Often when I meet with clients to discuss their projects, the first thing they say is ” I just need a headshot or I need my product photographed” they don’t really have a vision for a project. I ask them, have you thought about crafting your brand through photography? We then proceed to go over their branding needs and one of two things happens, either they really don’t know what they want or they didn’t know that photography was part of their brand.
I explain how they can create their own custom stock images, how to use them, and how this helps them build a better connect with their audience. I love, I mean really LOVE, stock images because I appreciate what they offer business owners and those that use them. If used correctly stock images can serve as a placeholder in your social media feed, they can be a great way to start your branding especially if you have a limited budget, and depending on the outlet you purchase your stock from you can get a nice supply coupled with templates that you save time in your blogging workflow. This is a double win.
Often, we get lost in brand building. Some key points to remember are:
- Find at least 2 photographers that you can have a healthy business relationship with. Make sure you check out their portfolios and that their style resonates with the branding message you want to send. I suggest at least 2 photographers because you never know when someone will get booked and you need a backup. Have a discussion with these people around how often you will work together, your invoice schedule and image turn around time. I work with a lot of business owners and because we have a great relationship I don’t have a problem with them paying me 30-45 days later.
- Use the same print company for your print collateral. It’s all about consistency. Minted.com prints very different from Vista Print. Choose the best quality for the occasion and your budget.
- When it comes to the use of color palette and fonts use no more than 2 or 3 font styles, and choose colors that compliment each other. Check out the complimentary color wheel below for inspiration.
Let’s take a look at what photography for branding looks like in practice. The images below are from a shoot I did at a local chiropractic office. The goal was to help her clients feel comfortable and get to know her and her staff even before they stepped foot into her office.
