Professional photography can make the difference between selling a product or not. It also impacts upon the opinion a customer makes about your business and whether they will do business with you or not.
​
As a graphic designer, I am exceptionally aware of the importance of making a positive first impression. That’s why I advocate for businesses to use only professionally designed graphics. I’m also a professional photographer, and I also know that the photos a business use have the power to make or break their success.

​Why Professional Photos Are a Must Have for Businesses
Anyone with a camera can take a photo. But not everyone can take a great photo. Like for business images and graphics, there are plenty of DIY opportunities for product photos, marketing photos and headshots. I don’t recommend those though, because the cost of achieving a negative first impression is enormous. 
Five reasons why I advocate businesses to use professional photography include:

1. Brand representation – photos of your products, people and workplace are seen as being representative of your business. They communicate to your customers about what your business is about, it’s values and personality. 
2. First impressions – you have two seconds to make a positive first impression. Using professional photos of your products and other business related aspects helps you achieve that! 
3. Competitive edge – the way something looks is judged, and customers will compare the differences between your website, social media feed and product photos and those of your competitors. The ones that look the most professional will be from the business who gets the customer.
4. Personalisation – stock photos can look good, but they don’t offer the personalisation custom photography can provide. They allow your customers to get to know you and your business, rather than see a generic image that can convey incorrect messages about your brand.
5. Sharable – the internet and social media are a hive of photographs, with the best of them being shared around the world. Yes, there is the risk of photos being used by others, but with careful watermarking, this can be reduced. Professional photos are more likely to be shared and engaged with by your audience, increasing the reach of your brand.

As a professional photographer, I would be honoured to help capture the essence of your brand for you. Please get in touch and let’s have a chat about the product photography, marketing photos and headshots for your business today.

​Your business graphics tell a story. They also work towards attracting and resonating with a specific type of person – your target audience. I’m going to walk you through the ways of designing graphics for your business which get noticed, get remembered and create loyal followers.

What Are Business Graphics?
Before your graphics can be created, you will need to identify what you need. The most used business graphics include:

• Logos
• Business cards
• Brochures
• Social media graphics
• Packaging
• Advertising materials
• Apparel

It is vital that your graphics showcase your business in the best light possible, making that all important positive first impression. For this reason, it is strongly recommended that you work with a graphic designer on your branding – so call me!

Key Focus Points When it Comes to Designing Business Graphics
After my clients have given me their design brief, it’s up to me to create a brand which resonates with them and their target audience. If you don’t yet have a clear target audience, I recommended reading Spigot Digital’s article Your step-by-step Guide to Identifying Your Target Market to get this sorted. 
In creating graphics for my clients, I pull upon my years of experience and knowledge about business branding, and follow these key design points:

• Consistency – keeping the same colours, shapes and fonts throughout all of your business graphics helps develop brand recognition and ensure your brand is easily identifiable.
• Hierarchy – design hierarchy refers to the elements of a design which your brain sees as being the most to least important. It is used to help guide your eye to the right place and get messages across clearly.
• Colour and texture – colours help create emotions and showcase what is important. Together with texture, colours add depth and interest to a graphic.
• Size and shape – Size is used to show what is important, and with shape helps to create a design which is appealing and memorable.
• Space – space is used to group or separate information, along with guiding the eye to where you want it to go.
• Story – your branding needs to tell a story and get the right messages across to your target audience. It’s a combination of all the above points, along with the skills and experience a great graphic designer provides, like me!

Creating Your Business Graphics
Canva is often seen as a go-to for the creation of business graphics. Can you use it? Sure. Should you use it? Probably not. My article Why Using Canva May Not Be Your Best Option explains my thoughts on this. I, along with thousands of other business owners strongly recommend working with a professional graphic designer on developing your business branding. Look through my design portfolio and learn more about my services. Then when you are ready, get in touch and let’s get started. 

Colour - Glorious Colour! Colour can make or break the visual impact of your brand.

Do you like to create your own social media graphics but don’t know where to start? Do you have images and photos that you would like to choose your colours from but are unsure which colours to pick.

While doing this yourself can be cost effective, you can waste a lot of time if you do not know what you are doing. It can also result in graphics that look unprofessional. Graphic designers, like One Bite Design, have an expert eye for what looks good and understand how colours work alone and together. This is something that may not come naturally to everyone or maybe something that people haven’t been taught. Did you know that not all reds ‘go together’ - not all blues ‘are created equal’. Base colours are important.

So let’s look into some reasons and tips why selecting colours from your images / photos to use for your business is important.

