Essential Steps to Better Photos for Marketing Success

Steps to better photos for marketing: Elevate your website and materials with high-quality images. Explore these tips to create impactful visuals that enhance your business efforts.

Take These Steps for Better Photos for Marketing

Understand the Importance of Quality

The photos on your website and marketing materials can have a big impact on how customers view your business. So you don’t want to just go with the cheapest or easiest options at the expense of your overall marketing or branding efforts. Utilizing high quality photos is essential to create a consistent visual brand identity and enhance product presentation.

Professional photographer and consultant Missy Mwac explained in an email to Small Business Trends, “High quality professional images on a business’s website and marketing materials give the impression of a high quality professional business; they are an indicator of quality.”

Evaluate Your Needs

Before you just start adding photos to your site or setting up photo shoots, you need to decide on what types of photos you want and what they will add to your site or marketing materials. Photos can be incredibly useful in creating visual interest and adding a face to your company. High-quality product photos are essential in ecommerce, as they significantly influence consumer decision-making.

But adding irrelevant photos just for the sake of filling space may not do you any good. So come up with a plan and decide on the photos that are likely to have an actual impact.

Hire a Professional Photographer

Smartphones, tablets and other devices have made it easy for people to constantly photograph their lives. But access to a camera doesn’t make you a professional. And customers can usually tell the difference. So if you want better photos that look like they were taken by a professional, hire one.

Mwac says, “You hire a professional when you want a job done right. Professional photographers are business people themselves and know what goes into creating extraordinary images. It’s what they do, which is why when you need something extraordinary, you need to hire a professional.”

Know the Difference Between Professional and Amateur

However, simply hiring someone who calls himself or herself a photographer does not guarantee that you’ll get high quality images. You need to really vet potential candidates to ensure that you’ll get the highest quality and most relevant images for your business.

Mwac says, “There are a lot of pictures being taken in today’s world. From DSLR’s to camera phones to camera tablets, we are a generation that must photograph everything, even our food. (Guilty. I admit it.) And that’s great! I am very much in favor of capturing as much of Life as possible. The memories, the times together … we just don’t get that back, and a photograph is the closest we get to reliving it. But everyone is not a professional photographer … it’s just, well, most everyone has cameras. And the ownership of an object and/or the ability to perform a simple task does not entitle one to claim a certain status.”

Don’t Just Rely on a Website

A quick online search can likely point you to some professional photographers in your area. And while a quick look at their website can potentially give you an idea about their style, it’s not the main thing you should use to base your decision.

See Photo Examples in Person

If possible, visit potential candidates at their studios or set up meetings so that you can meet them and take a look at their work in person. This should give you a better idea of their work and quality, especially if you plan on using photos for tangible marketing materials.

Ask for References

You can also ask photographers you meet with for references or customer testimonials, to ensure that their past clients were happy with the overall experience and finished product.

Find Someone You Like Working With

A photographer’s personality and working style are also important things to consider. You’re likely to need professional photos taken more than once over the course of running your business. So finding someone that you like working with can be extremely beneficial.

Get a Feel for Their Style

You should also consider very carefully if each candidate has a style that would suit your business and the types of photos you want to use. Each photographer is different and has different strengths. So think about which examples best exemplify what you want to see for your business’s photos.

Seek Out Recommendations

If you need help in your search for professional photographers and better photos, ask others for recommendations. See if any friends or fellow business owners have had professional photos taken recently and if they were happy with their results.

Search Your Local Area

You can also simply keep an eye out for photo studios in your local area. Drop by and see if you can meet with a photographer and take a look at some photo examples.

Consider Quality Stock Images

While professional photos created specifically for your business are preferable, it’s not always possible for every business to hire a professional every time they want to post a photo. Particularly if you use a lot of photos in blog posts or similar materials, professional stock photography is a useful option. Sites like iStock, Shutterstock and Fotolia all offer such photos.

But Don’t Skimp on Them

There are also sites that offer free or very low cost stock photos or royalty free images. But you shouldn’t choose low quality images just because they’re low cost. In many cases, you’re better off not adding images over adding low quality ones.

