Entrepreneurs are an independent bunch. They like doing things for themselves and relying on their own initiative to make things happen. But the smartest among them know that if they want some jobs done well, like photography, then they need the help of others.
Taking great photographs isn’t something that can be learned overnight: it takes time, dedication and a certain degree of artistic flair. Moreover, the kind of pictures that businesses want tend to be much more difficult to get right than those regularly taken by amateurs. Food, gadgets, and clothing, are all notoriously unphotogenic.
Just like SEO agencies, accountants, and cloud IT, professional photographers are one of those essential external services that can help build your business in 2024. Here’s how.
You Build A Shareable Photography Portfolio
People love photographs. Indeed, they love them so much that we now have entire social media networks, like Instagram, based on them. Pictures are an opportunity for your business to share what it does, promote its products and build a brand. High-quality professional photos are far more shareable than the DIY alternative and help to make all of your organic content and SEO much more effective. When people see professionally-taken photographs, they immediately feel more trusting of your content and are more likely to recommend your services to their friends.
You Prove Your Professionalism
Customers want to interact with businesses that look professional. Appearing professional is a signal that a firm will be able to meet their needs. Stock photography or low quality DIY solutions make companies appear amateurish compared to the competition, reducing their appeal.
A professional photographer can help enormously in this regard. Not only can they take a range of photographs in a range of formats, but they can also give industry-specific advice on what kinds of images are most appealing to customers in that particular sector. Over the years, industries learn what works and what doesn’t, so a professional photographer with the right experience will be able to direct you on the best way to market your products.
You Have More Time To Focus On Your Core Competencies
Commercial photography can be a time- and energy-consuming process, especially if you don’t have the confidence or the skills to do it right. You could potentially spend days trying to figure it out by yourself, taking away time that could be spent focused on the things that you really can do – the core operations of your business.
Hiring a professional photographer helps you to avoid becoming diverted, allowing you can make the best use of your time. A professional photographer can take charge of all the small, time-consuming details, such as lighting, allowing you and your team to focus on the highest value-added activities for your business.
You Build A Cost-Effective Branding Portfolio
In today’s economy, market competition is fierce. Many companies operate in industries where it’s hard to make a profit and very little differentiates one firm from another. Professional photography is a way for your company to gain a branding edge over others in your industry, though many entrepreneurs still decide against it because of the upfront cost.
While it’s true that professional commercial photography costs money, the service should be seen as an investment. Sure, you’ll have to pay a fee upfront, but once that fee is paid, you then have all the marketing materials you need to brand your products in any way you see fit. Professional photography is cost-effective for businesses because it provides a repository of images that can be deployed across a variety of marketing scenarios, time and time again, whether on the internet, in store, on TV or in billboard advertising.
You Get Access To Somebody Who Understands The Needs Of Your Business
As a business owner, you like to think that you understand the needs of your customers. But when it comes to photography, it’s not always clear what people want – at least not to amateurs. Professional photographers, however, often have a lot of experience working with clients in particular industries, so they understand what their audiences want. This understanding means that they will be able to consult with you in-depth about the direction of your visual marketing strategy and how you should focus your branding.
You Create Brand Consistency
Observe any large business for long enough, and you soon realize that they take brand consistency very seriously. A consistent brand is valuable because it helps customers identify and remember a company and avoids confusion. Small businesses don’t tend to do as well in this realm, which can hamper their marketing efforts.
Professional photographers can help business branding by creating a portfolio of images that are consistent with each other. Lighting, angles, and composition of photographs for, say, an online clothing retailer, should all be the same for the site to appear professional to the buying public. Professional photographers help companies avoid looking haphazard and make it easier for customers to compare products side by side.
Budgeting Advice
Not all companies have the same marketing budgets, but that’s okay. A quality professional photographer will be able to consult with you on the best solution, given what you can afford to spend. Okay, so you might not be able to rent out a studio, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t still benefit from professional services. A good photographer will be able to make do with a free location, whether it’s your premises or somewhere outdoors.
Photographers tend to have a lot of knowledge about how much specific visual strategies cost. With their help, you can come up with a long-term marketing plan and get an idea of the kind of services you can get for a given amount of money.
Bespoke Photography Solutions
Sometimes, businesses need unique photographs to market their products and services. 360-degree visualizations or action-shots can be challenging to achieve doing it yourself. Professional photographers, however, have specialized equipment that makes taking unusual formats easy.
Professional photographers also have the ability to post-process and edit photos, once they’ve been taken. Not only will this make them appear more professional, but also more visually exciting and helpful to customers.
