Image is important- especially in the world of business.
After all, we’re visual animals! It doesn’t matter whether it’s your employees’ uniforms, your website, the logo, or your general branding efforts. Potential customers and clients look at your business and make snap judgments based on appearance alone.
That’s why taking professional photos to use in your business endeavors is so important. You’ve got just 7 seconds to make a good first impression and high-quality pictures help you do it! Unlike generic stock photography, pro photos are specific, brand-related, and on point in every way.
The result? They set the tone and send all the right messages about your business.
But first, you’ve got to learn how to take them! Want some expert advice to help you do exactly that? Keep reading for 7 top tips on taking professional pictures to promote your business.
1. Invest In Pro Equipment
Lesson one: taking first-rate professional pictures requires professional equipment. Trust us, now’s not the time to break out your disposable camera (do those things still exist?!). Even the latest smartphone will struggle to deliver the standard of photography you need.
You need a good-quality DSLR or mirrorless camera for the job. They’re not cheap, but it’s a worthy investment in terms of the impact they’ll have on your business! Additional lenses (think wide-angle and macro models), tripods, and spare batteries, and remote shutters will also come in handy.
2. Use the Right Editing Software
Most images you capture with your new equipment will still need editing before you publish them. You may wish to alter the composition, adjust the lighting, or highlight particular elements. Perhaps you decide to apply a filter, add graphic overlays, increase the sharpness, and so on.
Whatever the case might be, having some professional editing software will help. From expensive ones to free ones and everything in between, you’ll find all sorts of options on the proverbial shelves these days. Do some research to find the right one for your business’ needs (and budget)!
3. Educate Yourself
Follow the advice in our first two tips and you’ll be all set up to take pro photos. Now the fun can really begin! Don’t expect to walk away with high-quality results off the bat though.
You’ll soon realize that taking high-quality pictures isn’t easy. Indeed, everything from working with the light and setting the shutter speed to finding the right composition can be tricky for newbies. It takes practice, dedication, and a commitment to the craft of photography.
You’ve invested the money in the gear, now you’ll have to invest the time to learn how to use it!
Watch YouTube tutorials, subscribe to photography magazines, take online courses, and so on. Learn how to tell stories with your snaps, how to edit them properly, and how to get them into the correct format (such as how to convert heic to jpg on mac). With any luck, it shouldn’t be too long before you get the hang of it.
4. Use a Tripod
Our next suggestion is to use a tripod at every opportunity. You might think it’s unnecessary and that your hands are steady enough anyway. But you’d be amazed at the difference they make.
Using a tripod eliminates shakiness from the equation. You’ll end up with blur-free photos with the crisp, clear aesthetic that’s typical of professional pictures.
Once again, there is no shortage of possible tripods on the market. Big ones, small ones, travel ones; you name it and there’s a tripod for the task. Most will do the job, but it’s worth investing a bit of effort to find the perfect one for your camera.
5. Leverage the Light
Lighting is one of the most important aspects of taking awesome snaps. You’ll never attain the level of quality you need without taking the light into account. Why?
Because it impacts both the subject and style of your photos. Whether you’re using natural or artificial lighting, it’ll alter the colors, shadows, and clarity of your snaps- not to mention the overall feel of the image. The lesson’s simple: always ensure there’s enough light for the task!
For example, you could leverage the softness of the early morning sun, position yourself next to a window, or (if you’re using artificial lights) create a makeshift studio in the office. However you decide to do it, matching the type and quantity of light to the image you want to create will deliver superior results every time.
6. Keep It Natural
Too many businesses make the mistake of staging their pro photos. For instance, they’ll ask their employees to stand in a line, pull a professional-looking pose, and look at the camera with a fixed smile on their lips. Needless to say, it’s not a good look when you’re gunning for excellence.
There are numerous problems with the staged approach. But here’s the main one: it’s boring, ordinary, and lacks both imagination and personality! Make it your mission to do the opposite.
Take photos of people in action instead- when they’re engaging with each other, laughing at a colleague’s joke, or just being themselves. It’ll feel more authentic, natural, and on-brand. Your audience will respond better to it as a result.
7. Hire a Pro Photographer
Does all of this sound like too much hard work? If your to-do list is already a mile long, then you could consider paying a professional photographer instead. It won’t be cheap, but you’ll benefit from their expertise, equipment, and experience.
Taking photos for business becomes a breeze. You issue the instructions and then sit back as they get to work.
It also means you don’t have to worry about learning or buying anything to do with photography. You leverage someone else’s capabilities so you can focus on your actual job of growing the business.
Remember These Tips on Taking Professional Photos
In business as in life, judging books by their cover is the norm. That’s why the image you put out to the world is so important. To make a good first impression and give yourself the best shot at success, you have to look the part.
Taking professional photos to use in your operation should help you do exactly that. With any luck, the tips in this post will make a positive difference in this regard! Would you like to read more articles like this one?
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