Project Spotlight: The Tinsley Co.
Chaise Tinsley is the incredibly kind and talented Atlanta-based photographer behind The Tinsley Co., specializing in intimate weddings and elopements all over the world. Early in 2020, I had the pleasure of collaborating with Chaise in the process of re-branding The Tinsley Co. in a way that we hoped would better capture the lively, joyful, unapologetic, “upscale hipster” heartbeat of the experiences and memories that it offers to incoming clients.
I’m thrilled with the way that Chaise and I achieved this through our designs, and I wanted to offer an in-depth look at our process of arriving at The Tinsley Co.’s new brand to celebrate.
In this post, I’ll share our initial objectives and goals that Chaise and I had for her new branding, some of the creative decisions that we made to reflect these through her designs, a touching testimonial that Chaise provided for us, and of course, examples of our our finished work!
As I got to know Chaise and the vision she has for the future of her business early on in our process of working with one another, it quickly became clear to me that Chaise is someone who intentionally channels her great sense of humor, extroverted personality, welcoming energy, and love for adventure into her clients’ experience and the life-long imagery that she that she creates with them.
When we worked through our discovery phases, I paid close attention to the ways that Chaise wanted her brand to attract and speak to clients who could get excited with her about what she has to offer them.
I learned that The Tinsley Co. is such a welcoming and inclusive brand - one that celebrates and encourages clients to be 100% themselves in their wedding decisions - so we aimed to communicate this through our choices of color, lettering styles, and of course, the unique and humorous illustration choices.
A couple of our primary goals throughout our collaborative process were these:
1. To focus on infusing the same kind of intention and care into Chaise’s brand, as she infuses into the experiences that her clients receive with her. Elevating the first impression and value of her work in the process.
2. To craft our designs in a way that would speak to incoming clients who share the same passion for detail and uniqueness as Chaise.
Stylistically, Chaise wanted a set of designs that felt a little more eclectic and funky than the brand she had previously. She wanted a brand that felt a bit retro, edgy, and adventurous - with some relaxed West Coasts vibes sprinkled in.
I think we did such a great job of this in the work we brought to life!
Our color palette for The Tinsley Co. is inspired by Chaise’s gravitation to earthy palettes, with some pops of color included. When forming the mood and feel of our palette, I also took into account her inspiration for landscapes and travel, film, interior design, books, and quirky aesthetics (like that of Wes Anderson).
When I began sketching, I knew that Chaise wanted a script, and that our plan was to work with more typography-centered logo designs. As a result, I think we did a great job in settling on custom lettering styles that feel relaxed and easygoing, while communicating a sense of professionalism and care at the same time.
From there, we really took advantage of our icons and additional illustrative logo design (the one with the raccoon), as a way of telling more of a brand story through our imagery.
The raccoon references a sweet personal story that Chaise shared with me of her grandpa, “the ultimate storyteller”, and the silly stories of his pet raccoon he would tell her as child. “Perhaps I get my love for storytelling and imagination from him”, she wrote to me.
Our illustrated icons hold similar personal significance.
As our project came to a close, we put together a business card that utilized our brand assets, and ended on a branding guide to be further accessed as a ’visual road map’ for implementation and continuity of The Tinsley Co.’s new branding! I’m so honored and impressed by the ways that Chaise has already been putting our designs to use within her business!
After we finished our work together, and Chaise had her new branding in hand, she was kind enough to share her responses to a set of testimonial questions with me regarding her satisfaction with both our overall collaborative process, and our finished work.
Her words are deeply moving and quite funny, which didn’t surprise me at all. I’m so thankful to Chaise for granting me the permission to include her responses in this post. Now everyone can know why Chaise thinks that “Working with Anna is like going to Chick-Fil-A.” (The most unique and heartfelt compliment I’ve every received, hands down.)
Thank you so much to Chaise for her trust in my process, and thank YOU for reading this spotlight.
- Anna
Testimonial // Words by Chaise Tinsley of The Tinsley Co.:
What factors influenced you the most in your decision to hire Anna?
I searched the internet for months. This is not an exaggeration. I probably looked at 200 designers. I found Anna on IG about halfway through and I kept going back to her page. It's one thing to have a great design here and there, but it's an entirely different thing to have a whole body of work that speaks to a consistent (and super rad) style. I wanted someone who's everyday style was similar to mine as I knew this would play into having a similar design eye. I was a designer in advertising before becoming an elopement photographer and I was afraid that I'd be too picky to have a good experience with someone. I was so wrong! Having Anna as my designer was everything I could have asked for.
How do you feel about the final result of your and Anna’s work together?
Relieved. I'm so picky and I was terrified of hating it. Not only do I not hate it, I LOVE it. I think I had 2-3 tiny tweaks through the whole process. I loved everything she sent me from the moment I opened the PDFs. The branding is exactly what I wanted it to be. I asked Anna for an upscale hipster, which is a tough request. I think she nailed it and I've gotten tons of feedback saying, "this brand is so you!".
Did the finished designs meet, exceed or fall short of your expectations? Why do you feel this way?
Again, Anna exceeded my expectations. We were able to create a thoughtful versatile brand that works across digital and physical applications. She equipped me with everything I needed to carry the brand forward and introduce it to the world. There was a specific look I had in my brain and Anna brought it to life.
What part of Anna’s design process did you enjoy the most? Why?
I adored Anna's thoughtful responses during this process. She takes the time to get to know you and really understand what it is you are looking for. She digs into the 'why' of your brand and your heart before throwing designs at you. However, when those designs do come - Anna has created a professional and fun presentation for you. When your designs are ready for review, it truly feels like Christmas.
Was there a part of Anna’s design process that you think could use improvement? If so, how?
I wish there was a part where I could meet you in person and give you a big ass hug ;)
Do you feel like the end product and experience was worth more, just right, or less than the amount you paid? Please explain!
Anna delivers an end product that is absolutely worth every penny. When looking for a designer, you really need to consider what that personal relationship is going to look like. You are paying for Anna to actually listen to you, think about your heart and soul that you put into your business and help you uncover a brand that is perfectly true to you. When she gives you a timeline, she'll stick to it. If there are any changes along the way, she'll communicate it. You're never left wondering what the next step in the process is. This is worth its weight in gold. The fact that you get rad designs on top is just icing on the cake.
If you recommended Anna’s services to a friend, how would you describe the experience of working with her?
Working with Anna is like going to Chick-Fil-A. Unrivaled customer service. Tasty delicious designs. Feel good moments. After meeting Anna, you leave better than you came. She has a way of making you feel like you're wrapped in a tight hug from someone who believes in you 110%. She's your branding cheerleader. You will feel comfortable telling her about yourself and your business. She gets you from an idea to a real life tangible brand you can succeed with. This will be one of the best decisions you make for your brand.
What would you say to someone who’s on the fence about working with Anna?
Hands down Anna has the best customer service of any creative I've ever worked with (and I've worked with a ton). She is intentional and makes you feel like you are deeply cared for. Each time I read Anna's responses, I knew she took a lot of time to consider my needs and craft a response. I felt so understood. She 'got' me. Her prompt responses and reliable process builds trust from the moment you begin working with her.
Branding is so incredibly important for communicating your business to the world. It can set you apart from your competitor and bring your personality and vision to life for others to fall in love with. Don't skip this investment. Don't skip Anna. Hire her. Do it now!
