Brand Launch: À la Mood

Even though we work with a lot of photographers, we LOVE working with other types of creatives. Especially when those creative adventures involve food! Today we’re sharing a brand we created for Erin Swanson of À la Mood. It combines her love of sweets, nature and the etherial in a way that we’re super excited about! 

After walking through a branding exercise with Erin, this is the mood board we came up with: 

Tell us about what you do: 
Space and food styling and sweets for intimate events, styled photo shoots, workshop collaboration, and private clients seeking social media visual brand enhancement. I provide creative direction to ensure a client’s visualized look is brought to life. The sweets are made-to-order custom sweets/desserts/pastries delivered in sexy packaging with unique hand-written notes, nature of note selected at time of order.

Why did you decide to get start this business?
I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur in the creative industry. I want to travel and collaborate with other artistic and creative entrepreneurs and provide my creative abilities to the bridal/fashion and food industry. I have always had a passion for photography but prefer to spend my days hunched over a floral and food covered table than editing photos. So, with my passion for sweet consumables I felt this business model was best for my chances at long-term success and preferred lifestyle revolving around kitchens, mine and abroad. I get to dive into my love for creative exploration and bring everyone together over food… who doesn’t love that? There are a lot of businesses making dinner at home easy and satisfying [blue apron, sunbasket, etc] but none involve dessert. A major reason I decided to take the pastry and baking arts program rather than regulary culinary program is because pastry is much more challenging, so if I can create a simple way to help others make a more challenging dessert from home it can incorporate the same fun cooking experience the dinner companies are creating, but this will revolve around the sexier late-night cravings of sweets.

And the final brand: 

Who is your target client? Please include a description of any avatars you have created. Be as specific as possible.
My ideal client is an entrepreneur and in-the-know lifestyle food and fashion blogger. She’s a rule-breaker and not afraid to say no. An avid reader, she loves a compelling fiction novel that always involves an independent and strong female character in danger, fighting for her life. Joan of Arc and those sadly persecuted in the Salem Witch Trials are her inspirational figures. Well-traveled [and still traveling] educated millennial who wants to know her event will be unique and publish-worthy, yet, small and intimate. She’s visited many of the major destinations of each of the continents, but always seeking small sleepy villages to explore and experience the authentic cuisine and lifestyle and feature the smallest intimate moments through provocative creative writing on her travel blog. Her favorite American movie is Ever After, she’s always on the hunt for an original copy of the book featured in it, and her favorite quote from the movie she often uses is, “I’m only here for the food.” Her favorite fashion pieces are custom western inspired hats and silk ascots, a diverse wardrobe assortment that includes victorian royalty, conservative Southern Oriental, and old-fashioned Parisian ruffles and raw linen[@notPerfectLinen], every outfit emphasizing at least a touch of femininity. She enjoys expensive sweet vermouth and steak tartare, and isn’t afraid to try foreign mystery delicacies. Farm-to-table is an important concept she wants to always support. Dessert is a requirement whether she eats dinner or not. Strong espresso and lace intimates are a part of everyday comforts. Instagram is life. She has a true passion for purchasing from and supporting small business artisans, locally and abroad. Everywhere she goes her iPhone and a photography camera is on hand. She is self-aware and always self-exploring. Every time she comes home to recharge she tests out those authentic recipes she was handed while abroad. She constantly jots down small intimate thoughts and sensations in her leather bound journal that is always on hand, hoping to compile them into a compelling thriller novel of her own one day.

Erin’s website launches soon but in the mean time, you can find her on:
Instagram