Here's five ways professional photo's can elevate your business
Five ways that professional photography will enhance your business’s image
These days, everyone’s a photographer. And it’s true. Thanks to high quality cameras on phones, with a minimum of skill, adequate photographic shots can be taken and used. There are also stock libraries, featuring thousands of images at a range of prices.
But nothing, and I mean nothing, can reflect you and your business’s image better than professional, bespoke, high quality photography and expert production.
And I don’t just say this because I’m a photographer and love the artistic and creative aspects of my work. I say this because I’m also a business person, working with other business people to bring about the best possible outcomes from their marketing and advertising. There are commercial, tangible, indisputable positive results of investing in commercial photography which may surprise you.
- Professional photography looks exactly that – professional. And as a business I’m sure that coming across as professional will be pretty high on your list of priorities. Yet how many websites are let down with cheesy, dated photography or poor gallery images of work or products? Your website is your shop window. Your marketing materials are a reflection of you. Quality and professionalism can be portrayed, or negated, by the quality of the imagery you use.
And don’t forget about you. If you are the business owner, and feature on your website or network via LinkedIn, your personal image will also be significantly enhanced through a good quality, flattering profile picture. Red eyes, pub signs in the background and a bit of arm of the person next to you who has been crudely cropped out, really do not make the best impression.
- Bespoke photography the only way to be sure of genuine individuality. The danger of stock imagery is that it could be used by someone else. And that person could be your main competitor. There are some industries where identical stock images feature on virtually all the websites in the field. I don’t know about you, but this practice causes me to question the authenticity and credibility of those businesses. Are they real, do they actually exist? As a business you should be displaying your own work, your own products and your own people, so that customers engage with the real you, not an artificial image. Increased Credibility. High-quality professional photos convey a sense of expertise and trustworthiness which makes your business appear more established and reliable in the eyes of potential customers.
- Commercial photography is one of the strongest methods through which to develop, convey and reinforce your organisational brand making it stronger. It’s not just about the subject of the image, it’s about the lighting, the style and the production. Perhaps your brand reflects traditional values, so imagery can be captured in sepia or traditional styles. Maybe you’re a new, innovative business that needs to reflect this in quirky, fun, contemporary style pictures. Or are you a luxury business that needs to exude class and quality to high end customers? Or enhancing your branding colour. Whatever it is, bespoke photography can meet the brief and create a tone and brand for your business that becomes instantly recognisable and engages your audience.
- To use a cliché, a picture paints a thousand words. But it’s saying the right words that count. Amateur or stock photography will never be able to send a specific message the way a professional photographer can. To bring an advertising campaign to life, you need the image to be exactly right. Shoehorning an idea around poor photography or stock images will never have the same impact. A commercial photographer will not only select the right model or subject, but create the atmosphere and finish with the production that gets your message spot on. You’ll be able to say exactly what you want to say, how you want to say it.
- Commercial photography sells. It gives you Competitive Advantage over your rivals. And this is the crux of why you should invest in it. This is unarguably the case if you are in ecommerce, and seeking to persuade customers to buy your products based on the pictures on your website. The higher the quality of photography, the higher the sales and the lower the returns. But commercial photography sells services too. Would you be more attracted to a classy, sophisticated hair and beauty salon website that featured stunning shots of the Salon, hair styles and photographers at work, or dark poor quality images or stock shots of models? If you’re looking for a company in building, decorating or interior design, will you be impressed by poorly lit, amateur pictures of jobs or well presented high quality images that truly showcase the quality of the work?
It may sound dramatic, but while professional photography can enhance the image of your business, poor photography can damage it.
If you’re concerned about the cost, don’t be, it’s likely to be far more cost effective than you think. If you’re concerned about the time and effort, don’t be, photographers work quickly and flexibly, using mobile studios and the latest production technology.
