BRANDED STOCK PHOTOS

HOW TO CREATE Branded Stock Photos

WITH YOUR PHONE

BY JANELLE KEYS

WWW.JANELLEKEYSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM.AU

In this digital and visual age, the search for great social media content seems to be the ultimate quest, and often it can be overwhelming knowing what to post and when to post it. If you have a service-based business, it can be really difficult coming up with original creative content when you don’t have a tangible item to showcase. Generic stock photos can be useful when used correctly, but if you really want to step up your branding game, creating a library of your own custom styled stock photos ensures that you are never stuck for content, and the bonus is that you won’t find the same image on anyone else’s feed! And if you have a product-based business you can use my tips below to also photograph your products. Once you’ve figured out your brand and who your target client it, you can start to create content that enhances your message and speaks directly to your audience. After years of creating branded visual content for my clients, here are my top tips to help you create your own branded stock photos with just your phone!

LIGHTING & SETUP

When creating brand photos, good light is essential. So, to keep things easy just position yourself next to a window or open door at a time of day when the light is soft and even. To avoid heavy shadows on the far side of your image, just bring in a white reflector. A large piece of cardboard or foam board is perfect, which you can find at Officeworks or an art supply store.

BACKGROUNDS

There are so many creative options for backgrounds and props, but it’s best to keep it simple and keep on brand. If your brand is light, clean and modern then a simple white background will suit perfectly. However, if your brand is more moody and edgy, maybe some dark wood tones and harsher lighting will be a better fit. Whatever style you settle on, stick to about 2 or 3 similar backgrounds to create variety whilst also being consistent. Bunnings is my favourite place for finding creative and interesting backgrounds!

PROPS THAT POP

Whenever I’m out shopping, I’m always on the lookout for fun little props that I can use to personalise my photos. Look out for items that not only show your brand colours, but also your brand personality. If you’re a fun and energetic accountant, perhaps you could include a gold calculator, a sparkly pen and some jelly beans. Or if you are a consultant with a more corporate audience, perhaps sleek black tech items and more symmetrical composition could work well.

CHANGE IT UP

It can take some time to set up for your photos, as well as planning out what you want, so take advantage of all your hard work and create multiple compositions with each setup. For each setup you create, take a flatlay, an image taken directly from the front, an image on an angle, and then move the elements around for a different look. Also create a couple of images from each setup that have some copyspace - a blank area so that you can add some text or a quote. From one setup you could easily create 5 or 6 different images which you could post once or twice a month. Again it will create variety in your feed, but also have a consistent look and feel.

FINISHING TOUCHES

To really make your images pop, I always recommended giving them a quick edit before posting. My favourite free app to use is SnapSeed. Just enhancing the contrast, brightness and sharpness of a photo can really make a difference. Once you’ve edited your image to the way you like it, you can save your settings and quickly apply them to the rest of the images with one click. Not only will you save time, but all of your images will have a consistent look, adding to your overall brand perception.

Janelle Keys is a lifestyle photographer based in the Hawkesbury Valley, Sydney. She helps women in business connect and earn trust with their audience through natural and relaxed photography. Janelle also has a passion for helping families make time in their busy lives to create fun memories that can be enjoyed today and relived in the years to come when little ones aren’t so little anymore!

Janelle Keys

WWW.JANELLEKEYSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM.AU

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