Photography for Business Purposes
By Stu Leventhal – Guru Marketing Tips Editor
There are insider photog tricks to taking great photographs for business reasons. Products, services and brands must be portrayed in a favorable light at all times. The wrong image can ruin a new product’s chance for success. An incriminating image can bring down a whole company.
The good news of course is that great photography can send a company and its brand on a success trip to the stars!
Capturing the essence of a company via a photo journal or taking photos to record a special company event is serious business! Perhaps you are contracted to create the image for an advertisement that will appear in newspapers and magazines the globe over and get posted online then shared throughout cyberspace for years to come. Photographing stuff and people is often fun but commercial photography needs to be taken to another level of professionalism due to lots of money being at stake. Your goal is to get the money shots!
I am not saying that one should not have joy and a few laughs and fun moments during a commercial photoshoot, after all the subjects of your shoot need to be relaxed and they take their cue from you, their photographer. When you are nervous your photo subjects will be uptight and that anxiety will come thru in the photographs you take. So remember to lighten up the mood and get everyone in a pleasant photographic state of mind, especially if you are using professional models and actors.
For a commercial photographer it is really gratifying to know that your images which you are capturing today will be used in marketing materials, to enhance sales copy and thus could be pulling in thousands even millions of dollars for your client. Your photos could become part of a company documentary that will be shown to employees for decades to come.
Naturally, you want to do a good job for paying customers, better than the usual images found on personal social media accounts. Even when your photos are going on a company social media site you must remember that companies are supposed to publish a higher quality photo than the general public would post, for example, on Facebook or Twitter.
But whether you are just getting started or have been shooting photos for popular name brands for years, there are always some “insider tricks” that you should keep in mind especially on the big day of the photo shoot, so the photo gig goes off like clockwork and you get those great snap shots, many call the million dollar images. It’s never any fun when you realize you just missed your chance to capture an important happening for prosperity. So, your first tip is to always be ready with camera in hand because you never know when the magic is going to happen.
Great photos are spontaneous. Those great moments, usually, only give the photographer a small window of opportunity to snap the picture. So be prepared, even when nothing much is supposed to be happening. You cannot capture that great memorable moment if you left your camera behind in the car!
Before you leave for a shoot, do a thorough equipment check. Did you load your camera tripods in the van? Do you need to bring a backdrop or some special props? What about extra lighting? Check and double check! It can’t hurt to be a bit compulsive about this.
Are all your camera supplies new and in good shape? Do you have backups of batteries, bulbs, film, memory cards for digitals, lenses for whatever devices you are using? What about a makeup kit for your models to doll themselves up or to create a certain look? When you know you have everything with you plus your equipment is in tiptop shape, you can walk into your photoshoot or an event gig with confidence, like the professional you are.
One very important thing a lot of new photographers neglect to consider until it is too late is making sure that they have talked to their insurance agent about the insurance coverage they need as a professional photographer. Amateurs Photogs too need quality insurance policies. You want that hard to get shot and you will be climbing up on things to create the right angle. You would be surprised to learn the dangerous situations I have seen photographers of all levels of experience, put themselves in, to get the perfect photo.
Whether you plan on specializing in photographing dangerous wildlife; sharks, lions and grizzly bears or innocent new born babies and covering weddings; make sure you are thoroughly insured. You do not have to be climbing a mountain for accidents to happen. People get hurt and things get broken and expensive equipment gets stolen, before you even leave your studio!
Being well prepared also means arriving early! Amateurs and hobbyists can show up whenever they wish; pros are always on time and they arrive ready to get to work! You should not need a couple of coffees to get your motor started!
If you want great photos, and we all do, then you have to put in the leg work to assure your shoot goes great. The great photogs all scope out the photo location the day before to check the lighting and do some planning on what equipment they might need. Will they need special props? Visualize the photo shoot beforehand and strategize where you might plan to get your best photos. Scope out the best backgrounds that support your theme and find places that spur the emotions you wish to create.
Preplan! Do some preliminary choreography. Arrive ready to photograph.
When for instance, you are photographing a corporate event, like a sales seminar or a new product launch; you cannot be pulling important people away from the festivities haphazardly to take their photos. The photographer is there to record the happenings without disrupting the flow of the event activities and without annoying the guests and attendees.
