When it comes to creating a new brand or revamping an existing one, there are a lot of moving pieces. One of the aspects that tend to get overlooked early on, though, is brand photography.
Photos play a huge role in how people see your brand and how your brand is represented to the public, so it’s important to make sure you are making a good impression. Let’s dive into what brand photography actually is and why you should get it!
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What is Brand Photography?
Before we get into why getting brand photos are essential for your business, let’s talk a little about what it is. Brand photos are the images that you are going to use to represent your brand.
These can be a combination of images ranging from:
- Headshots
- Group photos (if you have a team that works with you)
- Photos of you doing your thing, detail shots of things you use in your business every day or that help represent your brand and more.
The photos you get during a branding photoshoot are the images you are going to use to represent yourself and your business through your website, social media, ad campaigns, print materials, etc. This is why it is so important to get professional brand photos taken, so your brand is represented in the best way possible.
Now that you know what it is let’s dive into why it is essential to your business.
Why Make Brand Photos A Priority?
Puts your best foot forward for a great first impression
First impressions are so important, and that goes for your business as well. In today’s world, there is a good chance that someone is going to find you and your business on the internet first (via your social media or website) before actually meeting you in person. This is why it is so important to have good brand photography to put your best foot forward.
Imagine finding a business, and all you see on their social media and website are stock photos (or worse, photos they took from Pinterest). You don’t know who is behind the business or anything about its personality and identity. When people don’t feel like they are connected or understand what your brand is about, there is a much higher chance that they are not going to connect with you.
Brand photography bridges this gap and shows people who is behind the brand, the team that they will be working with, the vibe of your brand, and so much more. You want those pictures to immediately stand out from everyone else and draw each person in so they want to learn more about your business and how you can work together.
Helps to level up your website and social media
Brand photography also helps take your website and social media to the next level. So much thought, time, and effort go into curating the perfect brand and the best website, and brand photos are a huge part of that too.
Professional photos can take your brand from feeling messy or half-baked to feeling more elevated, professional, and put together, even if you are just starting out. They can help create trust in your brand and your business and ensure people feel confident in their decision to work with you or purchase your products. This trust is vital when it comes to creating a successful brand and business.
Brand photos can also help create a more visually interesting website and social feed. Instead of having blank backgrounds or the same carousel with just text, you can incorporate more photos that show off your brand’s personality and identity. These will not only represent your brand more naturally than colored backgrounds or stock photos, but it will also attract more people to your business and make them feel like they are getting to know you on a more personal level.
Creates consistency throughout your entire brand
When you think of some of the most successful brands, they are often the ones that have a very consistent feel regardless of where you see them or what they are doing. Whether you are visiting an in-person store, scrolling through their Instagram, or reading your about page, everything feels like it flows and is connected.
These brands are often ones that you can pick out from a crowd without their logo even being on the page. This type of consistency is exactly what you want to build within your own brand.
Brand photos are a great way to visually represent your brand and connect your brand personality and identity regardless of where people find you. An easy way to do this is by incorporating your brand colors into your photos (whether through your clothes, backgrounds, etc.), using props that match the vibe of your brand, and shooting your photos in a location that feels authentic to your brand.
By doing this, people will be able to recognize and feel connected to your brand anywhere they see it! It’ll make you memorable instead of forgettable.
Allows you to ditch stock photos
Stock photos can come in handy sometimes and can be great for backgrounds on your site or social media posts. However, it can be hard to find perfectly branded stock photos or ones that don’t feel cold or generic.
Ditching stock photos is one of the biggest benefits of getting brand photography. Instead of having to scour the internet for the perfect pictures or settling for photos that aren’t great just because it is all there is, you can have the perfect branded image for any occasion.
Not only will this save you time, but it will also make your brand feel more personable and ensure that you don’t have the same exact pictures on your site as someone else in your industry.
While ditching the stock photos can be a great step forward for your brand, they can still be super helpful in planning your photoshoot. Especially if you like the look (poses, layouts, etc.) of a stock photo you are already using, you can easily use that as inspiration for your branding shoot so you can have similar pictures that actually match your aesthetic.
Gives your brand more personality
Personality is one of the biggest benefits to brand photography and can make all the difference when it comes to how people perceive your brand. Your brand and your business is unique to you, and these photos let you express that in any way you want.
For example, if your brand has a more serious and sleek vibe to it, you may want to dress in more formal clothes, have fewer pictures of you smiling or laughing, or take your photos in a clean and minimal location. On the other hand, if your brand is more vibrant and laid back, you may want to wear bright-colored clothes, have colorful backgrounds, or even find things like street art to pose in front of or incorporate colorful props into your images.
This is your chance to tell your brand story without saying a word. Good brand photos can allow others to get a feel for who you are, your brand’s identity, and what they can expect when they work with you or buy your products.
When should you get brand photos?
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Now that you know why it is so essential to get brand photos, the only remaining question is when to get them. This is a very important question to ask because when you get brand photos done can very much affect the overall aesthetic and flow of your brand.
Before booking a photography session
Before you book your session, you should have already gone through the process of getting your brand done (ie logos, color palettes, strategy, etc.). There are a few reasons why this needs to be done first.
- You want to make sure you know what your color palette is going to be so you can pick outfits, locations, backgrounds, props, and anything else you will need for your photoshoot based on those colors. Otherwise, you may end up with photos that clash with your brand and create a clunky experience.
- Your brand strategy can play a big role in planning out your photoshoot and how you want your photos to turn out. In your brand strategy, you are most likely going to be able to lock down things like your brand identity, the words you want to describe your brand, and your ideal client, among other things.
All of this information is super helpful to share with your brand photographer and can help them curate the best photos that will bring your brand to life!
Once you have your brand finalized, you are ready to get your photos taken. If you are also planning on getting your website done with your new brand, you will definitely want to make sure you have enough time in between your brand design and building your website to have your branding photoshoot. Your new brand, combined with amazing brand photography, will help your new site look its best.
It is important to note that getting brand photos taken is not a one-and-done. Just like you grow and evolve and change over time, so does your brand. To make sure your brand and content stays fresh and up-to-date, you should try and plan on having new photos taken every 6-12 months!
If you are looking to create a cohesive brand that people will remember, brand photography is a must. Don’t let old pictures or generic stock photos hold your brand back!
Still need that perfect brand design for your business? Get in touch to see how we can make that happen and set you up perfectly for a killer brand photoshoot!
