Kia Gregory Photography » Kia Gregory Photography, Central Valley's natural light photographer

Some things are changing at Kia Gregory Photography. The most evident is my new ‘look’! My new look is all thanks to the lovely ladies over at Luxecetera that ‘branded’ me. If you are a photographer or business owner you understand the importance of branding. At WPPI 2010 I learned mass amounts of information regarding branding. As a member of the [b] school, I have read many a post regarding marketing. Multiple conversations with my dominatrix have revealed I am a newbie in the world of pretty much everything.

As a consumer, I am picky. I know what I like. Take Trader Joe’s for example. Trader Joe’s is a grocery store with foods you can’t find anywhere else. They offer organic food. They offer gourmet type foods. They offer food for vegetarians. yes, yes, Safeway offers these foods too, but Trader Joe’s sends out a newsletter called a Fearless Flyer, their staff wears Hawaiian printed shirts, they double paper bag your purchases, they ding a bell if you bring your own bag. Their store locations are always odd. The shopping carts are comical. I go in with a list of things we need and always walk out with way more items then I can store. I am a Trader Joe’s groupie.

Nordstrom. My family has shopped at Nordstrom since the 90s. I remember getting Reebok Pumps, a Hypercolor tee, middle school semi-formal dress, an awesome Esprit vest with dogs on it that I wore to a youth summit in Washington D.C., a black blazer a la Blossom, my junior and senior prom dresses, my wedding jewelry, my honeymoon swim suit, my first 2-piece suit for my first official administration job, my first real leather tote bag, my first born’s first dress, my second born’s first dress, gah, this list can go on forever. I was a regular at the Nordstrom at the Tyler Galleria in Riverside, the Brea Mall in Fullerton; I drove 2.5 hours to the closest Nordstrom in Salem when I lived in Oregon. And now my new Nordstrom is in Pleasanton. I mean. It’s crazy. BUT, that’s brand loyalty.

So, back to my new look. I wanted something that representative me as a person. After all I am Kia Gregory of Kia Gregory Photography, so I am my brand. Clients hire you for your images but they also hire you for your image. It sounds vain but really, it’s the truth. So when I started the branding process with Luxecetera it almost seemed all new-agey, and ‘the Caterpillar on the mushroom smoking the hookah from Alice in Wonderland’-y. “Tell me who you are?” But it all made sense to me in the end. And yes, I know you don’t look at me and think, oooh, orange, oooh ranunculus flowers. But now you will associate those happy, pretty things with me.

old cards.

new splash page

new site page

new blog page

What are some of your favorite brands?

Digging through the crates is what I’ve been doing lately. Ok, well not real crates with records or anything (although, my dad used to be a DJ when he was a student at University of Nebraska, and he was DJ Hollywood with crates and crates of records. He was fly).

OK, so back on topic. When I went to Las Vegas in March for my first ever WPPI experience I got connected with some awesome people. One of them being Rob Ninja, the leader, head honcho, Mob Boss of a community of photographers that participate in these Photog Shootout get-togethers, which are crazy, over the top styled events. Various leaders in various parts of the nation have put on some wild events. This was a small scale version of what the Photog Shootout community can do, on one of the last days of WPPI 2010. Two gals, styled as some vintage 70s chicks, an awesome bright yello corvetter and Old Town Vegas.

I didn’t stay for long, but I met some cool peeps, and took a couple of cool shots. Thank you to our fabulous  models, Cat of Rockin’ Kitty Productions and Johnnie Mae.

And if you’re a photographer in the Central Valley area, let’s get connected on Facebook! Hoping to plan a get together just to shoot the breeze and talk it up soon!