Every business owner in the 21st century is well aware that success in the industry is not achieved in the same way that it was even 20 years ago. With the dominance of the internet and the prevalence of social media sites, businesses have had to adjust their marketing strategy to accommodate these new outlets. To be successful, they must incorporate all of their business skills into the modern marketing and advertising world.
For your business website and the social media platforms you are utilizing, you need more than text. Potential clients want to see stunning imagery and high-resolution commercial photos of you, your employees, your products, and your services. The more commercial photographs they can look through and be impressed by, the more likely they will decide to contact you rather than your competition.
Reaching out to previous and potential customers through social media outlets is also critical. Platforms such as Facebook and Instagram are perfect locations to showcase all of your talents and products, but you need exceptional commercial photographs to impress clients. That is where the skill, talent, and expertise of an experienced commercial photographer come into play.
So, many people often wonder what a commercial photographer does. Commercial photographers create portfolio images of products, people, and other business-related items for companies that hire them (unless the company has an in-house photographer already).
Following the photo shoot, the business will have various amazing images to use in all their marketing materials, digital and paper advertisements, business cards, brochures, websites, social media posts, and much more. When a company invests in the expertise of a professional commercial photographer, it will be able to take advantage of all of the benefits that come with that individual.
The primary goal of commercial photography jobs is to highlight the subjects and put them in the best possible light to demonstrate their most exceptional qualities to the target audience.
A commercial photographer must have experience, knowledge, fantastic photography skills, solid editing software and good retouching skills, the best photographic equipment such as lighting and a professional-level camera, and a vision to create high-quality images that will engage with potential clients and enable the business to remain present in the minds of those clients.
Although modern smartphones come standard with pretty amazing cameras built-in, they cannot guarantee that the photos will have the best light, a good setup, and background or be good enough to be used as advertising shots. High-paying clients who demand great success in their industries want images that a commercial photographer with exceptional skills creates for commercial use. You cannot create pictures using a cell phone that will be good enough to advertise products and services online and exceed the industry average.
Commercial photography is a fairly broad umbrella of photography genres that can encompass a wide variety of different commercial clients. As a commercial photographer, you will be tasked with making sure you capture images for clients in many different corporate industries.
Architectural photography
Food photography
Office/environment/staff photography
Interior photography
Lifestyle photography
Real estate photography
Fashion photography
Commercial portrait photography
Advertising photography
Editorial photography
Product photography
Business headshots
Depending on the company's needs and expectations, each type of commercial photography has its requirements and challenges. It takes a skilled commercial photographer to adjust their mindset and camera settings, and lighting setups to get the best possible images for their commercial clients.
Suppose you are interested in becoming a professional commercial photographer. In that case, the best way is to learn everything you can about the different types of commercial photography and then practice making photos that could attract customers in those various settings.
As you practice and improve your photography abilities, you can work to establish a photography business and become an entrepreneur. Once you have photographed various products, people, and locations, you can create an online portfolio of your images that is sure to impress potential customers. Be sure to develop and maintain a social media presence so that you can attract clients through many different outlets.
Before you know it, you will be a practicing commercial photographer with hundreds of clients and a massive portfolio of images that anyone can be proud of.
Businesses looking for commercial photographers to create the images that will help them sell their products or services may also need more information about the benefits of hiring professional commercial photographers rather than making images on their own.
Here are some of the top advantages of investing time, money, and energy in the right commercial photographer in your area:
Possession of professional-level cameras, gear, lighting, and other integral photography gear.
Expert knowledge in using that photography gear to create commercial images which can tell your brand's story and sell your products or services.
Wealth of photography portfolio images from which you can reference in discussions of how to capture the best parts of your products and services.
Experience working with advertising agencies or other corporate professionals so that the commercial photographer understands what works well as a commercial photographer for print media or online adverts.
Expertise in commercial work rather than only lifestyle (weddings, baby photos, engagements, family events)
Advanced knowledge of editing software to ensure that all photos are touched up properly and ready to be published.
Ability to set the stage and get the best light for the subject so that every photo is in the most pristine condition.
Extremely detail-oriented, ensuring no hairs are out of place or any other minor issues when taking photos.
Make sharp images that are precisely what you and your art directors have in mind regarding your marketing strategy and advertising campaigns.
Quick delivery of fully edited photos
When deciding to hire a professional commercial photographer and having this type of photo shoot, it is important that you find the right commercial photographer for your needs. There are plenty of options out there, so you must be able to determine which one will be able to meet and exceed your expectations.
As you begin your search for commercial photographers, it will become clear that there are many different options. You will certainly not want to choose the first one you find without thoroughly vetting that person and their business. It would be disastrous to sign photography contracts, realize that the photography services are not what you were expecting, and have to start the search over again.
When you have found potential commercial photographers, here are some essential factors to consider to help you make your decision on which professional to hire:
Experience in the commercial or product photography industry
Expertise in the particular type of commercial photography you need
The right equipment (even home studio equipment) will be able to make the photos you want.
Advanced editing skills
Ability to quote you a price for the shoot based on the information you give
Proper licensing and insurance
Possession of a commercial photography portfolio for you to peruse
Exceptional online reviews from previous satisfied customers.
Availability during the times and days that are most convenient for you
Willingness to listen to your vision and help you make it a reality through their photography skills.
If the photographer you have found has these factors and you like their portfolio work, it is time to make the call and determine if you may be able to work together.
If you are a small or large business needing expert commercial photography in the Oakland or San Francisco, California, area, contact Kuoh Creative. Our team has the skills, experience, and expertise to help your business by creating long-lasting images that will allow you to connect with your audience like you never have.
The photographers at Kuoh Creative in San Francisco, CA, are dedicated to making sure that all of our clients are 100% satisfied with the results that they have produced. From product photography to commercial portrait photography and everything in between, Kuoh Creative is here to help businesses like yours find the success they want.
If you are interested in hiring a professional commercial photographer to photograph your team, building, products, office, or services, contact Kuoh Creative. We are happy to answer your questions and show you why high-quality images can make all the difference to your customers.