What do you think of when you think of a professional portrait?
Probably this.
White background. Head and shoulders. Slightly turned towards camera. Suited and booted. Corporate looking. Like it belongs on a gallery of executives in a Boardroom.
For some professionals, this might be perfect. Exactly what is needed given the purpose of the photograph (for clear identification); for consistency (if part of a firm-wide project); for brand (if corporate, formal is the appropriate image).
But a professional profile image does not have to be this style. Indeed, for many professionals this approach could be all wrong. As a commercial photographer, here’s just some of the many reasons why a more creative, individualized, interesting portrait may be required;
The subject is not relaxed or comfortable being photographed. In this situation, a ‘standard’ posed shot may simply not work. If you’re not comfortable (despite the best efforts of your photographer to put you at ease), your photograph could look strained, unnatural and uncomfortable.
The subject has a particular feature they are self-conscious about. Very few of us are wildly confident about our looks. But perhaps there’s a specific issue that you can’t get past, and you need a photographer to be flexible and creative to get around it.
You have a big personality and you need your portrait to reflect and capture this. If you’re known for being creative, quirky, funny or any other personal attribute, people may not relate to the posed corporate style image. This is especially the case if your business proposition centres around your personality and personal attributes. You need existing and potential clients and customers to recognise, connect and engage with the real you.
Your job or business is far from a formal corporate based one. Perhaps you’re a pest controller. A public speaking expert. A hairdresser in a creative, contemporary salon. Working in the arts. Your professional image needs to capture your industry, profession and business brand, all in one shot.
You want to stand out. You don’t want to look the same as everyone else, because, well, you’re not. Perhaps you’re an entrepreneur. Maybe you’re starting a new business or growing your existing one and you want people to know you’re going places. A new, interesting portrait could attract attention and engagement from other professionals and prospects for all the right reasons.
The question is how can this be achieved? How can one professional portrait to be used on a personal or company website, LinkedIn and other networking platforms, really encapsulate personality, business brand and desired professional image.
Well here’s how it can be done.
Background. This does not have to be white. It can be dark. It can be a colour. It can have a relevant object or scenery behind. Or course, to work with these non-standard backgrounds will take some skill and expertise with lighting, staging and post-production, but it can result in a truly stunning, stand out and unusual image.
Environment. Very often a studio is best – enabling tight control and management of the background. But it could be that based on your profession or personality, a working site based image is more appropriate. It could also make you more comfortable. Or it could be based somewhere else relevant and appealing that adds a touch of creativity to your brand.
Pose and expression. You do not have to be perched on a stool, slightly angled, for a head and shoulders shot. You could be looking face on to the camera. You could be gesticulating in a way that is recognizable to you. You could be standing, looking relaxed and happy. You could release the inner actor in you (if there is one) and use some expression or action shot – so long as your face is still clear. This is your opportunity to get across your personality and a good photographer will be able to work with you to bring out your best features.
Clothing. Don’t feel that you have to wear a suit, or any kind of formal attire. That’s not to say look scruffy and unkempt. Of course, you need to look smart and professional, whatever your business. But if customers and clients are most likely to see you in branded uniform with your company logo, this might be the right look. If you generally sport a more casual but stylish and distinctive look, stick with this as it’s how you’ll be most identifiable and comfortable. The key to this is to be smart and be yourself.
Props. There may be occasions when a relevant prop may add an interesting, useful, amusing or creative dimension to your portrait. It may help to convey what you do. It may add humour and help raise curiosity and interest. It’s another aspect of photography though which needs careful planning, thought and management. Don’t risk looking silly, cheesy or odd. Let a professional artistic photographer get the look right.
So for all these reasons, a standard portrait need not be standard. A professional profile shot can be both professional and personal.
A professional photographer, particularly one with artistic and creative talents, will get to know your personality, objectives and preferences. And then, a suite of photographs can be created that reflect the real you, add value to your business and make you proud.
If you’d like to find out more about portrait/profile shot photography, please call me for a no obligation chat on 07767 776839.
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When it comes to wedding or special occasion photography; there’s no question in anyone’s minds that the role of the photographer is to capture emotion, beauty and love.
But when it comes to marketing and advertising; the benefits of powerfully conveyed and captured emotion are equally huge, if not essential, to success.
Using emotive photography works because it has impact through evoking feelings.
Emotive imagery in advertising is nothing new. Using advertising to make us feel scared, happy, hopeful, inspired is an effective tactic. But if it’s not done well it can backfire badly. It can look cheap or cheesy. It can bear no resemblance to your organisational value or brand. It can be misinterpreted if you’re not very careful.
Of course, you can search image libraries for ‘happy’, ‘sad’, ‘scared’, ‘excited’ – pretty much any emotion that you can think of. But you’ll generally find this results in overacted, almost caricatured, in-your-face portrayals of the emotion which may not be quite right for your campaign.
These ‘searchable’ emotions are simple, basic concepts. But you may need to get across something much more complex and subtle. For example, your campaign may need to indicate bravery. Or happiness in the face of adversity. Put forward a gritty, serious perspective. Or even more challenging; where the business is very much focused on one person, convey their personality.
The only way to achieve all this is through a skilled commercial photographer; who can create, plan, direct, shoot and edit a suite of photographs to a specific and unique result.
But what is it that a talented commercial photographer can bring to the process that is so important?
In these images, I went to great lengths to observe and familiarise myself with the work, personality and drive of these individuals. In the case of a specialist chef; conveying a bubbly personality with a passion for spice; portrayal of movement and focus on the hands as the trademark of a keynote speaker; and a stunning and contemporary pose that gets across the individuality of this florist.
Symbolism, interpretation and subtlety
A good commercial photographer does not just take a brief and interpret it literally. They will explore themes and symbols, crafting a creative concept that gets across the message in an engaging, thought provoking, effective and visually appealing way.
Want to get across business growth? How many adverts have you seen containing brash images of pound signs. It’s hard to be subtle and classy with that kind of look.
But consider this photograph. From this one picture, you can interpret so much. New beginnings, responsibility and growth are just some of the notions that come to mind. All presented beautifully in a contemporary style with colours saturated to draw focus to the green seedling.
Multiple chances to capture that look
Sometimes you know the look you need but it won’t come easily. And it may take time, effort, repositioning, retaking many times over. This is particularly the case when working with lay people i.e. not professional models.
In this beautiful, natural family shot for a cancer charity, the joyous, hopeful and positive nature of this family just had to shine through. There’s no short cuts. Just the time and patience to make people comfortable and keep going until that magic shot is captured.
Photography can convey emotion, tell a story, capture a moment and position a brand.
But make sure it’s the right emotion. Your story. Your moment. And your brand.
To have a no obligation chat about commercial photography, contact [email protected]
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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.
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.
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]
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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.
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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!
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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.
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;
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 :
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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.
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Headshots are becoming an all-important aspect of personal and business marketing. With online networking driving so much business via platforms like LinkedIn, and websites the shop window for most businesses, portrait photographs are key to building connections and reinforcing brands.
With high quality, skilled, professional photography, a headshot can be a great opportunity to achieve a desired perception of you or members of your team.
But are you aware of just how many options there are for headshot styles?
From the background, the setting, the lighting, the make up and dress, the styling, editing and production, creative twists and use of props, the choice is almost endless.
Your portrait photograph is part of your marketing
The first important thing to remember is that professional headshots are part of your marketing. And like any marketing, you need to think about the purpose. Is the headshot for use on LinkedIn only? Is it for team pages on a website? Is it to be used on social media or an email campaign?
And next, you need to think about how you want to be perceived – what brand identity you want to build, what values and attributes you hope to get across.
Do you want to be seen as reliable, approachable, warm and friendly? Creative and innovative? Corporate? Quirky or edgy? Is it beneficial to reveal what you do professionally, or to convey an interest in your headshot through the use of a prop? Do you wish to carry through a brand identity whether colour, style or setting?
Capturing your best angle
As a professional photographer, it is my objective for people to be proud and happy with their profile shots. There’s no point in expecting a shy person to perform a wacky pose if they are deeply uncomfortable with it. Equally, it’s a wasted opportunity for a professional with a strong personal brand or confident, quirky personality for this not to come across. Part of the initial brief will be understanding your objectives, preferences and brand and then using my skills and experience to propose the best background and styling for your shot, so that you come across as ‘you’ and look the best you can be.
So, which of these styles most click with you?
Style through simplicity
A white background is simple and classy, enabling images to come across in a presentable way, without any distractions. It will work well in all formats and presentations, making it a highly versatile option. It may be suitable if the headshot/s are to be used in a highly designed or colourful website, or where many headshots are required for a team, enabling consistency and a clean look to the company page.
Variety through colour
A coloured background can add interest and embed a corporate colour and brand identity in a subtle and visually appealing way. It is a way to add a bit of creativity but without the complication of external shots or props. Depending on the colour, an experienced photographer will use the correct lighting and advise on clothing for the subject to stand out and look their best.
Bold can be beautiful
Bold black backgrounds are strong, artistic and a bit different from the norm. They can look visually stunning, when created with the right lighting. Again, a skilled photographer will advise on styling and even make up, to ensure the most beautiful shot.
The perfect setting
Depending on the objectives of your photoshoot, an office-based or lifestyle headshot could be appropriate. It’s a great way to achieve a completely bespoke look and feel, to set it in your office or convey a lifestyle aspect which reflects you. Team shots in offices can be creative and help build the brand. They can include marketing items such as business stands or posters, fun or quirky props like the office pet, be based in different locations around the office, or in situ at desks or in meeting rooms, as appropriate. Lifestyle shots can pick up on elements of your interests and personality which are special to you and promote your personal brand.
