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HOW ESSENTIAL IS PHOTOGRAPHY IN YOUR BUSINESS
THE ARTS
HOW ESSENTIAL IS PHOTOGRAPHY IN YOUR BUSINESS
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By CLAUDINE BURGESS
How essential is photography in your business?
In our rapidly growing digital age, it’s becoming more frequent that we encounter people debating whether they should hire a professional photographer to showcase their business.
Why not produce the photos yourself? With iPhones in our hands,
iPhone photos are good enough, aren’t they? Or better, I can get onto an I-stock platform and get photos – only to be seen and used by other businesses or used in business blogs.
In an instant, we are seen as not real - it creates an instantaneous trust loss from the consumer’s perspective.
Don’t get me wrong. Having access to such fantastic technology is vital. An iPhone helps capture day-today life events, but you should consider hiring a professional when it comes to your own business.
We truly understand having a business comes with a list of costings and often the thought of having professional photos done. Whether you’re a new business building your website for the first time or a well-established business rebranding, revamping your online presence, the cost of professional photography might be immediate; you wonder if you might be able to get by without it. Thinking there are more important things you could spend your business funds on; after all, you could just take some pictures yourself - or the quick fix use stock photos.
People are bombarded with Stock photos every day on all social media platforms and so easy to spot. It creates a non-emotional connection now; people the consumer wants these days the real thing, they want to know all about you, what you do, your business, what you are so proud of.
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Customers seeing real photos, sceneries, buildings in the background, details of your product, action photos of your staff, your projects will trigger straight away a connection and trust in your business. These days, most customers like to see things for themselves before deciding to buy and are great researchers on the internet, which means photos and videos of your products and offerings are more valuable than ever before.
How to find the right photographer for your Business, and in your budget, you may ask? Because we always think the most expensive ones are the best for your business. That isn’t always true; there are photographers out there that are absolutely amazing and willing to work within your budget.
Why hiring a professional photographer? Here are a few questions to ask yourself; Think of your business. What images do you see or come to your mind?
A building
Your office
A website
Social Media
Perhaps the feelings you have about your business, your product you created, the project you started and want to record to the final process, or showcasing your amazing customer service you offer, craftsmanship expertise, the staff that you employ.
• Maybe the faces of your customers or other things you do daily?
• Ask the question, how do your customers find you, and what do they see?
What they see is very simple, it’s your business, the building; your website, your social media profiles, and you’re advertising.
A great question is; does a new client, customer, potential consumer see match how you want them to feel about your business? If you don’t have any good photos or images of your business, chances are, the answer is no.
The biggest reason for hiring a professional photographer is to IMPROVE your customer perception. Photography can help you stand out from your competitors in a positive way, being genuine and
Outstandingly UNIQUE!
What many don’t realize is that photos are content, and they can be compelling! It’s definitely true! When it comes to online marketing, Content is King, but adding a professional photo will increase the chance for your client to stay longer, being curious about what you do, who you are online.
The wonderful thing about having great images is that they will make your website infinitely more engaging and used on all other social media platforms, print; the possibilities are endless. Spreading your images all on different online presence, marketing material, having real photos you will be surprised, how fast people will recognize your business unconsciously. It is all about branding and being consistent and builds trust with your clients.
One of my clients gave me this feedback, and it’s great to hear that. I meanly in my business of Photography offer clients a monthly, quarterly, 6 monthly packages. I help them build up a library of images they can use to update their website, social media, and profile constantly.
It’s important to know when looking for a photographer is to find someone with expertise within your type of business; for example, I am not a food photographer; my expertise is in Automotive, interior design, building - renovation, product, and project photography. It’s a bonus for my clients coming from Marketing - Promotions - sponsorship working in the world of motorsport for Honda International with this kind of background knowledge.
One valuable tip is my own values are reflecting in the client I work for - and reverse my client choose me for that. What I mean is what you value you will find in the right photographer you are looking for - who has an extremely creative and imaginational mindset, an eye for detail and can look at something ordinary, or even extraordinary, and find a million different ways to interpret what he/she seeing and convey those interpretations in beautiful and meaningful photos.
I am very privileged to have wonderful, loyal clients. Because of the type of concept of my business, and essential it is to me, building strong relationships with them and providing them with imagery to engage and build their business’s trust towards their clients.
I hope this will help you look into “ Hiring a photographer for your business and set out a year Photography budget within your marketing, and it will save you as well time and make room to focus on what you do best in your business.
Claudine,
Collage example photos - Automotive - Finch Restorations
www.finchrestorations.com.au
Interior / Renovation Design - Plush Design Interiors -
www.Plusdesigninteriors.com.auFacebook - ClaudineburgessphotographyInstagram claudineburgesswww.defineandshine.com.au
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