Hi there! Happy new year! 2022 is looking great already, I am so excited to already have some excellent clients on the books, and be in correspondence with a few great local businesses here in Issaquah! I can’t wait to dig in and see what their goals are for their branding photos… This got me thinking: I wonder how businesses view success in their branding photos?
Have you ever had photos taken for your business? How did it go? Did you feel like they hit the mark and were useful? I’m asking because I am GENUINELY curious, and also because I want to give you an opportunity to think for a bit. Think about your experiences with marketing yourself or your business visually, and what your ultimate goals are for relating to your ideal client or customer.
I want to go over what I believe to be the 5 main markers of a successful branding photoshoot, and also some tips of how to achieve that goal! As always, if you are in the Greater Seattle area, please reach out to me about your branding photography needs and we can start brainstorming your ideal session!
Your Branding Photos Should…
📸 make you proud of your business every time you look at them!
Tips: focus on what you’ve achieved. Include visuals that are unique to your brand, like a product or service that is special to you. Is your team super special? Catch them in action! Capture photos of your dreamy location. Show clients/customers enjoying your business, so when you look at the photos you’re reminded of the impact you’re making on the world.
📸 tell your customers a story, and give them ideas and inspiration for how to use your products or services.
Tips: let’s say you have an end product that will be used in a clients home. You can rope in a friend to model this feature, or hire a local model and rent a location. Visually this can be a really strong way to give clients context, and have them imagine your product in their lives! (you can also ask your photographer for referrals to models and locations).
📸 show off special details and features that will turn customers into fans
Tips: What’s the number one thing people are RAVING about you or your business? Your killer designs? Your unique ingredients? Your care and openness? How can you show that visually? I had a client who’s main goal was to be environmentally friendly in all of her packaging, so we made sure to include the special labels and materials in her branding photoshoot so that she could brag about it on social media later. Such a win!
📸 feel true to your brand and message
Tips: Spend a little time researching YOURSELF. Look through your branding materials and find your go-to colors and the images you are drawn to. Do you prefer a light or a dark aesthetic? Are you modern, vintage, or something else? Go back to when you started your business. Why did you start it? Who did you want to help? If you could tell all of your clients one thing, what would it be?
📸 be easy to use, no matter the platform!
Tips: This gets down to the nitty gritty! Make sure you are capturing both horizontal AND vertical images so you can use them cross-platform. If you need web-sized images and don’t have the ability to resize them yourself, ask your photographer if this is a service they provide. Do you need video? Does your photographer offer that, or can they refer you to a videographer? Typically the easiest to use files are .jpg for images, and .mp4 for video. Always keep in mind you should be able to ask your photographer any questions before, during and after the shoot, that is what you paid them for!
I hope this was a helpful peek into the world of branding photography!! DM me today and let's chat about what your business needs for 2022. I have several spots open for your business or brand, and I even created special subscription packages for those who want a little more automation in life!
❤ - Courtney
