Quiet Mornings Photography

Building an inclusive, poetic brand for a photographer whose work celebrates quiet connection and storytelling.

The Story

Hester had been working under a different name when she decided to evolve her business into something that felt more aligned with who she’d become. Her new concept, Quiet Mornings, reflected her favourite time of day — the stillness before the world wakes up, when light feels soft and everything holds a sense of possibility.

Our goal was to build a brand that expressed that same calm energy: gentle, grounded, and quietly confident. Hester’s photography is deeply human — she captures the moments in between, the small gestures and unspoken emotions that make a story feel complete. The challenge was to translate that sensitivity into a brand that could hold space for both the artistry and the person behind it.

The Challenge

The project called for more than a visual refresh — it needed a total realignment of tone, storytelling, and identity. Hester wanted to communicate professionalism and depth without losing her warmth or playfulness.

The key was balance: finding a visual language that could capture intimacy without sentimentality, creativity without clutter. We wanted every element — from the logo to the invoice template — to feel like a natural extension of her world.

The Process

Creative Direction & Strategy – We began by refining the brand foundations: its story, audience, and emotional tone. The strategy centred on “capturing the moments in between” — a philosophy that runs through every part of Hester’s work. From there, we built a messaging framework that highlighted compassion, storytelling, and connection.
Identity Design – The logo, rendered in a hand-drawn script sourced from 1924US, introduced a soft, human edge that felt personal yet timeless. The brand device — a rising sun tracing its path — symbolised the moment Hester seeks to capture: the space in between light and day.
Illustration Suite – The illustrations emerged naturally during the design process, each one representing part of Hester’s story. Herbs became symbols for her portrait packages; flowers for her wedding collections. Other drawings — a teacup, a vintage camera, a book — anchored the brand in simple, heartfelt storytelling. A sunflower was included as a symbol of invisible disabilities, reflecting Hester’s commitment to inclusivity and creating a safe space for everyone she photographs.
Typography & Colour – We used a font pairing that felt contemporary but human, allowing the photography to take precedence while giving structure to long-form storytelling. The palette was drawn from Scottish landscapes — soft moss, heather, marigold, and dawn tones — to ground the brand in place and emotion.
Collateral & Systems – The identity extended across stationery, business cards, proposal templates, thank you notes and invoices. Each piece balanced elegance with usability, ensuring every client touchpoint reflected the same warmth and care as the experience of working with Hester herself.

The Result

The final brand captured what Hester had always envisioned — even though it was completely different from what she first imagined. It became a true reflection of her: creative, empathetic, and quietly powerful.

For her, the process brought clarity and connection; for her clients, it created a sense of calm trust. The result is a brand that feels like a conversation — open, kind, and full of heart — a fitting mirror for the stories she tells through her lens.

Creative Direction Notes

This project unfolded instinctively, shaped by intuition and emotion as much as strategy. It proved to me that the best brands often reveal themselves through the process — that design, at its core, is about listening.

Every line, colour, and word was built to feel like Hester’s world: poetic yet practical, artistic yet inclusive. Quiet Mornings is a brand that doesn’t need to shout to be remembered — it simply invites you in.