Instagram. It is one of the places they’re active, but do you know where else her customers hang out? Pinterest. By not sticking to the assumption that Insta was the place to be, she tested a handful of social platforms and discovered an even bigger potential customer base.

Don’t assume you know who your customer is.
Don’t assume you know how your customer will find you.
Don’t assume you’ll always have access to materials and labor.
Don’t assume that people will understand your offering.
Don’t assume that you can simply ‘set and forget.’

By consciously identifying your assumptions, you’ll push yourself to not only think bigger, but also find ways to minimize the risk of missing the mark with your communication and/or developing a kink in your supply chain.

2.) It’s Never Too Early To Start Gaining Traction

Just because your shop doors aren’t open or web sales aren’t live yet doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be creating buzz about your business or testing the market.

One of the ways we’ve done this is by creating a website with a blog so that we can start publishing informative, entertaining and share-worthy content to help spread our message. We’ve found that taking potential customers on our business journey can help them become emotionally invested and ‘sold’ even before we’re open for business. Blogs are also very good for helping optimize your website for search engines.

Another way is to start engaging on social platforms such as Reddit, Facebook or Instagram. So much of a brand’s success depends on a community so don’t forget to focus on how you’re going to cultivate an online presence that provides value to your business and your customer.

Of course, so many things can also happen online! It doesn’t matter if you’re working in a space such as sustainable fashion, tech or food – head to industry networking events, try to get on panels, provide commentary on podcasts or pitch an op-ed to a local (or major) newspaper.

While the major benefit is building a customer base before you even hit go, you’ll also be able to learn from your following and feedback things like: Is my messaging clear? Are customers accepting my price point? Will people help my product/service go viral?

3.) There’s More to Branding Than a Logo

When most people think of the word ‘brand’ they think of iconic logos such as Nike, Apple and McDonald’s. The truth is there is so much more than clever design.
When creating your brand, be sure to think about what your brand’s voice is, what your brand’s aesthetic is and how your brand can effectively communicate its values.

Are you formal or informal? Informative or opinionated? Playful or serious? Do you want your customers to know your political stance? What about social causes you care about?

While a logo and color palette is a must, don’t forget about brand photography. With so many businesses operating websites and on social media, it’s more important than ever to have strong brand photography. We’ve written about the importance of brand photography here, but essentially, you’re going to want to ensure that everything from your brochures to your billboards to your profile pictures tells the story of who you are, what you care about and how you can enrich someone’s life.

We feel so strongly about brand photography that we’ve actually created an all-inclusive package.

What is the Bryony + Birch All-Inclusive Branding Package?

At Bryony & Birch, we offer a lot of different services and products. From hairdressing to yoga to reiki to wedding prep packages, we have a lot going on and a lot to let our customers know.

Having brand photography that showcases our events, experiences, expertise and energy has allowed us to not only launch a retail space in the midst of a global pandemic, but also thrive both on and offline.

As a collective of people who’ve launched quite a few businesses, we know exactly what it takes to get a solid gallery of versatile brand photos, which is why we came up with the all-inclusive Bryony & Birch branding package.

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

  • Hair and makeup
  • Product shots
  • Headshots
  • Catered lunch
  • Exclusive use of the Bryony + Birch studio space
  • Photos with Kate Donovan Photography

If you’re a business in the North Shore looking for brand photography, we’re your people. Click here to learn more and to book your package today!

Continue reading The Bryony & Birch Times:

Brand Photography: 6 North Shores Businesses Doing it Right

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You may have already nailed your brand’s logo and color codes, but what about your photography?

As our attention spans become increasingly shorter, it’s more important than ever to have visual messaging for your brand. It doesn’t matter if you’re brewing beer in Amesbury or baking biscuits in Beverly, North Shore business owners need to be able to capture a prospective or current customer’s interest in a matter of seconds.

In this article, we’ll go over:

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What is Brand Photography?

Brand photography is a collection of images that can be used across multiple platforms to convey your brand’s voice, image, tone, team, products, services and/or values. From product shots to headshots to workspaces, they are intended to not only be emotive, entertaining and informative, but also prompt your prospective and current customers to act on your desired call to action.

More and more, we’re seeing brands shift from traditional brand photography and embrace what many refer to as ‘lifestyle photography.’ Still sitting under the brand photography umbrella, lifestyle photography is the perfect combination of staged and candid scenes that show customers how they’ll feel when they engage with your brand, product or service.

