What’s In A Name?
The Rebranding Journey from PHOTOMONKEY STUDIO to Warren Shepherd Photography
Like a newborn child beginning their life of discovery, soaking in new information with every breath, building a solid foundation for the future, and actually developing a unique personality, such has been the experience of my rebranding evolution from PHOTOMONKEY STUDIO to Warren Shepherd Photography.
Why the Change?
When I began my Portrait Photography journey almost exactly a year ago, PHOTOMONKEY STUDIO seemed like a natural progression from my Real Estate Photography business, PHOTOMONKEY360. It retained some of the branding yet deftly transitioned into the new, more creative genre.
Yes, I had done much research into this matter, with many sources advising to use one’s own name as the guiding light. However, I felt my playful monkey logo had enough charm to both catch people’s eye and leave a lasting memory for potential clients.
But as my style evolved, I felt it no longer aligned with the kind of work I was producing. My focus is on intimate, evocative portraiture, capturing the authentic essence of each subject — whether they are actors, musicians, professionals, or anyone wanting their story told through images.
~ actor Jade Simonneau
A pivotal moment came when I sought advice from Tom Trevatt, a well-established portrait photographer based in London, UK. His insight and experience were invaluable, and after speaking with him, I knew the time had come for a change.
Tom encouraged me to fully embrace my identity as an artist by transitioning to Warren Shepherd Photography, connecting my name directly with my work. By doing this, I’m not just offering photography services — I’m reinforcing my mission to deliver a personal touch that is true to who I am and the portraits I create.
The Struggles of Rebranding
Much like the angst experienced while trying to discover and assert one’s own identity during the teen years (often tripping over a number of dubious fashion trends along the way) the process of rebranding is not for the faint of heart.
What started as a simple change of name quickly turned into a stomach-churning, full-scale overhaul of every aspect of my business — from the website and all its accompanying backlinks, to my CRM (Customer Relationship Management) platform (Pixieset) and all its inherent paraphernalia, to social media handles and links. Pulling on that one thread threatened to unravel everything — including my sanity.
But perhaps most important to me, was preserving the online presence I had carefully built during this past year. PHOTOMONKEY STUDIO had established decent SEO rankings, and there was a real concern about losing visibility during the transition. After countless consultations with Squarespace experts (my website platform of choice), including a lot of back and forth with their customer support team, we were able to secure proper 301 redirects and maintain traffic while moving everything over to warrenshepherdphotography.com.
On a more personal level, letting go of the PHOTOMONKEY STUDIO branding was tough, as I’d grown quite fond of that quirky little monkey icon, not to mention the fact that it had been a comforting emotional anchor from the beginning of my photographic adventure.
But embracing this new identity feels like the right move, a liberating move, one that aligns with both my current work and my vision for the future.
~ actor Dominique Brownes
Completing the Rebrand
So, if you made it to this blog, you’ll have gathered that I survived my trial by fire, and the rebrand is now complete: my new website, warrenshepherdphotography.com, is live! The new design reflects my clean, bold style, emphasizing the personal connection I bring to my work.
Photo sessions are more flexible, personal, and bespoke, affording each client the freedom to express who they truly are in a casual and relaxed atmosphere. I’ve also refined my pricing model to be more client-friendly, allowing them to only pay for the images they truly love.
In addition to the visual and structural changes, the language of my business now better communicates what I offer. The tagline "Portrait Photography with a Personal Touch" highlights my uniquely attentive approach and embodies everything I stand for: creating portraits that are intimate, authentic, and tailored specifically to the individual.
~ Sylvon Music
Looking to the Future
I have no doubt that in the years to come, my evolution will continue. After all, a child that doesn’t question the status quo, that doesn’t push themselves out of their comfort zone to learn new things, to experience new wonders, and to meet new challenges, is one that is doomed to exist in a stifling world of mediocrity.
As Warren Shepherd Photography, my focus will remain on creating powerful portraits that tell a story. Whether elevating the celebrity profile of an actor, or capturing a musician in their element, or working with professionals to enhance their personal brand, I’m excited to push my creative boundaries and take on new challenges.
I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who’s been part of this journey —especially to Tom Trevatt for his advice and mentorship during this transition; his perspective was invaluable.
For those who’ve followed me this far, I thank you for your support. And for those new to my creative world, hop on — there’s plenty of room on the bandwagon!
I’m excited to see where this new chapter takes me, and I’m looking forward to creating more dynamic portraits that not only capture the moment, but tell the story behind it, all through my simple lens.