Classic and classy
Always classic and always flattering, black and white headshots will never go out of fashion. While black and white photography can be a way to minimise elements of your looks you’re not happy with, it stands strong as an artistic, eye-catching and visually beautiful style. While often the preferred choice of professionals in creative and artistic industries, black and white really does have universal appeal.
A breath of fresh air
For something different, you might consider an environmental/outside headshot. Enabling natural light, this can be highly flattering but also more exciting and unusual than the classic studio background. Whether in a beautiful green setting like countryside, a City setting or in your own personal, special space like a garden or balcony, this natural look can promote your individuality and personal brand very effectively.
Bring out the real you
A highly effective and bold, innovative way to promote who you are and what you do is to opt for a personality with prop headshot. For those with a bit of character and bravery, carrying this off well can enable your headshot to become the centrepiece of your brand identity, campaign or website. It offers great creative scope, as it can incorporate emotion or humour and convey a genuine love and passion for what you do.
Whether you’re a florist with a flower, a hairdresser with a blowdryer, a chef with her food or a pest controller with a mousetrap, this style of headshot offers the most awesome and high impact opportunity to raise your business profile.
With so much choice – what style of headshot is truly you? If you’d like to chat through the options, I’m here to help.
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The Client - Sandman Signature London Gatwick Hotel
The Sandman Hotel Group opened their first hotel in British Columbia, Canada over 50 years ago. Today, they are an international company with over 50 locations across Canada and the UK.
The group acquired what is now the Sandman Signature London Gatwick Hotel, in 2014. Their philosophy is to incorporate the comfort of home with the relaxation of getting away from it all packaged in an elegant, refined experience that resonates with their guests.
Photography plays a significant role in conveying this important message.
The Brief
The total refurbishment of the hotel in 2015 presented the perfect opportunity to create a portfolio of photographs to be used in welcome packs in each room, on banners around the hotel and on the website.
Jane Axford, Sales Manager commissioned Amanda Duncan to undertake the task.
“The brief and the brand guidelines were very specific. I explained to Amanda exactly what we needed. The photographs had to be taken to set dimensions and had to be signed off by head office before we could start using them.”
The shots were highly technical. Studio lights combined with existing lighting conditions were used to create the correct exposure and atmosphere required for each area in the hotel, including the reception, the bar, the restaurant, the swimming pool, the gym, the conference suite, the banqueting suite and the different types of bedrooms.
“Amanda also took photos at our launch party. Because she was familiar with our strict brand guidelines, she took this into consideration, which gave us a selection of more informal images to use.”
Communication
Business relationships thrive on good communications.
“If there is a slight change to be made Amanda’s immediately on the case. When there is a new room specification that needs to be shot, she’s always quick to respond and arrange a time to come to the hotel to take the new photos.”
Trust
As Sales Manager, Jane is often approached by photographers offering their services, but working with someone that she can trust makes her job far easier.
“Amanda is clearly a skilled commercial photographer. She is highly professional and always looks professional, which is important when working at the hotel. She’s really easy to work with, the continuity of the business relationship is really important to me”.
For more information on Amanda's services please contact her [email protected]
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All too often, the imagery in branding and marketing is a poor after thought. An ill-thought out, rushed part of the process that involves scrabbling around stock libraries, trying to find an image – any image – to use to break up the text.
What a waste!
A waste of 'real estate' on your website or in your advertising campaign and a waste of opportunity to engage your target audience through reinforcing your brand with well-conceived, relevant, high quality supporting imagery.
Make imagery a priority
Don't treat the pictures as an after-thought. Successful advertising and marketing ideas incorporate both messages and images right from the outset. The most effective marketing campaigns I've worked on are where creative professionals; web and graphic designers and writers, have bought me in early in the process.
Originality and authenticity
Your brand is individual. It's a visual depiction of your proposition - your unique selling points, business values, business 'personality', how you change the world and improve the lives of customers.
It is likely you'll have a business strapline. A unique company logo. A colour scheme. A certain tone of voice employed in all your marketing communications.
But are you accompanying this branding with unoriginal stock shots, which will be used by many other businesses (possibly including your competitors)? Are you settling for bland, generic or cliched imagery - common ones including jigsaw puzzle pieces or handshakes, which add no value to your brand?
As a commercial photographer, my professional photography has been used to truly enhance business brands and marketing campaigns.
And this is how it can be done.
Like any profession, talent and experience will vary widely. Commercial photography is a specialist skill, requiring the photographer to have a strong understanding of business and marketing. They will be able to get under the skin of the company and creatively devise a photographic style which is on brand. Whether it’s a sole trader having profile shots, a business having photography to showcase products, venues or services, or part of a creative campaign; strategic, creative thinking and working with other professionals will be a key part of the photography project. Check the photographer’s portfolio for skills in bespoke commercial photography before going ahead.
Colour is an obvious and well-recognised aspect of any business’s corporate brand. And there are ways of bringing this out through creative, clever planning and production. For example, I may work with a client on wearing certain colours for a profile photoshoot which are in line with their corporate brand. Or I may saturate certain colours or have a bold black and white look, highlighting one colour.
Bespoke commercial photography has the beauty of being able to bring out personality. If a business is known for quirkiness, fun and warmth, a serious boardroom stock shot will not reflect the brand. The setting, lighting, expressions used can all influence how the personality and values of the company come across. I frequently work with my clients to help bring their personalities into photoshoots, through putting them at ease and finding out what makes them tick.
Having your own suite of photographs created for your business or advertising campaign means keeping control of the look and feel. This is incredibly difficult to achieve with stock shots. Maintaining the same themes, backgrounds, styling and editing of all imagery will build brand recognition among your target audience.
Investing in commercial photography will enable you to be innovative, creative and adopt latest trends and ideas into your brand. For example, combining graphic design or typography into photography, going for a bold and bright colour scheme, using collage, incorporating a retro feel, bringing out textures and patterns can position you as an on trend, contemporary brand looking to make your mark, explore new ideas and push boundaries.
All advertising campaigns have at their heart an objective of engaging their audience. Depending on the products, services, business brand and campaign idea, this engagement may be induced in a variety of ways. It might be through humour. Through emotion. Through inspiration. Through shock and awe. Through education. Whatever it is, the imagery needs to be powerful if it’s to be effective. A commercial photographer will have the skills to take the brief and not just photograph the subject, but do so in a way that’s evokes the right emotion – making your brand all the more memorable, original and impactful.
No two brand stories are the same. And audiences now have a strong interest in provenance and business values. Conveying yours through photography is a powerful way to do this – arguably there’s no more powerful way. Using generic shots will do nothing to capture imagination and encourage brand loyalty. Your own story told through quality images will bring customers with you on your brand journey.
‘’Photography is the story I fail to put into words’’. Destin Sparks, Photographer.
Be bold. Be yourself. Let your photography tell the story and build your brand.
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The ‘About’ or team page of a website has always been important, but is of rising importance as websites increasingly become the ‘shop window’ for businesses. It goes without saying that e-commerce and online stores rely entirely on their websites for sales, but even for other businesses, the website will generally sit at the centre of marketing activity and be key to establishing credibility and authority.
Most businesses will invest significant sums on logos, branding and website imagery, whether stock or bespoke photography.
But the page of the website often neglected is the ‘About’ page, or team pages leading from the ‘About’ page.
Why?
Surely in the social media and networking-dominated business climate in which we operate, people increasingly do ‘business with people’. With face to face sales meetings falling second place to online and social marketing strategies and interaction, if we want to see the whites of a potential supplier’s eyes, the first port of call will often be the About page of a website.
Surely, every organisation has a vested interest in ensuring their people come across on their website as professional, personable, approachable and friendly, smart and presentable.
Surely every business would prefer their imagery to represent the company brand, whether that’s through the setting of their team (for example at desks, an external work setting, or even social setting) or the style of the photography (whether formal, informal, creative or quirky).
And surely every company would want a consistent look to their team photographs, conveying a well-established team, on board with the organisation’s ethos and values.
But in many cases….
The result? A wasted opportunity and a poor image of the business.
A company who approached this in the right way…. Psychology Direct
As a commercial photographer I was asked to photograph the team at Psychology Direct for their upcoming new website. Psychology Direct are a business whose values are very much focused on people and quality. They have a strong, happy, highly engaged and valued team, whatever their role (including Buzz the dog). They pride themselves on client service and the strength of their professional relationships, and whilst most of their relationship-building occurs on the telephone, they wanted their team to look the approachable, friendly, go-the-extra-mile bunch they truly are.
The decision was taken to not only take individual high quality professional profile shots of all team members (including Buzz the dog), but also some lovely whole-team shots.
Conveying and reinforcing the company brand through high quality commercial photography
The individual profile shots were designed to be just that, individual. We wanted a natural, informal feel to the photographic style and I couldn’t have worked with a friendlier, more open, relaxed group of people (and pets), making it so much easier to achieve this natural look. We added variety and conveyed the fun personalities of team members through using a range of poses rather than only face-to-camera shots. Incorporating shots of Buzz the Dog enabled the injection of humour and light-heartedness, again, reflecting the company brand.
For the group team shot, we wanted to reinforce the close-knit nature of the team whilst also promoting the company. Having the whole team in one shot, with equal presence was a challenge. But taking a wide shot, with team members stood proudly around Psychology Direct banners, enabled us to achieve a high quality, professional, unique image which achieved all the objectives.
Present your team in the best light
Using my portable studio, shots were set against a white background, so the team member was the main focus of the shot, with no distractions. Shots taken against a white background can run the risk of being stark, and this is where commercial photography experience and skills come in. Getting the lighting right is crucial - the right levels of light, delivered at the right angle – in this case 45 degrees from the subject on either side of me about 1 ½ metres from the background. I use a light meter to measure the exposure I require, 200 ISO and grey card my camera for best results. I use a full-frame Nikon750 and a portrait lens 50-70mm for the most flattering angle. Shooting in a raw format enables me to deliver maximum digital quality when it comes to post production and retouching.