Most importantly, brand photography is intended to provide consistency to the overall brand story you’re telling.

Benefits of investing in Brand Photography

While strong photography is imperative and incredibly beneficial for a company’s website, print assets and in-store signage, it’s also crucial for standing out on social media platforms.

According to Hootsuite, Instagram has over 1 billion users a month and 130 million of them tap on shopping posts within that time frame. With so many social platforms depending on visual media to encourage online shopping, now’s the perfect time to use elevated brand photography to convert followers into customers.

Unlike traditional product photography (think a white box and a bottle of wine), brand photography is much more versatile because it can be used across multiple platforms and engaged with on a deeper level.

Here are a few ways you can use brand photography:

  • On your website and in blog content
  • In both organic and paid social posts
  • In print assets such as brochures, business cards and posters
  • In presentations and training materials
  • In a printed/ digital newsletter
  • In your online course content
  • In your media kit

Now let’s take a look at six North Shore Businesses that are doing brand photography right!

6 North Shore Businesses Doing Brand Photography Right

Wild Tribe Wellness

Wild Tribe Wellness is Amesbury’s go-to for holistic massage, polarity, reiki, myofascia release and CBD treatments. Through the use of warm light and candid photos of their treatments in action, viewers immediately feel calm, centered and in need of exactly what Wild Tribe Wellness has to offer!

Hempire

With both brick and mortar and online retail spaces, Hempire uses brand photography to not only get people to shop online, but to also get them to walk through their doors. Even though hemp and CBD products are becoming increasingly popular, they still require an element of educating, which is where Hempire nails it with their photography. While it exudes this laidback, healthy and whole lifestyle, it also offers the viewer insight into the many benefits of hemp.

The Greeley Girls

When it comes to telling a compelling brand story, The Greeley Girls know what’s up. Consisting of three generations of fashion lovers, these sustainable clothing resellers use their photos to not only showcase and sell the pieces they’ve collected and sourced over the years, but also the beautiful bond three women can share.

Tayla David Yoga, Reiki + Macrame

Tayla David uses brand photography brilliantly to get people on yoga mats on the North Shore as well as onto her Etsy page to shop her macrame products. When it comes to connecting with an instructor, healer and artist, brand photography can help convey personalities, tone and ultimately make you more approachable.

Vaalbara

There are a lot of bags in the world, so why would people want to choose Vaalbara? The answers lie in their photography. Each image lets viewers learn that their bags are made with fabrics ethically sourced from around the world, finished with lining crafted from recycled plastic bottles, and are made in the USA. Vaalbara is a choice customers can feel extra good about!

Hum + Bee

When the pandemic caused local shops to close their doors and market stalls to come to a hault, local artisans like Hum + Bee needed to shift to an online platform and fast. This is where brand photography came into play massively for Hum + Bee. From selling tie-dye throw pillows to handmade adornments, Jen Silver is the perfect case study on how to shop local, worldwide.

What is the Bryony + Birch All-Inclusive Branding Package?

At Bryony & Birch, we offer a lot of different services and products. From hairdressing to yoga to reiki to wedding prep packages, we have a lot going on and a lot to let our customers know.
Having brand photography that showcases our events, experiences, expertise and energy has allowed us to not only launch a retail space in the midst of a global pandemic, but also thrive both on and offline.
As a collective of people who’ve launched quite a few businesses, we know exactly what it takes to get a solid gallery of versatile brand photos, which is why we came up with the all-inclusive Bryony & Birch branding package.

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

  • Hair and makeup
  • Product shots
  • Headshots
  • Catered lunch
  • Exclusive use of the Bryony + Birch studio space
  • Photos with Kate Donovan Photography

If you’re a business in the North Shore looking for brand photography, we’re your people. Click here to learn more and to book your package today!

Continue reading The Bryony & Birch Times:

katie cavic female founder of bryony & birch in amesbury massachusetts

Meet the Founder: Katie Cavic

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One of the things we love most about Amesbury is the amount of doers, brewers, makers, and shakers that call this beautiful pocket of Massachusetts home.

As an entrepreneur, hairdresser and yoga instructor who learned early on that two (or even ten!) heads are better than one when it comes to bringing a professional or personal vision to life, Katie Cavic knew it made sense to tap into the already buzzing world of entrepreneurs in the North Shore to create her dream business: Bryony & Birch.