To discuss any questions or needs you have without any obligation, call me on 07767 776839 or email [email protected]
Crafting a Captivating Lifestyle Branding Shoot with Celeste at Every Step of the Way
In the dynamic world of real estate, establishing a strong brand identity is crucial for standing out in the market. One effective way to achieve this is through a carefully curated lifestyle branding shoot. Following was the steps I used for creating a compelling visual photoshoot with Celeste and Jess at Every Step of the Way Real Estate.
Planning the Shoot:
1. Understanding Your Brand: The journey begins with a comprehensive meeting where we explore your business style, personality, and colour palette. This foundation step ensures that every image aligns seamlessly with your brand identity.
2. Location Scouting: Considering the nature of your business, we'll explore various locations, including office spaces and different settings that reflect the essence of your business. This diversity will provide a rich tapestry of visuals for your marketing materials.
3. Props and Wardrobe: We'll discuss and plan the incorporation of props and wardrobe choices that resonate with your brand. Whether it's showcasing your expertise in an office environment or capturing the dynamic aspects of outdoor real estate, every detail will be thoughtfully considered.
4. Lighting Setup: Bringing my own lighting setup ensures that we have control over the ambiance, highlighting your spaces and portraying them in the best light. Additionally, utilizing natural light will infuse authenticity into the images, creating a genuine connection with your audience.
Shooting Day:
1. Posing and Composition: Drawing from our pre-planning discussions, I'll guide you through various poses to capture the desired look. This includes a mix of headshots for professional profiles and lifestyle images that convey the dynamic nature of your real estate business.
2. Close-Up Content Creation: Close-up shots add a personal touch to your brand. We'll focus on creating detailed, visually appealing content that showcases the finer aspects of your business, such as attention to detail and client satisfaction.
3. Branding Paperwork: During the shoot, we'll ensure that any branding paperwork or materials are strategically incorporated, reinforcing your brand messaging in a subtle yet impactful way.
Post-Production:
1. Retouching and Editing: After the shoot, meticulous retouching and editing will be carried out to enhance the visual appeal of each image. This step ensures a polished and professional final product.
2. A Library of Images: The end result? A comprehensive library of images tailored to your brand. These assets can be seamlessly integrated into your website, social media platforms, and marketing materials, presenting a cohesive and engaging narrative to your audience.
In collaboration with Celeste at www.everystepoftheway.net, this lifestyle branding shoot is designed not just as a visual investment but as a strategic tool to elevate your brand presence in the competitive real estate landscape.
Thank you to Celeste for her testimonial from this shoot:
"I had an amazing experience working with Amanda Duncan on our company branding shoot! She made us feel at ease, listened to our vision, and her attention to detail was outstanding. The end result exceeded our expectations. Amanda is now our go-to for all corporate needs. A real gem in her field – photographers like her are hard to find!"
If you need a new vision for your website from the initial planning discussions to the final delivery of a comprehensive library of images then get in touch and we can collaborate to produce a lifestyle branding photoshoot for you.
Places to Take Pictures Near Me Photography Inspiration
It you're an avid photographer like me or just someone with an interest in capturing the beauty around you, exploring local gems is a must and something I do to re inspire me which helps me with my photography business.
Hengistbury Head Beach is a must.......
It lies at the most eastern end of an 9.5 mile continuous strip of golden beached that runs from SouthBanks via Bournemouth and Boscombe. During my recent visit armed with my new Sony mirrorless digital camera I was compelled to capture the essence of this picturesque location. Also a surfers paradise.
On a DSLR camera and never putting it on auto, I can manipulate the camera aperture and exposure with the interplay of light and shadow to control depth of field and produce the images that I was looking for. Along with the rule of thirds I can create the stunning visuals that I wanted. It doesn't have to be a beautiful day these photograph were taken at sunrise in January.
This experience serves as a reminder that relying on automatic settings can limit your creativity. Taking time to understand your cameras settings open up a world of possibilities. I encourage fellow photograph enthusiasts to experiment with their controls. Hengistbury Head provided the perfect back drop for this creative exploration of my local surroundings, can you do the same too?
If you have any questions about enhancing your photography skills then feel free to get in touch. Happy shooting!
Why high quality product photography is more important now than ever.
