Tag Archives: Washington DC

Local Art Events We Are Excited About

Looking for something fun to do this summer and fall? Well, we compiled some of our favorite art shows, workshops, tours, and fairs we are excited to check out this summer. Take a look at the list and see if any interest you.


Georgetown Architecture Tour

When: Sun, Jul 28, 2019, 10 AM + Sat, Aug 10, 2019, 10 AM
Where:  Baked & Wired
1052 Thomas Jefferson St NW, Washington, DC 20007
Cost: $25
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About the event: Home to palatial mansions, elegant cemeteries, stately churches, and a world-class university, join DC Design Tours to explore the highlights of D.C.’s most exclusive neighborhood, with a focus on architecture and urban planning.


Mural Tour of Washington DC

When: Saturdays at 1PM
Where: Group meets next to the African American Civil War Memorial corner of Vermont Avenue and U Street
Cost: $30
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About the event: Meet our cultural historian certified tour guides as they give a 120-minute walking tour of the Mid-Town neighborhoods, U Street and Shaw Washington, D.C. These areas are the epicenter of the African American Art District. See these collections of curated murals by artists from around the world painted on the walls of our city’s buildings. Join this 90-minute guided tour to learn about this unique street art in our Washington, D.C. neighborhoods. Hear how street art rose from an idea of beatification of neglected industrial zones to become a highlight of the community.


Booze and Brushes Free Live Art Show

When: Thu, August 1, 2019 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Where: sPACYcLOUd Lounge
2309 18th Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20009
Cost: Free!
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About the event: Join us for our second DC Creators Art Show!! 😀 Support your local artists, and see what they are creating! Enjoy great music, and wonderful vibes while you browse the space to explore the magical world of art. There will be a wide range of exhibitions, live art, CBD oils and drinks, gourmet vegan / vegetarian menu available. Make sure you check our “Creation Station” & Chill Zone on the back patio.


SAAM Arcade

When: Saturday, August 3 & Sunday, August 4
Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum
8th and F Streets, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Cost: Free!
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About the event: A free, family-friendly annual event for gamers of all levels

The fifth annual SAAM Arcade will be held on August 3 & 4, 2019. This free, family-friendly event invites gamers of all levels to test out new games and replay some of the classics! Each year, the Arcade features arcade cabinets, console games, and a selection of indie games centered around a particular theme.


Sketching: Draw and Discover

When: Tuesday, August 6, 2019, 2:30 – 4:30PM EDT
Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum
Cost: Free!
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About the event: Draw inspiration from the thousands of objects on display in the Luce Foundation Center and sketch your own work of art based on a weekly challenge provided by a Luce Foundation Center staff member. Some materials provided. Feel free to bring your own small sketchbook and pencils.


The Washington D.C. Pancakes & Booze Art Show

When: Thu, Sep 5, 2019, 7:00 PM – Fri, Sep 6, 2019, 2:00 AM 
Where: Howard Theater
620 T St. NW
Washington, DC 20001
Cost: $18
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About the event: Washington DC’s Underground Pop-Up Art Show is BACK on September 5th, 2019!

Come experience one of the largest pop-up art movements to hit North America over the past decade. Celebrate our 10th year serving FREE PANCAKES and introducing you to some of the nation’s leading emerging artists


Conservation Conversation: Preserving SAAM’s Collection

When: Weekly on Wednesdays at 4PM
Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum
Cost: Free!
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About the event: Learn how conservators use science, art history, and skill to preserve objects from the museum’s collections at the Lunder Conservation Center during this weekly tour.


Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival And Exhibition

When: Sat, Sep 21 09:00 AM-06:00 PM
Where: Hyattsville Community Development Corporation.
4312 Hamilton St, Hyattsville, MD 
Cost: Free!
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About the event: Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival And Exhibition is a 1 day event being held on 21 September 2019 in Hyattsville, United States Of America. This event showcases products like craft, food, fantastic food, homemade cakes, biscuits, , musical intrument items, arts, crafts, goods & much more.