3 Important Things To Note When Creating A Graphic 

1. Choose the right colours
   The first thing you want to consider is the target audience you are wanting to reach with the graphic? Are you a building company where it is predominantly male oriented. Are you marketing to mothers of young children? Your colour choices are likely to be quite different. Also have a think about how you want people to feel when they see your image. Do you want them to be excited and happy? Or perhaps you want them to feel calm and peaceful? You may want to convey solidarity and trust. Colours are capable of creating emotions. Have a look at this website to find some of the emotions related to different colours. 
   
   
2. Colours can create a strong unity within the graphic 
   Having all the colours you use tie in with the chosen image creates unity. The brain is then able to process what it sees easily making the impact of the graphic more beneficial. There isn’t a minimum of colours to select from an image but I advise having no more than 4 colours in the designed graphic. You can either use contrasting colours or you can chose colours that complement each other.  I have found this website helpful for looking at colour combinations.
   
   
3. Be sure to include your logo on your design
   Having your logo somewhere on your design is so important, it keeps your branding consistent and obvious for the world to see the business behind the graphic. The logo you use doesn’t always need to be a full colour / full text version. A watermark version of your logo works just as well. Having multiple versions of your logo is so beneficial when you are designing your own graphics. Check out one of my most popular blogs regarding logo design versions.

So… how do I select a colour from an image?
There are a few good websites that can do this for you but Image Color Picker comes highly recommended. You can upload your own image, use the online colour code from a website, or get the online colour code from a picture via the website link.  You use the online image colour picker to select a colour and get the online Colour Code of the selected pixel. You also get the multiple websafe colour information.

Which colours should I pick out?
Check out the 2 samples (below) of colours picked from the same image. Shout out to Nikki at AmbiDexi for letting me use her product and photo for this example. I am sure that from the first glance you can see which image is more appealing. The product used in this image is bright, fun, young and happy. In the first image that One Bite designed, the colours selected are vibrant and used from the girls tutus. The second image shows colours also picked from the same image but they are far less inviting. The colours in this graphic appear dull and dreary, they do not evoke a happy, exciting time for children. From this example you can clearly see which would be the right colours to use for this design. The distinctions are not always that clear and you may require some professional help. With each design you put out for your business make sure that you are designing it targeted at the right people. This does not only come down to the colours you use but also the image and even the relating text. 

​“Help!' I hear you say, 'I’m overwhelmed!'

Never fear! Help is at hand.  Helen, at One Bite Design, with 20 years experience, knows very well what colours work best to bring out of images. If you do not have either the time or desire to pick colours from your images for your design work, get in touch with One Bite Design today and I’ll apply my creative eye and understanding of how colours work to bring out the very best with your images, logo and over all branding.

​Successful branding occurs when your brand makes a deep connection with your followers. It’s what they use when building a relationship and developing an opinion about your business. A successful brand needs to convey messages about your business’:

• Purpose & Vision
• Values & Beliefs
• Position in the Market
• Personality
• Tone of Voice & Language
• Key Messages & Stories

But successful branding is more than your logo, business name or tagline. It’s more than having a flash website with all the bells and whistles, more than eye catching social media posts and more than having a recognisable brand. A business which has created a successful brand image, will be one which presents a consistent image.  

How to Achieve Successful Branding
As consistency is key in achieving a successful brand image, you first need to ensure all your ducks are in a row. This means reviewing your branding guide or having a graphic designer create one for your business. Inside this guide, you can expect to see details of the visual aspects of your brand, including your logo variations, fonts, styles and colours. A branding guide can also contain details about the vocabulary used, what can be shared on social media and other decisions about your brand’s visibility.
You then use your branding guide to ensure your brand image is consistent wherever it can be seen:

• Logo variations are used in the right places
• Colours used in social media are identical to your website and print advertising
• Font usage is consistent, including both heading and paragraph fonts

By being consistent with your branding, you are helping to build recognition, loyalty and trust amongst new and existing followers. If you are the owner operator of your business, then you have the sole responsibility in using your branding guide. If you outsource your web design or social media posts, sharing a copy of your brand guide with them will ensure they too practice consistency of your business’ brand image.

Where to Next for Your Brand?
It’s always a good idea to review your branding regularly. Check that it continues to portray the same messages to your audience and resonates with them, has an appropriate appearance for your industry and has all the key visual aspects included in your brand guide. What was once suitable for your business may not be now. That’s where I can help. 

As your graphic designer, I can work with your existing brand to develop a new look or simply tweak the existing look. Big or small, my design skills will help ensure your business makes a positive first impression. Get in touch and let’s have a chat or check out my current branding packages.