Fantastic results, from every angle
The resulting shots, achieved over one morning, are a great asset to the company. Elevating their About/Team page to a professional level, potential clients and Associates will now gain a positive impression of the team at Psychology Direct they’ll be dealing with.
‘As part of our rebrand and website redevelopment and the addition of a 'Meet the team' page we needed a great set of team photos that reflected our personality whilst being professional.
From the initial enquiry to receiving the actual photos, Amanda was warm, accommodating, receptive, creative and all the timescales were met.
As a result, we now have photos that the team love and most importantly reflects us, our values and our culture. It was worth every penny and would recommend Amanda to anyone and everyone!’’. Aaron Banham, Director, Psychology Direct.
Looking for your website ‘About’ page to say something positive about you? Then ensure the photographs of your team say ‘professional’ as well as reflect the values and brand of the business.
To discuss your project or for a quote, contact me on [email protected] or 07767 776839.
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Have you spotted the recent trends in website design? Image-dominated, simple, classy, with a lot of websites moving towards one page.
With most people viewing websites on their phone or tablet, the first image they see must tell them everything. It must reinforce the company brand. Convey the product or service you are selling. Get across your selling points and benefits. Have an impact on the person viewing it, whether it’s jaw-dropping wow factor, or to evoke emotion, curiosity or humour.
Whatever it does, it’s a big ask from that one image.
And with so much hanging on that image, why not invest in a good one?
Reliance on stock images for your website carries risk. The risk that another company could have the same image. That it won’t look authentic. It will be very difficult, if not impossible to find the ideal stock image that’s an accurate reflection of your brand and does your product or service justice. It limits creativity and ability to convey an advertising concept that’s completely original and true to you.
If your business is in something visual, your website photography becomes all the more important. It’s an opportunity to put your product or portfolio on display looking its absolute best. For a landscaper or garden design company for example, there is no better way to ‘sell’ and make an impact than stunning, high-quality photography of gardens they have created that truly reflects the quality of the work.
It’s no longer good enough to just say what you do is great and expect potential customers to envisage what you can do for them.
You need to show them.
Sell them the dream. Leave them in no uncertain terms of what they can expect from you. If you don’t, you’ve missed an opportunity. After all, any company can source a stock image. But a high quality, professional company will be more likely to invest in showcasing their work through a quality suite of photos.
If you have made the decision to use bespoke, not stock, images on your website, the next, very important factor to bear in mind is the quality of those images. As great as phone cameras are; they cannot take photographs of the quality needed to front your website or populate your portfolio page.
Photography, whether of products, interiors or exteriors needs expertise on lighting, settings, camera angles, editing and production.
A recent project involved a company specialising in minimalist-style glazing installations who wanted photographs to set off the stunning nature of their products and workmanship. Photographing glass requires very specialist skills to ensure no reflection and an attractive view, in order to capture the beauty of something that is essentially invisible. A challenging photography brief, getting this right was key to the success of this company’s website mgiuk.
Matt Woodacre at Indigo Marmoset, Indigo Marmoset the web designers behind MGI’s website said ‘working with an expert photographer to deliver beautiful quality and well-produced imagery, elevated the website significantly. It gave the design a truly bespoke, upmarket and quality feel, perfect for the audience we were targeting’.
A commercial photographer can take your project and bring them to life in a spectacular way. They can interpret a brief and create a visual style and finish of photography that is as individual as you are. They can ensure visitors to your website are inspired and wowed.
For the ultimate professional business image, make sure you invest in that website image.
For advice, quotation or to arrange photography for your portfolio or website at very reasonable rates, contact me, Amanda Duncan at [email protected]
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Websites are visual channels, where the words and messages are crucially important, but so is the imagery. And yet, the imagery often comes second place.
It shouldn't.
All the elements have equal weighting in terms of having an impact on the potential customer. The images support the message. If the message is one of high end quality; poor quality photography will negate this. If the message is about quirky, creative innovation; bog standard, dull photography will work against it.
But the implications can be worse than that.
People are savvy. They are not easily fooled. If they spot the same stock shot you are using on another website, they are going to smell a rat. Of course, that’s unlucky, and you’re no less a genuine, credible business. But it will have an impact on customer trust as they don’t know whether you’re a bona fide company or a not-so-credible company hiding behind a website.
If you’re relying on stock shots, there are other dangers. Stock shots, particularly if containing images of people, are often shot in different countries and some time ago. Rooting through images to look for authentic-looking, up to date images is an enormous task and sometimes background details can be a dead giveaway on close inspection. People’s clothes, the phones they are holding, the types of drinks on a table; can all indicate a completely different culture and era. This could completely devalue and damage your brand.
Bespoke, commercial photography on the other hand will be totally unique to you. Tailored to your brand. Able to convey your values and selling points. It will set off your products, service or people in a way that reflects what you want people to believe about them.
Hope to be perceived as upmarket and high quality? Nothing shows quality better than a beautiful high-quality suite of photographs, with all the production and editing required to refine it to perfection. Aiming to come across creative/quirky/contemporary? Stylised photography, blending photography with graphic design, or using monochrome, saturated colours or other innovative techniques, gives you the opportunity to display your creative side. Looking to show off projects in a gallery? Ensure you use the genuine article – and show it off in its finest glory with the lighting, angles, attention to detail that a professional photographer will use to ensure your portfolio sells.
Authentic photography that’s bespoke and tailored to you is the most believable, convincing and powerful option when it comes to imagery.
And that, is what you want from your marketing.
To be believed. To engage and persuade your customer that buying from you is the right choice.
It’s not as expensive as you think. It can be quicker to arrange than you think. And the results will be more spectacular and impactful than you can imagine.
To discuss your website photography and how I can help, contact me now [email protected], 07767 776839. All the above photographs are from a bespoke commercial shoot for Silvermere Inn on the Lake, Cobham.
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The dreaded moment has arrived; your manager has informed you that photographers will be coming in to take staff photos. Or maybe you’ve finally accepted you need to invest in a decent photograph for your LinkedIn profile.
If your heart sinks at the very thought, you are not alone. As a commercial photographer I have taken hundreds of professional/corporate headshots and very few people make highly natural, confident, eager-to-be-there subjects.
In my experience, the lack of enthusiasm for photoshoots are based on two things.
1. People are not comfortable with the actual process itself; with the fear of the experience usually ranging from mild reluctance through to extreme discomfort.
2. Worry about how they will look in the photograph. This may be due to the general lack of confidence many of us have with our looks, or sensitivity around a particular feature.
If this is the case for you, you’re completely normal!
Most people are not super-models or in love with their own looks.
So, given that photographs are now an important part of networking and marketing for professional individuals and companies, what can we all do to make the process, and outcomes better?
Well first of all, it’s the job of a commercial photographer to put you at ease. It’s not simply my role to set up the perfect lighting and shot. It’s to engage and work with you so you look and feel your best.
I’ll listen.
I’ll understand what you or your company wants to achieve from the shot – whether the look required is corporate, friendly and approachable, quirky and fun or something else. But I’ll also understand any worries. ‘I hate my teeth!’. ‘I look better from the left!’. Most people will have an exaggerated perception of their own concerns, however, though the lighting, angles and editing, I can ensure that everyone’s delighted with the end result.
But what can you do to help ensure you end up with a photo you love? Here’s my five tips for preparing yourself for your photoshoot.
1. Choose flattering clothes. Most people know the style and colour that flatters them. If you have a feature you’re less happy with, use accessories to distract (if possible). For example, a scarf around a long neck. It’s important to pick the clothes that fit your personal or company brand. If you’re a creative personality known for never wearing a suit, there’s no need to wear one for your photo. However, looking smart and presentable with ironed, clean, smart/casual clothes will be important.
2. Make sure you use a professional photographer who will bring with them a mobile studio with professional lights. Getting a colleague or friend to take a picture will never give the same professional outcome that will flatter. So many amateur photographs suffer from bad exposure and if that’s not enough to persuade you perhaps this is - the right lighting can make all the difference to eliminating dark bags under the eyes and complimenting different shape faces.
3. Ensure the background does not distract from you. A mobile studio is always going to be far better in terms of the background, or at the very least find a plain, nice, light wall. So many so-called professional shots contain backgrounds of bars/holiday restaurants/other people or objects/unsightly walls or fences. It’s distracting and it’s unprofessional.
4. It’s hard I know, but try to exercise a positive mindset before the shoot to love the camera. The photoshoot is happening. You want the photo to portray you as a confident professional who clients trust to handle their business. Yes, it’s a case of stepping out the comfort zone and acting a little. But take a hint from the top models who look right into the lens; imagine something that makes you smile and your personality will shine through. You never know, you might even enjoy yourself!
5. Depending on your business, add a creative edge by including a prop or accessory. It can add interest or an element of fun to the photo, portray what you do and make you stand out from the crowd. For example, mine involves me holding my camera. My camera is an integral part of my personal brand. It sums up what I do. I feel happy and natural with a camera in my hands. If there’s something similar that works for you, or even an unusual but complementary business setting, then let your photographer help you get creative.
If you follow this guide, your photoshoot will be a painless, even fun experience, with spectacular results. Good luck!
For examples please click on link.
http://www.amandaduncanphotography.co.uk/p188089029
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In photography terms it should be simple. Food is an inanimate object. It can’t shuffle around like people, you’re not reliant on weather conditions and you can control the lighting and the setting.
‘Intagramming’ food is now ‘a thing’. Everyone with a phone appears to be capturing meals out or homemade delights for public consumption.
But oh boy, can it go wrong.
If your trade is a restaurant, catering or food supplier of any sort, you need to get your food photography right.