Crafting Happy Hour: Handi-Hour

When: Wednesday, September 25, 2019, 5:30 – 8PM
Where: Renwick Gallery
1661 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006
Cost: $25
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About the event: Handi-hour is Washington, DC’s original “crafting happy hour.” Join us after work in the Renwick’s iconic Rubenstein Grand Salon for an evening of creativity, live music by local acts, and craft beer from DC breweries. Our featured crafts can be tailored to all skill levels, whether you’re a seasoned pro or haven’t made anything since your middle-school puffy paint days.

Tickets ($25) include all-you-can-craft supplies, craft instructions, two beers, a Handi-hour glass for beer (yours to take home!), and snacks. 21 and up. Valid ID required for entry. Tickets will go on sale approximately two weeks before the event.


Crafty Bastards Fall Art & Craft Fair

When: Sat, Sep 28, 2019, 10:00 AM – Sun, Sep 29, 2019, 5:00 PM
Where: The Yards
1300 First St SE,
Washington, DC
Cost: Free!
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About the event: Crafty Bastards(sm) Arts & Crafts Fair is an exhibition and sale of handmade alternative arts and crafts from independent artists presented by the Washington City Paper. The fair is all‑day and will offer goods for sale, food, entertainment, prizes, and more!

5 Reasons Why Your Business Needs A Website

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More often than not, people are turning to the internet for their consumer needs. It is obvious now more than ever that business that have a website do better than those that don’t. 

Here are five reasons your small business needs a website. 


1. Customers Expect A Website

According the the American Marketing Association six out of ten people expect a business to have an online presence. It is estimated that at least 50% of consumers use websites to gain information about a company.  In today’s marketplace, customers are much more inclined to overlook a company if the website is out of date, not user-friendly, or easily accessible.

2. You Will Show Up on Google Search Results

 The fact that more than 80% of consumers conduct online research before a purchase demonstrates the vital necessity of having an effective website to display your company’s products. The prospect of a business operating without a website means that the chance they will appear on the search engine results page (SERP) is close to none. Luckily, there are many avenues businesses can travel down to optimize an existing website to bring it up to date. You can customize your site with titles, meta descriptions, and keywords to make sure you are showing up at the top of Googles results. 

3. It’s Always Up and Working

A business can only be open so many hours a day, but people are online at all hours of the day and an effective website that is easily accessible can connect you with customers constantly. Not only can your website increase sales dramatically because now you are open 24/7, but it can also reach people who are restricted by geography. The ability of a website to connect with customers you never knew you had is a tremendous advantage.

4. Become More Competitive

It may go without saying, but the modern marketplace is fiercely competitive which makes having a website undoubtedly vital to your companies continued existence. By not optimizing your website there is a huge risk, if not a certain degree of certainty that you are disadvantaging yourself immensely and giving your competitors a huge edge. Today’s consumer tends to shop primarily online which means they will not be buying from a company whose website is years behind other competing brands let alone take them seriously. If you want people to take your company seriously then it’s a good idea to hop on the website bandwagon.

5. Control

Your website is your domain and this provides a company the luxury of having absolute control and autonomy over their public image and their interactions with customers. Control is something that a company rarely finds itself having, but a website can offer that which is a valuable luxury that can be leveraged to connect with customers on a much deeper level. There are many ways to leverage this control such as having a blog on the site to create a sense of community on your page between customers and yourself which allows for an in-depth understanding of your target market. Your website is a constant presence on the web, this allows a company to constantly try and dial in your effectiveness in reaching customers and improving your service. By leveraging your control over your website and your company’s public image you are also giving the user the chance to be as connected and informed as they would be shopping at a store.

Why Video Marketing is Essential

As we get further into 2018, you may wonder what the next step is in promoting your company. Enter: Video Marketing.

Video is rapidly progressing as one the most powerful tools for a company’s marketing strategy. Whether it’s a company profile, animated ad, or social media concentrated, etc., video is a versatile way to capture your audience’s attention online while pushing forward your company brand.