Meet in advance with the event coordinator so you have the event’s itinerary and discuss the VIP attendees to get a grasp of what are the must photos to capture.
Now be sure everybody involved in the planning and throwing of a company or business event knows who you are. Who planned this party and what are the reasons it’s being thrown? What are the goals for the event? What are the organizers trying to achieve? The more you are in the know, the more you can record the right photos. What are their real motives?
If there are going to be security people, be sure they know that you are the photographer! If there is a need for passes or advance security clearance or badges of any kind, be sure you have yours well ahead of the event day.
Part of you getting the great photographs for a business client involves getting some face time with the key players. Timing is everything in photography so you must know everything that is going to happen. How can you be in position and ready to photo if you do not know all the important places to be at just the right times?
Pick your client’s brains! Yes, ask them for suggestions of photo ideas. Are there any special directions for specific shots they want to be sure that you capture? Ask, discuss and listen carefully; take notes. Yes great photography takes lots of planning.
All the best camera equipment in the world and superb photo skills will never beat out good planning when it comes to getting the big money, million dollar, photo shots!
PRO PHOTO TIPS:
They key to great photography is to stay open-minded and keep learning. Don’t get too cocky. The photog that takes the most photos ends up with the best pictures. Often the shots you did not really believe were going to be all that special, turn out to surprise you and are your best, million dollar shots!
The good news of course is that great photography can send a company and its brand on a success trip to the stars!
Capturing the essence of a company via a photo journal or taking photos to record a special company event is serious business! Perhaps you are contracted to create the image for an advertisement that will appear in newspapers and magazines the globe over and get posted online then shared throughout cyberspace for years to come. Photographing stuff and people is often fun but commercial photography needs to be taken to another level of professionalism due to lots of money being at stake. Your goal is to get the money shots!
I am not saying that one should not have joy and a few laughs and fun moments during a commercial photoshoot, after all the subjects of your shoot need to be relaxed and they take their cue from you, their photographer. When you are nervous your photo subjects will be uptight and that anxiety will come thru in the photographs you take. So remember to lighten up the mood and get everyone in a pleasant photographic state of mind, especially if you are using professional models and actors.
For a commercial photographer it is really gratifying to know that your images which you are capturing today will be used in marketing materials, to enhance sales copy and thus could be pulling in thousands even millions of dollars for your client. Your photos could become part of a company documentary that will be shown to employees for decades to come.
Naturally, you want to do a good job for paying customers, better than the usual images found on personal social media accounts. Even when your photos are going on a company social media site you must remember that companies are supposed to publish a higher quality photo than the general public would post, for example, on Facebook or Twitter.
But whether you are just getting started or have been shooting photos for popular name brands for years, there are always some “insider tricks” that you should keep in mind especially on the big day of the photo shoot, so the photo gig goes off like clockwork and you get those great snap shots, many call the million dollar images. It’s never any fun when you realize you just missed your chance to capture an important happening for prosperity. So, your first tip is to always be ready with camera in hand because you never know when the magic is going to happen.
Great photos are spontaneous. Those great moments, usually, only give the photographer a small window of opportunity to snap the picture. So be prepared, even when nothing much is supposed to be happening. You cannot capture that great memorable moment if you left your camera behind in the car!
Before you leave for a shoot, do a thorough equipment check. Did you load your camera tripods in the van? Do you need to bring a backdrop or some special props? What about extra lighting? Check and double check! It can’t hurt to be a bit compulsive about this.
Are all your camera supplies new and in good shape? Do you have backups of batteries, bulbs, film, memory cards for digitals, lenses for whatever devices you are using? What about a makeup kit for your models to doll themselves up or to create a certain look? When you know you have everything with you plus your equipment is in tiptop shape, you can walk into your photoshoot or an event gig with confidence, like the professional you are.
One very important thing a lot of new photographers neglect to consider until it is too late is making sure that they have talked to their insurance agent about the insurance coverage they need as a professional photographer. Amateurs Photogs too need quality insurance policies. You want that hard to get shot and you will be climbing up on things to create the right angle. You would be surprised to learn the dangerous situations I have seen photographers of all levels of experience, put themselves in, to get the perfect photo.
