One of the things I hear a lot is “I never need to hire a photographer because there's a good camera on my phone/ my friend has a camera". It's a sentence that comes up within every sector of the photography industry. And ya' know what…that's fine! A branding photographer might not always be the first choice. They might not ever factor in as a choice for you and that's okay. If you or someone you know can take images that you love and show off your business in the best way, then go for it.
But do you know what else I hear a lot from people when they enquire with me… “I asked my friend to take photos for me and we spent hours taking them and going through them, and I didn't like any of them”.
The images you use to market your business should be high quality, show your products in the best way, reflect your brand and values, and tell the story of your business.
Having photographs taken shouldn't be stressful, it should be enjoyable, a comfortable experience, it should save you time and help you feel confident in showing up in your business.
When you hire a branding photographer you're getting…
・High quality images of you, your product or service, and your story
・Photographs that reflect your brand and values
・Knowlegde of best practices for using photographs within your marketing
・You get to work with someone who understands how to make you feel comfortable in front of a camera
・You get images that are not only technically high quality but taken with a creative eye
・You're saving yourself time
(and so much more)
But that doesn't mean they are what you need.
If you have a friend or family member who takes photographs for you that you love and that show your products and your business off in the best possible way, then investing in a branding photographer maybe isn't the right choice for you.
But if that person doesn't take photographs that you like, then you're doing your business a disservice. You won't want to shout about your business if you hate the photographs you have, and that's only going to hold you back.
So how do you know how to work out if a branding photographer is the right investment for you?
Ask yourself
・Do you like the photographs you currently use for your business?
・Do they clearly show what you offer?
・Are they high quality?
・Do they reflect your brand and values?
・Do they appeal to your ideal client and help convert your audience into customers?
・Do you feel comfortable when having your photo taken?
If the answer was No to some or all of those questions, then the way you currently create your visual content might not be the best option for you. Answering no doesn't automatically mean that you must hire a photographer but you'd probably benefit from speaking to one.
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