Use Images That Fit with Your Brand

You have much less control when using stock images than you would when working with a professional. But you should still try and select images that fit with your brand’s style, overall aesthetic, and your brand color palette. When possible, use the psychology of color in your images.

Make Sure They are Relevant to Your Specific Message

When working with stock images, you also need to ensure that they’re actually relevant to the page of your website or section of your marketing materials where you want them to appear. If you just add a photo for the sake of adding one, it can be confusing or distracting to customers.

Humanize Your Brand

Professional photos of your products or other offerings are great. But many customers also appreciate a behind the scenes look at your company.

Get Comfortable in Front of the Camera

Part of humanizing your brand means showing your actual team. Adding better photos of you and the other members of your team to your website and other materials can help your customers feel more comfortable reaching out to you or doing business with your company.

Create a Plan for Your Social Images

Aside from the professional or stock photos that you use for your website and official marketing materials, you’ll likely also want to include some social media photos on your social media accounts. These don’t necessarily need to be of the quality that you hold your official website images to, but they should still be relevant to your company and overall marketing strategy.

Take More Photos Than You Need

When taking photos for your social media accounts, you want to have plenty of options to choose from. Always take more photos than you actually need at events or photo shoots. Then you can decide which ones are most worthy of posting later.

Work With Your Team

Your team can also be helpful when taking social images. Ask everyone to submit their images from various events or behind the scenes shots. They might offer a new perspective or just give you some interesting imagery that your customers could appreciate.

Find Good Natural Lighting

Lighting is one of the most essential elements for great photos. Don’t post dark or grainy photos to your social accounts. Instead, try to take photos in natural lighting or with high quality artificial light. For product images, use a light box.

Don’t Stretch Images

You also need to make sure that your images are large enough to post on the platforms you use. Actual dimensions are different for every platform, but you generally want to start with the largest image size possible, especially if you’re using the .jpg (J-peg) format. Then, before you post, just make sure that your photos don’t look pixelated or stretched out.

Take the Overall Look into Account

Whether it’s your website, social accounts or other marketing materials, you want to make sure that your images add real value to your company’s message. Take a look at your materials as a whole and ensure that your images fit with your message, branding and image. If not, it could be time for a change.

More Great Tips for Marketing Photos

Conduct Regular Photo Audits

Periodically review the images used across your website and marketing materials to ensure they remain aligned with your evolving brand identity and marketing goals. This regular audit allows you to identify and replace outdated or underperforming images, keeping your visual content fresh and relevant.

Utilize High-Resolution, High Quality Photos

Ensure that all images used, whether for print or digital media, are of high resolution to avoid pixelation or quality loss, especially when resized. High-resolution images maintain their clarity and impact, enhancing the professional appearance of your materials.

Embrace Diversity and Inclusivity

Incorporate images that reflect diversity and inclusivity, resonating with a broader audience. Showcasing a range of cultures, ages, and backgrounds in your photos can enhance your brand’s appeal and demonstrate your commitment to embracing diversity.

Tell a Story Through Images

Use your photos to narrate a story that connects with your audience on an emotional level. Select images that evoke feelings and convey messages that align with your brand’s values and marketing objectives. A storytelling approach can significantly enhance the impact of your visual content.

Consistency Across Platforms

Maintain consistency in the style and quality of images across all platforms. This uniformity reinforces your brand identity and ensures a cohesive user experience, whether customers interact with your brand on social media, your website, or print materials.

Optimize Images for Web Performance

Optimize images for web use to ensure they don’t slow down your website’s loading time. Proper image optimization improves your website’s performance and user experience, which is crucial for retaining visitors and improving search engine rankings.

Leverage User-Generated Content

Encourage and leverage user-generated content, such as customer photos or testimonials. This approach adds authenticity to your brand and fosters a sense of community among your audience. Ensure you have permission to use such content and credit the original creators appropriately.

