Spending the Afternoon Photographing Do or Dye Designs in Downtown Aurora, Illinois
Some branding sessions feel like work.
This one felt like a celebration.
When Debi reached out about photographing Do or Dye Designs, she already had a strong and awesome vision forming! So before our session, we talked about her concept and kept refining it till it was exactly what she wanted. Bold. Editorial. Playful. Confident. She knew she did not want “basic” salon photos. She wanted personality. She wanted attitude. She wanted something that actually felt like them.
And I absolutely love that!
We talked through the newspaper concept, the “Hair by…” statements, the energy they wanted for their upcoming website launch, and how they wanted their audience in Aurora, IL to feel when they landed on their site.
That vision setting process is such a big part of branding photography for me now. Today, I guide all of my branding clients through a Creative Direction Call before we shoot. We map out mood, message, styling, and intention. But whether it happens through a formal call or collaborative planning, it always comes down to clarity.
Once we had that clarity, we locked in a date for me to come photograph them on location at their beauty salon in downtown Aurora, Illinois.
Photographing Women Entrepreneurs in Their Own Space
Walking into Do or Dye Designs at 24 S Stolp Ave in Aurora felt electric.
Music was blasting. The girls were filming TikToks. There was laughter, confidence, and this underlying sense of pride. Like, “We built this.”
As an Aurora, IL branding photographer, this is my favorite kind of environment to step into. Real. Lived in. High energy.
Women owned business ownership in motion.
There is something powerful about being in the space of creative, ambitious, empowered women.
We laughed.
We danced.
And yes, we twerking was also involved. lol
We hyped each other up.
We adjusted poses and refined angles.
We made it feel editorial without losing authenticity.
We captured:
• Individual portraits of each stylist
• Team branding photos
• Editorial style concept shots
• On location images inside their downtown Aurora salon
• Content for their website launch
• Social media ready visuals
But more than that, we captured their dynamic.
And that is what people connect to.
Why On Location Branding Photography Matters
There is something different about photographing women entrepreneurs inside the space they built.
When I get to photograph branding sessions on location in Aurora, IL, (especially for women owned businesses) the images feel layered because the space itself tells part of the story. The energy fills in the rest.
Do or Dye Designs has been open since April 2017, and you can feel that history when you walk in. It is not just a beauty salon in downtown Aurora. It is a space where women come to express themselves, transform, and feel confident and being trusted to document that is something I do not take lightly.
Visit Do or Dye Designs in Downtown Aurora
If you are local to Aurora, Illinois or the surrounding suburbs and looking for a beauty salon that celebrates individuality, creativity, and confidence, go see them.
24 S Stolp Ave
Aurora, IL 60502
They are talented. They are welcoming. And the energy is real.
You can learn more about their salon and book services here:
https://www.doordyedesignsaurora.com/
Debi Lerma, Owner of Do or Dye Designs
If You Are a Woman Building Something in Aurora, IL
If you are a salon owner, creative entrepreneur, wellness brand, or women owned business in Aurora and you have been thinking about investing in branding photography, then I’m your girl!
Before any branding session, I begin with a Creative Direction Call. We map out your vision, your aesthetic, your message, and how you want your audience to feel when they see you online.
You do not need a fully formed concept.
You just need to know you are ready to be seen.
If you are ready to create branding images that feel aligned, intentional, and true to your energy, I would love to build that with you.
You can book your Creative Direction Call by clicking here and a new page will open for you!