Intended to be a collective space for entrepreneurs, artists and wellness-seekers to ideate, collaborate, and network, Bryony & Birch is continuing to become more than Katie could have ever imagined.

Scroll down to learn more about Katie Cavic and the inspiration behind Bryony & Birch.

Meet Bryony & Birch Founder: Katie Cavic

It doesn’t matter if it’s a parent, friend or romantic partner – when an important relationship breaks down, it can send you into a depression that can often make you feel incapacitated. At least that’s what was happening to me in 2019.

I was in the midst of wallowing in my pain and loss when March 2020 rolled around. To add insult to injury, just like a lot of people, I was faced with the fact that one of the things I loved the most (and was able to use as a distraction from my heartache) – cutting hair – was being taken away from me.

While the thought of losing my identity as a hairdresser scared me, it was the potential loss of human connection that shook me the most. For over a decade, I had spent my days giving and receiving energy from clients as I cut their hair.

As the pandemic shut businesses and borders, suddenly, I didn’t know how I was going to continue to feel tethered to my purpose of connecting people and nurturing communities.

I’m not going to lie – I let myself sulk, I let myself feel all the feelings, and I gave myself some time to process the change. There was no denying that I had to start over. I needed to reevaluate my life, my community and my career goals. In recent years, I had been practicing yoga, traveling to retreats around the world and working towards becoming an instructor. Perhaps it was time to take a deep dive into my practice.

As I surrendered to my study and our new (not) normal, I started thinking about the fact that over the last ten years, I had been weaving an intricate web of fiercely talented people who are experts in their fields and the truth was: they were in the same boat as me.

We all needed to, for lack of a less overused word, pivot. We also needed a space where we could go to restore, regenerate and learn to thrive again. Confident that we’d be able to eventually enter physical spaces together again, I used our time in lockdown to think about my ideal office.

Together with my brother, Michael, who is an expert woodworker, and my devoted client, Hilary Mateev, who is the owner of XP Architecture and Design, we set out to design a space where I could cut hair, teach yoga, sell my favorite local brands and of course: invite others in to collaborate, network and support each other. And that’s how Bryony & Birch was born.

Today, we have five yoga and wellness practitioners, a growing team of hairdressers, and proudly sell a huge range of local clothing, accessories and gifts from local artisans.

The meaning behind the name

Bryony is a growing vine that has white flowers, meaning sprouted or growth, symbolizing personal growth through finding your core/roots. I love this because there is a ‘root to rise’ concept in yoga that in order to lengthen the spine and get the most out of the pose, we must root down into all four corners of our feet.

Birch is like the birch tree: unique, beautiful and strong. A symbol of new beginnings, regeneration, hope and promises of what is to come.

My goal in creating Bryony & Birch is bringing the Amesbury community together and helping others to live their best lives.

This isn’t just a one-woman show, but a collaborative experience provided by not only the salon and wellness practitioners but also the designers and craftsmen who helped create the space, and the services.

What can we expect to see in 2021?

International Women’s Day just went by and I can’t stop thinking about how this year’s theme #choosetochallenge is needed now more than ever.

What I #ChoosetoChallenge in 2021 to affect change is maintaining a platform for women to grow and feel empowered daily in my community. I want to provide team-building workshops and empowerment groups. Forcing gender equality where everyone of all walks of life feel safe and comfortable coming.

This has always been the core of my beliefs. As a female always trying to find my place in this world, I knew being a stay-at-home mom or housewife didn’t call to me. I’ve always wanted the opportunity and platform to set an example to everyone, Male or Female, whatever age you are and show you that you have the ability to reach your dreams and grow, no matter how long it takes or hurdles you face.

The lessons I’ve learned in 2020 that I’m carrying with me in 2021 is that nothing is permanent, nothing is forever. Whether that statement be true in a way of sadness and the unwanted force of change, or in a way where you’re stuck and don’t know how to make a shift. You are the creator of your destiny. Less is more, community and support is crucial.

When things crumble, when the world stops and things fall apart, you have to stay positive and reach out, team up, be creative, think outside the box but most of all don’t just do it for you, do it for others too! I want Bryony & Birch to be the place people turn to in 2021 for support.

How to get involved with Bryony & Birch

While I love it when people come in to have their hair done, find their flow or discover the perfect gift, we’re still living in weird times. While I wish we could do more in-person meet-ups, due to social distancing, we’ve been pushed to create more virtual experiences, which has actually worked out really well!

