Maybe you are a chef, architect, artist, florist, or even a wine maker. Regardless of your profession, if you have a product, chances are you pour thousands of hours into your craft. Once you have a great product it’s time to get it out and into the marketplace. Knowing that an online image get more views than a main street storefront and for a fraction of the cost — you turn to photography to represent your work.
But instead of hiring a photographer you take the task on yourself. After all, you are a multi-talented entrepreneur with great taste right? You may not realize it but this choice seriously underestimates what professional photographers do and ultimately hurts your reputation.
When patrons and consumers view your work they want to know if the price you are asking matches the quality of your product. So if your product looks awesome in person but you have a tasteless picture then your clients can only judge the poor photograph. Crappy images degrade the value of your work!
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Professional photographers protect and increase the value. They maximize your effort with tasteful presentation. Photographers artfully manipulate colors, shapes, and contrast in intriguing ways that command attention and communicate quality. Companies like Airbnb know this, and as a result they offer Airbnb hosts free professional photography services. Good photographs book more living spaces and that results in more profits. In fact, Airbnb reports that professionally photographed properties are 2.5 times more likely to be booked than those that home owners do alone.
So what is the stamp of a quality photographer? A photographer who invests equal amounts of time and determination into their craft—like you. If you trust yourself, you may discover an early stage taste-maker. However, it is a safer investment is to hire a photographer that makes a career out of their services.
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When in doubt, conduct an interview and ask question. Photographers are happy to talk. The more they know about your expectations the better service they can provide. Whatever you do with your next portfolio item. Don’t go searching “How to photograph my products.” Hire a professional and keep your standards high!
To find local photographers visit: www.artscouncilnapavalley.org/creatives