Some Quick Stats

  • 64% of consumers purchase after watching branded social videos (Tubular Insights)
  • Viewers retain 95% of message when they watch it in a video, compared to 10% when reading it in text. (Wirebuzz)
  • 70% of users say that product videos are helpful in the decision process when it comes to a product (Hubspot)
  • Social video generates 1200% more shares than text and images combined (smallbiztrends)
  • Including a video on a landing page can increase conversion rates by 80% (Unbounce)
  • Video posts on Facebook have 135% greater organic reach than photo posts (Social Media Today)
  • By 2019, global consumer internet video traffic will account for 80% of all consumer internet traffic (smallbiztrends)

With stats like those, it’s hard to argue why you wouldn’t use video as your next marketing tool. So where do you begin?

At Bright Light, we offer full video production services including filming, editing, animation, motion graphics, and more. Below is just a sample of what we can offer you.

Company Profile

A company profile is usually a 60-90 second video that gives your company a face and tells your story. This is beneficial in a way that allows potential clients to build a trust and understanding when it comes to working with you.

Animation

Animated videos are a great way to explain numbers or processes within your company that keeps things fresh, light, and most importantly, fun. These are the types of videos that make a hard sell easy to swallow.

Product Ad

For clients who want to take their project to a full-scale commercial production, these videos help to gain the client’s interest in the product, leading to easier investment.

Want to see more? Visit our Video page.

In conclusion, company brands will continue to face the never ending challenge of keeping up with the latest trends in an ever-changing online market. But one thing has always been static and that’s a consumer’s attraction to visual storytelling. Video marketing will continue to evolve more than it currently has and it can only benefit your business now and in the long run. Make the leap and get started.

Ready to create your next video? Contact us today!

Bright Light Visits Creative South 2017

Creative South is an annual 3-day conference down south in Columbus, GA catered toward creatives ranging from artists, graphic designers, developers, letterers, and more. It had been on our radar for quite some time and we decided this year we had to make it happen.

What an incredible experience! It was like being amongst our creative brethren. The conference took place at the historical Springer Theater in downtown Columbus. Each day was filled with talks from various creatives, covering different topics from realities of failures, pricing your clients, cultural influences on design, and much more. With the hoard of experiences and creative backgrounds of each speaker, there truly wasn’t one bad or unnecessary talk during this conference. The perspectives alone were enlightening.

You know what else was awesome? The SWAG! From free camping backpacks and t-shirts to all the amazing art, we left with way too much cool stuff, and much lighter wallets. Besides that, we even got to witness the creative artistry of various conference-goers who battled in the different events like the Adobe Creative Jam and Ink Wars.

The vibe at Creative South was great. Still an intimate festival, their slogan “Come as friends and leave as family” rang true. We met so many awesome creative people from all over the country, sharing the same love for the creative field.

We’re already looking forward to Creative South 2018!

Creative South Kickoff Mixer
Ink Wars Battle
Ink Wars Battle

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Ink Wars Winner: Attack of the Killer Peach

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Swag Life

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Charles S. Anderson

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Ade Hogue

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Bob Ewing

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5 Tips to Stay Within Your Project Budget

When tackling a new project, you’re usually conditioned to think things will be straightforward: get project done by deadline and stay within your budget. Simple, right?

Not always.

More often than not,  we run into issues that both lead us to going way past our deadline and over our budget. It doesn’t have to be like this. Regardless of the size of your project, there are many ways to keep things on track.


1. Stay organized

All projects need a proper project manager – someone to maximize time, budget, and resources that’ll lead you to the finish line. Have a proper upfront meeting that can clearly establish the goals of the project – either laying out what kind of shots you want or what story you want to tell.

2. Know your scope

While successfully finishing your project is the end goal, you have to take into account all the steps it takes to get there. Each step is equally important as each step in your project depends on what came before it. Managing the scope of your project helps your stay on track

3. Proper feedback

Provide feedback that contains your input as well as a solution. Giving feedback that simply says that it’s not working for you or not what you want, makes moving forward toward your goal much harder than it should be. Providing next steps and ideas to make the project more to your liking, and reasonably so, will keep you on the right track. Adding more time to figure out what works best will ultimately cost more money.

