LEYKA Photography

Editorial Brand Identity for a Leeds-Based Photographer

LEYKA Photography is a Leeds-based photography business specialising in cinematic, story-led images of real people, relationships and everyday life. When Kaley Howland-Smith came to me, she wanted a brand identity that felt distinctive and considered, without losing the warmth and authenticity at the heart of her work — a brand that would make her ideal clients feel "this is different" the moment they landed on her website.

The Brief

Kaley's photography blends natural, documentary-style storytelling with an editorial eye for light, color and composition. She wanted her brand identity to reflect that same balance: creative and fashion-led, but still warm, approachable and built for long-term client relationships rather than one-off transactions. Positioned as a mid-range service with room to grow into a premium, established name, the brand needed to feel intentional from day one.

The Concept

The final identity leans into an editorial, fashion-forward aesthetic with a cinematic, slightly vintage warmth. A refined serif wordmark with custom, softly curved terminals brings elegance and structure, while a distinctive stacked oval logomark — where the lettering gently connects into the frame — gives LEYKA a signature mark unlike typical photography branding. A rich colour palette of burgundy, terracotta, warm sand and cream grounds the identity in golden-hour, film-inspired tones, paired with fine pinstripe detailing for an editorial, magazine-like finish.

The Result

A cohesive brand identity system — including primary logo, secondary oval mark, monogram, color palette, typography pairing and supporting patterns — that positions LEYKA as a distinctive, editorial photography brand with genuine warmth and staying power.

Client review

“I honestly couldn’t recommend Diana enough. I came to her with a photography business that was still just an idea in my head, and she somehow managed to turn it into a brand that feels completely me. She really listened to what I wanted, understood the feeling and style I was trying to create, and was incredibly patient and thoughtful throughout the whole process. Every detail feels considered, and the finished branding is more beautiful than I could have imagined. Launching my business felt like a huge and slightly terrifying step, and seeing the identity Diana created for LEYKA made it suddenly feel real. I genuinely couldn’t have asked for a better person to help bring it to life. Thank you so much, Diana. ❤️”

-Kaley, LEYKA Photography