Not digging the type too much. I think it would work better all one weight, and perhaps with something with a smaller x-height.

penn

I think I might also try the original mark just a bit smaller, rotated about 45 degrees CW, and moved up above the top left of the t.

...it has the feel of an asterisk to it, so I wonder if turning it a bit will break up this symmetry you have going on. (I see that you intended this, that right now the mark almost acts as a sort of anterior parenthetical).

But symmetry often bores me.

Awesome, can't wait to see it.

Valid point about toxic waste, though I assume this logo isn't going to be black and yellow. Once you figure out a color scheme you might just give the rotation a shot and see if the right palette helps it read as you intended.

I also have to second not being in love with the chosen typeface. But I do see a good rationale for playing with the weights as you have--in terms of what you say might happen to it in the future (adding .com, etc.), right now it has the pleasing effect of balancing the logotype's heavy weight from the mark.

As an aside, good job. You always post nice logos on this forum, and as a designer who loves photography--I've enjoyed seeing the photographer logos you've created.

And another variant on the idea.

Once you raise the mark and add color, with "the girls" it starts to look like a little ribbon tied in a bow (esp. the version next to the /t/), which I don't think you want.

That's kind of where I come from on identity marks as well, as long as there's a connection back to the concept and the mark is strong enough to work I'm good with it.

I can kind of see the bow thing now that you mention it, but it doesn't bother me and actually could sort of work with the concept. I'm going to play with the scale a bit more but I think the asterisk/offset idea could have potential.

Archer?
Safran?
Bree? (You'd have to decide if that 'g' is working for you, assuming you stick with lowercase.)

Just take g from another typeface if Bree seems to be working otherwise.

Alrighty, after a bit of a disconnect over the holidays I've been back with the client, and after a lot of review and discussion we've decided to go with something that's pretty much purely typographic. I've spent a lot of time looking at typefaces the past few days and like this attempt with Milo Serif. I'm curious if the dots (still trying to wrap the "3" idea in there somehow) feel forced or if that works, or if there might be another alternative to convey that idea? Thanks.

I like that except for the stubby ascenders.

Instead of those weird three dots at the bottom,
what about making the dotless-i three vertical dots?

hhp

What about making the "e" in "the" a flipped "3"?

hhp

Tomi, nice :)

Great thoughts all, been doing some sketching and I'll post some progress hopefully this weekend. Thanks!

Which is a font I happen to own...great suggestion, thanks!

The problem with the top ones (th3 girls) is that you're mixing small caps with lowercase. It also looks like you have 'the' scaled back, so the contrasting weights of the strokes don't mesh well either.

If you did want to explore that direction further I'd say you would need to go all small caps. I would also set the type on the same line. That way might be rather simplistic (possibly boring) but I think Eplica gives enough flavor to the characters, that it might work. And of course if additional flavor is needed, you can always edit the characters to your liking.

I do like the lower experiments here with mrs. eaves. You're right about the italic working the best too. The one issue that may (or may not) become a problem will be that people might read it as 'the 3 girls'. Good stuff though.

Yeah, dots not workiiing.

--
penn

Interesting stuff.
FWIW the "3irls" potentially reads as "zirls" to me, with a descending "z" (and especially so in the italic version). But maybe that's a European/German thing.

How about a regular "i" but with 3 tittles instead of just one? Stacked, or maybe try a triangle/circle/flowery arrangement. Might be nicely subtle.

Thanks all, some good thoughts and feedback. The more I've looked at it the more I like the idea of "3irls" over the other options. altaira, I think you seeing the "z" is a bit of a European perspective but I can definitely see where you're coming from.

I think closing off the "3" just a bit does a lot, I played with adding an ear on the second variant but that's starting to look TOO much like a g and is losing it's "3-ness". Forgive the roughness, these are quick photoshop cut-and-pastes):

I think with a bit of refinement the first could work really well. Any thoughts on "the"? I think it could be a bit heavier but there's only one other weight in Mrs Eaves and it's quite bold. Thanks guys.

I too read it "zirls", but I am of Cyrillic origins, so "з" is unambiguously one of the alphabet letters for me.

Good eye hrant, thanks, very obvious now that you mention it. I think the kerning is pretty close other than that character. I may try manually adding a bit of weight to it as well, going to do some more experimenting with it this weekend.

How would the 'g' (3) look with a teardrop terminal, instead of squared off, on that top arm that you've extended?

I'm struggling with legibility in a lot of these. But the last one you posted, in your last post, was the easiest for me to understand.

But there does seem to be a lot of confusion!
Does E=3?
Does G=3?
Does 3=Z?
Does G=Z?

You've moved away from any association with photography that was present in your earlier sketches/comps. But whatever the solution is must be simple.

As far as the 3 goes, my thoughts go to the roman numeral III. Maybe that can be incorporated somehow instead of the I, or using the vertical strokes in the roman "Gir" or "irl." Of course, this might be too complicated as well!!

Great thoughts all, thanks. aluminum, you lost me slightly...make it blatantly a 3 or a g? evanbrog, I don't disagree, I actually liked having a bit more concept in the originals but it's evolved a bit differently.

In any case, unfortunately, the client isn't totally on board. They're not opposed to integrating the idea of three somehow (dots, lines, etc.) but the very stylized serif idea just didn't work for them (the exact comment was that they "thought that was a cool idea, but we're still drawn to the straight, simple, modern font (i.e. sans) similar to what we showed you"). In other words, something in the almost purely typographic sans arena.

So I'm debating...I've been looking at some slightly stylized sans (Tondo or Bree were possibilities) but I'm worried it's going to be tough to convey a lot of personality in a really simple sans. Another thought was something like the example, combining the "3" idea with a nicely compatible sans (Mr Eaves) and letting that be the focus of the logo. I don't know that this quite works (definitely kerning adjustments needed) but I think the idea is on the right track. Thoughts? (penn, I'm going to play with the teardrop thought, interesting idea.)

The 3/g in the last iteration is a little too much heavy.

A name change would make this much easier! "3 GIRLS" kind of like the burger place Five Guys.

I don't have any suggestions for the new direction so I'm just posting an image pertaining to your first direction. And that is to somehow use the symbol for a woman in an interesting manner.

And this somehow makes me think of a tripod when viewed from above. But that's a good association: 3, tripod, photographer, and 3 photographers...

That's what I saw too.