4. Be prepared.

Have content ready to be implemented in order to finish out your project and meet your deadline. Let’s say you’re creating a brand new website. Not having content ready during the development phase of your project can easily put you behind. What good is a pretty website without the copy and photos to fill it ? Stay on track.

5. Know how to use your rounds of revisions

Make use of your rounds of revisions to either edit or improve the content already provided, not add additional content. Adding additional content which will also probably be revised only extends the project, rather than meeting your original deadline. For instance, if you decide that after x amount of revisions that you want to start over with, say, different colors and fonts, that will end up costing you more. Another example would be going into a fifth round of revisions, when your scope only included three rounds. This will not only extend the project, but will also end up costing you more.


Having a less-stressful, easy and successful project is not always a reality, but is a possibility. Document the time and steps taken throughout your project and you’ll already be one step ahead. Stay organized and revise accordingly, knowing full well how you’re project should be progressing. It’s always a learning game and will be an experience that’ll keep you on track for the next project you undertake.

Ready to get started on your next project? Contact us today!

Art Installations: Spruce Up Your Workspace

Office spaces are slowly, but surely, moving away from the typical boring white walls. These days more companies are heading in the direction of colorful decor that brightens up company moral and makes a statement about one’s business. Companies like Google and Facebook inspire visual effectiveness when it comes to office decor and a sure fire way to do that is getting creative with art installations.

The Benefits of an Office or Retail Art Installation

Art Installations boost moral.

In general, visual elements create an exciting atmosphere in the workplace. Colorful custom installations create a new boost of energy and can positively impact employee performances. In addition to that, it influences productivity levels, moods, and employee behavior. They also become an instant eye-catcher for new and existing customers.

Art Installations work anywhere.

We’ve discussed office spaces and installations on office walls but that doesn’t necessarily restrict your creativity to just that. You can spruce up outside walls that can attract the attention of an entire community in addition to your office space. Think big!

Art Installations can send a message.

Installations are always custom and unique and can provide a statement about your company and what your brand represents. As a design company, the Bright Light office art sends the message of “Create Your Future” as we create productions and solutions for companies that ensure the opportunity for businesses to grow and evolve. Depending on what your brand stands for, there’s always a creative outlet that will allow you to stand out.

Check out some photos of art installations we’ve done below.

Ready to spruce up your office space? Contact us today!

When is it Time for a New Website?

Your website is your greatest asset for attaining new business. Especially in this day in age where people walk around with the internet in their pockets, constantly thinking of what businesses they can use for their needs and necessities, having a fully-functioning website puts the ball easily in your court. But not any website will do. Having a website that is outdated, or poorly designed, or isn’t responsive, works against your more now then it ever did. If this is the case for your, it’s time for a new website.

But my website is just fine! I don’t need a new one. Yes, you do.

If you’re on the fence, ask yourself these questions:

Is my website servicing my current needs?

Businesses continue to grow over time and that means you could easily be outgrowing your current website. Does it have features you need to showcase your brand new call-to-action? Does it showcase your up-to-date portfolio? Technology also grows and evolves in addition to your business, and it happens that things that were “super awesome” and “flashy” back in 2011 are just not ideal in 2016.

A new website just might be the thing you need to grow and evolve with the future.

Is there functionality I’m looking to have that my current website does not provide?

It’s 2016, if you’re website isn’t optimized for mobile aka Responsive Web Design, then you’re doing it wrong. In the last year, mobile searches have already surpassed desktop search, so if you’re website isn’t mobile-ready, you are missing out on a huge market of potential customers on the prowl for you business.

Not sure if you’re site is responsive? Use Google’s Mobile Friendly Test to find out.

Are you selling products physical or digital? Why not sell them online with your own easy-to-manage online store? It’s easier than ever to incorporate a an e-commerce store like Woocommerce into your website. Take orders, make customize your product, manage stock — there’s an array of flexibility without the hassle of an actual store.

Have my marketing efforts changed?

As your company ages, so can your branding and marketing efforts. If you’ve changed either of these things, it’s also probably time you redesign your website too. As said previously, your website is one of (if not the most) important business assets. If your current brand isn’t lining up with your website, your audience isn’t going to connect. It’s time to update.

