Seems like every photographer now does brand photography. As we continue the trend to become highly visual content consumers the demand for brand photography has also increased. This trade was only reserved for marketers. But now, everyone is joining in on styling for brand photography.
In reality, there is no doubt that brand photos can make or break you. As a marketer specializing in branding I am a huge advocate of strong brand imagery. It’s why my agency offers in-house brand photography with our very own resident photographer. We are in tune with the new brand photography trends.
What is brand photography?
Brand photography is curating custom images that visually represent and convey your personal brand, business, and/or products.
To emphasize, these images tell your brand story. They are captivating and need no text content to convey a message. In fact, that’s where the difference lies. Any photographer with a camera can take images or you can have a professional brand photographer that understands marketing through visual imagery.
There are four styles of brand photography.
HEADSHOTS
First is the most known type of branding photography. Up until now headshots and product shots were the most common style of brand photography. Gone are the days of the staunchly, stiff, poorly styled corporate headshots. Conversely, consumers are demanding highly visual content including well shot and styled headshots. Headshots should now be taken in natural environments.
What does this mean… no more basic backgrounds. For example, Realtors taking their headshots in a beautifully staged home. Headshots are highly important to service-based industries, professional coaches, speakers, and the almighty solopreneur. A professional natural looking headshot is the face of your business.
PRODUCT PHOTOGRAPHY
Equally important is product photography. If you are selling products, well-shot product photography sells your products. These shots have to be high-quality images of the products you sell. For instance, these images range from flat lays, product in action, or lifestyle shots. The value of a high-quality product image can never be underestimated. Poorly shot product images do not sell your products.
BEHIND THE SCENES/LIFESTYLE
Next, is the behind the scene or lifestyle type of brand photography. This style of marketing photography is becoming highly popular. It’s fun to shoot and shows a business in its natural environment. These types of images show a glimpse into your world. What really goes on behind the scenes at your business. They can be you at your desk clicking away at your computer. Or showcase you with your team working on a huge project. They can be anything happening in and around your business. Definitely my favorite type of brand photography. Because its the fastest way to tell your audience your story and create a unique brand. Here are a few of my favorite brand photography images of our agency in action.
CUSTOM STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY
Finally, another rising style is the custom styled stock. Stock photography is increasingly popular on Instagram and other visual platforms. We have all seen those perfectly curated stock photos that we can not get from adobe or shutter stock. Additionally, these images are great for social media, your website, or marketing collateral.
I’m currently obsessed with @cfunk44 @ktnewsms @smarties @brucepeterson @drcuerda they are the best examples of brand photography. Each of these accounts displays stock, lifestyle, product, and personal branding. Here are some examples of the new brand photography trends in 2018.
Why do I need brand photography? As a matter of fact, if the aforementioned has not convinced you that you need it. Here are 25 reasons/uses of marketing photography.
- Encourage to buy
- Create an immersive experience
- Make your audience laugh
- Educate and inform
- Tell a story
- Highlight innovation
- Show people how to do something
- Evoke an emotional response
- Display product benefits
- Show how your business works
- Showcase products or people in their environment
- Demonstrate features and versatility
- Match imagery to the brand
- Create desire
- Demonstrate unique features
- Convey intangibles
- Reflect personality
- Look professional and real
- Convey a sense of scale
- Exhibit products in use
- Show how products work
- Show details
- Encourage interaction
- Enhance audience experience
- Sell a lifestyle
[click_to_tweet tweet=”Brand photography has to be good, clean, pleasing to the eye, and most of all effective. ~~ J Franco” quote=”Brand photography has to be good, clean, pleasing to the eye, and most of all effective. “]
Furthermore, brand photography is critical to a business. Ultimately the most important point is understanding how to choose the right strategy for each business, product, or person who needs marketing photography. Brand photography can have a substantial impact on your bottom line. Comparatively, it’s the one marketing intangible that produces a strong and quick ROI.
In fact, don’t skimp and hire just another photographer. Hire only a professional that specializes in marketing photography. Especially, check that the professional is aware of all the new brand photography trends in your industry. Preferably an agency that has an in-house brand photographer such as Franco Innovative. What Marco and I do for our clients is not only strategic it’s invaluable. If you are considering a branding through photography we would love to see if we are the right fit for your needs. We are the small business branding photography experts in Houston TX. Book a discovery call with us today. Comment below if you have worked with a photographer for your branding and what was your experience with them.