How To Get The Most Out of Your Small Business’s Photo/Video Shoot
I find that so many small businesses have never worked with a photographer before, or if they have, they still don’t have a good system in place for creating the images they need and want on a regular basis. This is what I tell my clients who feel brand new to this space (and walk them through, sometimes) to do to get the best outcome from a photo/video shoot.
get your branding together
Before you ever invest in photos, video, or really anything in your business, you should know thyself. I’m not a branding expert, but you should know what customers you’re aiming for, what your market looks like, and what message you’re trying to send. From there, your photographer can help connect that message to a visual language that will match.
identify your goals
What do you want out of your shoot? Are you looking to update your website, head to a trade show, do events, upgrade your food truck or restaurant menu, or just have new content for social media?
Within those goals, get specific. If you need images for your website, what pages will you have? Will you need header images for each page, some portraits for an about page, and product/item images? If you’re getting examples for a trade show, do you want a big banner and catalog images, photos to go on a view screen, business cards?
Really visualize what you want your final product to look like, and where these photos (and/or videos) will go.
work with your photographer to help you realize your vision
Depending on who you’re trying to reach and what your story is, the visual aspect of your business can vary so much. Some businesses thrive on really simple product images in a white, glowy space, and some require more styling, thought, and lighting to share their message. The clearer your branding and the more specific you are, the better your images will be.
prep for your shoot
Preparation is so important! Whether you’re doing an in-person shoot or sending products remotely, your list may look unique to you.
Restaurants I go to will create a shot list of items they want to promote, whether they’re new or customer favorites – both for their kitchen staff and for me. They schedule someone to make these items while I’m there, too.
A product-based company will come up with a product shot list, what details to include in each shot, and a cooking list if applicable. We’ll decide on backgrounds, props, and lighting beforehand, and I come up with sketches so you know what to expect from your shoot beforehand.
Some clients rent out spaces, or we have to hire people to model or assist – all things to go over before the shoot day to make sure you get the most out of it.
have someone on site or on-call
Either way, it’s good to have someone around to answer questions, assist, and approve shots to prevent expensive/time-consuming reshoots later.
Especially if you want more control over your final product, it’s usually essential to have someone who knows the business to be there to confirm everything’s looking good. Even for more casual restaurant shots, it’s crucial to know “this item comes with these sides” to ensure we’re advertising dishes properly.
When that’s not possible, especially for remote shoots, I work on multiple setups at once and send over shots as I go for any last-minute changes.
work smart
Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to make the most of a shoot by combining it with other elements. Sometimes clients also hire a separate videographer (though I also do video work), a social media-specific content creator, or even make an event out of the shoot day. A recent client decided to host a community open house to make the most of the buffet, florals, and event styling we needed for our interiors shots, and it worked out so smoothly!
In addition, we can do so much with just a few items. Sure, we can do individual product or dish shots, but they can be styled in different ways, shot from further back to show more of the space it’s in, or shoot in combination with other dishes for an overall look for your business. With the right working timeline, we can use a single food item half a dozen ways to get so much out of it.
These are just a few ways I help guide my food, product, and interiors clients to get the best bang for their buck AND just get the best, quickest imagery back to them. Hire me (locally or remote!) here or see more of my work here.