In today’s digital world, your brand needs to stand out visually in order to impress potential customers or clients.
The biggest way to stand out is having impressive photography and/or videography that showcases your products or services and entices people to choose your brand over others.
Whether you want to learn how to take photos for your website or decide to hire a professional to do it for you, read on to learn more.
Learn From the Pros
I sat down with Christian Studer of Franklin Pros to ask common questions about taking good photography.
While Franklin Pros specializes in producing high quality commercials and live music productions, Christian has a background in photography and videography. He’s shot for weddings, businesses, churches, not-for-profit organizations, and more. Whether he’s doing photos or video, he loves telling the stories through visual assets.
Here’s the answers to all your questions about website photography according to Christian:
Should You Use Stock Photos or Photos of Your Own Product/Brand on Your Website?
The answer to this question is the age-old “it depends.”
“Stock photography is a great asset for a lot of businesses,” said Christian. “If your brand isn’t very niche, stock photography can showcase what you do and save you time and money.”
There are plenty of great stock photography shots available for purchase. While some assets are “cheesy,” you can find plenty of high resolution photos that will strengthen your brand’s visual identity.
On the other hand, if you offer specific products or services that are unique to you, it might be wise to take your own photography or hire someone to do it for you.
Can Photos Taken from a Phone be Good Enough for a Website Or Should You Use a Camera?
“Instead of pitting a phone against a digital camera, I like to ask the question, ‘Does the person taking photos have an eye for photography?’” said Christian.
If you have an eye for lighting and photography basics like the rule of thirds, then taking photos on your phone can work.
“I’ve seen some phenomenal photos taken from a phone camera. But, if you don’t have an eye for photography, then it’s unlikely that your photos will be high quality enough to use on a website.”
What Are the Do’s and Don’ts of Good Photography?
Pay Attention to Lighting
Outdoor
“Early morning or sunset is the best time to take outdoor photos—these are called the golden hours. The lighting looks best because it’s soft and not harsh. Cloudy days are also great for photos because it softens the light and won’t cast harsh shadows on faces or objects.”
Indoor
“When taking indoor photos, do them during a brighter time of day so that you can use natural light from windows. Household lights don’t tend to look good in photos. If you don’t have great light sources inside, you can buy daylight colored light bulbs for lamps. They can fill the shadows with what looks like natural light so that your photos look better.”
Clean Up Your Space
“No matter what you’re photographing, make sure your shot isn’t too busy in the foreground and background. When too much is going on in a photo, it distracts the viewer from what you want them to primarily focus on.”
Keep It Simple
“The biggest piece of photography advice I can give is to keep it simple. You may have an idea that’s huge, but it can end up being too much. Keeping things simple and high quality is better than being extravagant.”
Do You Need to Invest in Professional Equipment?
If you decide to take your own photos, Christian recommends investing in a light stand.
“Lighting is the biggest asset you have. For $250-$300, you can get a killer light. This is a great investment if you plan to frequently update photos on your website, social media posts, or blog posts.”
What Editing Tools Do You Recommend?
There are plenty of photo editing tools available. Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop are tools that can be used for more extensive edits, but most people can use a free tool like Canva for editing photos.
“If you need to add text, your logo, or a simple filter to a photo, Canva is a great resource for you,” said Christian.
Be careful during the editing process, no matter what tool you use.
“Less is always more when it comes to editing photos. If you do too much, your photos can go sideways quickly.”
Should I Take My Own Photos or Hire a Photographer?
After reading Christian’s answers, you may feel confident enough to take on your website photography needs. This is great!
However, if you’re feeling overwhelmed or not sure where to start, hiring a professional photographer may be the best option for your business.
“When you hire a photographer, you’re not just hiring someone to take photos. You’re hiring a brand ambassador.”
These professionals are trained to tell your company’s story visually. They’ll help you make a great impression on customers or clients with quality images.
Hire Professionals to Tell Your Brand Story
When you need help telling your brand story—whether that be through a website, photography, videography, or another medium—hire experts who can make your brand shine.
Eldie Web Design and Marketing can create a beautiful website and Franklin Pros can help with all your videography needs.
Schedule a free 15-minute discovery call to discuss how we can help you grow your business today.