3 Reasons to Invest in Branded Photography
We live in a photo-rich culture.
Every person who’s actually making a living off of their photography knows this all too well. I personally think it’s great that photography is such an accessible medium for anyone to test out… as a hobby. I don’t believe everyone with an iPhone in their pocket should become a professional photographer.
The problem with everyone believing they too are as good as a professional photographer with formal training and years of professional experience is that it makes it the general public (business owners, brides, anyone really…) think that their “friend’s friend who has a ‘nice’ camera” is their fix to getting great photos.
Just because your friend’s coworker has (what appears to be) a nice camera, doesn’t mean he or she is qualified to create photography for your brand! A camera does not a photographer make!
I’ve compiled a shortlist of reasons why I believe it is vitally important to your brand to view photography as an investment — rather than an expense.
Don’t Be That House
Stay with me-- let’s use a metaphor to explain this one :)
You’re house hunting— woohoo!! It’s time to start looking for homes and the easiest place to start getting an idea of what you’d like is the internet. Hellooooo, Zillow! (Truth be told, perusing Zillow is one of my favorite pastimes and I’m not even house hunting!) You start clicking on available properties and scrolling through the pictures.
Which properties draw you in? The ones that show an entire room? The ones that show the highlights of the space? What about the images that are blurry? Underexposed? We’ve all seen the pictures that show a doorknob— and it’s not even a nice doorknob!
What do all these images make you feel? Do the properties with awful images make you want to schedule a tour? Probably not… If those images can’t get you in the door for a tour, you definitely won’t be buying that house!
The exact same concept applies to photography for your brand. If you aren’t putting your best foot forward, you may never be taken seriously.
I know photography services can be a bigger ticket item and it might even be hard to see the long-term value when you’re just starting out. But in the same sense as that house with the crappy photos, your audience probably won’t take the time to get to know more about you before they write you off.
They’ll look through your social media feeds and your website and wonder if you’re a legitimate business or not— the same way you wondered if that house with the crappy photos is safe or livable or what might be haunting it!
Don’t be that house. Don’t make them wonder or make them feel like they're taking a major risk or wasting their time. Let your audience know right off the bat that you are open for business and you offer the best solution to their problem by showcasing your brand with thoughtful photography that shares your story!
Even if your business isn’t at the point where you think paying for photos is necessary, it is. Any brand that is worthy of your time and effort is worthy of professional photography.
2. Social Media Wants Beautiful Images
Not to say that your story isn’t just as important (because, duh! It is!) but to get someone to stop scrolling to look at your post for more than a second, you need a stunning, thumb-stopping image. Trying to gain likes? Or followers? You need to give them something worth following and something worthy of a double-tap!
You don’t need to try to fit into the cookie-cutter bright, white, breezy image box you see gracing SO. MANY. FEEDS.
If that’s what speaks to you, great! If it doesn’t, then do something different! It’ll help you stand out. It’ll show your personality and what makes you and your brand so freakin’ great! Do you work in a windowless studio that is anything but light, bright and airy? Cool— show that off! The real authentic story is always better than the “trying to give them what they want even though that feels so fake to me” story…
The key to showing off your space (especially if it could use some TLC) is hiring a professional photographer to come in and help you see things that you don’t. When you’re so close to something (like living there, working there, seeing it every single day…) you stop noticing some of the interesting details that are actually beautiful.
On top of that, your space does not need to be the focus of your images! In fact, it should be a supporting player. Meaning… the player supporting YOU! You have got to be front and center sharing your story candidly. The easiest way to do that? Hire a photographer to join you in your workspace for an environmental bran photoshoot. You’ll capture authentic imagery that can be used in a similar way as stock photography. Aim to create timeless imagery using outfit changes and mixing detail shots with a variety of tasks and poses to get a well-rounded portfolio of images for you to share with your following— properly paired with an honest story caption, of course! :)
3. Your Time is Valuable as Hell!
End. of. Story!
Is taking your own photos for your business what’s moving the needle for you? Is it bringing you joy? Or is it making you want to pull out your hair because it’s so time-consuming?
Your time needs to be utilized on the tasks that only you can do! This doesn’t mean you should check out completely from it— especially if you’re focusing on including yourself in your feeds (which I highly recommend!). It just means that you shouldn’t be the one behind the camera. Let a professional photographer who can create the images those gorgeous images in her sleep take care of all your photography needs while you focus on the bigger picture. Your brand and your sanity will thank you!
What do you think? I’d love to hear if this resonated with you! If you’re ready to make the plunge, click the button below and let’s get started putting your best foot forward!