The challenge is, that usually when we judge the appeal of food, we don’t just use one sense. We use smell and taste, we’re likely to be hungry and all our senses will be shouting ‘let me eat you now’.
But when it comes to viewing photographs of food; we must rely on one sense only; sight. Many meals without the benefit of smell, taste and appetite are simply not going to cut the mustard visually.
That’s our first problem.
The second one is that the purpose of the food photography is absolutely key to the photographic style. Think kebab shop pictures vs high end restaurants. Think good affordable, chain restaurant family grub vs Michelin Star artistry.
Depending on the type of food, ambience of the establishment, audience, brand and where the photography is to be displayed; any photographic shoot involving food will require an entirely bespoke approach.
Which is where a seasoned commercial photographer comes in.
An experienced photographer will be able to advise on dinner and glassware. Lighting. Setting. Creative ideas such as showing ovens or chefs. Arrangement of food to show it off in its most appertising light. Working with dishes that may not work well in photography (think enormous portion of saucy curry; it’s the last thing most people want to look at).
So here’s my top ten tips for ensuring the food images on your website or menu make your customers’ mouths water and stomachs rumble;
1. Ensure the presentation is as good as it can possibly be. Clean table and tableware. No clutter or distracting objects in the background or foreground. Food placed carefully and beautifully on a nice plain colour table.
2. Think about the choice of dishes you use on your website. Those covered in a sauce will need to be carefully thought out to ensure they are visually attractive. A garnish or sprinkling of a topping may provide a pleasing element and variety to a dull looking (albeit delicious) dish.
3. Ensure food does not look dry or curled up; you may need to be producing food and photographing in quick succession.
4. Use crockery and portion sizes that are accurate and reflect your brand. Bustling family authentic Italian? Use Mediterranean crockery; show the portion sizes you offer, perhaps incorporate other items that support the brand such as olive oil dispensers or a bread and olive basket. Contemporary/stylish high-end cuisine? Use large size white plates. Present the food like a work of art, using the space carefully. Show off unusual dishes and features.
5. Get the lighting right. The lighting is crucial with any photography, but especially with food. Allow as much natural light as possible to set off true colours and vibrancy of the food. Check, and be aware of the lighting used in a restaurant setting. Tungsten or fluorescent lights can affect the colour balance in the camera, with unappetising orangey or blue-tinged results.
6. Accessorise in a stylish manner. A napkin here. A piece of cutlery there. Something to add a little creative touch to the scene.
7. Be careful when you hit zoom. A zoom should be a wonderful thing when it comes to food; showing off the item in all its quality and mouth-watering splendour. But you’ll need to know what you’re doing.
8. Watch your angles. A shot taken at a slight angle can cause plates to look lopsided and distract from the food. Clever use of angles however can make a tall glass look majestic; a long platter appear endlessly enticing or aerial plate shots look funky and artistic.
9. Photographing drinks or fancy cocktails? Again, artistry, style and lighting is everything. Vibrant colours, interesting background and sparkling clean glassware can make for stunning, dazzling irresistible beverages. Otherwise, it’s just an expensive drink.
10. Choose a commercial photographer who has experience in food and drink photography. It really is a specialist skill. Done well it can ensure your food products sell like hot cakes.
If you would like to see my food photography portfolio, feel free to contact me.
Bon appetit.
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By pain, I’m not referring to physical pain (although a headache is possible). I mean stress. Time. Going goggle-eyed and still not finding exactly you want.
This is the experience often associated with trawling stock libraries.
Of course, if you’ve copious amounts of time on your hands and a very high boredom and stress threshold; then fill your boots.
But in my experience, most business owners or digital marketers have significant demands on their time. Running their businesses. Dealing with customers. Designing websites and marketing collateral.
Which is why bespoke commercial photography makes so much sense.
Stock libraries have their place. In blog posts and in some marketing contexts, they may do just the job.
But for a marketing campaign; a website; in a visual material that needs to reflect your brand image and values to absolute perfection; only bespoke photography can deliver and grow your business.
And bespoke photography doesn’t just have the potential to deliver stunning, effective visual results.
It can do so quickly and cost effectively.
Time is money.
As I’ve already mentioned, trawling through stock libraries takes time. A lot of time. You may think what you want is easy to find. E.g. Let’s say you’d like a shot of business people looking at their phones. Sounds simple enough, right? But once you start looking at the images, concerns creep in.
The phones look dated – they aren’t smart phones! You need a diverse demographic of people in the picture! They don’t look like they are based in the UK! The background is too corporate or too casual! The dress doesn’t look up to date! They clearly look like models not every day people!
On and on you go, trawling away. Opening, discarding, opening discarding. Until before you know it, hours have passed. You’ve neglected the work you should be doing. And you’ve settled for a less-than-ideal image out of sheer exhaustion.
If you’re paying your web or graphic designer to do the hours of searching; okay, you’ve saved yourself the headache. But they’ll be charging you for the privilege. And there are far more effective ways for you to spend your money.
For the time or money you have spent on image library search you could have had your own professional photoshoot well underway. Following a call, a brief and agreement on budget; a commercial photographer will take care of the rest; leaving you to take care of your business.
You want your business to stand out, not blend in.
Bespoke photography is just that, bespoke. Yours and no one else’s; reflecting your brand, your values and your image. Obviously, there’s a massive selection of stock images available. But the picture you select may be used by multiple businesses. It was not shot with your business’s proposition and unique selling points in mind. And they can date very fast.
Often when searching through image libraries you’ll come across many that you’ll think ‘that would be perfect, if only’ and you’ll either continue searching or end up spending money adapting the image through editing and photoshop work with a graphic designer.
Order your own photoshoot, and you’ll get what you want straight away! If your brief is ‘we want our business to look contemporary, edgy, fast moving, innovative and subtly get across our corporate colour’; your photographer will be able to advise on the subject, photography style and finish that will achieve this visual effect.
Using skilled editing techniques, saturating colours, lighting and backgrounds, a photographer can create a unique brand and look for your business that will engage and appeal to your target audience. It will be memorable and powerful and become distinctly yours.
Exactly what is needed for marketing materials and websites to stand out in the market and drive sales.
Want to keep up with the trends? Blend stunning photography with effective graphic design.
If you want – or need – to show your business as innovative and on trend, bespoke photography is more integral than ever to achieving this.
According to this graphic design trends for 2018 article https://graphicmama.com/blog/graphic-design-trends-2018/photography is going to play a big role in design this year.
Creative and artistic photography, blended with graphic design and typography, may be the perfect solution to connecting with your target market. It can bring out emotion. Humour. A sense of mystique, excitement and appeal around a product or service.
If you’re investing in imagery, then you want that investment to deliver returns in responses and reactions. In other words, have impact. Your budget will be well spent paying a photographer to use their expertise and technical skills to ensure you sport the latest look and feel for your particular sector.
To achieve all this?
All you have to do is place the call. Give the brief.
Then sit back and enjoy your perfect portfolio of photographs – achieved without the pain.
[email protected] 07767 776839
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You can tell people until you’re blue in the face. Luxury this, high quality that. If what you’re selling is visual; something that people will look at and be awed, then you need to show it.
People are cynical. It’s so easy to set up a website these days for any business, populate it with stock shots and portray professionalism and high standards. But the proof is in the pudding. If you claim a product is a certain quality and it doesn’t match up to your claim; three things are likely to happen.
Not a position any business wants to be in.
This pattern is very familiar in the hospitality industry. How many times have we all read a hotel website, thought how amazing it all sounds, only to read down to the reviews. Suddenly the reality hits; ‘tired décor’, ‘dirty carpets’ all sorts of unappealing and contradictory critiques come out of the woodwork.
But with bespoke commercial photography there’s nowhere to hide.
If you’re in a position to showcase something stunning, you need to maximise on this sales opportunity. Potential customers and clients will use the images they see to differentiate between their options (in other words, you and your competitors). They’ll be drawn in to the brand and quality of your product, or the feel of your environment, heightening their interest in it. You’ll be able to support, reinforce and evidence the words that you use; as your descriptions and imagery match up. And the suite of photographs can take centre stage in your website and other marketing collateral, showing that you have nothing to hide and everything to be proud of.
If you look at most luxury, high end type websites; high quality photography will be the key feature. It conveys a feel for the product or place and without them knowing it, gets the customer involved.
But don’t make the mistake of thinking that your product or service looks so magnificent that it will simply sell itself with a few amateur shots or photographs taken on your phone. As good as amateur photography can be for some purposes, it will never do a product or a larger environment such as a hotel or restaurant justice. Achieving high impact, stunning images takes a considerable amount of skill and specialist equipment. This includes;
And the photography keeps on giving…
In the case of the Sandman Hotel at Gatwick; this photoshoot of a luxury hotel not only has created a high impact, beautifully visual website but has led to further PR and being featured in a five-star luxury magazine. Every space, every room and every corner has been carefully captured in its most positive and awesome light, so that the viewer almost feels like they are there. The fact is, when you know what to expect and you can see for your own eyes, you’re more likely to buy.
So if you’ve got it, let a commercial photographer flaunt it. And you’ll soon see the fantastic results. To contact Amanda for more information email [email protected]
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What do you think of when you think of a professional portrait or a profile photograph?
Probably this.
White background. Head and shoulders. Slightly turned towards camera. Suited and booted. Corporate looking. Like it belongs on a gallery of executives in a Boardroom.
For some professionals, this might be perfect. Exactly what is needed given the purpose of the photograph (for clear identification); for consistency (if part of a firm-wide project); for brand (if corporate, formal is the appropriate image).
But a professional profile image does not have to be this style. Indeed, for many professionals this approach could be all wrong. As a commercial photographer, here’s just some of the many reasons why a more creative, individualized, interesting portrait may be required;
The subject is not relaxed or comfortable being photographed. In this situation, a ‘standard’ posed shot may simply not work. If you’re not comfortable (despite the best efforts of your photographer to put you at ease), your photograph could look strained, unnatural and uncomfortable.
