It’s a visual world – everyone wants that insta-worthy shot these days, and promoting your business via social media or your own website has never been more accessible.
I’m all about the words, but I’m also here to tell you that if there’s one thing I would advise clients to invest in too, it’s good photography. I always suggest professional photography because, basically, they are exactly that – professionals.
Just like I worked hard for my journalism degree, these talented creatives have often studied hard, invested in expensive equipment and spent years honing their skills. That’s not to say there aren’t some amazing self-taught photogs out there, but the point I’m making is, you get what you pay for.
A good photographer makes my words look better. It’s like how gin and tonic go together perfectly. Well-crafted, carefully considered copy goes together with beautiful images to make the WOW factor that will stop people from scrolling.
Christine Cornege, of Cornege Photography, is one such super talented human I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years in many facets of the industry (daily news, magazine editorial, personal branding and family shots). I picked her brain about personal branding and why you need a pro, not just a mate with a cellphone.
Christine says she definitely observed a change in attitude towards photography over the last few years when it comes to personal branding in terms of the style and reasoning behind such shoots.
Branding image by Cornege Photography
“It used to be something you had to do, that boring corporate type shoot to put a face to a name for a website. Now, it’s more about brand. Social media has meant a massive change in how people present themselves. People want to be relatable and get their personality across, not just their face.
“Showing people in their workplace or environment, I think people want to see an insight into the business, and that’s why the behind-the-scenes types videos are so popular. If people are going to spend money with you, they want to feel like they know you or could be your friend.”
A professional photo shoot can set you up with the perfect foundation to promote your business, products or self across all of the media platforms you operate on. It provides you with content that’s unique and helps you stand out from the crowd.
Branding image by Cornege Photography
Christine recommends steering away from stock images, which anyone can access, if you want to differentiate your business from others.
“I take detail shots and little snippets of behind-the-scenes things that you can use for posts later, too. I often hear people say they don’t know what to post because they don’t have any content or imagery. A shoot like this provides clients with a library of images that can be a good prompt for a post.”
HOW TO FIND A PHOTOGRAPHER
- Ask your business network
- Contact your local Chamber of Commerce
- Are there any local businesses with imagery you admire? Ask them who they used
- Google search – read the reviews
- Social media e.g., Instagram or Facebook
- Word of mouth
“I think most people who use me use me because they have seen my photos already and like what I do,” Christine says.
Branding image by Cornege Photography
HOW TO PREPARE/GET THE MOST FROM YOUR SHOOT
Prepare a shot list: have a list of shots you have in mind, e.g., if you have specific pages on a website or images to fill, product shots etc. This helps give the photographer a clear idea of what you want. A good photographer should also be able to suggest extra shots, or spot details that might contribute to the shoot.
Save images/concepts you like: If you are able to show the photographer examples of the sort of photography you like, or a concept or theme you have in mind, that’s also hugely beneficial.
Branding image by Cornege Photography
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