For the founder of Think Votives Manifestation Candles, a single mom of two teenage boys, the idea came after long shifts as a nurse moving through the emotional aftershocks of COVID and witnessing just how deeply people needed hope. She didn’t want to add more noise to the world. She wanted to create a pause. A small ritual. A moment of intention someone could hold in their hands.
Her flicker of clarity was beautifully simple: a candle paired with a manifestation ritual. Each label would include space to write a personal intention, turning an everyday object into something interactive and meaningful. Not just scent and flame, but purpose. She envisioned selling at local craft fairs, perhaps one day in a hospital gift shop, and eventually online. The only thing she didn’t have was a roadmap.
Referred to me by another nurse, she arrived with heart, grit, and a blank canvas. From there, we built the entire brand from the ground up.
I developed the logo to feel calm, hopeful, and grounded without drifting into cliché. The phoenix was essential to the logo’s symbolism. For her, it embodied resilience and renewal, the belief that even after burnout and loss, something stronger can rise. We integrated the phoenix into the flame itself, creating a design that felt hopeful and empowered without becoming ornate.
We designed business cards that felt polished but approachable, perfect for craft fair tables and community events. Then we built a website that allowed her to begin learning the world of online selling with confidence rather than overwhelm.
I directed and photographed the majority of the site’s imagery, styling each candle with props that reflected its scent and story, from fresh honeysuckle blooms to carefully chosen supporting details. I also captured the supporting brand photography woven throughout the site, creating a cohesive, intentional visual experience from page to page.
This project was a true "first spark to storefront" collaboration. What started as a nurse’s instinct to bring light into heavy spaces became a fully realized brand, ready for markets, hospital shelves, and the digital world. Watching her step into entrepreneurship with the same compassion she brings to patient care made this one especially meaningful.