The subject has a particular feature they are self-conscious about. Very few of us are wildly confident about our looks. But perhaps there’s a specific issue that you can’t get past, and you need a photographer to be flexible and creative to get around it.
You have a big personality and you need your portrait to reflect and capture this. If you’re known for being creative, quirky, funny or any other personal attribute, people may not relate to the posed corporate style image. This is especially the case if your business proposition centres around your personality and personal attributes. You need existing and potential clients and customers to recognise, connect and engage with the real you.
Your job or business is far from a formal corporate based one. Perhaps you’re a pest controller. A public speaking expert. A hairdresser in a creative, contemporary salon. Working in the arts. Your professional image needs to capture your industry, profession and business brand, all in one shot.
You want to stand out. You don’t want to look the same as everyone else, because, well, you’re not. Perhaps you’re an entrepreneur. Maybe you’re starting a new business or growing your existing one and you want people to know you’re going places. A new, interesting portrait could attract attention and engagement from other professionals and prospects for all the right reasons.
The question is how can this be achieved? How can one professional portrait to be used on a personal or company website, LinkedIn and other networking platforms, really encapsulate personality, business brand and desired professional image.
Well here’s how it can be done.
Background. Amazingly enough, this does not have to be white. It can be dark. It can be a colour. It can have a relevant object or scenery behind. Or course, to work with these non-standard backgrounds will take some skill and expertise with lighting, staging and post-production, but it can result in a truly stunning, stand out and unusual image.
Environment. Very often a studio is best – enabling tight control and management of the background. But it could be that based on your profession or personality, a working site based image is more appropriate. It could also make you more comfortable. Or it could be based somewhere else relevant and appealing that adds a touch of creativity to your brand.
Pose and expression. You do not have to be perched on a stool, slightly angled, for a head and shoulders shot. You could be looking face on to the camera. You could be gesticulating in a way that is recognizable to you. You could be standing, looking relaxed and happy. You could release the inner actor in you (if there is one) and use some expression or action shot – so long as your face is still clear. This is your opportunity to get across your personality and a good photographer will be able to work with you to bring out your best features.
Clothing. Don’t feel that you have to wear a suit, or any kind of formal attire. That’s not to say look scruffy and unkempt. Of course, you need to look smart and professional, whatever your business. But if customers and clients are most likely to see you in branded uniform with your company logo, this might be the right look. If you generally sport a more casual but stylish and distinctive look, stick with this as it’s how you’ll be most identifiable and comfortable. The key to this is to be smart and be yourself.
Props. There may be occasions when a relevant prop may add an interesting, useful, amusing or creative dimension to your portrait. It may help to convey what you do. It may add humour and help raise curiosity and interest. It’s another aspect of photography though which needs careful planning, thought and management. Don’t risk looking silly, cheesy or odd. Let a professional artistic photographer get the look right.
So for all these reasons, a standard portrait need not be standard. A professional profile shot can be both professional and personal.
A professional photographer, particularly one with artistic and creative talents, will get to know your personality, objectives and preferences. And then, a suite of photographs can be created that reflect the real you, add value to your business and make you proud.
If you’d like to find out more about portrait/profile shot photography, please call me for a no obligation chat on 07767 776839.
]]>When it comes to wedding or special occasion photography; there’s no question in anyone’s minds that the role of the photographer is to capture emotion, beauty and love.
But when it comes to marketing and advertising; the benefits of powerfully conveyed and captured emotion are equally huge, if not essential, to success.
Using emotive photography works because it has impact through evoking feelings.
Emotive imagery in advertising is nothing new. Using advertising to make us feel scared, happy, hopeful, inspired is an effective tactic. But if it’s not done well it can backfire badly. It can look cheap or cheesy. It can bear no resemblance to your organisational value or brand. It can be misinterpreted if you’re not very careful.
Of course, you can search image libraries for ‘happy’, ‘sad’, ‘scared’, ‘excited’ – pretty much any emotion that you can think of. But you’ll generally find this results in overacted, almost caricatured, in-your-face portrayals of the emotion which may not be quite right for your campaign.
These ‘searchable’ emotions are simple, basic concepts. But you may need to get across something much more complex and subtle. For example, your campaign may need to indicate bravery. Or happiness in the face of adversity. Put forward a gritty, serious perspective. Or even more challenging; where the business is very much focused on one person, convey their personality.
The only way to achieve all this is through a skilled commercial photographer; who can create, plan, direct, shoot and edit a suite of photographs to a specific and unique result.
But what is it that a talented commercial photographer can bring to the process that is so important?
In these images, I went to great lengths to observe and familiarise myself with the work, personality and drive of these individuals. In the case of a specialist chef; conveying a bubbly personality with a passion for spice; portrayal of movement and focus on the hands as the trademark of a keynote speaker; and a stunning and contemporary pose that gets across the individuality of this florist.
Symbolism, interpretation and subtlety
A good commercial photographer does not just take a brief and interpret it literally. They will explore themes and symbols, crafting a creative concept that gets across the message in an engaging, thought provoking, effective and visually appealing way.
Want to get across business growth? How many adverts have you seen containing brash images of pound signs. It’s hard to be subtle and classy with that kind of look.
But consider this photograph. From this one picture, you can interpret so much. New beginnings, responsibility and growth are just some of the notions that come to mind. All presented beautifully in a contemporary style with colours saturated to draw focus to the green seedling.
Multiple chances to capture that look
Sometimes you know the look you need but it won’t come easily. And it may take time, effort, repositioning, retaking many times over. This is particularly the case when working with lay people i.e. not professional models.
In this beautiful, natural family shot for a cancer charity, the joyous, hopeful and positive nature of this family just had to shine through. There’s no short cuts. Just the time and patience to make people comfortable and keep going until that magic shot is captured.
Photography can convey emotion, tell a story, capture a moment and position a brand.
But make sure it’s the right emotion. Your story. Your moment. And your brand.
To have a no obligation chat about commercial photography, contact [email protected]
]]>It may seem obvious. It may seem easy.
Turn up. Blend in. Start clicking.
If only. Events photography is a huge responsibility, both on behalf of the photographer and of the event organisers themselves. So if you’re booking a photographer for a special event, or you’re responsible for engaging a commercial photographer for a corporate event, awards night or fundraising do; don’t fall into the trap of thinking just anyone can do it.
The cost of putting on a large and fantastic occasion to be enjoyed by large numbers of quests will likely be substantial. So you’ll want to ensure the photography of your special event is also top notch.
There are significant benefits of investing in great quality event photography, and here’s just some of them;
With all this in mind, picking the right photographer is key. We do indeed need to turn up, blend in and start clicking. But a professional, experienced event photographer will do so much more.
Before the event
On the night
After the event
A lot of effort goes into an event. So you must ensure as much effort goes into making the event live on, through well-planned, well-executed and beautifully edited events photography.
For more details for event photography please contact Amanda on 07767 776839 or email [email protected]
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Image, brand, perception, reputation; these elements are all tied up together. Of course, nothing is more important than what you actually do and deliver every day. But conveying what you do powerfully and positively is what will drive interest from potential customers.
Now as a commercial photographer, when I think ‘image’ I think picture. Not just picture - style, brand, artistic interpretation, position and subject. And it just so happens that the quality of the images you use for your business can impact directly on your overall business image. Therefore it also affects appeal, engagement and ultimately sales.
So when I refer to company images, what do I mean? You may believe that they aren’t relevant for your type of company. But actually, it’s hard to think these days of any business where the images you use aren’t important. Do you have a website? Do you do advertising? Do you have a LinkedIn profile? Do you hold company events? Do you do PR and social media? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then images are indeed important.
If you’re a company director or owner, the chances are you have a Linkedin profile, and this will be important to your professional image and networking opportunities. The days of amateurish shots taken on a phone being acceptable are gone; if you want to be perceived as a successful professional, your profile picture needs to look the business. Potential colleagues, recruits, suppliers and customers all need to be able to see a personable, comfortable, approachable professional with whom they would be happy to work.
When potential customers or clients look at your website, it may be the first impression they have of your business. That homepage, or landing page, needs to hook them in within seconds. With people scanning websites and content at great speed on their tablets and phones, an attention grabbing image; something that reflects the right creative feel and brand of your company can say volumes within the precious few seconds you have to engage people. Poor quality images or overused, dated, cheesy stockshots could easily put people off. But interesting, relevant, bespoke well thought out and on-brand photography is likely to inspire a potential customer to find out more.
It is quite amazing how many websites carry poor quality images of their products. It simply makes no commercial sense not to invest in good photography when an image and basic description is all a customer has to go on for their decision to buy or not to buy. Poorly lit backgrounds, shadows, lack of detail on the image is just a recipe for disaster and likely to result in high levels of returns, or even worse, complaints. Great quality product photography will literally show off your products in the best possible light. Enabling the textures and details to come through and setting products off in an appealing way, is the online equivalent of beautifully presented products in a high end store.
Who is your audience? Under 18s? Over 60s? High end affluent shopper? Busy mums? Corporate professionals?
Different audiences will be attracted to different creative styles and looks. Through investing in bespoke commercial photography you can pinpoint your audience and target them effectively, as the production and editing part of the process has unlimited scope for delivering the right look and feel for your business. You may want to bring out certain colours, focus on a certain style of photography e.g. retro, or quirky, or abstract, or traditional and subtle differences in how the images are edited can deliver this perfectly.
