Commercial photographers bring value to your business. They empower you to show off everything you have worked so hard to build. From product photoshoots to team headshots, the service offerings from professional commercial photography provide critical visual information to your marketing material and websites.
They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, and with the story you want to tell, you need all the words you can manage. Let’s dive in to discover how business owners like you can benefit from a good commercial photographer near you. In this article, we’ll cover:
- Your Visuals Help Build Your Business’ Brand Perception To Potential Customers
- Good Photography Sets the Right Expectations
- Besides Advertising Fashion, What Else Can Commercial Photography Do?
YOUR VISUALS HELP BUILD YOUR BUSINESS’ BRAND PERCEPTION TO POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS
It’s a scientific fact that our brains recognize and interpret images 60,000 times faster than text. As such, it’s imperative that your website — and, more importantly, your marketing materials — are designed using the best visuals possible.
Given that people who experience your website or marketing for the first time are brand-new, totally fresh leads, you have to make a good first — and subsequent — impression(s). A grainy cell phone picture is not going to drive that outcome.
Investing in a commercial photographer, while it represents an expense, is sure to deliver the following benefits:
- Show customers that you are professional and sophisticated
- Provide cleaner images for a cleaner brand
- Give input on which images to take and publish — and how
Having a professional photographer on your side helps you develop a more complete — and more compelling — brand image for potential new customers.
GOOD PHOTOGRAPHY SETS THE RIGHT EXPECTATIONS
One of the most difficult constraints businesses must anticipate and overcome — when trying to convert a lead into a customer — is the prospect’s fear of uncertainty.
Why should they trust your roof repair expertise or the quality of your branded backpacks when they have never seen one and have no idea what to expect during their end-to-end customer experience?
A good commercial photoshoot can reduce or even eliminate this reasonable hesitation. By having a qualified business photographer capture your products or film your services, you can show new clients that your products are real, your services are effective, your clients are happy, and that your team is friendly.
BESIDES ADVERTISING FASHION, WHAT ELSE CAN COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY DO?
Commercial photography got its start in the fashion industry. Way back when taking a picture was a big deal involving lots of chemicals and a giant bang, almost no business used photography as its primary means for communicating information.
There were two exceptions to this, as follows:
- The fashion industry, where businesses obviously must show off their designs in order to gain a competitive advantage.
- Portraits for wealthy individuals. Taking a picture in the 1840s, while a huge process compared to tapping your iPhone, was still much faster than hiring a painter.
It’s no surprise then that commercial photography is often thought of as just portraits (in the modern context: wedding shoots, prop pictures, etc.) or fashion (modeling, runway shoots, etc.)
| The truth is, however, that commercial photography is a massive field,
in which businesses can find a photographer for any small or big project that requires great visuals. |
HOW TO USE A COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER FOR PRODUCT IMAGES
One of the most common reasons to hire a commercial photographer is to take pictures of your product lineup for your eCommerce site’s online sales.
A skilled commercial photographer will be able to handle the process from start to finish, but the process generally looks something like this:
- A “studio” is set up, usually with a simple white background, or a green screen for adding effects later.
- The product is placed in the studio, and the photographer takes pictures from several angles.
- Sometimes, a graphic designer will use his or her skills after the images are taken to show dimensions, features, or functions on product images.
- The images are posted on the e-commerce platform along with a description, the price, and your checkout process.
Because the image you use for your products is so closely related to your conversion rate, it pays to have this done properly. That’s why so many companies hire a professional photographer to help boost their bottom line. .
HOW TO USE A COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER TO PROMOTE SERVICES
Using a commercial photographer to promote your services can happen in two different ways.
- First, you can do a posed session. This involves posing your team as though they are completing a service, even though it’s just a set. This allows the photographer to get the clearest possible pictures and direct team members to make everything look perfect. Some larger businesses even choose to use actors to create an even more refined look.
- Second, you can do a candid session. A candid session involves a professional commercial photographer taking pictures and videos while your team actually does a service. While this lacks the polished look of a posed session, it can often look more authentic. Just make sure you get the client’s permission to have their session photographed – especially if they will be in the pictures.
USING A COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER EVENTS
Events are great for nurturing relationships, creating a buzz, and generating publicity. Documenting and sharing those events are just as important.
A commercial photographer can be hired to capture, honor, and edit an event for marketing materials and press releases.
Showing off an event your business held or attended (as a sponsor or award winner) is a great way to show that your business is staffed by real people who do real things that make a real impact. A professional photographer is trained and impassioned about getting the best pictures to maximize this effect.
HOW CAN WE HELP
Commercial photography has many more uses and benefits for business, but it all boils down to connecting potential clients with information about your products, services, and team.
A good commercial photographer goes a long way in ensuring your pictures are as compelling for a new lead as possible.
Hi, I’m Daniel! I’m a commercial photographer based in Dallas with clients all over the country. Get in touch with me today to book a commercial photography session for anything your business needs to thrive.