We have the Bryony & Birch Yoga App, we ship all of the products we promote on our Instagram page and have focused on dedicating time and space to nurturing local businesses who need help finding their new approach to #pandemiclife.

Through the Bryony & Birch Branding package, our fully equipped photography and videography studio & team is hard at work helping local North Shore entrepreneurs identify and capture their brand.

What else is Bryony & Birch working on?

As vaccines continue to roll out and we work towards herd immunity (a sentence I never thought I’d write!), we are seeing more and more wedding plans come to fruition.

As a hairdresser who has worked with A LOT of Boston brides, nothing brings me more joy than to help couples achieve their ultimate wedding aesthetic. I also love helping people mentally and physically prepare.

We’ve recently launched the Bryony & Birch Bridal Experience which is designed to help brides feel and look their best. This includes yoga classes, mindfulness exercises, hair, makeup and even engagement and wedding photography!

Click here to learn more about the Bryony & Birch Bridal Experience.

Where to Connect with Women Entrepreneurs in 2021

Where to Connect with North Shore Women Entrepreneurs in 2021

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Where to Connect with Women Entrepreneurs in 2021

It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned business owner or just starting to dabble in the idea of a new project, surrounding yourself with like-minded, valuable and supportive women can drastically affect the trajectory of your success and mental health.

As women who know this firsthand, it’s actually how our Amesbury collaborative space, Bryony & Birch, came to life.

What is Bryony & Birch?

Located in the heart of downtown Amesbury on the North Shore, Bryony & Birch is an oasis for beauty, wellness, art and community.

While it’s an actual space that houses a hair salon, yoga & wellness studio, fully equipped photography & videography studio, art and the best finds from local artisans and apparel & jewelry designers, it’s also a community of creatives who are actively seeking to network, collaborate and champion each other’s successes.

Created by Katie Cavic, Bryony & Birch’s collective is intended to allow North Shore locals the opportunity to combine strengths, visions and resources to make any dream a reality.

Scroll down to learn more about what our partners offer (and see where you might fit in!)

Bryony & Birch Studio best hair stylist in Amesbury, MA

How we help North Shore Women Entrepreneurs

Starting and growing a business is much like starting a family. (Same amount of tears, hopefully less diapers…) And you know what they say…. It takes a village to raise a BUSINESS.

At Bryony & Birch, we’re your village. Specifically, we’re the people who are going to make sure you find that sweet spot where your own wellness and career goals intersect.

With a growing list of partners including collaborators like hair stylists, web designers, artisans, editors and architects, you’ll be able to connect with people who can help you find your business’ aesthetic, voice and message all while ensuring every decision you make aligns with your own personal values.

Scroll down to learn more about how we collaborate with women entrepreneurs through our Bryony & Birch Branding package.

What’s the Bryony & Birch Branding Package?

After collectively launching quite a few businesses and projects, we realized that one of the biggest hurdles was capturing a brand’s aesthetic in a way that can be used across multiple digital and print mediums.

While you may have an undeniably cool and useful product (or service) that will no doubt enrich someone’s life, it’s a hard sell when the image is poorly lit and lacking the element of storytelling.

That’s why we came up with the Bryony & Birch branding package.

WHAT’S INCLUDED:
  • Hair and makeup
  • Product shots
  • Headshots
  • Catered lunch
  • Exclusive use of the Bryony + Birch studio space
  • Photos with Kate Donovan Photography

Basically, we want you to picture your favorite made-for-Netflix movie montage scene and that’s what you’ll get when you work with us! We will help you and your brand find your best light. (And hopefully your new community!)

Click here to learn more about ALL the Bryony & Birch partners.

What else is going on at Amesbury’s newest collective?

While we are fiercely passionate about our professional dreams, we know that your own personal growth can’t be put on the back burner. In an effort to perform well, you need to feel well.

That’s why you’ll quickly learn that yoga and wellness are an intricate part of what we do here. Whether in the studio or on the Bryony & Birch Virtual Yoga App (available for download in the App Store or Google Play), we make space and time for our practice so that we continue to manage the chatter in our minds and remain tethered to our values.

Click here to discover the yoga and wellness classes Bryony & Birch offers.

Say hello!

What are you working on? How can we help? Do you have a project you’d like to talk to us about? We’d love to hear from you!

Click here to get in touch.