If you’re investing in a night to remember for staff and clients, you’ll want it to be remembered forever. Don’t waste this valuable PR opportunity by hoping an internal staff member with their phone will remember to snap away as the event goes on. A professional photographer will ensure a fantastic suite of photographs can be used for PR purposes well after the event. The editing and production will ensure staff, clients, and company directors are looking their best, positioned properly with the right lighting and setting. If it’s an awards do, there’s a real opportunity to boost your organisation’s internal brand and image among your staff. So it’s even more important to make sure the atmosphere is captured, and the recipients of the awards have some photographs of which they can be proud.
So if you’re looking to improve your company image, don’t underestimate the role of the photographic image. It can make every difference to the effectiveness of your internal and external marketing and communications.
If you would like to find out more about commercial photography services, please contact me for a no obligation chat on 07767 776839.
]]>But why, you may ask, when I have a perfectly good camera on my phone and just need to identify myself online, should invest in a photographer to do this for me?
Well before I get on to the reasons why your professional image is so important, I’ll share with you my top six sins.
But shouldn’t professional networking be about my personality not looks? About experience not aesthetics? About credibility not image?
Like it or loathe it, your professional image is important. And here’s why.
Networking
If you’re an entrepreneur, sole trader or business owner, professional networking is likely to be an absolutely vital part of your business. You know the mantra, people do business with people. It’s not about people liking what you look like, it’s about them knowing and connecting with what you look like. It will help them identify you at a networking event. Position you with credibility as someone who has invested time and effort into their professional image. It can increase the sense of engagement, before you’ve even met.
Branding
Your professional photograph can reinforce or even help to build your organisational brand. It’s not essential that you have a corporate style standard head and shoulders shot. Of course, depending on your business, this may well be the right approach. But professional photographs can also be fun, artistic and creative. The choice of backdrop, clothing, styling and editing can impact on the perception of the business’s brand. A talented commercial photographer will use their creative skill, interpretation and production techniques to understand and convey the brand through your LinkedIn photograph.
Image
Believe or not, your photograph really can impact on perceptions of your personality. A good commercial photographer would always take a full brief before starting the shoot. How do you want to come across - as a senior leader, or an approachable advisor or creative mastermind? Who are your customers? What’s your business brand and proposition? What if any concerns do you have about your appearance that you may wish to address? Clever use of elements like backdrop, lighting styling and editing will ensure that the ‘you’ you want to portray is delivered in a perfect shot.
So don’t be misunderstood, misrepresented or guilty of one of the six photographic sins.
A small amount of investment in a great photograph can have big benefits; to your business, your brand and your personal image.
Some examples for you on how varied and different your image can look
For more details contact Amanda by email on [email protected]
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Why there’s only one thing better than a commercial photographer. A commercial photographer who works with a graphic designer.
If you’ve read any of my other blogs, you’ll understand why I’m so passionate about the difference commercial photography can make to marketing materials, advertising campaigns or websites. It simply offers a visual impact and quality well beyond the scope of stock or amateur photography.
But there will be times where commercial photography alone isn’t enough. When the involvement of other professionals can enhance the finished product even further. When the input of further design skills in the project is needed to set off the photography perfectly.
One of these professionals is the graphic designer.
Five reasons why you should involve a graphic designer
It’s true that many photographers will have excellent post-production skills. They will be able to use photoshop and other programmes to perfect, finish and artistically present the photography they take in line with your brand, the campaign objectives and your preferences and requirements.
But commercial photography cannot always operate in a vacuum. The final layout and design, additional artistic input and production techniques a graphic designer can offer, will enable your photography to appear at its very best.
How do I find a graphic designer?
Many commercial photographers will already work closely with at least one graphic designer. Often they’ll have links and relationships with a number of graphic designers so that they can recommend the right one for you given the nature of the project and your budget.
If your photographer isn’t able to recommend one, using LinkedIn, simply googling to find a local graphic design agency, or going to a freelance directory can be a good place to start. Always ask to see examples of work and specifically where they have worked with a photographer on websites or campaigns.
How does it work?
Well in an ideal world, the photographer and graphic designer would be involved together from the very beginning. In this way, the brief will have input from both professionals and the photography can be planned and directed with the specific design of the materials in mind.
However, even if this is not the case, a commercial photographer will be able to work with a graphic designer at any stage in the process. They’ll collaborate on the artistic finish and post-production and editing work to get to the end result you’re looking for.
Either way, don’t feel that engaging a graphic designer will just double up work for you. Us creative types are perfectly accustomed to working together in teams and we’ll just get on with creating the best looking visuals possible with our respective skill sets and talents enhancing each other’s.
Like any profession, we all have our area of specialism. By bringing graphic design skills into the project, your initial investment in the commercial photography will be even more worthwhile.
If you’d like to find out more, contact me on 07767 776839 or email [email protected]
]]>Five fabulous things you can expect to happen when you book a commercial photographer
Actually, I’m going to start with what won’t happen.
Despite this list of headaches and hazards, many businesses will go down this road. Possibly it’s to save money (although commercial photography can be extremely cost effective). Possibly to save time (though most commercial photographers can meet very tight deadlines). Very possibly, it’s the fear of the unknown. Simply having no idea what the process involves, how to go about it and what to expect in the end.
Well allow me to enlighten you on the process and illuminate you on the benefits.
In the brief we’ll ask questions like this;
Some samples from a commercial job for website photography .........
So there’s no need to worry. You’ll find the process stress free, and so much simpler and more effective than the alternatives.
If you’d like a no obligation chat about any aspect of commercial photography, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
]]>Interior photography of course!
As a commercial photographer, I know how much goes into producing successful, high impact, professional interior photography. I also know that for many businesses, high quality and beautiful interior photography is absolutely essential to their image, brand, marketing and sales.
So this is a situation where an amateur approach simply won’t do.
If you’re in the hospitality sector, leisure, interior or office design or some retail industries, then interior photography may appear centre stage in your brochures, other marketing collateral and on your website. You may need to capture atmosphere. You may need to portray a feeling of space. It may be the contents of the room such as furniture and décor that need to come alive.
If you’re looking to entice someone to stay in your hotel or restaurant, visit your golf club, use your design service, rent or buy your property or view your selection of goods, it will be an awful lot easier if potential customers can see what you offer at its very best.
And by that I mean looking clear, crisp, detailed and magnificent with as full a view as possible and a strong clear focus on what you are wishing to sell. As opposed to dark and dingy; obscured views; objects poorly arranged, limited perspectives and a confusing focus.
So just how are these outstanding images achieved?
Well it’s through a complex combination of skills, knowledge, experience, patience both on-shoot and post-production. With experience probably highest on the list.
Changing the lighting can entirely alter the feel of a setting – bright or intimate; upmarket or casual; contemporary or traditional. And by changing the feel we can influence the brand – in turn improving your sales and commercial success.
It takes an experienced photographer to look at a room and instinctively know the best angles and perspectives from which to shoot. The room may need to look spacious, or cosy. The image may need to take in a lot of detail or a very wide view. We’re also great at spotting obstructions, moving furniture and items around and adding features where necessary to achieve the best visual impact. And the experienced photographer will know that it’s imperative to use a tripod, to ensure straight lines and crisp images.
The ability to use tricks of the trade and highly skilled production techniques opens up all sorts of exciting creative opportunities to present your venue in the most effective and fabulous way possible.
You’ll be stunned by what can be achieved by an experienced and skilled undertaking of your interior photography, and once you’ve seen the results, you’ll never look back.
If you’d like me to perform my magic, you can call me for a no obligation chat on 07767 776839 or email [email protected] For more examples visit the Commercial Gallery in my website www.amandaduncanphotography.co.uk
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I know, I can’t believe it. It’s crazy, how can it be?
It’s nearly Christmas.
Well for any business that sells products likely to see peak demand in the run up to the Festive Season, you’ll really be focused on Christmas. So you need to pay close attention. But actually anyone who relies on their website for selling products throughout the year also needs to listen up. So come in, the more the merrier.
Let me let you into a secret.
If you sell products on your website, they need to look good.
Imagine going into a shop, selling, for the sake of the argument, lovely gifts. First of all, instead of being able to see shelves full of the actual products, you are handed a miniature tiny version of the gift. ‘’But can’t I see a bigger one you say’’? ‘’I can’t see any detail on it or understand what size it’s going to be in real life’’. ‘’Sorry’’, says the Sales Assistant. ‘’You’re only allowed to look at our products really small, then guess what it’s going to look like in real life’’.
You then realise all the gifts are wrapped in a film that obscures the object inside. ‘’Excuse me’’, you say, ‘’please can you take off this film, I can’t see what material it’s made from, or what the colour is. It’s just all blurry’’. ‘’Sorry’’, says the sales assistant, ‘’you can only view our products slightly blurry, and you’ll have to gamble on the quality of the material and make do with the colour’’.
Sounds ridiculous this scenario, doesn’t it? But when it comes to products on websites, this really is not that unusual.
Getting serious for a minute, there are three excellent reasons why poor product photography is not good news;
1.Sales
Quite obviously, the whole point of displaying products on your website, is to sell them. To entice, excite and tempt the viewer into placing an order. But if a customer can’t see a product properly, one of these things may happen.
They may get frustrated, and just go back to the search engine, type in the product and find someone else who sells it instead.
They will just give up, discard their search and probably not return to the website.
Or, and this will bring us to the next point, they’ll take a gamble on the basis that if they don’t like it, they’ll just return it. And they are not even likely to take this chance, if you don’t have an easy and cost-free returns solution (very few companies do).
2.Returns
So what business likes dealing with a high number of returns? Surely no one. It will skew and complicate your sales figures, cause logistical headaches in administering exchanges and refunds and may involve time dealing with customer complaints if they are really unhappy.
3.Brand and Image
Unless you are in the most exclusive, unique and in-demand market of all time, the chances are your customers will be able to find the same or similar product elsewhere. But you want them to stay with you. If you sell online only, your website is your vehicle, your brand and your link with customers so it needs to be user friendly, attractive and impressive in order to convey quality and professionalism.
