I was commissioned to create a new brand identity for Richard Sheaves, a successful documentary photographer. The branding needed to reflect a personal touch, authenticity, dignity and the serious nature of the subjects Richard captures. The font chosen for the top line of the logotype ‘Richard Sheaves’ is balanced to create an aesthetically pleasing contrast, allow the two words to sit together with no space, while being clearly legible, and to reflect the desired tone and brand messaging.
The signature is great way to indicate personal touch and authenticity.
Richard Sheaves is a photographer who travels the journey alongside his subjects. Slowly and imperceptibly, Richard’s uniqueness lies in his empathy and ability to-develop trust. He allows the characters to lead their own journey, to reveal raw and authentic emotions. As a documentary storyteller his tenacity, patience and sensitive approach enables his images to explode into a rich tableau of multi-layered emotions. Richard’s world takes him to places where others may be hesitant to venture. He will go into that little non-descriptive hut and emerge with a powerful story that goes beyond the obvious. Sensual and explorative, Richard’s raison d’être is to peel the layers and to encapsulate the moment that defines the subject.
Case Study
Opportunity
Richard Sheaves—an established documentary photographer—commissioned a brand identity that carries personal authenticity and dignity, matching the seriousness of his subject matter while remaining understated and clear.
Objectives
- Express a personal, human touch without distracting from the work.
- Create a name-led signature that reads composed and professional on prints, publications and digital headers.
- Ensure strong legibility where space is tight, including small captions and watermark-style uses.
- Set simple rules so presentation stays consistent across portfolios and communications.
Insight & Strategy
Documentary audiences respond to sincerity and restraint. We centred the system on a typographic logotype balanced to allow Richard and Sheaves to sit together with no internal space while remaining clearly readable, paired with a signature element that signals authorship and trust.
Identity Solution
- Logotype: Carefully tuned letterforms and spacing create a poised top line for “Richard Sheaves,” achieving clarity even without a space between the names.
- Signature Element: A discrete, hand-style signature introduces a personal note that supports the documentary voice and communicates authenticity.
- Lockups: Flexible arrangements for long-form covers, page footers and simple on-image ident where branding must remain unobtrusive.
- Usage Guidance: Clear-space, minimum-size and placement rules ensure the identity remains readable across prints, captions, proposals and web.
Competitive Edge Now
The identity delivers a calm, credible presence that frames the work without grandstanding. The typographic discipline improves readability in small contexts, while the signature detail reinforces authorship and fosters trust at a glance.
What This Enables
A cohesive foundation for exhibitions, publications and client presentations—positioning Richard to present new stories with consistency and polish across print and digital touchpoints.
