This post was last updated on October 19, 2023.
Photographers tend to underestimate the importance of having a good logo. It’s easy to believe that your photos will be memorable enough for people to remember your name. And since you’re most likely using a self portrait as your profile image, you may feel as if having a logo is a waste of time and energy. But what happens when you need to generate an invoice for a client? Or when you want to personalize your site’s favicon? The truth is, the sooner you create a logo, the less headaches you’ll encounter in the long run.
The first step towards successful brand imagery is coming up with a solid creative plan. Start by thinking about what you want your brand to depict. Take a look at your work and imagine how you could portray it in a single image. The last step before jumping into creating your logo is seeing what others are doing and getting inspired by their work. These 40 logos by Wix photographers will offer you photography logo ideas for any genre and style.
Use a handwritten signature
Essentially, signatures are the original form of logos. They have been used for centuries, and to this day they’re still one of the most popular choices amongst all types of photography. You don’t necessarily need to work with a digitized version of your own signature. Nowadays, many photographers use script fonts, as it allows them to adopt the same handwriting in other applications such as their professional photographer website.
Put it in a circle
Circular logos have been around for quite a long time, but their popularity has grown exponentially over the last few years. When social media platforms decided to work with circular profile pictures, many struggled to properly present their logos within this shape. Not too long after, every logo had a circular version. And eventually, this became the standard form for many.
Include your main subject
If your work as a professional photographer focuses on a specific genre, you might be looking for photography logo ideas that will immediately identify you with it. There are two ways to achieve this result. You can either write your expertise as a tagline, or you can add a visual element that represents your work. Both are equally valid, but working with a graphic element will give you more room for personalization and will be more easily recognizable.
Be bold with type
Logotypes are purely written logos in which the original typeface has been altered to add character and personality. These edits can include anything from deleting or moving sections of the letters, to subtly modifying the kerning or position of the words. The end result of this type of logo is a unified piece that is perceived as a brand image, rather than as a piece of text.
Get inspired by nature
It's not just outdoor photographers that incorporate nature in their works. In fact, nature has become a major photography trend across the industry, including in seemingly unrelated fields such as product photography and logo design. Many choose to include natural elements in their logos, even if they are not directly related to their work. Minimalist branches and leaves seem to be the most popular choice, primarily among the fields of wedding and children photography.
Box up the text
Text boxes put readability and simplicity front and center. The execution of this photography logo idea is as straightforward as its name: surround your business name with a rectangle. If you want to take it a step further, you can play around with the shape of the box or use an incomplete form. This minimalist approach allows for versatility in its application, as these logos can be easily layered on top of photos, videos, or colorful backgrounds to function as a watermark.
Focus on the equipment
From a graphic point of view, camera iconography has always been widely popular among photography logos. After all, there are few elements that represent photographers so clearly. But while this idea might seem simple, you’ll need to get creative to make sure your logo doesn’t end up looking like a hundred others. Take a look at the other photography logo ideas in this list and try to combine a few to create a logo that truly stands out.
Play with your initials
The graphic part of your logo doesn’t necessarily need to be an image. Your initials can be combined to create a striking icon. The range of potential outcomes is nearly endless. It can be anywhere from a strict representation of a letter to an abstract form composed by two or more characters. This will depend on the image you want to project and how it relates to your photography style. There are plenty of logo fonts you can use to create a striking result.
Work with geometric forms
Geometric shapes are a popular choice among businesses of all kinds. These forms allow for a clean design that conveys very clear emotions. The shapes you base your photography logo on can be related to your name, your specialty, or they can be completely abstract. Working with simple shapes and compositions will allow you to create a result that is easy to identify and remember.
Add a splash of color
As you reach the end of this article, you might have noticed that the majority of logo examples are monochromatic. There are a few reasons behind this trend. One of photographers’ main priorities is to ensure that their logo doesn’t clash with their photos. Using a single color is the simplest way to do so. Another important reason is how easily monochromatic logos can be layered over any background, simply requiring you to invert their color.
However, there is no reason why you shouldn’t add color to your logo if that’s what you believe your work needs. A multicolored logo can make your brand more memorable and should relate to your photography website’s color scheme.
What makes a good photography logo?
A good photography logo should be eye-catching, memorable and representative of the photographer's style and brand. It should be simple enough to be easily recognizable, yet unique enough to stand out from the competition.
Here are some key factors that make a good photography logo:
Simplicity: A good logo should be simple and easy to remember. Avoid using too many complex elements or colors, as this can make the logo look cluttered and unprofessional.
Uniqueness: Your logo should be unique and stand out from the crowd. Avoid using clichés or generic symbols that could be mistaken for other brands.
Relevance: Your logo should be relevant to your photography business. It should reflect the type of photography you do and the style of your work.
Memorability: A good logo should be memorable and easy to recognize. It should be something that people will remember even after they have seen it only once.
Versatility: Your logo should be versatile enough to work in a variety of applications, such as your website, business cards and social media profiles.
Professionalism: Your logo should look professional and polished. This means using high-quality graphics and fonts, and avoiding any amateurish mistakes.
Timelessness: A good logo should be timeless and not trendy. It should be something that will still look good years from now.
Appropriateness: Your logo should be appropriate for your target audience. If you're a wedding photographer, you might want a logo that's elegant and sophisticated, but if you're a sports photographer, it's better to create a bold and dynamic logo.
If you can keep these factors in mind, you will be well on your way to creating a good photography logo that will help you attract new clients and grow your business.
Use a Photography Logo Maker to give you inspiration and to create your own.