Why high quality product photography is more important now than ever.
If you are a retailer the past few weeks and months since lockdown will have been an incredibly challenging time, the likes of which have never been seen before.
This is particularly the case if you sell ‘non-essential’ products and your physical stores have had to close. If you’re one of the lucky ones, you may already have had an online presence, a web store. But if you didn’t, you may have had to very quickly pivot towards an online offering in order to keep the cash flowing, stay competitive in your market and keep in the minds of your customers. And this may have meant building an e-commerce website at short notice and with little experience in this space.
Or, perhaps you’re already a successful online retailer, and have found yourself in times of exceptional demand in lockdown. Certain sectors, such as food, garden plants and online gifts have naturally enjoyed a major upturn during this time. The challenge you may face though, is other businesses pivoting into your space and investing in new e-commerce sites.
The other factor is the amount of time people are now spending online. This is a natural and expected trend – we can’t go out, and we’re all desperate for communication and news. Where will we turn to? Websites and social media of course! So if that’s where your products are – a big boost in visibility is a likely result.
But whether an established and successful online retailer or a reluctant and new debutant to online sales, one thing is true.
Your product photography must be high quality and fit for purpose. Here’s why.
- These are tough economic times for many people. Many are furloughed, struggling with their businesses, facing reduced incomes. Therefore, buyers will be discerning about how and where to spend their money and will take some convincing.
- The days of easy returns are over. Popping to the post office – if you’re lucky enough to have one open - is not going to be relished as a trip out and in fact may be avoided if people are isolating. This means people will want to be certain of their choice before clicking ‘buy’.
- It’s likely your cash flow, supply chain and production are under pressure due to the changing demands the coronavirus crisis has presented – whether increased or reduced demand. The last thing your business needs is further uncertainty in your sales and cash flow due to increased returns.
- If you’re new to selling online, your product photography styling and quality will represent your brand. It’s crucial to get your image right so you build loyalty and a positive impression with customers and keep them long term.
- If you’re tempted to use stock photography on your website, don’t. There is a big risk other companies will have used it too. Strong brands need authenticity and individuality. The way your products are presented on your website needs to be authentically you.
- Good product photography is an opportunity. To enhance your products and show them off in the detail and gloriousness that will do them justice. This is particularly important if you’re in the high-end luxury space, but this principle should apply across the board if you want your customers to be tempted into ordering your products (which you do).
So that’s covered the why, the next question is, how?
You might be thinking, it’s simple. I have a phone. It has a great camera. Or, we’ve had product photography done, what we have is good enough.
But will this cut it, in today’s challenging commercial environment?
Commercial photography – done well, takes a lot more than a good camera. It takes;
- A professional studio – as a commercial photographer the great news is I have a home studio, which means I can continue to provide high quality product photography services safely from my home. I’ll simply pick up the products, or have them delivered, and shoot them in my studio.
- An excellent understanding and expert ability to use the right lighting. Lighting is everything in product photography to convey details, textures, quality of items. Without well-lit products, customers could simply get frustrated and move on.
- Artistic input. An experienced commercial photographer knows the style of photography that will work for your brand and audience and ensure is this consistent, creative and high impact.
- Professional editing techniques – to create the perfect finish and final presentation of the photography of your products. I provide editing and production services if you are shooting your own photography to ensure it looks fantastic and does your products justice.
Don’t leave your potential customers underwhelmed, misled or forced to look elsewhere for the images they need.
The current circumstances make product photography all the more important, and I can help.
Get in touch to find out how I can carry out your product photography or editing safely from my home studio.
Here's some examples of my portfolio :
They say a picture is worth a thousand words.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So why isn’t a photographer part of your creative project?
If you’re a marketer, a creative, a web designer or a business launching a creative project, do you have a photographer as part of the team?
If not, you could be missing out on authenticity, originality, quality and another creative mind to add to the mix.
Make photography part of the story
‘’According to eye-tracking research, people spend 10% more time looking at visuals on a website than reading text’’. (Source: Nielson Norman Research Group).
