What kind of images do you need to market your business & where should you be using them?
As you’ve come to read this blog post, you probably already know how important it is to use photography in your business marketing. Great photographs can grab people’s attention, tell them about your business, showcase what you have to offer, help them remember you and ultimately, encourage them to invest in what you are offering.
I’m also guessing that you’ve probably seen a bunch of inspiring photos on social media used by other businesses and you think maybe you should be using those kinds of images too. But the thing is, with so many different types of photographs out there, it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming and confusing to know what photos you should concentrate on first and what type of professional photography you should invest in for your business.
As we celebrate Small Business Saturday this week, I thought it would be the perfect time to break this down really clearly, so you know the 3 essential types of photos that every small business should have & where you should be using them. These types of photographs are the ones that will make a difference to your small business, so make sure you start using them in your marketing!
1. Professional headshot with personality.
A professional headshot is the best way to put a face to your brand and it also helps to present you in a professional light. But having a pro headshot or portrait that shows off your unique personality, is key! This is the type of image that will help your audience connect with you, and essentially, decide if they want to work with you or purchase from you.
You should use this image across all your social platforms as your profile photo, as well as on your about page on your website. It can also be helpful to use on business directories or alongside an article feature etc.
Using the same headshot across all your platforms, helps people remember you and will create brand consistency. If you have a whole bunch of other personality photos, they can also be great to use around your website and also for a range of social posts where you share a bit more about your personal story.
Personality photos are the essence of what personal brand photography is all about. Not all headshot photographers concentrate on showcasing your personality, so make sure there is a lot of planning involved in your photo package if you want your photographer to be able to get to know you and showcase something unique about you and your business. (F.Y.I. I offer brand questionnaires and creative zoom calls ahead of our photoshoot to ensure I can showcase what’s unique about you!)
If your business has staff, then you should also have personality staff headshots and team photos too.
2. Working lifestyle images that showcase your offerings.
Whether you're a service or product based business, you need great images that clearly show what you offer. But as well as showcasing the “finished product” you need images that show YOU offering your service or product. These images could show you making your products, providing your services, or some of the other behind-the-scenes work that goes into providing your unique offering.
These images help your audience understand that YOU are a professional at what you do. It also helps gives them a sense of what working with YOU could be like, or a sense of the skill that goes into creating YOUR quality products. These images will set you apart from your competitors and help people remember you more easily.
This type of shot is great to use as the banner on your home page or the cover photo on your social platforms because it shows people exactly what you can offer them as soon as they arrive on your website or social page. They are also really great to use for social content and marketing materials!
Top Tip - Another way to make these images even more unique, is by using your place of work as the location!
3. An approachable contact photo.
Another key image to have is one that will encourage potential clients and customers to get in touch with you. Whether you usually communicate with customers via phone, zoom meeting, or in person, sharing an image of you “contacting” a customer, will help your audience visualise what it will be like for them to contact you.
It’s super important that your audience feel you are an approachable person to contact because if they feel intimidated or confused at all, they’ll probably just go to someone else.
Use this image on your contact page, as well as in social posts where you talk about what it’s like to work with you, or how people can get in touch.
So there we have it, 3 essential types of images you need for your business marketing & where you should be using them. Of course there are lots of other types of images that you can use to promote your business but these 3 are essential so make sure you’re using them in your business marketing right now!
If you’re in need of some professional brand images to market your business & help you be seen, I’d love to help!
As your personal brand photographer, I’ll aim to show off your unique personality & your specific offerings in a creative way through the beautiful brand images we create together.
I also want to give you more confidence to show up for the people who need your help, so you can build a strong and recognisable personal brand.
Personal brand photography can really help you stand out, make an impact, and get seen!