Why can’t I make changes and updates to my website?

There’s no excuse to not be using a content management system (CMS) to manage your website. Systems like WordPress have come a long way in making it so much easier for you to be in control of what goes in and out of your website. Long gone are the days of having to edit lines of code to make a simple text edit, or upload some new photos.

Circling back to outdated and poorly designed sites, it’s time to redevelop your site to a fully-functioning and easy to use CMS that will allow you to keep up with the times and keep your website looking fresh.


If any or all of these apply to you, it’s time for a new website.

Ready to take the leap? We can help. Contact us today!

Behind the Scenes: Cushman & Wakefield Washington DC Metropolitan Video Portfolio

We teamed up once again with our clients over at DTZ and Cushman & Wakefield, for a property shoot in and around Montgomery County, Maryland. Our purpose for this shoot was to showcase 9 (nine) different property listings available to be used for various marketing materials aimed toward future tenants.

Over three days, we made stops all over the Rockville, Bethesda, and the Downtown Silver Spring area, capturing beautiful shots of each of the properties, various floors that include the lobby, tenant spaces, and aerial views from the property rooftops. In addition to this, we captured several surrounding amenities that capture the desirable features available for each properties in the heart of each city (restaurants, shopping, etc).

Below are some behind the scenes images of the shoot.

Event Branding: Pumpkin Rock N Roll

Bright Light Media, along with GIGS, Headfirst Summer Camps, and Georgetown Events came together to throw the first annual community event, Pumpkin Rock N Roll in Kensington, MD.

Warner Circle Park was transformed into a full-blown Halloween extravaganza, filled with tons of family-friendly attractions, festival-style music performances, costume contests, and the main event: The Pumpkin Roll, a derby race of Halloween pumpkins-turned-boxcars.

And with over 2,000 attendees, the event was definitely a success! 

BLM was responsible for branding the event, putting together a logo and all the marketing materials to share with the community. We put together an event website, designed posters, flyers, volunteer t-shirts, and event banners.

We couldn’t have asked for a better time, weather, or turn out. Let’s do it again next year!

Need branding for your next event? Contact us today!


See photos from Pumpkin Rock ‘N Roll below.

Managing Your Brand

As stated in our previous blog, an effective brand creates an emotional feeling or attachment, providing a better chance the everyday person will identify, use, and stay loyal to your company/brand. This is the goal. Your finalized logo is only half the battle. The other half: you need to practice an effective form of brand management.

What is brand management?

Brand management allows you to control and supervise all the tangible and intangible parts of your brand. There are concrete things like the product itself, print materials, publication relations (PR) and the not so concrete things like that emotional reaction to the actual product that we keep mentioning. Managing is a constant process of gathering all the various ways your brand is being used on all media fronts. You want to capture the attention of your niche market, you want them to buy your product, remember you, and most importantly, become a returning customer.

So how do you go about this? Here are some key points to effective brand management:

Create brand guidelines

  • Gather brand colors, logo, and the voice you’re going for
  • What is your brand’s agenda?
  • Use your brand in different scenes and settings
  • Find the ways your brand works appropriately – what works and what doesn’t
  • What sets you apart from your competitors?

Consistency is key

  • Once your logo and/or tagline have been created use it everywhere your brand appears.
  • The more your brand appears, the easier it is for people to have that memorable relationship with it and that’s the goal, to be memorable
  • Be consistent with your brand over time and across different platforms
  • Achieve consistency and credibility with your brand and company

Find your market and place yourself accordingly

  • Position your brand into similar areas for what your brand represents
  • Figure out what sets you apart from your competitors who are reaching out to the same market
  • Utilize social media and communicate and keep up with your target markets

In essence, an effective brand is only as good as its competent management. Be prepared to constantly push your brand. One successful push doesn’t equal a successful brand. Monitor your brand as the world perceives it. Press for a strong and clear message for the market you are trying to reach and make sure they have just as clear an understanding of your company as you do. Make a lasting impression.

Need help managing your brand? Contact us today!