Regularly Update Images

Keep your visual content dynamic by regularly updating images on your website and marketing materials. This refreshment ensures your brand stays current, relevant, and engaging, encouraging repeat visits and sustained interest.

Integrate Images with Other Marketing Elements

Ensure that your images complement and enhance other marketing elements like text, color schemes, and overall design. Cohesive integration of images with other components amplifies the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and creates a seamless user experience.

Experiment with Different Formats and Styles

Don’t be afraid to experiment with various image formats and styles, such as infographics, animations, or interactive images. Diversifying your visual content can attract different segments of your audience and keep your marketing materials visually stimulating.

Invest in Image Editing Tools

Invest in quality image editing software or tools like Adobe Photoshop to enhance and customize your photos. Proper editing can elevate the visual appeal of your images, ensuring they align perfectly with your brand’s aesthetic and message.

Train Your Team in Basic Photography

Consider training your team in basic photography and image editing skills. This empowerment allows for the creation of quality in-house images for social media and other less formal marketing channels, adding a personal touch to your brand’s visual narrative.

Analyze Image Performance

Regularly analyze the performance of your images in terms of engagement, conversions, and overall impact. Use analytics tools to understand which images resonate most with your audience and adjust your visual strategy accordingly.

Plan Visual Content in Advance

Create a visual content calendar to plan and organize your image use in advance. This proactive approach ensures a strategic alignment of images with upcoming campaigns, events, or seasonal themes, enhancing the effectiveness of your marketing efforts.

Accessibility and Alt Text

Make your images accessible to all users, including those with visual impairments, by adding descriptive alt text to each image. Alt text improves accessibility and also contributes to better SEO performance.

Secure Rights and Permissions

Ensure you have the necessary rights and permissions for all images used, especially if sourced from external photographers or stock photo websites. This step avoids legal issues and respects the intellectual property of creators.

Incorporate Images in Email Marketing

Integrate compelling marketing images into your email marketing campaigns to enhance engagement and interest. Visually appealing emails can increase open rates and drive action, making your email marketing more effective.

Monitor Trends and Evolving Preferences

Stay informed about current trends and evolving preferences in photography and visual content. Adapting to these changes can keep your brand relevant and engaging, attracting a contemporary audience.

Measure ROI of Visual Content

Measure the return on investment (ROI) of your visual content by tracking metrics like engagement, click-through rates, and conversions attributed to specific images. This data helps justify investments in photography and guides future visual strategies.

Foster Emotional Connections

Choose images that foster emotional connections with your audience. Photos that evoke emotions can create a lasting impression, strengthen brand loyalty, and drive customer engagement.

Prioritize Authenticity

Prioritize authenticity in your images. Authentic photos that represent real-life scenarios and genuine emotions resonate more deeply with audiences, enhancing trust and credibility in your brand.

Collaborate with Influencers and Brand Ambassadors

Collaborate with influencers and brand ambassadors to create and share images that align with your brand. This partnership extends your brand’s reach and adds credibility through association with respected individuals.

Continuously Educate Yourself on Photography Trends

Stay educated on the latest trends and techniques in photography and visual content. Continuous learning enables you to innovate and keep your visual marketing strategies ahead of the curve.

For those looking to improve their skills, we offer a comprehensive free guide that teaches how to take beautiful product photos on a budget.

Final Thoughts

In the dynamic realm of digital marketing, the significance of high-quality, professional images cannot be overstated. These visual assets possess the remarkable ability to elevate your website and marketing materials to new heights, captivating your audience and conveying your brand’s essence in a captivating manner. However, the journey to creating such impactful images is multifaceted, requiring a deliberate and strategic approach that encompasses both visual aesthetics and brand alignment.

The journey towards better photos is not just a technical endeavor; it’s an endeavor that intertwines aesthetics with your brand identity and customer perceptions. Here’s a comprehensive wrap-up of the steps to harness the potential of images that truly resonate with your target audience:

Understanding the Power of Quality

Grasping the pivotal role of high-quality images is the foundation of your visual strategy. Recognize that images are more than just visuals—they are indicators of the quality your business represents. Professional images evoke the impression of a high-caliber enterprise that is dedicated to delivering excellence in all aspects.

