There are many types of marketing, from content creation to SEO, and spend on adverts, and it’s hard to know where to start for a new business. However, one thing is for sure, and that is that if you aren’t sharing information and stories about your business, you might struggle to find your ideal customers. Once you’ve worked out who your ideal customer as you then need to consider making sure that your content is designed specifically for them. Then over time, you’ll find the right customers to come to you, and bring more with them.

One of the main ways to show a potential customer or client how your business runs, and that it’s the right choice for them is by photographing your work, or have you run your services. You can do this yourself, and technology allows us to produce some high-quality imagery with not so much effort these days. Or you have the option to hire a professional who knows exactly what they are doing.

Finding a high-quality professional product or business photographer can seem like looking for a needle in a haystack because photography is quite a saturated market right now. But researching photographers that can provide you with excellent service isn’t time wasted. So why is photography in business important? And what can we do to ensure our message is reaching the right people?

Professional photography stands out

With the release of the latest iPhone promising to provide “professional“ photography with their phone, many people think that it isn’t necessary to hire an expert now. This is a hotly debated topic at the moment and yes if all you have available in your budget is enough to use your iPhone for your photography, then you are going to get some results.

However, it’s essential to manage your budget to include professional photography because it stands out without a doubt. A professional photographer doesn’t just provide high-quality digital photos, they do have knowledge, experience, and time to produce results that most of us could only dream of. Being able to manipulate the light to gain the best results, it’s not as easy as it sounds. So paying somebody that has taken the time to learn this craft is an excellent investment.

Story sharing online

Sharing your story and how your business started is one great way to market your business to the world if you know who your ideal customer is (and it’s crucial you do) then telling the story in a way they will understand and appreciate is going to see great results. It’s expected that businesses share on social media and tell the world about themselves. And while the day-to-day running of a social media account doesn’t necessarily need a professional,  your content will be much better received with clear and concise imagery.

Instagram is a photo sharing site and has seen some incredible increase in numbers in recent times, with the addition of sharing stories on Instagram being one of the main draws to that platform. Just watch out for the data used when uploading to Instagram, it’s a good idea to have an unlimited package to facilitate these efforts on the go. Having amazing photography at your fingertips to share on photo sharing platforms is an incredible choice that will increase your chances of success in marketing your business.

Stock photography

If your business is product-based and focused on selling online either via your own website or sites such as Etsy, then you may need to consider high-quality professional photography for your stock photos. This isn’t the most expensive type of photography, however a photographer that knows about clipping and can provide you with images that will stand out on sites such as Amazon, it’s going to improve your chances of marketing your business effectively. It’s great to have styled shots of your products; however, it’s not always necessary to sell the product. It’s a competitive market online and being able to show your products clearly, and without distractions, it’s going to be the best thing you can invest in.

Many marketers are incredibly happy when they know a client has spent wisely and photographed their business professionally. It does not only make things a lot easier for a marketer, but it also means results are likely to follow with a little bit of knowledge and hard work. Obviously having a high-quality product or service is always vital to marketing, however, if yours stands out as something a bit different as well, in a market that is flooded with variations of the same thing, then you are bound to win.

Targeting ideal clients

If you take a look at different websites, that have different target audiences, you will see there is a vast difference in the way in which these companies market their products. This extends to have the photographs that they share look as well. Having an idea of your ideal client or customer put you in a good position here. Knowing what people like to see what they want to read and how exactly this adds up to market their products or services means that you can get it right the first time. There is a transparent process when it comes to marketing your business, it involves going through your business plan first, and working out exactly who you are targeting with your idea.

Once you know, hiring a marketer to action this for you, and reaching the correct people whether that’s members of the public or B2B is the obvious next step. It’s incredibly important to remember that the marketplace is changing all the time, don’t assume that because you know how things work one day and that targeting has worked for a specific group of people, that it will be the same the next day. You can talk in general terms however nothing is guaranteed and this is why marketers who know what they’re talking about are worth their weight in gold. Providing your Marketing expert with high-quality images is the icing on the cake for them. Many marketers will know how to contact and hire a photographer if needed though so always just ask if this is something you want to outsource as well.

Team photos 

A great marketing tool is to share your team, and what they do, this will improve confidence in your business, if you know the faces behind the service you tend to have a better connection. Humans buy from humans and not necessarily just from online stores. If you have a company that values their customers and also hires people that will provide fantastic customer service, then showing this and celebrating your team will actually improve the public’s opinion of your company. Your team may not love the idea of having their photos taken, many people find it slightly awkward.

However, once they realize the benefits of this and the reasons behind what you’re asking them to do, it will make more sense and become more natural. It also means that there is a chance for team bonding over how much they dislike having their photos taken. A very professional photographer though, will put your team at ease, provide incredible images and help you with your marketing efforts. It’s often useful to have photos of your team on your website as well so that when your SEO work pays off, you will have a human connection waiting for your potential customers too. 

Marketing materials

Depending on the type of business that you have, you were going to have physical advertising placed in various areas. If you are going to be printing flyers, business cards, or even large posters, then an iPhone photo might not quite do the trick. If you’re going to be printed in large, you will need to have a professional photographer providing the images. It makes sense to ensure that you have invested in the media that you are going to be sharing. And that includes your branding material and even some of the imagery that you may have in your offices. At times you will also be asked to be included in print such as magazines or newspapers, and having these photos and materials to hand, will make the process a lot quicker and ensure you’re more likely to be included.

So ultimately, yes, it is essential to have great photography for your business, there are shortcuts, and lower quality and lower-priced options, but as with anything in life and in business you get what you pay for. If you want your business to succeed, then cutting corners might not be the best idea. Also bringing a professional photographer onto your team, or even just having them as a good contact, will give you opportunities that you can’t afford to miss out on. Photographers who work commercially tend to have many connections with other businesses too, and it’s not a bad idea to keep them on the side and have that link with potential clients. Either way photography itself is crucial when marketing yourself and your business, and that’s for sure.