So now we’ve concluded that when it comes to selling goods online, photography is king, here’s some tips to get you started.
1. Camera
If you’re taking your own pictures, you’ll need a good quality camera, the pictures should be taken in either Raw or JPEG format. If shooting in jpg always shoot at the highest resolution which is 300dpi. You might then want to compress them to the right size i.e. 72dpi for your website before uploading them to avoid issues with quality. You may need to download a photo editor application to do this, for example Photoshop Elements.
2. Lighting & Background
Lighting is absolutely key. The look you want to create will dictate the lighting you use. The image needs to be exposed correctly. Whether you shoot high key (white background) or low key (black/grey background) low lighting, you’ll need studio lighting (light boxes) and depending on how many lights you use, a light meter and the correct white balance and grey card are also crucial. You may need to invest in a special set up kit from a specialist photography supplier.
3. Consider the item e.g. fabric
If your product is clothes or fabric, taking photography will be a real challenge to get it photographed well. You may have to adjust the fabric on the manikin and be a whiz with ironing and bulldog clips to make the item look good. Digital photography will often need to be tweaked as colours can be distorted, usually done in the retouching afterwards. A texture may be knitted, shiny or cotton, and you’ll need the right lighting in order for the potential customer to be able to tell. You may also need additional shots of close up aspects to show detail.
4.Take from different angles
Depending on the product, you may need to shoot from different angles, to show the side and back. For example with furniture, your customers may not be able to make a decision purely on the front only shot.
5.When to show in context
Depending on your product, you may need to show it in context e.g. it being used or worn, to show what it would look like. This approach can enhance the sales of a product (such as a happy child playing with a toy, or attractive woman wearing a dress). But the staging of a shoot will need great attention to balance the photography style with the detail and focus on the product you’re selling.
6.Managing models
If you are using models, even friends and family, there are some important rules.
They’ll need good make up, hair and clothes that work in the lighting and flatter. They’ll need to be put at ease. And you’ll need to offer firm but clear instructions and exercise patience and constraint to not keep touching their hair, adjusting their clothes or repositioning them constantly – unless they are very comfortable with this. If you’re hiring a professional model you’ll need to work quickly and efficiently as it’s likely you’ll be paying by the day, and you’ll only get one chance to get it right.
7. Go on a course
With so many online businesses springing up, there are now courses in photography available for small businesses, so it may be worth looking into one near you. Good photography really is a skill and for the reasons listed above, highly detrimental to your sales if you don’t get it right. So if you’re serious about creating wonderful images yourself, investing in training is well worth it.
8.Use a commercial photographer
You may not have the time or the inclination to go on a course. You know that your photography skills aren’t top notch. You’re relying on a semi-ok camera, have never seen a light box let alone positioned one and don’t know your dpi from your elbow.
This really could be time to call in the professional. You’ll be very surprised how cost effective it is, and your increased in sales and reduced returns will soon cover it. No stress, freed up time, all the top equipment, handling of models and post production work at your disposal. Oh yes, and fabulous shots that sell.
You’ve spent who knows how much money, effort, creativity and talent creating your products. Don’t them down through poor photography.
Let the photography do them justice. Let the photography sell them. Let the photography do you proud.
For more information about my commercial product photography please email me on [email protected] or call 07767 776839.
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Now I’m not here to get all soppy on you today. But if you’re in the market for a wedding photographer, I know you’ll meet a range of photographers and base your choice on not only photography skills, but social skills and personality. You’ll want your photographer to be someone with whom you feel comfortable and who will put your guests as ease. I know that you’ll choose based on these things because it’s your big day, it will entail months of planning, and you’ll make sure that everyone involved with it is right for you, on a personal as well as professional level.
But if you’re a business owner looking for commercial photography for your corporate website, an advertising campaign, a profile shot for social media or a portrait for a display in your work environment, I’m here to tell you that the relationship between you and your photographer is just as important.
Of course, their photography, technical and post-production skills, understanding of lighting and quality of equipment are absolutely essential when it comes to selecting a commercial photographer. And these are likely to be the key factors in deciding who to commission, based on their portfolio, their experience and recommendation.
But personality, and rapport, are also paramount, and here’s why.
A commercial photoshoot for a new website or advertising campaign, in my experience, generally does not have up to year or many months planning behind it. In fact, on many occasions, the project will take place to quite tight deadlines to meet website go live dates and advertising copy deadlines. You’ll brief the photographer, and then the campaign will go ahead. So your photographer needs to understand you and your needs quickly and if you’re in the picture yourself, get you prepared and comfortable, fast.
As it’s not your wedding day, if you are having a profile shot taken for your website or LinkedIn, the chances are the shoot won’t be proceeded with several hours of hair and make up by top stylists. And it certainly won’t if you’re a man.
Now I’ll let you into a secret here. Most people aren’t that comfortable being photographed. And, most people are not over the moon about their own looks – especially women.
This is where the relationship with your photographer really comes in. Making people feel at ease is crucial, otherwise what should be a natural shot can look pained and uncomfortable. The client won’t get the shot they’re happy with, and it will run into many reshoots taking up time and money.
There are many tips and tactics that a good commercial photographer should use to put people at ease. Talking with them to understand their concerns (‘’I hate my teeth’’/’’I always look awful on the right side’’), keeping the process relaxed and lighthearted to extract some natural smiles, keeping the conversation going so the subject forgets themselves and relaxes, asking whether it’s ok to move a hair or reposition the hands, giving the subject something to hold if it makes them less fidgety, and much more.
And a good commercial photographer will need to be patient and accept rejection, taking as many shots as are necessary to make the client feel happy and proud of their final image.
Your photographer needs to do more than photograph. They need to understand your business, the brand, the tone, the marketing messages that you wish to portray. In order to do this, they need to work closely with you, and get a feel for what you like and dislike.
It’s your business, you know how you wish it to be presented. Corporate, funky, quirky, creative, serious, artistic. Largely containing people and movement or objects or landscapes. But if you’re not a marketing guru yourself, you’ll need the photographer to draw out this information through clever questioning and research – what you do, who your audience are and what you want to achieve.
Once the preparation is done, there is a lot that goes into managing the shoot on the day if in a work environment or elsewhere.
If professional models are being used, the photographer will need to brief them and have them understanding quickly what’s required and what the campaign is all about. After all, models are expensive and you’ll want the best results in as little time as possible.
If a shoot is taking place in a work place, using you and your staff, the need to put people at ease becomes crucial.
At a wedding, people expect and know that at some stage their champagne drinking will be interrupted by the call from the photographer to start the photographs.
But in a workplace, a photographer will be an alien species. Suddenly everyone’s on edge, worrying about what they look like, acting unnaturally. But it’s the photographer’s job to ensure this doesn’t happen. They need to make the day enjoyable and fun. Understand concerns. Get the best out of people and boost their confidence. There may well be some hidden gems among your workforce who really shine in front of the camera – the photographer needs to spot them and make the most of them.
If you need further proof of why personality is so important, then look no further than the skills listed on the National Careers Service site for young aspiring photographers. After technical and artistic skills, in third, fourth and fifth place, come ‘excellent communication and people skills’, ‘patience’ and ‘ability to put people at ease’.
And this message is replicated in hiring criteria for photographers in all types of photography, where people are to be the subject, whether it’s weddings, children or commercial.
Ultimately, if your commercial photographer doesn’t click with you, the photoshoot will fail. Whether you’re commissioning the photography for a commercial project, or being photographed yourself for a professional shot, you’ll need your photographer to both understand what you are looking to portray and how you wish to look - whilst keep you comfortable and involved in the process.
"Amanda's professionalism shines through in her work. If you are considering a corporate photoshoot (or updating your existing gallery), and want someone who can bring out your character rather than dull standard photos, Amanda is highly recommended." Ges Ray
For an informal chat about how I can help you and your business look great, contact me at [email protected]
]]>It only takes a second to capture the perfect moment. Right? If we’re talking about amateur, fun photography, yes of course that can be the case.
But when it comes to high quality, commercial photography, the ‘click’ is simply one tiny element in a journey. A process that begins with briefings, entails research and planning, and culminates in the post production work that turns a simple shot into a sales tool; an original piece of creative work that is a positive reflection of your brand and company image.
Understandably, it’s easy to underestimate the true value of the work involved in a commercial photoshoot, because it’s mostly hidden, taking place behind the scenes.
So let me give it the exposure it deserves.
Once you have made the decision to book a commercial photographer, the first thing that will happen will be a briefing. I’ll come to you and ask you questions, through which I’ll get an understanding of your brand, the purpose of the shoot, your audience, your budget, your timescales and the subject.
If you’re already working with an advertising agency or web designer, I’ll liaise with them. If you need artistic input from me, I can bring creative ideas to the table.
Next, it’s thinking and planning time. Working out the logistics, defining the artistic approach. Need models or props? Leave it with me. Have multiple sites needing to be photographed? Rest assured I’ll organise them in the most efficient way possible to save you money and time. Have challenges in terms of lighting, backdrops, people uncomfortable with being photographed? I have the experience, equipment and tactful approach to get fantastic results.
I’ll check out the site and assess the lighting and other factors to ensure the right techniques are used on the day. I’m also used to working with people, preparing them and putting them at ease, as well as advising on outfits, and bringing in hair and makeup professionals if necessary.
The final flourish. The crucial stage that turns a series of shots into awesome, stunning pictures that say everything about your business you need them to say. A stage that requires both technical expertise and a creative eye in order to create the perfect finish. The campaign may require a quirky, edgy feel that would appeal to younger audiences. Colours may need to be saturated, objects highlighted or edited, backgrounds altered or many other visual enhancements through photoshop and other applications.
