When considering your marketing budget, you may occasionally overlook professional photography as a business owner. Surely you could use stock photos or take some snapshots yourself, can’t you? After all, there are other areas where you need to spend your budget. However, this isn’t something that you should dismiss.
No matter how capable your smartphone camera is, professional photos are a much better option. While the camera itself is an important consideration, the magic behind quality photography comes from the photographer and not the equipment.
High-quality photos are an asset and a tool designed to increase your chances of success. Therefore, professional photography should be a budget priority—and here are a few reasons why.
A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words
Chances are you’ve heard this phrase, and it’s true. We live in a visual society, and social media has amplified that notion. Images show your audience what you are all about and that first impressions are critical.
When it comes to commerce, consumers expect to have a good look at what they are buying. In lieu of physically inspecting a tangible good, they rely on product photos to inform their purchasing decision. Pictures of the essential angles, feature details, textures, and more make all the difference. Don’t lose out on a sale simply because you had low-quality product photos.
Your Media is Representative of Your Business
Image is everything. These days, much of your communication is conducted with consumers via your website, print, social media, and other visual mediums. Since their first impression is dependent on aesthetics, you want to make sure that you present them with quality photos that accurately represent your business and goods.
On the flip side, poor or low-quality images can make consumers less likely to interact with you, as many become turned off by a company that doesn’t seem to care about the appearance they project.
Consumers Want to Know You
Some business owners consider using stock images when they don’t feel a professional photoshoot fits their budget. While these can be helpful in certain situations, they are not an ideal way to show off your business as they aren’t photos of your company. And, this can come across as disingenuine.
Ideally, you want to show off actual photos of your business, yourself, team members, and products when possible.
Professional Images are Versatile
You’ve probably heard that “content is king” when it comes to marketing. And, this has been true for some time now. However, many people don’t realize that photos are considered a powerful and versatile form of content.
Photos can make your website engaging. You can also use them on your social media pages and in blog posts or articles. You can also use your photos offline in brochures and promo materials. There are so many ways that professional photos can enhance your marketing efforts.
Popular Product Image Styles
Now that you know how professional photography can benefit your business, let’s look at some of the most popular and proven product images styles.
Studio Shots
In today’s world of online shopping, there’s a critical need for good product photography, and different products require different approaches.
For example, a glass perfume bottle requires separate lighting from a cardboard package because its surfaces are unique and reflect light differently.
Another consideration would be food photography. When creating images of meals, for example, the surrounding context—table setting, flatware, dishes—need to compliment the food (the product) itself.
Online retailers that sell numerous products need speed and efficiency when creating their images as well as consistency. This creates another need for a studio space where repetitious photography can maintain a consistent look and feel.
White Background Shots
White background photography is the most common type of background shot for several reasons. First, it creates a silhouette or “knockout” of the product, allowing it to appear as if it’s floating. From there, you can use photo editing software to remove the product from the background and place it on a pure white background (without shadows) or add it to another object as a composite.
Amazon is a great place to see products on a white background. Most of the sellers use white sets for their products. Printed catalogs are often examples of products on a white background.
Grouping Shots
If you have several variations of the same product, this is a great way to show your consumers. Grouping shots are a great way to show the product’s shape, variety, and size options in one photo. The relative context of one product versus another in a single image can be very informative.
Lifestyle Shots
This type of product photo highlights the item’s intended use. Typical lifestyle imagery includes people using the product within the expected environment.
For example, a happy couple using cookware in the kitchen creates a terrific lifestyle image.
Lifestyle photography is a powerful way to help your potential customer imagine what it’s like to live with your product.
Conclusion
When drafting your marketing budgets, be sure to include an investment in quality professional photography. These images will help you stand out from your competition, endear yourself to your customers, and provide you with versatile use options for today’s omnichannel marketing.
Not sure where to begin with professional photography for your business? Contact us today and let’s strategize together.
To learn more about marketing your small business, check out our What you need to know to market your small business article.
