How to get the marketing images you need for your small business or startup; Tips from a Pro
Images that Speak!
Marketing a small business successfully takes forethought, creativity, and rich imagery. The perfect photographs showcase your brands personality, demonstrate originality, and invite individuals to see themselves as beneficiaries from what you’re offering. Defining images work all on their own or with text in order to effectively tell your story. Images can express, share, and captivate. Show don’t tell discerning potential clients why they ought to consider selecting and supporting your service or product over others!
While Wild Thing Photography existed long before Wild Thing School of Yoga, my journey to becoming a small business owner has been one of learning, discipline, investment, and commitment. I can’t even begin to claim I’m close to having my game locked down tight; but I have figured a few things out along the way (this is why I now offer small business mentoring). While my expertise is Yoga photography, my passion for helping small businesses find their feet and grow has allowed me plenty of opportunities to shoot products and places. Whether you have a side hustle you love or a business your family relies on, strong purpose-driven images cultivate vibrant branding. When people get you and what you’re about and it resonances; they often get behind you. With buy-in, your business vision grows from goal to reality.
Good, Better, Best
Whether you stretch the tight small business budget to bring in a professional or are dedicated to capturing your own here are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind when photographing for your small business.
Not into Yoga? Please excuse the yoga inferences and kindly shift the gist of the tip to what you offer and/or the spaces your commercial endeavors inhabit.
“Same, Same but...”: Consistent style builds continuity across your mediums and makes your brand aesthetic clear and defined. Elements of consistency to consider include; consistent staging, use of color, and ‘approach’ to shots i.e.minimalist/abstract/modern etc. Different but uniformly similar images give your business the best portfolio possible to address the myriad of marketing needs sure to arise.
Variety = Versatility: Variety paired with consistency is not a paradox but rather a portal. Incorporating variety during shoots allows your photos to go exponential in their versatility.
Practically speaking this translates into; asking models to bring more than one outfit and be willing to switch hair-do’s or accessories during a shoot, changing settings and key elements within shots, including multiple skill levels or scenarios for a better visual selection in a single shot, rearranging individuals through ought the shoot in group settings.
Know your Audience: Demonstrating the value of what your service or products can provide to potential clients requires knowing who your audience is. There is little point and possible harm in showcasing overly complex poses if you are advertising restorative classes, gentle options for the elderly, or seeking to woo newbies that have never been on the mat before and so on and so forth.
Invite with Images: Nothing is less inviting and more boring than hegemony. Who did you start your business for? Include them visually in your graphics! Creating the world as you’d like it to be, starts with being inclusive. This allows individuals to see themselves represented in your photographs. The world is colorful and diverse; your images should be too!
Be Purpose-full!: Intended use and medium for display matter. Before you schedule or start a shoot take time to brainstorm and think through what your business will require photos for. For instance; need images for a flier or for marketing? Choose a scene and focal element that still allows for available blank space to fill with text and brand graphics. Consider your website design. What images will speak to specific offerings? Don’t forget, web banners will require high pixel distance shots rather than close-ups. Bio photos need to show a clear profile.
Be on the Same Level: Basics are foundational. Get on the level of what you are photographing to give viewers the best view. Whether you are shooting goods, animals, or people, being on the same level gives great perspective in a wide array of marketing uses. *Don’t be afraid to photograph from the back! Not all shots need to include a face to be interesting and amazing
Think Long-term: Forethought usually pays off! Pick a theme you can stick with and then do it well. Consider investing in your own setup if photography will play a significant role in your business plan. For instance; if your business needs to showcase a large amounts of rotating images of ever-changing products it’s likely time to crunch the numbers. The right equipment and a training course might easily pay for itself.
Practice Good Ethics: Remember that each individual being photographed needs to give their informed consent. Whether photographing the public or curating a setting or scene, participants ought to sign a model release form. This gives you the freedom to use their image online without liability concerns.
*Photographing anonymously is possible without these and may be an excellent way to zoom-in on fascinating oft overlooked but markedly beautiful details.
7. Curate!: It’s tempting to be casual and consider just scheduling a photographer to show up and take photos; but it is always better to be intentional. Create the scene, determine your needs, and sort the details in advance. This way; the photographer comes to a considered version that allows them to capture its essence better! Choosing to be organized and systematic will absolutely result in far more usable photographs that speak volumes about your brand; distinctly!
Working with models? Check out these tips for increasing variety and getting the most from a photo shoot or click here to learn how professional photos can take your business to the next level.
Specializing In Small Business Marketing, Personal Branding And Yoga Photography
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Photography Credit: Wild Thing Photography