In the business to consumer marketplace, companies are constantly thinking up new ways to connect with their customers. And, if your business sells strictly online – you have an even greater challenge to gain and keep the attention of your audience. So, how exactly does a B2C company remain relevant and captivating among their competition? By creating high quality, professional photography visuals.

There’s no denying that top notch photography increases purchasing decisions. In fact, consumers are more likely to be interested in your brand if your visuals incite a positive and emotional reaction.

So, if you’re not creating high quality visuals for your brand – what exactly are you waiting for?

Let’s talk about business to consumer photography tips that can help build your audience and grow your company.

6 Business To Consumer Photography Tips

Plan Everything Before You Shoot

The first business to consumer photography tip is to plan everything before you shoot.

A professional and well thought out photography shoot requires you to have an idea and vision in mind. In fact, it is very noticeable when a brand does not take the neccessary steps to outline and plan their shoot.

By planning each detail of your production, you will be better equipped for what deliverables and visuals you need to create.

Elements that will help you plan a successful shoot include:

• A mood board with ideas and inspiration
• Shot list of images that need to be created
• Description of the layout of your images – vertical or horizontal
• Posing direction if you are using a model
• Coloring swatches or palette to use with styling or clothing pieces

Before you shoot, sit with your creative team to come up with the most effective and captivating campaign for your brand. Remember that colors, textures, locations and poses matter. If you plan ahead, there is no doubt that your photography shoot will look professional, detailed and creative.

Photograph On Location

The second business to consumer photography tip is to photograph on location.

While some images require the use of a studio, aim to shoot on location whenever it’s possible. It’s not to say that you can’t be creative in a studio. But, shooting at a physical location gives you the ability to create more dynamic backdrops and various compositions.

Plus, a majority of products need to be photographed in the place where they will be used. This gives your brand the ability to show the lifestyle and implementation of your products into the consumer’s day to day life.

For example, let’s say you own a swimwear company. Sure, you can photograph the pieces in studio for your online shopping look book. But, what do you think would take your images to the next level? How about shooting the line in a place where people would wear the clothing – such as the pool or beach? Not only will this create a stronger visual story, but your product will be showcased in the setting where it’s meant to be used.

During the process of planning your shoot, think about the best spot for your products to be photographed. If the answer is a studio, book the time and pick your best backdrop. And, if you want to tell a captivating story in a specific place, plan your shoot on location.

Use People Your Audience Can Connect To

The third business to consumer photography tip is to use people your audience can connect to.

If you’re using people to sell your product, you need to consider who will be the right fit for your brand. In many cases, brands hire models to showcase their items. Yet, is a model always the correct choice?

For fashion, the answer is usually yes. But, for many other products – would your audience feel connected to your brand if it featured a subject that they didn’t relate to?

When you choose the subject of your photography campaign, think about who your audience is.

Consider factors such as:

• Gender
• Age
• Interests
• Ethnicity

While using a model will give you that professional, polished look – consider the alternative. What if instead of models, you used everyday people? Such as friends, family or strangers that you meet in passing?

Many brands have been paying more attention to the connection their consumers feel to the subjects of their campaigns. And, have been hiring “real people” to be the spokespeople and advocates of their company message.

So, if you’re looking to create images that your audience can identify with – consider both models and everyday people when selecting the best subject for your next photography campaign.

Add Product Styling

The fourth business to consumer photography tip is to add product styling.

The biggest challenge with product photography is that more often than not, every image starts to look the same. You place the product on a white backdrop, capture a few different angles and that’s it. Switch out the product and repeat. I don’t know about you, but to us, that’s dull and boring.

So, instead of creating the same old, carbon copy of every other product photo taken in history – why not change things up?

One element that many brands forget when photographing their products, is the importance of styling. In this case, styling means having a specific arrangement for your products, adding in a different backdrop or placing additional elements to help add visual appeal.

For example, let’s say you run a juice company with your products’ ingredients being natural fruits and vegetables. Instead of just placing your bottles onto a white backdrop, add some creativity. Change the color of your background, lay the bottles together in a uniform design and add additional props such as the ingredients inside of each juice.

By adding this small touch of product styling, you can take your visuals from boring to exciting. Not only will this look better, but it will automatically capture the attention and interest of consumers.

Invest In The Production

The fifth business to consumer photography tip is to invest in the production.

Creating a photography campaign requires that you dedicate time and effort in conceptualizing your idea. While it’s not the simplest of tasks, it is a project that is truly worth it. That’s why, when you’re building and creating a photography campaign, you need to invest in the production.

While it can be tempting to skimp on certain aspects in order to lower costs, you’re only hurting your brand in the long run. Instead of trying to cut corners, carve out marketing budgets that can cover the cost of photography and visuals for your products.

The images that you create for your brand are directly related to the growth of your sales. You wouldn’t seek cheaper alternatives when sourcing materials for your products, so why should it be any different with your creative production?

If you invest upfront, you will gain a more valuable return. Consumers want to support brands that take themselves seriously. So, if you want to show your audience and the marketplace the professionalism of your brand, then you need to make the investment in your creative, photography production.

Hire A Professional Photographer

The sixth business to consumer photography tip is to hire a professional photographer.

Now that you know what it takes to create a captivating campaign, you’re ready to start shooting.

But, who are you going to use to turn your visual plan into a reality? You need to hire a professional photographer.

And, where can you look to find the photographer perfect for your brand? Try H.

At H, we are a community full of talented and experienced photographers. Our roster of creatives understand the business to consumer marketplace and have worked with brands in fashion, food and product to create high quality, visual campaigns.

For your next B2C campaign, look no further than H for your photographer needs. Browse our community today to find a professional that can take your company’s vision to the next level.

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Creating high quality photography for your brand is neccessary and important. With these 6 business to consumer photography tips, we hope you have learned how you can up your brand marketing.

What are your thoughts on these B2C photography tips? Connect and share with us on social at @h_collective