HappyFish blog

I ADORE designing albums for families!!! I just had the opportunity to work with Jennifer Dunn of jclare studios on her project for a family of 3 energetic brothers. You can see the joy and emotion in their faces as they play and hang out at their home. The great thing about photographing children - is that they are so genuine. They aren’t concerned about how they look, which is their good side … they are who they are! Little ones allow us to relive our childhood again, get down to their level and HAVE FUN !!!! Here are just a few pages - to see more visit the HappyFish Design gallery. To see more of Jennifer’s work - visit her at jclare studios.

Update: Hey, I just noticed that Jen added shots of this book on her blog - how very cool to see it in the flesh! whoo hoo! Check it out!

If you would like to see the rest of the album please contact me.

I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving! I know you’re frantically working hard to get your clients everything that they have dreamed of before the end of the year. Some of the album companies “by-Christmas” deadlines have already passed - or are about to pass … remember to breathe - we’ll all get through it with an upbeat attitude and a smile on our faces. I better get back to work …..

I can’t believe how time flies — I have not updated my blog in AGES. I’ll be brutally honest - I’m so busy that the blog is the last thing on my list to do!!!! Everyone has a blog - and everyone I talk to loves it, but really has a hard time fitting in the updating into their schedule. I have had some photographers tell me that they love my blog … but gee … it needs updating! So that’s what I’m going to do … just a few things here and there when I can.

I have had the privilege of getting to know Jamie Fender very well over our last few album projects. She’s a vivacious and energetic self proclaimed ‘girl next door’ who just LOVES to shoot - and is very good (and passionate) about her photography. She was looking for help in creating a logo that emphasizes her personality and her friendly attitude/rapport with her clients. Her favorite colors are charcoal and purple (any combination of) and wanted a script font that wasn’t too formal or too casual. By happy accident by combining the letters J and F of the font that I had rummaged up - it created a sort of ‘butterfly’ icon that she fell in love with instantly. It symbolizes her free spirit - and to me, her evolving art and her photographic career. I created a watermark for her photos that she can use on her website and other uses. We’re having fun adding her new logo onto her website, albums … everything! You can visit her website at: www.jamiefender.com.

I thoroughly enjoyed working with Vanessa Jones on her Asuka Book for her wedding with Kathleen and Jesse at The Fairmont Chateau Laurier. I helped Vanessa decide which wedding to use for her sample album … and fell in love with these wonderful shots. We looked at several weddings together … but kept coming back to this one as Kathleen has such an amazing look to her …. love the colors of her dress and how it interplayed with the warm tones of the hotel. Had a lot of fun with the urban cement - under the bridge - location too. This design worked with her preference for little or no white backgrounds and a desire for a bold and creative feel. Looking forward to our next album and CONGRATULATIONS on your own wedding Vanessa!!!!!!!!! Designed by HappyFish Design.

If you would like to see the rest of the album please contact me.

Just had the pleasure of designing a fresh and new business card for Photographer David Primm or Desnae Photo. His photography specialty is creating unique portraits on-location. He wanted his branding to reflect “It’s who you are.” He had sent a ton of photos to look at and he had a logo but that’s it. I felt that to put a photo of somebody on his card would be too limiting and the person looking at it would think ‘well, that’s not me …. I hate sports’ or ‘does he only shoot people who like music - I love baseball?’ He had a shot of an amazing girl with stunning eyes. Since the eyes are the window to the soul - only focusing on the anonymity of this sparkling eye could make the connection between David’s connection and intimacy with his subjects - all the while not typecasting who his target market is. Fonts chosen reflect part modern sans-serif classic, the other fun, casual and friendly. He is ordering full color cards as well as versions on wood laminate. Here are both versions print ready. Designed by HappyFish Design.

Front of Color Business Card

Back of Color Business Card

Front of Wood laminate version

Photographer Danny Weiss asked me to design a 5.5 x 8.5 color postcard to promote his headshot business for actors, musicians etc. for the New York market. The idea was to highlight the shots, retain consistency for his branding, keep it simple but not like the other headshot comp cards that he’s used to seeing around town. Designed by HappyFish Design.

Hot off my desk is the 10×15 Leather Craftsmen 3500 series album for John Riedy Photography - showcasing an amazing wedding at the prestigious Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, California. It was so much fun working with John and he certainly provided me with great shots to work with! There were a lot of bold colors to work with and incredible setting and details throughout. Just LOVE the drama of the enormous boulders and can’t say enough about that cake either! Designed by HappyFish Design.

If you would like to see the rest of the album please contact me.

One of the first things I learned in design school was this: inspiration can be found everywhere and everything.

1. Emotion: remember how you felt during an important time of your life - maybe your own wedding or the birth of your child … these feelings are being felt by the client for which you’re designing for. This IS their record of their memories and emotions. Even after the zillionth album … each client and story is truly unique. Tapping into your own memories helps provide the passion when it’s midnight and you’re sitting at the computer.
2. Music: sometimes listening to certain music that really helps you get in tune with your creative side. Put on headphones if necessary to drown out your spouse/roomate/significant other’s phone conversations, loud movie on the home theatre, etc.
3. Go to the bookstore: a trip to your favorite bookstore is like instant inspiration. Don’t simply set up camp at the art/photography section … look at recipe books (the really good ones have fantastic photos and layouts) - look at magazines of all topics (particularly interior/architecture mags, fashion mags, travel mags, advertising annuals) - check out the children’s books. (If you want to see color used in a wonderful way - look up Toot & Puddle by Holly Hobbie)
4. Go for a walk: really look at the textures around you, the subtle differences of color in the landscape, the rocks on the path … there are design elements everywhere in organic and linear repetition, groupings and compositions. Pay attention to the feeling of space and perspective. The same design principles that a landscape architect uses are the same ones that graphic designers use but using different mediums and tools.
5. Watch a movie: I particularly enjoy the DVD menus and transitions … and even the typography of how the titles, credits and so on are carefully presented. I love how each movie does it in a different way to enforce the movie’s overall concept and message. Some of my personal favorites: The Island of Dr. Moreau - Director’s Cut [1996 version] (hated the movie - loved the intro!), Band of Brothers [HBO DVD series], Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events. Movies also are a great source of inspiration in terms of lighting, color and cinematography. Movies that use color in a significant way that we have loved include: Amelie, The Island, The Sixth Sense, Three Kings, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and What Dreams May Come.
6. Go shopping: soak in the detail that goes into the branding of products. Look at the signage, the hang tags, displays, gift cards, the interior design of the whole store, and even how the products are organized throughout. It’s all done with careful and calculated planning. Stores that do this exceptionally well IMHO include: The Gap, Pottery Barn, The Body Shop, Restoration Hardware, Aveda, Williams-Sonoma, Starbucks (love them or hate them - they have great branding), and LUSH (online site does not reflect their physical store at all - if you’ve been in one you know what I mean!!) oh - and of course - how could I forget …. the Apple stores … just to name a few.