The Internet is full of photos, videos and live-streams. More than ever, people have come to understand what is professional and what is not. Here are the top 10 reasons your business needs professional photography to compete in today’s market.
1. Professional Photos = Quality Products & Brand
When people visit your company’s website they form an impression. Professional photography allows you to put your best foot forward and make a positive impression.
If you take your own photos, people can tell. Even with the best camera, someone who only dabbles in photography can’t match the look of a professional.
Photographers study light and colors. They understand how angles can create interest. Pro photographers know how to compose and light an image so the eye naturally moves to the main focus.
Consumers who have their first experience with you online can only be influenced by what they see. High quality professional e-commerce product images provide your company with credibility, meaning consumers are more likely to do business with you.
2. Professional Photos Establish Brand Recognition
Businesses prosper by building a loyal following who want their products. Creating a brand gives these followers something to gather around. Plus it makes your business memorable.
A brand is so much more than just some color and a logo. It needs to be reflected in everything you do. If you put out something that goes against your brand, it can create a disconnect with your audience.
A professional photographer can work with you to capture your brand in every image. Their work can help consumers see, picture and remember your brand.
3. Professional Photography Can Show And Tell
Product photography doesn’t just show a product, it can tell consumers a lot. Photos can visually show the quality and help consumers see how it fits in their lifestyle.
Show and tell isn’t limited to product photos either. Showing your workspace, warehouse and employees is an excellent way to express your business and brand.
Professional headshots of your management team and group photos go a long way toward showing pride for your company and all it accomplishes.
Putting a face with a name helps you become a real person that consumers can identify, trust and want to work with.
4. Professional Photography Captures Attention
In today’s world, most people look at images first. If the image captures their attention, they may read the headline or offer.
Social media posts that feature images have higher engagement than a text only post. That also holds true for blog articles, sales brochures and ecommerce pages.
With so many images coming our way online, professional photos have a better chance of standing out from the clutter. Even if people don’t interact, they have better recognition of things they see than things they read.
Studies show people need to see your content at least 6 to 8 times before they recognize your brand. This is why having consistent quality images that express your brand is so important to your social media, marketing & advertising mix.
5. Professional Photos Can Increase Your SEO Ranking
SEO stands for search engine optimization. Having a good SEO ranking helps consumers find your company, products or service when looking for it.
Professional images can contain metadata that search engines like Google find helpful. Images not only help with raising your website or products in search results, but they themselves are a valuable result.
More and more people search using Google’s image search feature. If your photos rank in image search and look better than the others in the results, you can get more organic traffic to your business pages.
6. Professional Images Beat Stock Photography Every Time
More and more online businesses are using stock photography. While inexpensive, stock photos look professional, but there is a major downside to that service.
If a stock photo you are using is seen on another website, it lowers the perceived value of your offering, be it a blog or social media post. Plus, a stock photo doesn’t really represent your brand.
Professional photographers can take your concepts and create brand worthy original images. Only your company will have access to these, making everything you do uniquely you!
How much will professional product photography cost? Depends on who you hire, but you may be pleasantly surprised considering the return on your investment.
7. Professional Photos Make You Stand Out
Every business needs to stand out from the competition. Professional photography can make your brand more memorable and create consumer awareness.
What does your competition do? Are they using stock photos? Cell phone images? Or professional imagery?
Now look at a company like Pepsi or Coca-Cola, Nike or Estée Lauder.
You will see a major difference. And that is the benefit of professional commercial photography.
You don’t need to invest in a whole do-over if the budget doesn’t allow. Establish an ongoing relationship with a photographer and soon you will have a cohesive look that draws attention.
8. Commercial Photographers Have Industry Knowledge
Having worked with a lot of business clients, commercial photographers understand what works and what won’t. They can help you cast your brand in a unique way that stands out from others.
When I work with a client, one of the first things I do after I look at their current imagery, is check out their competition. By seeing what they are doing, I can form a direction to help my clients stand apart and elevate them.
Bouncing ideas off of each other will help your photographer narrow in on your vision to create imagery you will love.
9. Professional Photos Build Your Company’s Image Assets
Image assets are an essential part of any business. They capture your brand and can be shared through sales pages, websites, social media posts, blog articles, emails, advertising and marketing.
When you need an image for something specific, having these images to draw from makes life much easier. Image assets help keep your brand consistent and reflect your reputation.
10. Professional Photographers Are Convenient
I often use the analogy, professional photographers are the equivalent of eating at a fancy restaurant. You don’t have to cook, you can relax and enjoy the experience, the service and somehow the food always tastes better. Plus – no washing the dishes!
Photography takes time, it is more than just snapping a shutter. You have to find the perfect setting to create something unique. Then you need to compose, style, arrange, and light to create a beautiful image that leads the eye. And don’t forget the editing!
Professional photographers have the eye, the equipment and the training to create the images that will help your business succeed.
The end results, the meal tastes better and the photos look amazing!
Discover How Professional Photography Can Elevate Your Brand
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You may also text me at: 410-596-4127 or E-mail me at: tom@tomcrowl.com