Many businesses are using Canva to help them create graphics for their website and social media platforms. Some even use it as a way to create documents such as flyers or posters for printing. As a graphic designer, I’ve got many clients who use Canva to edit the text and images of the Facebook or Instagram templates I’ve designed for them. It’s a very powerful tool and one I think is well worth using.

​But it has its limitations.

Recently I had a client come to me about a graphic they’d created using Canva. They’d spent a considerable amount of time organising and placing the content and were happy with the finished product. That is, until they tried to print it off.

Canva is great in that you can use all of the available features, upload and use graphics, change colours, choose fonts and edit text. In fact, you can create pretty much what you want and envision, within Canva’s limits.

Problem is, Canva isn’t a graphic designer.
​
When using Canva, my client created their ideal graphic for their business. But not being a graphic designer, they didn’t know about needing to check font sizes, printing margins, pixel sizes and good colour choices. Canva by nature being software and not a graphic designer, didn’t provide any guidance to help.

End result was a design file which looked good on the screen when viewed using Canva but was unsuitable for printing or uploading to the web.

Canva Can Compliment but Not Replace Graphic Designers
I like to think of Canva as a useful tool, a bit like a fork. It is suitable for using with small pieces, but with the big ones, you need a better tool.

As a graphic designer, I use my years of experience and knowledge to produce graphics my clients can use anywhere. I understand where text is best positioned on a page, which colours work well together and which types of graphic file formats you’ll need. The work I design for you is fit for purpose and best of all, you don’t need to lift a finger.
​
To learn more about my graphic design services or to discuss a custom design you need help with, please get in touch. I look forward to hearing from you.

How can you tell if you need a brand makeover? Does your logo become outdated after a certain number of years? Is it based upon changes happening in your business? Or is it necessary if you buy someone else’s business?

As a graphic designer, I not only help create new brands, but also offer a brand makeover or rebrand for businesses who need a change. This could be for all sorts of reasons, including that they just feel like something new. I thought it would be helpful to give you a checklist of examples when a brand makeover may be appropriate, plus explain what can be included in such a makeover.

Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Brand Makeover
Not sure if you need a new logo, new colours or new web graphics? Here are a few of the most common reasons why businesses have a brand makeover or rebrand:

• There has been a merger with another brand, and they need to incorporate both business’ graphics together as a cohesive unit.
• When a new owner takes over the business and wants it to reflect more of their own views that what is currently offered.
• If a negative image or connotation is associated with the old brand, a makeover can remove and disassociate itself from that.
• When you are wanting to attract a different target audience and your current branding doesn’t sit well with your new demographic.
• To prevent being seen as an outdated brand, with a brand makeover helping you keep up with the current market.
• When you want to draw attention to your brand, such as before launching a new product or to stand out above your competition.
• If legal issues pop up, including your branding being too similar to an existing business.

Regardless of your reasons, I’d love to help create a fresh new look for your brand. Get in touch today to discuss options or view my branding packages to learn more.

What Are Your Options for a Brand Makeover?
When most people think about branding, they are referring to the logo. But there are plenty of other branding bits and pieces to consider. Let’s take a look at a few of the key areas:

• Logo – by far one of the most important branding features, a well-designed logo conveys much more than your business name. From your business’ personality, values, target audience and products, your logo is a key business asset. A logo makeover can mean starting from scratch and designing something new, tweaking a part of it or updating the colours.
• Website – if you are happy with your logo, maybe just give your website a makeover itself. This refers to things such as a website template, new web banners, graphics and font.
• Workplace – here you can consider your actual workplace that your customers visit. Does it look appealing? In need of new signage, fresh paint and new furniture?

A brand makeover does require the use of professionals who specialise in these areas, as explained in our article Why a DIY Logo is a Big Mistake. I’d love to learn more about your business and how I can help with your rebrand or makeover. Get in touch today and let’s chat!

Raster Vs Vector File Formats
Image file formats can be broken down into two key groups: raster images and vector images. Raster images are those which are pixel based, where each image contains different coloured dots called pixels. These images are resolution dependent, meaning that they only exist at one size. When the size of a raster image is changed, the result is a blurry or pixelated image. Examples of raster images are photographs, web and social media graphics.

Vector files are like giant maths equations, with lines, curves and points assigned a specific characteristics. This makes them resolution independent, which lets you enlarge or shrink their size and they’ll remain looking the same. Examples of vector images include logos, digital illustrations and icons.

From these two distinct types of file formats comes the individual ones you will receive from your graphic designer.

Understanding Common File Formats & Where to Use Them
The common file types you’ll receive from your graphic designer include:
Vector Images

• PDF – these files will display graphics correctly regardless of where they are seen. This makes it suitable for printing documents and displaying them on a website.
• EPS – used for high quality graphics such as illustrations, allowing them to be scalable. Good for printing on flyers or cards.