Strategizing with Purpose

Before embarking on a photo-driven journey, a strategic blueprint is essential. Understand the purpose behind each image, whether it’s creating visual interest or humanizing your brand. Blanketing your website with irrelevant photos merely for the sake of it could dilute your impact. Every image should have a well-defined role in enhancing your brand narrative.

Collaborating with Professionals

While technology has democratized photography, expertise remains unparalleled. The distinction between professional and amateur photography is palpable to discerning viewers. Entrusting your visuals to experts ensures images that encapsulate the essence of your business, bolstering your credibility and leaving a lasting impression.

Evaluating Credentials

Not all photographers are created equal. Scrutinize potential candidates meticulously to gauge their expertise and compatibility with your vision. A photographer’s portfolio speaks volumes about their style and capabilities. Visiting their studios and engaging in personal interactions adds depth to your assessment, especially when considering tangible marketing materials.

Building Trust with References

Seeking references from past clients is a prudent step to ensure you’re making an informed decision. Testimonials and reviews provide valuable insights into the overall experience and the quality of the end product. This due diligence ensures a more reliable partnership with a photographer whose work resonates with your expectations.

Cultivating Collaboration and Compatibility

A photographer’s personality and working style are integral elements of your decision-making process. Establishing an enduring collaboration is pivotal, given that your business will likely require professional imagery on multiple occasions. Compatibility fosters a smoother working relationship and ultimately translates into captivating visual narratives.

Aligning with Brand and Message

Images should serve as harmonious extensions of your brand’s ethos. Even when utilizing stock photos, aligning them with your brand’s color theme and overall aesthetic is crucial. The psychology of color can further amplify the resonance of your images and evoke desired emotions.

Relevance and Authenticity

Whether sourced from professionals or stock photo repositories, images must seamlessly blend with your brand narrative. Irrelevant or out-of-place visuals can be disorienting and detract from the user experience. Prioritize relevance to convey your intended message authentically.

Humanizing your Brand

Behind-the-scenes glimpses of your company offer customers a personal connection beyond products or services. Sharing candid moments with your team humanizes your brand, instilling a sense of familiarity and fostering trust. These images create relatability and encourage meaningful interactions.

Optimizing for Social Media

Images for social media platforms have a distinct purpose. While they may not require the same level of perfection as official marketing materials, they should still align with your brand’s identity and messaging. Capturing various angles and scenarios offers flexibility when curating your social media content.

Ample Options for Selection

Abundance is your ally when it comes to images. Capture a surplus of photos during events or shoots, allowing you to cherry-pick the most compelling ones. This abundance ensures you always have an array of options to choose from, enhancing the visual variety in your marketing efforts.

Harnessing Team Contributions

Enlist your team’s help in capturing social images. The diverse perspectives and unique insights they offer can yield captivating imagery that resonates with your audience. Collaborative efforts ensure an authentic portrayal of your company culture and its dynamic personalities.

Mastering Lighting and Quality

Lighting is pivotal in image quality. Grainy or dimly lit photos can deter viewers. Prioritize natural light or high-quality artificial lighting to illuminate your subject. For product images, utilizing a lightbox ensures optimal lighting conditions.

Adhering to Platform Standards

Different platforms have varied image dimension requirements. Ensure your images meet these specifications to maintain a professional appearance. Avoid pixelation or stretching, which can compromise the visual integrity of your content.

Coherence with Brand Identity

Finally, ensure that every image contributes to your brand’s overarching narrative. Images should not exist in isolation but harmonize with your brand’s style, message, and image. A cohesive visual identity across various materials enhances your brand’s recognizability and reinforces its essence.

Related reading: Which Marketing Materials Do I Need?

Camera Shutter Photo via Shutterstock

This article, “Essential Steps to Better Photos for Marketing Success” was first published on Small Business Trends