how To Take Good Photos and how they can help you grow your business
Are you wondering how to take good photos? And, how to use photography and videography to better market your business? Well, if you aren’t, you are neglecting a powerful tool!
Why are good photos so powerful? It’s simply the way we’re wired. Studies have shown that our brains can process and respond to an image an incredible 60,000 times faster than a written message!
So, the 1st step in learning how to take good photos? Work with a professional. Take a photography class. Upgrade that iPhone already!
Mid photo shoot at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California with photographer Wil Matthews.
5 Ways to Use Photographs and Videos to Create Brand Awareness and Generate Revenue
Once you’re down the path of learning how to take good photos, there are many ways you can use those photos and videos for your business. Here’s our top 5:
1- Product Photography
High quality pictures of your products on your website can draw more attention and interest from your customers than any amount of text will ever do.
Need product shots today? Check out our girl Alexis, who also runs ProPixStudios.
2- Social Media
Whether you’re posting to Facebook, Pinterest, Linked In or a photography-focused platform like Instagram, the higher the image quality and content, the more attention it will receive. Need more help with social? Check out our Social Media Best Practices!
We can’t thank Jen Gold Photo enough for teaching us how to use a camera, and not just in the auto focus mode, along with the power of using great imagery, even in your brand’s Instagram feed!
3- YouTube
Every day, people watch over 1 billion hours of video on YouTube. With nearly 2 billion registered users worldwide, YouTube is a platform you cannot afford to ignore if you’re running a business.
4- Email Marketing
Most people check their email 15x per day, and this makes it one of the highest converting marketing tools you can use. Having great images or that perfect teaser video in your email can increase click through rates!
5- Advertising Or Display Ads
Using a beautifully crafted image or video will increase both interest and engagement with your ad.
Just adding pictures and video to your marketing efforts won’t automatically bring customers to your door; the quality of your content matters. If you aren’t an accomplished photographer or copy writer, hiring a professional could make all the difference.
Need help finding the right one? Just holler, and we’ll come running to get you set up with a great photographer or videographer near you!
Staging for a Mother’s Day photoshoot with photographer Darin Joye at Mister Brown’s Barbershop.
Still Not Convinced that taking good photos is Extremely Important for Your Business?
It would be difficult to quantify the impact that taking good, high-quality photos and videos can have on your business. Here’s even more reason you should invest in photography and video:
A Picture (and Nowadays a Video) Is Worth A Thousand Words
You’re probably familiar with this proverb, but it still holds true. Anyone who has ever read a set of Ikea instructions understands that pictures can be better than words at expressing complex topics. Don’t get me started on how long it took to put that bookcase together…
Don’t just tell your customers about the products you sell, show them. Static photos of your products are great, but how about a video demonstration that shows your product in action?
What about one of your ambassadors actually using the product?
Taking Good Photos Shows The Real You
The interwebs have made it incredibly easy to find great-looking stock photography that costs little or nothing to use. However, why should you then spend money learning how to take good photos? Or, a booking a professional photographer?
Stock photos can be helpful to create content and ads, we love using Adobe Stock and Canva for this. But, in the end, stock photos are not as effective as photos of a client’s product that are taken by a professional.
In addition, what happens when people see only stock photos on your website or populating your Instagram feed? Well, it makes your website or Instagram feed look just like every other site. Therefore, if you want your customers to trust that your business is authentic, start by learning how to take good photos. Or use a professional photographer.
Capture images that express your business culture. Showcase your location in sunny Southern California. Feature you and your team members. Highlight your products in a new light!
Past Top Rope Media client’s Jeff Huckleberry and Craig Gaulzetti of Summer Cycles in Del Mar, California during a photo shoot.
learn how to take good photos from a professional to Make an Impression
Yes, we hear ya, professional photography is expensive! And if you read product reviews, you may get the impression that your iPhone 12 is just as good as any DSLR camera on the market.
While smartphones can take great-looking pictures in some circumstances, the most important part of a camera is the person holding it. In addition, the relationships we’ve built between customers’ and clients’ products are often because of the time we’ve invested in hiring a professional photographer to shoot the images we’ll be using in campaigns.
Furthermore, when we work with athletes on a shoot, having a professional on-site setting up the shots can often help strengthen the bond between the athlete and the outdoor brand we are shooting for.
“Wil is a remarkable photographer, and working with him during the Seven Cycles KellCat photo shoot was an absolute blast! He brought such a great vision to the shoot, which paired well with his positive energy and ability to put me at ease in front of the camera. What’s most striking about Wil is his passion for capturing candid, genuine moments on camera, and this passion shines through in his final products. If ever given the chance, I’d work with him again in a heartbeat!”
Pro rider Kelly Catale during our Seven Cycles photo shoot at the Sea Otter Classic with photographer Wil Matthews and Jake Orness.
HOW taking Good photos is Essential For Search
If you want people to find your services or products, it is important to make your website attractive to search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo. This process is called search engine optimization or SEO.
SEO is basically helping you to get free, natural and organic traffic from search results. So your images, including the file description, and the Alt tag, are an important part of SEO. In addition, websites with optimized images will rank higher in search results. And finally, these photos draw your potential customer in, encouraging them to engage and read more.