Raster Images

• JPG or JPEG – the most widely used format and suitable for photos, large web images and email graphics. Suitable for printing photos, sending a preview image to clients (as they can be made very small in file size) or on a website.
• PNG – another common file format, they can include transparent aspects and are often used for logos. Great for images with limited colours and when you need a small file, such as on the internet.

There are others that your graphic designer may also be able to provide including GIF, TIFF, RAW, PSD, SVG and AI. Take a look at my branding packages for details on the file types I regularly provide and if you need others, let me know so I can advise further.

​A DIY logo may sound like a great idea, but trust me, it’s not! I’ll share the five key reasons why you should avoid designing your own logo at all costs and what to do instead.
 
Thinking about using a DIY logo for your business? With all the variety of websites offering you the option to create your own logo, some of them for free, it must be the best option, right? Nope. A DIY logo is never a good idea and I’m sharing the reasons why.

Thinking DIY Logo? Think Again
We’re a nation of DIY experts, keen to give anything a go instead of paying a professional to do it for us, and that’s perfectly fine – unless it is something you shouldn’t do yourself – like your logo. Your logo can help your business sink or swim, simply because it represents your business. It is one of the key things people use when making that all important first impression, and a DIY logo just won’t cut the mustard.
​
Five key reasons why a DIY logo is a big mistake are:

1. Missing the message – your logo represents your brand and as such, needs to quickly and easily convey the right message to your target audience. A graphic designer is experienced and knowledgeable about designing a logo which clearly tells your audience what your business stands for.
2. Poor design decisions – you may like Time New Roman and electric blue text, but they’re not ideal together. Many people have little understanding of which colours work well together, let alone which font to use or representative images to use.
3. Lacking versatility – your logo isn’t just for your website. It also needs to be able to be used on business cards, brochures and promotional materials. A professionally designed logo can be used in multiple situations and will resize beautifully. 
4. Unprofessional appearance – your logo is what your customers will judge you upon, and you want it to make the best first impression possible. By hiring a professional designer, you avoid amateurish logos which look unbalanced, unfinished, too busy and just don’t fit with the expectations customers have of your industry. It will also be 100% unique, which is very important when it comes to branding.
5. Low quality – Many logo makers will create a logo which is of a poor quality, unable to be resized and look very pixelated. They’ll also most likely be unable to provide you with not only the right vector format, but also not provide a variety of file types.  In comparison, graphic designers use top quality software, which is 100% demonstrated in the logos they design, and the end files you receive.

Investing in a professional logo design is well worth it and will set you on the path to success! To get started, head over to view my logo design brand packages and let’s chat! 

Let me make business planning and goal setting for the New Year easy as for you! I’ll share what you need to include, give you some ideas to get started and even a free business template to use!
​
If business planning doesn’t sound like your kind of fun, don’t worry. It isn’t for many other small to medium sized business owners either. That was until you started reading this, because boy, have I got the business planning help you need to get your business kicked off and sorted for the New Year.

Let’s Get Your Business Planning & Goal Setting Sorted!
What do you want your business to achieve this year? Increased profits, new customers and a larger online presence? A business plan can help you nail down the specifics and requires you to:

• Analyse your performance for the past year
• Identify what is important for your business
• Create specific, measurable, achievable and realistic goals with specific timeframes.
• Create a step by step guide to achieve each of your goals
• Identify the support you will require to meet your goals and reach out to those professionals

​Then there’s the New Year’s resolutions or goals to consider. Now I’m not talking about the personal ones we all set and then forget about on the 2nd January though. Rather though the business resolutions we set and then follow through on throughout the year – and yes, they get followed through with!

To help you get started, here are a few you could use or tweak for your business:

• This year I will delegate or outsource my ____________ and instead focus on my __________.
• Each week on _________, I will revisit my business plan to double check I am staying on track.
• I will learn how to ________ so I can _______ which will benefit my business because _______.
• My business will give back to my community this year by _________. I will ensure this happens because I will _________.
• I will reflect on how my business is doing each month on _________. From this reflection, I will record the things that are working well and the things that aren’t, making changes accordingly. I will also resolve to drop the things that are not working and move on!
• I will remain focused on following as closely as possible what I have recorded on my business plan. However, I also acknowledge that my planning can be adapted and changed as it is a living document. 

Then finally, there is the recording of all of this information and yet again, I am here to help. You can email me to get a free copy of my generic business plan template, or I would love to create a custom designed business plan and goal setting template specifically for your business. Flick me an email with details of what you’d like included on the template, plus whether you’d like it editable or printable and I’ll get right onto it.