Olivia Loren Hair Salon Brand Photos
Orange County Brand Photos
One thing I love more than anything is when I meet other creatives who get as excited as I do about branding. When I first spoke to Rita, her salon was merely a concept and a dream in her heart. We talked about taking some brand photos for her to launch her new brand Olivia Loren Studio, but due to some unexpected events, the perfect space opened up in Newport Beach and Rita ended up opening her doors sooner than expected! When I showed up to her new salon, I was in love with how polished yet FUN her brand aesthetic was and seriously amazed at how quickly she was able to put together her salon space. She had a clear vision for her brand and it came to life beautifully!
Rita had plenty of her work (beautiful hair transformations) to share, but what she really needed from her brand session was some lifestyle brand photos of herself and of her space. We focused on capturing plenty of photos that she would be able to use on her social media and website for the launch of her new brand. I was originally a little worried about the indoor lighting during this shoot, but it ended up coming together so well! Also, how cute is Rita?! Check it out for yourself!…
Tell us a little about your business and what you do…
Olivia Lorèn Studio specializes in creating beautiful, modern hair cuts, and California-inspired color services including full color, balayage, ombre, and color melts.
We serve each client the way we expect to be treated in the salon. Our specialty? Building trust by delivering high-quality hair services, without compromising the integrity of your hair. Our approach is to align expectations with your desired hair goals. Olivia Lorèn Studio is a fresh take on your standard hair salon experience.
What makes your brand stand out from the competition?
My branding was based on clean, refreshing, and modern elements. I researched Pinterest, along with retailers such as CB2 and West Elm to fit my inspiration, vision, and budget. I decided that key large purchases would set the foundation for the aesthetic, and then I would work around that to fill in spaces to reach my final ideal salon space. Greenery, gold, white and modern wood helped pull the final look together and I couldn’t be happier.
What I feel makes my business unique is that I offer a bright and airy space, along with sought after, high-quality haircare products including Kevin Murphy and Olaplex. I treat everyone as though we’ve been friends for years while maintaining a level of professionalism. I believe this makes for a pleasant experience for everyone as it can sometimes be uncomfortable or awkward when meeting a stranger.
What makes me stand out the most? I consider myself to be honest, especially being in a business that might take advantage of one’s vulnerability as this industry focuses on appearance. I choose to be realistic about how I can provide the client with their dream style and color while maintaining the integrity of their hair. If it turns out that I cannot provide these services today or in the near future because of compromised hair, I will happily offer an alternative haircare plan and we can revisit the original plan at a later time. My clients have praised me on this approach and are appreciative. In my opinion, this is what makes a good business successful in the long term, while retaining clientele.
Why did you decide to do a branding session?
I decided to do a branding shoot because I wanted to build just that – a brand. I take a canvas and create art through haircuts, balayage, and highlights. I need an outlet to showcase my hard work and passion, which includes before and after pictures of the client’s hair. This, in turn, helps me increase my business and drive my end goal. Without an identity associated with the work I do, I felt that I would mix in with the rest of the industry’s hairstylists, and be overlooked. A branding shoot helped me market on social media, create content for my website, and develop business cards. These are a few, but critical items needed when opening a business and hence, I knew the branding shoot was an absolute must.
What kinds of images were you hoping to achieve through this branding session? How do you plan to use them?
I was hoping to capture a wide variety of shots including those of me ‘in action’ such as cutting hair, foiling, and shampooing. I even had headshots as well as portrait shots taken inside and outside the salon space. These would be used for marketing and business cards - all key components to building a brand.
What was your favorite part of your branding session?
My favorite part about the branding shoot was the flexibility that Erin offered. I created a list of shots I was interested in taking – this was designed to help me ensure I had a game plan as I walked into my first branding shoot. Erin listened to me, my requests for various poses and made the process flow very naturally. I felt like I could be myself, in my element, pose in various ways, and feel confident the results would look great in the end.
Would you recommend a branding session for other small businesses?
I firmly believe that if you’re a small business looking to make a mark in the industry, be noticed in your neighborhood, or want to feel ‘complete’ as a small business owner, a branding shoot is a must. It will help create content across social media, which is a huge means to drive business and increase revenue. It will help create headshots, which in turn can be used for business cards, and will ultimately help you get your business on the map.
What I feel makes my business unique is that I offer a bright and airy space, along with sought after, high-quality haircare products including Kevin Murphy and Olaplex. I treat everyone as though we’ve been friends for years while maintaining a level of professionalism. I believe this makes for a pleasant experience for everyone as it can sometimes be uncomfortable or awkward when meeting a stranger.
If you're an entrepreneur or small business looking to elevate your brand with some new headshots, brand photos, content creation, or lifestyle images, let's chat! A brand session would be a great investment for your business!
All photos captured by Orange County Brand Photographer Lovisa Photo. If you liked this Orange County Branding Session, you may also be interested in this branding session with Orange County florist Mulberry and Moss. or this brand session with Penelope Pots Floral Design.
Brand Photographer: Lovisa Photo
