One picture is worth a thousand words….yet most companies skimp on taking professional photos of their products or facility. Why do companies insist on having an employee
(non-photographer) snap shots with their inexpensive digital camera and use the photos on their website or within a marketing piece? This makes your company look cheap and low-end. A company’s website or brochure is the face of the company and gives a lasting impression. Can anyone come up with a solid reason why executives don’t want to spend money on professional photos….when this should be a priority. You wouldn’t hire an engineer to head up your marketing efforts. So why expect your employees to capture the kinds of photos that a professional is trained to capture? If your business image is important…then it’s imperative to hire a professional photographer.
A visual image is crucial to the way customers and prospects perceive your business. Why have people perceive your company as cheap and low-end when all you have to do is hire a professional photographer for a one day shoot. The total investment is minimal and will leave you with a variety of pictures to use on your website, at a trade show, social media sites, within a new corporate brochure, for press, etc. The uses are unlimited! Why would you skimp out and not take advantage of a professional photographer. Here are some reasons why you need to call a pro:
- Lighting – It’s imperative that the proper lighting be used whether it’s for your products or even a headshot of your CEO. Only a professional photographer understands the type of lighting needed to create the desired images for your company. For example, a properly lit product shot will enhance the details of that product.
- Background – The background is an essential part of product photography and can be as simple as a white back drop or as elaborate as an office setting. A professional photographer can assess the best way to use these backgrounds for the optimum results for your company.
- Camera Equipment – Similar to the dollars a marketing professional will spend on campaigns, a professional photographer will spend thousands on top of the line equipment. Between the photographer’s camera, lenses, and lighting capabilities….each photograph is enhanced for the best results possible. Whether it be a shallow depth of field or creating shadows where needed, the professional photographer’s equipment is an extension of their vision and creativity. You can think of it like a paintbrush in the hands of Picaso.
Lights…Camera….Action…..Hopefully you can see how the equipment, lights, and experience of a professional photographer can add to the marketing strategy of any company. Just as a corporation uses the right tools to run its business, a professional photographer uses the right tools to optimize their performance and creativity to deliver the perfect picture. It’s time to hire a professional photographer in 2012 and keep your marketing collateral and corporate website fresh with new photos! Most companies invest heavily in marketing….so why not spend a tiny bit more and get the most out of your marketing materials. From corporate events to product shots, a pro is needed to capture quality photos. You will be amazed how having professional photos can transform your business and take you to the next level.
Author:
Monique Merhige is the President of Infusion Direct Marketing & Advertising, Inc. She has over 15 years of marketing communications experience with technology companies ranging from small service firms and equipment manufacturers to a 1.5 Billion dollar division of Motorola. Infusion is a marketing consulting firm that specializes in the security industry and delivers marketing solutions that include Public Relations, Direct Marketing, Branding, Collateral Development, and Social Media Marketing. Visit: www.infusiondirect.com or call 631-846-1558
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Hi Monique and thanks for the plug for using the right person for the right job. How many times have I seen companies skimp on everything that has to do with marketing. Photography is indeed a piece of that in my opinion. Marketing is composed of so many pieces. These days with so many do-it-yourself and any one can do it programs, everyone with a computer considers him or herself a designer, marketer, writer, etc. In this age of the do-it-yourself-er and the economy that often necessitates doing it oneself, it is indeed a challenge to convince businesses that they need professionals of every kind to do the job right. Hopefully your advice will be heeded.