In January, we did our annual all-staff meeting, and then I scheduled 1:1 meetings with every team member to do a SWOP.

Yes. SWOP. You’re probably thinking, “Wait. Isn’t it SWOT?”

Yes. It is. Strengths. Weaknesses. Opportunities. Threats.

But when I sat down to plan those meetings, the “T” didn’t sit right with me. We weren’t analyzing competitors. We weren’t mapping out market risks. We were talking about our people.

Real talk for a second.

Before Bright & Gray Creative existed, I was actually studying for my real estate license. I’ve always loved real estate. The stories behind homes, the connection, the why behind the work.

A few months ago, a physical therapist opening a new practice came to us as a referral. Like so many business owners at the beginning, he had been thinking deeply about what his brand should represent. He had even run some logo ideas through ChatGPT and landed on a concept that resonated: mountains, as a metaphor for the work his clients are doing every day.

Overview

Amen Annie is a Christian woman-owned small business creating faith-centered gifts designed to mark life’s meaningful moments. Bright & Gray Creative partnered with Amen Annie to build the brand from the ground up , shaping not only how the brand looks, but how it communicates, connects, and grows across every touchpoint.

This project is a strong example of our story-driven, ecosystem-based approach to branding, content, and social media.

Is there anything sweeter than a baby? Especially when that baby is your snuggly nephew?! I had the honor of traveling to the Atlanta area in May to take newborn photos of the newest member of our family — Wesley! I snuggled him all day and took some photos in the middle of everything.

Taylor and Wes are getting married — REALLY SOON! Taylor reached out to me about getting engagement photos done in February, and I was so excited to be able to make it happen. They had already had some engagement photos taken, but wanted a few more recent photos before their big day. Seriously, they’re my kind of people.

Early in March Jason and I had the distinct privilege of being capturing an event that has been 100 years in the making! The University of Alabama Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity celebrated a full century of taking up residence on campus — and they were ready to celebrate big! But what’s a BIG celebration without proof that it happened?!