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Why Photography Matters
The best money you will ever spend. And we don't want you spend it with us.
The point of writing an article is not to fill space, or to try and attract an audience. It should actually be to get over a point, or series of points that you feel strongly about.
Over the last twelve years, the single overiding factor that has contributed most to the success of a project, whether online or offline, is the quality of the supplied photography. Clients will know that one of the first questions we ask when embarking on a project is about imagery. What do they have?
Talking to a new client and being shown an organised library of categorised images, taken either by a good amateur or a professional photographer, gets everything off to a flying start.
But why?
The Designer
Let's say that the brief is to design a fresh, content-rich website. There may be a logo, there may be a message - there may even be a style guide in place. But if you have none of these (and this is often the case where you're looking at a complete brand refresh, or a new brand) you can be staring at a blank Photoshop document like a writer in a garret with a fresh sheet of paper in his typewriter.
Supply a range of superb photography though, and there is somewhere for the designer to 'hang his hat'. Images can inspire, lead and direct a design because in many cases, the design is merely there to contain the message. And the message is most immediately appreciated visually.
The Writer
OK, so the designer is happy, and the writer is working on message and content. Photography can set the scene for them as well. If you are attempting to portray exclusivity, quirkiness or any other characteristic then being inspired by images can help a great deal. Great photography can feed into every aspect of online and offline work.
The Coders
It's always more inspiring working on something that will turn out to be truly gorgeous, truly useable, or just plain great. The impact of amazing visuals cascades right down the line.
The Audience
Visual impact is everything - get the visual message right, an dyou'll engage with your audience. Draw them in with innovative, clever or just superb-quality photography and they'll be reading your content, and getting your message.
So how do I start?
There are many great stock photography sites available today where you can purchase royalty-free, user-submitted stock at very reasonable rates. The 'default choice' for many is iStock Photo, but there is increasingly a bigger choice of where you might begin if stock will help you along.
Finding a photographer
For us, whether shooting people, objects or environments, we have to recommend James Lipman. James shoots many product launches for the car industry and if you've picked up an automotive magazine in the last few years you'll have seen his work. As well as producing outstanding shots of 'objects' he is great at capturing the great outdoors, processes and people.
Yes, we are biased. Because if we work with James we always get what we need.