Branding is all about story telling; so the experts tell us. Branding is not a logo or a layout, it’s a business’s purpose, vision and values which make up its story and enables it to connect with an audience. It’s about telling customers how if they buy the services and products on offer, it will change their lives.
One way of getting across this story is through the words, the content. But the other crucial element is the imagery. Ideally, the two work together, to tell the story as powerfully, creatively, uniquely and effectively as possible.
Too often though, photography is an afterthought. Or because it’s left until the end, it’s even left out all together in favour of a using an image library.
Stock shots have their purpose, but they will not be unique to one business, one brand.
They will be selected to fit a brand, not form a brand.
Bespoke photography on the other hand, if introduced at the beginning, can be key to a business brand, and how it connects with customers. It can be moody, emotive and thought-provoking, evocative, bold or controversial, humorous and entertaining, quirky, edgy and uber-cool. It can be whatever it needs to be, but only if it’s part of the story from the beginning.
A suite of bespoke photography also has multiple uses so is well worth the investment. It can be used across websites, advertising campaigns and contribute to a successful social media or content marketing strategy.
Successful marketing needs the right image
‘’Some types of pictures are completely ignored. This is typically the case for big feel-good images that are purely decorative. Other types of pictures are treated as important content and scrutinized. Photos of products and real people (as opposed to stock photos of models) often fall into this category’’. (Source: Nielson Norman Research Group).
Most web design involves imagery, but this can be a real sticking point. In the absence of creative input, often there’s a reliance on standard stock images – houses for construction companies, cheesy images of headphone-adorned customer services personnel for call centres, for example. This shows little imagination, lacks any conceptual thinking and certainly has no originality or authenticity – particularly as you run the risk of a competitor having picked the same stock shot.
If you’re a copywriter, web designer, marketing strategist or graphic designer, you’ll know how bouncing ideas off other similarly minded creatives can lead to a light bulb moment. Including a photographer in this process can provide a additional angle, introducing innovative and creative ways imagery can be used to convey the brand message or underpin a creative concept.
It could be in the stylising, editing and production – for example using black and white, saturating colours, combining real photography with graphic design, whether to opt for a natural look or a staged, creative photographic style. Or it could be discussing how to approach team or individual portraiture in a company ‘about’ page to set them apart from other businesses and reflect their individual brand personality.
For a professional finish, include all the right professionals
‘’32% of marketers say visual images are the most important form of content for their business’’. (Source: 2018 social media marketing industry report).
In any project which incorporates a range of disciplines, the aspect which is poor quality will stand out like a sore thumb. You wouldn’t refit a kitchen with all the top range appliances, expert carpentry, granite worktops but then opt for broken, old fashioned tiles! All the elements of any project need to be planned in from the outset and consistent in their quality, approach and professionalism.
When it comes to marketing, whether through a creative concept or in presenting images of your product or service, the first impression can win or lose a customer. It doesn’t matter how good the words are if the images of your products are poor quality, thanks to being shot on a phone with poor lighting and background distractions. It won’t matter how slick a website design is if the imagery is bland, generic and unoriginal. And the impact of your funky, creative graphic design will be lost, if accompanying photography is at odds with the business brand values by being old fashioned and uninspiring.
So how do you find a photographer you’ll click with?
Whether you’re a small agency, or a freelance creative professional, it can be hard to find a photographer you can trust and enjoy working with.
Local networking can be a great way to reach other professionals, form relationships and create an informal team who can come together on projects. Most areas have a variety of networking groups, and it’s a case of finding one that suits you. If you don’t have time for networking, asking other marketing or creative professionals for referrals, or making connections on LinkedIn can also work well.
By having a local network, you’ll have a team ready to go with the relevant talent and disciplines involved from the outset of the project. This will ensure the project plan incorporates the right solutions and can be delivered on time.
Click with me!
If you’d like an experienced, creative and professional commercial photographer as part of your team, I’d love to hear from you. I’m camera-ready to step in and create something magical, authentic, unique and high impact to help businesses project the right image and start attracting the customers they need.