Logos: Learn What Separates the Great from the Good

To be a successful commercial photographer (in whatever capacity), producing high quality images should be your number one priority. However, your second priority should likely be building a brand and marketing strategy. A good place to start? Your logo. It will ideally be featured on your website, letterhead, business cards and image watermarks.

In this Adobe Blog post, the Creative Cloud team offers some solid suggestions to consider when designing your logo.

Want to create a unique shape for your logo? Adobe Photoshop CC's paint symmetry feature may help. [Sean]

From the Adobe Blog:

Skim the pages of any fitness magazine and you’re likely to see a Nike Swoosh. Glance up at a billboard and you might see Mastercard’s dual circles staring down at you. Do you recognize these brands? Of course. What makes their logos work? First, recognize a logo on its own is not a brand identity, but just one part of it. Think of all the pieces of your identity together and how they can be aligned visually with your logo to make up a cohesive and effective brand identity.

Whether you’re trying to establish a new brand or get creative with one that’s already well-known, an effective logo is key. Context and style may vary from year-to-year, but the principles and best practices that guide logo design remain unchanged.

When we think about the elements of effective logos, here are some things to keep in mind.