Whether you plan on specializing in photographing dangerous wildlife; sharks, lions and grizzly bears or innocent new born babies and covering weddings; make sure you are thoroughly insured. You do not have to be climbing a mountain for accidents to happen. People get hurt and things get broken and expensive equipment gets stolen, before you even leave your studio!
Being well prepared also means arriving early! Amateurs and hobbyists can show up whenever they wish; pros are always on time and they arrive ready to get to work! You should not need a couple of coffees to get your motor started!
If you want great photos, and we all do, then you have to put in the leg work to assure your shoot goes great. The great photogs all scope out the photo location the day before to check the lighting and do some planning on what equipment they might need. Will they need special props? Visualize the photo shoot beforehand and strategize where you might plan to get your best photos. Scope out the best backgrounds that support your theme and find places that spur the emotions you wish to create.
Preplan! Do some preliminary choreography. Arrive ready to photograph.
When for instance, you are photographing a corporate event, like a sales seminar or a new product launch; you cannot be pulling important people away from the festivities haphazardly to take their photos. The photographer is there to record the happenings without disrupting the flow of the event activities and without annoying the guests and attendees.
Meet in advance with the event coordinator so you have the event’s itinerary and discuss the VIP attendees to get a grasp of what are the must photos to capture.
Now be sure everybody involved in the planning and throwing of a company or business event knows who you are. Who planned this party and what are the reasons it’s being thrown? What are the goals for the event? What are the organizers trying to achieve? The more you are in the know, the more you can record the right photos. What are their real motives?
If there are going to be security people, be sure they know that you are the photographer! If there is a need for passes or advance security clearance or badges of any kind, be sure you have yours well ahead of the event day.
Part of you getting the great photographs for a business client involves getting some face time with the key players. Timing is everything in photography so you must know everything that is going to happen. How can you be in position and ready to photo if you do not know all the important places to be at just the right times?
Pick your client’s brains! Yes, ask them for suggestions of photo ideas. Are there any special directions for specific shots they want to be sure that you capture? Ask, discuss and listen carefully; take notes. Yes great photography takes lots of planning.
All the best camera equipment in the world and superb photo skills will never beat out good planning when it comes to getting the big money, million dollar, photo shots!
PRO PHOTO TIPS:
- Remember that the best photos look like they were not rehearsed and not posed!
- You have to prepare to blend in and stay out of the way, so everyone around you forgets there is even a photographer present.
- The best photos will be when you catch people unaware that they are being photographed.
- You often need to have your camera set up with the right lens, shutter speed and lighting settings plus be in position, well before the action starts to capture the best memorable moments.
- Take some behind the scene photos too of company employees and contractors in action setting up the big event.
- Remember you must have your subject in clear focus before the great photo moment appears in your lens. It takes time to raise the camera to your eye and zoom in…often the grand photo opportunity can be lost during those few split seconds.
- Be aware of the lighting at all times. Shadows can ruin photos. When outdoors, are you prepared for clouds suddenly dousing the area in shade?
- Try different angles of the same shot. Move around; alternative angles capture totally new perspectives of a scene.
- Pay attention to personalities. Be aware that some folks are camera shy. Often, making an effort to capture those folks who seem to always be slinking away from your camera’s lens, in an unguarded moment, makes for the greatest photos and cherished memories.
- Never bring a brand new piece of equipment to a photo gig. Always practice with any gadgetry you just purchased, before you use it in an actual, professional photo shoot. You have to get to know your equipment intimately or you will end up with a lot of ruined photo opportunities.
- Do not be stingy when it comes to taking photos; the more shots you take of a subject, the better chance there are that a few photos that will come out great.
- Experiment and practice… When you see something worth recording take shots from all different angles; close-ups, farther away, with the sun behind you, sun on the right side, sun facing you. Try different lens. You can’t learn and grow without trying new things.
They key to great photography is to stay open-minded and keep learning. Don’t get too cocky. The photog that takes the most photos ends up with the best pictures. Often the shots you did not really believe were going to be all that special, turn out to surprise you and are your best, million dollar shots!
RSS Feed