10 Types of Professional Portraits You Need to Have
If you’re an EFP VIP, you know that brand photography plays an essential role in your marketing and communication strategy. The perfect photo communicates your authentic personality, the reality of your business, and what makes your goods/services unique in one shot. I’ll work tirelessly to capture the parts of your business that others will easily resonate and connect with in a crisp, cohesive set of photos.
When we work together, we’ll brainstorm what types of business branding photographs will be most useful to you in your social, email, and promotional materials.
To get started, here are 10 types of business and branding photos and how they can elevate your small business.
Professional Headshots
The non-negotiable, must-have of the bunch. Consumers connect with people over products, and you are at the start of that. Many of my clients have anxiety around posing for headshots since they can be up close and personal, but never fear! One of my points of pride is that I do not take stiff, awkward photos but instead, fresh modern headshots with a variety of colored backdrops to suit your corporate requirements. Your individuality and authenticity can and will shine through in EFP professional headshots.
Lifestyle Portraits
The Headshot’s more chill cousin, lifestyle portraits feature an intimate view of you without the corporate backdrop, face-on formality. Lifestyle portraits can feature you with props or in a more “candid” scenario. They’re perfect for posts on social, or spots in a brochure explaining who you are and what you do.
Team Headshots
If you’re not the only force behind your small business, it’s worth it to showcase your team members. Capturing team members in action can give a great feel of the reality of the customer experience that you offer, which in turn can help gain the trust of potential consumers. Featuring team members in active, behind-the-scenes style or lifestyle format can be extra exciting!
Location Photos
If your business operates out of a physical space, show it off! For a potential customer, seeing your space can create a deeper sense of intrigue and trust in your legitimacy as a reliable business. If you work from home, it can even be beneficial to show your at-home work setup or desk. These types of photos can be put to great use in social feeds with an accompanying caption about your day, how you choose to do business, etc.
Product/Service Photos
These are so important, and perhaps the most meaningful for the customer. We will work together to create a vision that works best for your business- highly stylized, or ultra simple? Product in action, or sitting pretty? We’ll use a mood board to determine which way to best capture your products and services in their high quality and unique authenticity.
Action/Interaction Photos
Taking product/services photos a step farther, action/interaction photos detail the customer journey in a real way. As you’ve probably garnered by now, it’s all about consumer trust. Action/interaction photos are a great way to instill confidence in your consumers regarding the validity of your business.
Detail Photos
Show the ins and outs of your process with detail photos; whether it’s a closeup of your signage, or a shot of your hands at work, these images are great for website and brochure, especially. Detail photos allow you to communicate the style, feel, or reality of your business in an unobtrusive way.
Get to Know Me
This might be one of my secret weapons. Some of the most fun photos to take are the purely personal Get to Know Me shots! The reality for small business owners is that you are your brand. These types of photos strengthen the personal connection that you have with your existing clients and community. Also, if I had to bet, these could be among your best performing posts should you choose to add them on social.
Behind the Scenes
What is the side of your business that customers don’t get to see? If you own a bake shop or restaurant, maybe that’s a view inside the kitchen. If you’re a florist, maybe it’s you scouting the flower market. Behind the scenes content can be very engaging and genuinely interesting for people to view. And if you haven’t guessed it, letting people into your process increases client trust.
Promotional Photos
Lastly, the second non-negotiable of the bunch would be promotional photos. These are the photos that you’ll advertise with, and often be the first that future customers see of your business. It is so crucial to start any relationship off on the right foot; business branding is no different!