The beauty of investing in commercial photography is in this flexibility. No need to shoehorn a campaign idea around a stock shot or compromise on what you really want. No more poor photography taken on an amateur camera that does your products and image no favours.
A commercial photographer will deliver so much more than a picture. Artistic, original shots finished to your exacting requirements.
We recently enlisted Amanda for photography for our new website having been recommended by a contact from a different golf course. Amanda is incredibly enthusiastic and professional and achieved the shots we were looking for. The quality of her work is fantastic, we were particularly impressed with her detailed close ups. We have booked Amanda for upcoming photography, and can highly recommend her services. Dan Snow Silvermere Golf & Leisure
If you’d like to get started with a no obligation chat, please contact me on [email protected] to see how I can help.
]]>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.
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.
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]
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When you invest in advertising and marketing for your business, what are you hoping to achieve?
The answer to this question should be impact, interest, curiosity and reaction. Reinforcement of your brand. Conveying an impression of quality, individuality and recognition.
Bespoke photography can be a key factor in delivering this.
So why do so many businesses, when spending significant budgets on advertising, leave good quality photography out of the mix?
As a commercial photographer, the benefits seem obvious to me. But from speaking with businesses, particularly Small Medium Establishments, I know that there are some misperceptions which deter the commissioning of photography.
I’m going to take these common myths, and bust them. I’m going to explain why photography is a good investment, why it’s better than using stock images and why to improve the impact of your advertising, it’s the right thing to do.
Myth number 1: Commercial photography is too expensive.
This is probably the biggest and most off-putting perception for any business without a huge budget. Completely understandably, if you’re an SME, you need a cost effective website and advertising campaign. Quite possibly, you’ve looked into it before and photography costs were immense. However, it does not have to be this way. And here’s why;
Myth number 2: Commercial photography will take too long, I need to get my website up and running or an advert out asap.
Not so fast! Most commercial photographers will arrange a briefing meeting as soon as is needed. Photoshoots can be arranged quickly and photographers will deliver the production work within the timescales and deadlines of your project. I have a mobile studio which I can bring out to you or the relevant venue at very short notice. Properly arranged, you’d be amazed at what could be achieved within one hour of photography, let alone half a day. Unless it’s a very complex campaign, undertaking photography simply does not have to be a lengthy process.
Myth number 3: Photography is not appropriate or necessary for my business, we don’t sell products online and we’re only a small company.
I can assure you that this is not the case. Agreed, if you are selling products online, great photography is even more crucial in enhancing the customer’s ability to appreciate your products and reduce the number of returns. However, for any business with a website, and who invests in marketing, this is your ‘shop window’. It’s your ability to get noticed by potential customers. Even your profile shot is part of the impression you make and can engage or deter interest in your business.
I have undertaken bespoke photography for cleaning companies, hairdressers, pubs and florists. I have produced creative portrait pictures for a motivational speaker, photographed products for a clothing store and worked with hotels and golf clubs. Every type of business, with any level of budget, can benefit from investing in photography.
So don’t let these 3 popular misperceptions put you off exploring bespoke photography. The chances are, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what can be done and delighted with the results.
"Thank you Amanda we are delighted with the food and lifestyle photography for our website which has really captured what we are about, with the bespoke photography that you have created for us. The images are professional and of the highest quality". Damien Man - The White Hart, Chipstead.
For a no obligation chat about my prices and how I can help please contact me at [email protected]
]]>Here is a fab example I shot recently, guess what work they do??
If you are looking for some creative corporate portraits contact me Amanda at [email protected] or call 07767 776839. Happy photographing!!!
]]>When looking for a good photographer the best way in my view is recommendation - if you have a connection with someone that can give you the photographers details this is excellent. This means they have worked with that individual or company already and can give valuable feedback as to how they work and the quality of their images. For example I did a lot of work in the past for WISE they are a company for women engineers, therefore because of their ethics they wanted a female photographer.
So the event organiser asked colleague she worked with and my name came up therefore a good recommendation for her.
A good event photographer will know how to take amazing photographs in every possible scenario. First point of call is to check their work. This can either be done by seeing a portfolio or their website. Every photographer has their own style. Ask yourself do you like their work. What do you look for in a great photograph? The images must be sharp. The colour balance should be excellent. Often this is the hardest thing to get right, as if the event is held indoors there is always different lighting to contend with, fluorescent, tungsten, stage lighting. So the images mustn't appear too orange for example. For example this image was photographed using stage lighting very difficult to get right.
Arrange a meeting, do you like them? This is important as you will have to work with them. Are they team players, will they listen to you? Will they be professional and well behaved with your clients? For example I have worked with the royal family a few times and as an event planner you need to employ someone you can trust. There are several rules you have to follow when photographing the royal family and you want a photographer who is respectful of this.
Get testimonials from past clients this will give you a good over view of them as a person and of their work. Check if a photographer has a public liability insurance this will confirm that they are serious, also when photographing children they need to have a CRB certificate.
This depends very much on the event. Do you want just a CD from the day, prints on the day, photographs displayed on a website, there are so many variables. Here are the main questions to ask.
For an award ceremony event photographers will charge for their time by the hour, half day or day rate and then extra for a disk or prints. Some companies need to offer prints on the day at an event for example at a Golf Pro Am tournament.
A mutual rate will be negotiated as the photographer will have a lot of outlay for the day for example photography paper, inks, mounts, bags etc they may not pay site costs but may give a percentage of the costs of the prints to the organisers. The event maybe charity driven so some of the proceeds will then go to the charity. It all depends on the event and making sure all the relevant partners involved get benefits from the day.
The rule of who owns the copyright of a photograph is by law whoever took the photograph. Therefore if you want to own the photo you will have to negotiate with the photographer for the rights. This is important if you want to publish any images at a later stage. Some photographers will release copyright on a disk some won't. If they do release the copyright then they will include the price of the disk into the daily rate. If they don't release copyright then the photographer will sell the images on their website at an extra rate after the event. If you are given the digital file you can use them however you wish. Upload them to Facebook, turn them into table mats, send them to your family. However, for corporate events and PR/Press events client usage will need to be negotiated in advance there are options to globally buy out the copyright.
If you have an event coming up shortly please contact Amanda to schedule your complimentary event consultation on 07767 776839 or [email protected]
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2. Reflect Your Brand's Vision
When you use stock photos, you’re essentially adopting someone else’s vision for your site. Original photography gives you the power to tell your own story and communicate your unique brand identity. As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words”—and the right photo can speak volumes about your business.
For instance, one of my clients wanted their company logo to appear in every shot, which is impossible with stock photography. Personalized photos allow you to incorporate your branding seamlessly into the visual elements of your website.
3. Cost Considerations: Stock Photos vs. Professional Photographer
While stock photos may seem cheaper upfront, the hidden costs can add up quickly. For example, licensing fees can vary based on the size and usage of the image, and finding the right photo can be time-consuming.
As a professional photographer, I offer flexible pricing based on your needs. You can choose how many images you require, and my fees include high-resolution files, which can be used for everything from website photos to large banners or posters. In many cases, the cost of hiring a photographer is comparable to buying stock photos when you factor in the additional costs of licensing and the time spent searching for the perfect image.
4. Customizing Photos to Fit Your Vision
Before you start selecting photos for your website, you should have a clear idea of your goals and the message you want to convey. A professional photographer can work with you to create images that align perfectly with your brand and website’s design.
For example, I recently worked with a choir that wanted dynamic, action-packed images for their website. We shot them on stage to capture the energy and movement that reflected their vibrant brand. Stock images simply couldn’t achieve that level of customization.
5. Make a Lasting Impression with Professional Imagery
The images on your website are often the first interaction potential clients or customers have with your brand. It's essential to ensure that your visuals convey the right message. High-quality, professional photos give off a sense of credibility and professionalism, while stock images can sometimes feel disconnected or inauthentic.
Think about the "About Us" page of your website—does the photo of your team feel personal and approachable? Would visitors feel comfortable working with the people in the photo? The right image can convey trust and professionalism in a way that stock images just can’t match.
In conclusion, while stock images might seem like an easy option, they don’t have the same impact as personalized, professional photos. By investing in original photography, you ensure that your website reflects your brand's personality, stands out from the competition, and makes a lasting impression on visitors.
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Some points to think about :
Some examples of good portraits :
This portrait was shot in a studio, this client plays guitar in a band and we felt it was very important to include his guitar in his portrait. I think the portrait looks creative and fun and approachable and represents a part of his personality that is very important to him.
I really like this portrait, this company director wanted a look that was smart and professional yet also approachable and I think we achieved this. Black and white adds a cool look and his open body language invites you into the portrait.
The famous author Jacqueline Wilson in action. This is a good example of a portrait shot on location, it speaks volumes about her personality. Her large rings, her book, again her body language leaning forward and engaged in conversation.
A Corporate photography session with me would include a conversation about what you would like from your portrait. Then the shoot will take 1-2 hours I usually come to you, then you will receive a contact sheet of 30-40 images or view them online, you then choose your favourites.
Contact me to arrange your free photo consultation email [email protected] or phone 07767 776839.
Amanda Duncan Photography, Life, captured
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Congratulations to Michelle and Brendan who had their wedding published in Your Surrey Wedding Magazine in the August and September edition at Gorse Hill Hotel Woking in Surrey.]]>
Tip 6
Balance
Again every picture is subjective yet there is always a balance when looking at a really good image, one that makes the image memorable and pleasing to the eye. Balance dosen't mean that everything in the picture has to be in the centre quite the opposite infact, the eye takes in the camera viewpoint, tone, colour, framing and detail.
For example in this photograph the figure crossing the bridge has been captured just as they pass under the middle of the building creating a strong vertical line however either side of the figure the green colour tone balances the picture, also the red light right at the top of the picture helps the eye travel upward.
