Since our re-branding last year the front flyleaf of every Queensberry album has been embossed with the new Q-mark. Why's it there? It’s simple really: to sign our work with pride and to acknowledge the craftsmanship and detailing that goes into every album we build. We're doing the same thing that you do as a photographer when you sign your work. We're branding it. Let me explain in detail what we're doing and why, because our goal is to build a brand that will support you as our clients.

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Branding is primarily about getting recognised - not a "camera" but a Leica, not a "wedding album" but a Queensberry, not "wedding photographers" but individual photographers like these people, for example. The purpose of brand recognition is to add brand value. If it's Bentley, Hermès, Rolex, Chanel, it's worth more. It's better made ... more exclusive ... confers status ... worn by celebs ... made from hen's teeth or unicorn leather ... so it's worth more. The brand justifies a better price. If that sounds cynical it's not meant to be. You need to be recognised for the right reasons. A strong brand is your reward for long years building your reputation. Louis Vuitton and Burberry have been building theirs for more than 150 years, Rolls Royce for well over a century, Apple for three decades. So ... Queensberry wants to build a brand so they can charge more? No, so you can charge more! Right now Queensberry's brand recognition is very high with photographers but much lower with consumers, who, let's face it, are the people paying the bills. Most people who see the Queensberries that you design and sell will recognise the quality of the product but won't recognise the Q. For all our sakes we need to change that. Branding our albums, our bride book, our consumer-oriented website, our Facebook pages, cross-promotion with clients - they're all designed to build brand recognition AND to help drive business to our clients. We're building the Queensberry brand, but we're doing it so we can add value to yours*. We hope you'll understand why we stand strong and proud on our "Q" and why it needs to be there. Cheers, Ian PS I hate to sound mercenary but I hope you treat our albums as a profit driver, not simply an expense. If you were selling handbags you'd charge more for an Oroton or an Armani. This may sound like I'm stating the obvious but not everybody gets it... *Unlike other album suppliers we ask for an up-front commitment from would-be customers and we won't sell to anyone else, including other photographers. We really are committed to your success.