From stock to standout:
Erica’s HIYA VIBES transformation
Erica is a freelance digital PR consultant who helps brands get in front of new audiences through stories, strategy, and links that actually mean something. But her online presence wasn’t doing her justice. For someone whose house is full of treasures, and who dresses like dopamine in human form, she was showing up online with… nothing but a few headshots and a handful of stock images.
When I asked Erica what she was struggling with in her visuals before HIYA VIBES, her answer was:
‘I had none. I was using stock imagery or photos that I had taken myself, none of which really represented who I am as a brand’.
Examples of Erica’s new images. See more images -> here.
The Challenge
Erica’s words during the process stuck with me. She said she wanted her brand to feel like:
- Fun, unapologetic, and a little cringe (in the best way)
- Curated chaos: colourful, bold, but with strategy running underneath
- Professionalism is a social construct
She also said:
‘My visuals need to feel like me, not like a stock photo pretending to be me’.
That was our north star.
Examples of Erica’s new images. See more images -> here.
The Vibe Definition
We started with the Vibe Check questionnaire, followed by a video call where Erica poured out her thoughts on her work, her clients, and her dream aesthetic. From there I created her Vibe Definition Report, distilling her words into a colour palette, brand essence, and themed shoot concepts.
When I asked Erica to share how she felt when she saw her report for the first time, her response was:
‘The minute the Vibe Definition Report dropped I was absolutely thrilled; Marianne had nailed it 1000%. There was so much consideration gone into my answers, and the examples Marianne provided could not have been more on brief. After seeing this report come through, I was so excited for the photoshoot to happen, as I just wanted these examples to become my reality, because they were so much better than even I could have expected.’
She added:
‘This is when it all started to feel real to me, and I became excited about my brand: it finally felt something I could be proud of!’
The Shoot
Once Erica approved her themes, I styled and shot her HIYA VIBES library. Props came from everywhere: my collection, charity shop hunts, little retro treasures, and a few clever nods to Erica’s world. Rotary phones, iced coffee, crossword puzzles, colour-coded notes… chaos, but curated.
When I asked Erica how she felt when she received her library, her reaction was one for the books:
‘I SCREAMED. It was love at first sight. I was absolutely blown away, in all honesty. I immediately dropped what I was doing and went on a side quest of updating profile photos and blog headers and backgrounds and planning other ways I could use the images straight away. I was so proud of them and just wanted to show them off!’
The Toolkit
Every HIYA VIBES library comes with a Toolkit that helps you make the most of your images. When I asked Erica whether the Toolkit was useful to her, this is what she said:
‘Incredibly so. The examples of how to use the images for things like LinkedIn and Instagram and the aspect ratios to use, as well as how to integrate the files into Google Slides and other things I hadn’t even considered was so useful, as were the example font suggestions. Marianne even provided Canva templates that can be edited as needed, which was just above and beyond what I was expecting from her’.
The Whole Process
When I asked Erica to reflect on the whole process (Vibe Check + Vibe Definition + Library) and how it helped her, this is what she had to say:
‘The Vibe Check made me really think about how I want to be perceived as a brand, and what I want to be known for, things I had never thought about before. It was a really detailed questionnaire that I took some time to fill out, not wanting to rush through and have the output not really represent what I had in my mind, and it was so worth it.
Every step of the process has been well explained and detailed, and provided loads of examples and advice on how certain pieces of content could be used and on what platforms. This was so much more in depth and detailed than what I was expecting, which has been so appreciated and given me lots to think about when it comes to how I want to use the content’.
The Outcome
In her feedback, Erica shared how the HIYA VIBES experience shifted things for her. When I asked what’s changed for her since her experience, this is what she said:
‘EVERYTHING. I now have a brand that I’m proud of and that makes me want to stand up and be visible, that makes me look like I know my shit, and gets people interested in hearing from me. It’s made me want to be more active on my website so that I can show off more of the content, and has pushed me to reach out to clients to get testimonials to go along with what now looks like a shiny new website. It’s lit a fire under me that I hope stays burning for a long while!’.
See more images -> here.
Why It Matters
HIYA VIBES isn’t about decorating your feed. It’s about making you feel seen, understood, and proud to show up.
Erica’s transformation proves that when your visuals reflect your real self: unapologetic, bold, playful, smart… everything changes. You stop hiding. You start shining. When I asked Erica what she would say if she were to recommend HIYA VIBES to a friend, this is what she said:
‘If you are stuck in a rut with your branding or even your own identity, then HIYA VIBES is what you need. Not only has the process been really smooth and straightforward, but has made me consider certain aspects about my business that matter to me, and that deserve to be shouted about, and how I can now do that with pride. I feel really excited for new clients to see my content and immediately want to work with me because of how fun and friendly my brand feels. A picture tells a thousand words, and the content Marianne has provided says so much more about me and my brand than my own words ever could’.
Ready to Find Your Vibe?
If you’re ready to stop borrowing stock images and start building a brand that feels like you, HIYA VIBES is your next step.
Start with the VIBE CHECK, explore your VIBE DEFINITION REPORT, and walk away with a HIYA VIBES still life library + TOOLKIT that’s as one-of-a-kind as you are.
Marianne
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