In the end, learning how to take good photos can greatly improve your SEO. And, your chances of making a sale. Want more info on Search Engine Optimization? Read our blog post on San Diego Startup Week and SEO!
SAN DIEGO STARTUP WEEK AND SEO
Visual Media Is Multifaceted
You may have heard the phrase “Content is King”. While most people are speaking of text when they use this phrase, photos and videos are an even more powerful, versatile type of content.
In digital marketing, having good photos taken by a professional on your website makes your site more attractive and engaging. In addition, good photos highlight your brand on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. If your website features a blog, the right photos are essential here as well!
Besides digital, learning how to take good photos can also help you create printed promotional materials like media kits, brochures and flyers. A one-time investment in professional photography, or taking a photography class, can give you evergreen imagery that you can use throughout the year.
At Top Rope Media, we’ve created dozens of media kits for both brands and athletes. Including one for skier, surfer and mountain biker Jeremy P. McGhee!. Check out some of our projects here, and if you need a media kit for the next Outdoor Retailer or Eurobike show, we’d be happy to help!
Photography classes to learn how to take good photos
Now we know you didn’t come here for just a good read, you want action! So, here are a few places to begin to take your own great photos:
- Masterclass: Anne Leibovitz
- The Art of Street Photography
- Nikon School Online
- Masterclass: Jimmy Chin
- UCSD Extension’s Photography Program
Here are more recommendations from the New York Times on online photography and photo editing classes that will make you a better photographer.
Jeremy P. McGhee catching waves at Cardiff Reef with photographer John Afshari.
Hiring a Professional Photographer or Videographer for Your Business
So, if your time should be spent somewhere else, and learning how to take good photos is not on your to-do list, here’s tips on how to hire a photographer or videographer.
First, unless you’ve worked with a professional photographer or videographer in the past, your search will probably start on the internet. Or, ask your network for a recommendation.
However, how do you know if the person they recommend is really is right for your project? Here are some attributes to look for:
1- They Take The Photos You Like
Every professional photographer should have a portfolio of previous work. Take a look at the portfolio. If you don’t like what you see, move on to the next photographer.
2- References Check Out
Just because an individual is accomplished artistically, it doesn’t mean that he or she is right for your brand. Just as with any other professional you might hire, you should always check out his references before you commit to the project.
3- The Chemistry Is There
You’ll need to work closely with your photographer or video crew to get your project done. In addition, you have to communicate your expectations clearly. Therefore, it’s important to have a photographer or videographer you work well with. One that understands the overall goal of the project.
Action photographer Erin Hogue shot this image of pro snowboarder Charles Reid that won her the X Games ZOOM photo contest!
What Price Is Fair?
Budgeting for a photography class to learn how to take good photos, or hiring a professional is something you need to consider as part of your annual marketing budget. The price will depend on many factors, such as:
- the location of your photo or video shoot (venue or studio rental space)
- shot list
- how many models or talent are needed
- style of the photo or video shoot
- props needed (need to rent a Maserati for the day?)
- how much post-production work is required (a photo or video editor also needs to be factored in!)
After exchanging an email or two with the ones you like, pick up the phone. Discuss the project in detail with your chosen photographer or videographer. Review your goal and objectives. Then, shut up and listen.
Remember, these are the professionals. Your photographer or videographer may have a better idea of how to get the shots you are looking for.
Expect to pay anywhere from $500 – $1,000 to cover the day rate of your photographer or videographer. If you’re bringing in more than one, or a 2-person video crew, you may need to double that budget.
Lastly, do you want to shoot in a remote location? Or a gorgeous destination? Well, like the Amalfi Coast featured in our cover photograph by Kat Reynolds, be prepared to cover transportation and accommodations. And, provide a per diem for your camera crew!
Shooting on location in Positano, Italy with lifestyle and adventure photographer Kat Reynolds.
Action Sports And Lifestyle Photographers And Videographers:
Below are a few photographers we’ve worked with and the disciplines they cover. There are literally hundreds of San Diego area photographers! So, do your homework. And remember, think of this as the start of a long-term relationship!
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Wil Matthews– commercial and editorial with a cycling focus
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Erin Hogue– snowboarding and surf
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Jen Gold– rock climbing and lifestyle
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Michael Miller- athletics, wedding and lifestyle videography
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Kat Reynolds– lifestyle and adventure
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Alexis Tia Diller- product photography and lifestyle
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Jake Orness- cycling and lifestyle
final thoughts on how to take good photos
So no matter what industry you’re in, learning how to take good photos can be an extremely valuable tool for your business. Photos and video can express complex ideas and concepts that text never could.
Taking a photography class or hiring a professional photographer may seem like an unnecessary expense. But, in the end, you can have a positive, long-term impact on your business. I hope this guide gives you some new ideas for your next photo or video project!
To learn more about what we do on the regular, follow Top Rope Media’s adventures on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.
Until next time, happy photographing!
– Meredith McConvill
I’ve worked with Wil Matthews over and over because he’s wonderful, his work is exceptional, and he’s a joy to work alongside. Great post, Meredith!