Location photographer. Getting behind the scenes. Showing off the secret, and not so secret, treasures of the world.
5 tips for building your photo library
"A picture tells a thousand words." We have heard the saying... how many times?
How do your photos tell your story?
Here are some tips to get your photo library working best for you.
Special family times...
Your photo library is the visual foundation on which any marketing strategy is built. Photographs show the appeal – and the competitiveness – of a company or destination.
Research says you have 8 seconds to catch the eye of a Gen Z. And for print... the decision to read or reject pamphlets and direct mail pieces is made by readers in just 2.5 seconds.
Considering thousands of dollars are being spent taking those images into the marketplace - think websites, promotional collateral, travel shows, social media... it makes sense to do it properly from the start. Good photographs are the foundations of your marketing.
Here are a couple of suggestions to make sure your foundations are sturdy.
1. Don't rush it. Plan to build your library over several assignments. You are unlikely to get all the images you need in a single assignment. Consider different light, times of year, emotions, feelings, events... Develop a shot list with your photographer, taking into consideration seasons, major events, travel time and accessibility. Then prioritise. Work out what you can do straight away and what you have to wait for.
2. Recognise the difference between “Stock Shots” (the necessary pictures that show the range of attractions you have to offer) and “Hero Shots” (the flagship photographs that are likely to lead your promotional effort). Like a magazine with their hero cover shot and then the additional feature shots inside the article. Plan to it.
Stock shot of accommodation...
Hero shot showing emotion and experience...
3. Build your library on professional standards from the start. For example... ensure all images are licensed to you and your stakeholders to use for promotional purposes, you have Talent Releases for all people in the photographs, and the images are of a professional standard (i.e., size, colour space, etc.).
4. Work out the most effective way of keeping and distributing your library of images. This will save you hours searching for images in your next campaign. And save you from losing any. Your photographer can also offer advice on how they do it/what they recommend.
5. Make sure your images (hero and stock) sit firmly within your marketing brand. Images that define you and make you unique.
Getting back to nature...
Quirky...
Big open spaces...
If you want to start showing off to the world - the best way you can... contact me. We can chat, I can give you ideas, and of course, I can make beautiful photos for you.
All pics taken at www.almertastation.com.au - a place where ‘Kids can be kids and adults can reconnect.’
How to use photography in social media
What are the top five do's and don'ts of social media? Let's ask a pro.
One of our lessons in Better Pics for Business was Social Media and the use of photography within it. I asked Tania from bizeez communications for her advice. I think her top five 'Do's and Don'ts are worth sharing with you.
Tania has 30 year’s operational and consultancy experience in Australia and the UK ranging in hotel management, employment, and wine. Through her Barossa based creative agency, bizeez communications, Tania can assist tourism, hospitality and wine business’ grow by way of powerful PR, marketing, web and social media solutions.
Tania is a respected blogger and commentator on modern marketing trends for the wine and tourism sectors and has gained a reputation as an entertaining and knowledgeable digital marketing specialist and trainer. She provides current information, evokes discussion, makes technical terms easy to understand and delivers practical actionable outcomes.
Tania launched bizeez communications in 2010 and has since worked with numerous business owners and marketers needing assistance with modern marketing and communications strategies including wineries, food brands, chefs, restaurants, accommodation providers as well as industry specific organisations throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Top 5 Do’s (or Don’ts) for using pics on social media.
1. Number one rule is Use them! If you’re posting across any of the major social media networks such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn and yes even Twitter – use great photos to promote your brand. Visual assets are an essential tool for communicating your brand’s story, and it’s reported that you have a 4 x greater chance of interaction with imagery than a text only post. So imagery in your marketing strategy is extremely important.
2. Don’t steal others’ photos. User Generated Content is fabulous and really should be part of your content marketing strategy, but there are some important rules to remember and one is, don’t steal! Ask if you can use imagery on your social networks. Never think that because a photo is on the internet, that it can be used for your own purposes even if it’s your business.
Also, according to a study comScore undertook in 2015, brand engagement rises by 28% when consumers are exposed to both user-generated imagery and brand created imagery. So definitely do consider UGC in your content marketing strategy - just do it ethically and legally.
3. Mix it up – you don’t have to use just a photo. Use a photo with text overlayed for inspirational quotes, blogs, etc.
4. If you’ve gone to all this trouble and taken fabulous photos, then created great visual assets, feel free to brand them. If they go viral (i.e. get shared across the internet), then people will be able to seek out your business because they know where the original imagery was created.
5. Avoid cheesy stock photos in your marketing. People want to see your business – not some notion of what it could be. There is a place for generic stock photos for sure, but if you’re promoting your own business, don’t use stock photos of another establishment.
To see more of what Tania does head over to www.bizeez.com
