Brand Photography: Why You Need It For Your Business

Brand Photography: Why You Need It For Your Business

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Brand Photography in Houston Texas

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.

headshot brand photography
New Brand Photography Trends for Headshots show the subject in branded settings versus a corporate aesthetic

 

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.

product photography brand photography
Before: Product Photography Example
product photography
After:  Product Photography Example

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.

brand photography behind the scenes, lifestyle photography
Behind-the-scenes Brand Photography  Example 1
Behind-the-scene Brand Photography Example 2
Behind-the-scene Brand Photography Example

 

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.

brand photography and stock photography
Example of Custom Stock Brand Photography

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.

Brand Photography in Houston Texas

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.

  1. Encourage to buy
  2. Create an immersive experience
  3. Make your audience laugh
  4. Educate and inform
  5. Tell a story
  6. Highlight innovation
  7. Show people how to do something
  8. Evoke an emotional response
  9. Display product benefits
  10. Show how your business works
  11. Showcase products or people in their environment
  12. Demonstrate features and versatility
  13. Match imagery to the brand
  14. Create desire
  15. Demonstrate unique features
  16. Convey intangibles
  17. Reflect personality
  18. Look professional and real
  19. Convey a sense of scale
  20. Exhibit products in use
  21. Show how products work
  22. Show details
  23. Encourage interaction
  24. Enhance audience experience
  25. 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.