Wednesday, November 07, 2012

Tips for great business photos.

Written by Jin Cowan - www.jincowan.co.nz

We don't get a second chance to make a good first impression. A good business portrait is one of the most effective tools to build credibility and rapport with your potential clients.
The purpose of business portraits is to:
  • Convey your brand image
  • Portray trust and professionalism
  • Capture your passion and your individuality
Here are a few tips that will help you to have a easy session and achieve a great result:

Clothes

For a great head and shoulder shot,  the rule of thumb is keep it simple.

Solid colours and simple classic cuts photograph the best. In another word, avoid stripes and patterns, bold graphics, complicated cuts and bulky jewellery.

Wear something with a conservative neck line, such as shallow V-neck or turtle neck. Similarly wear long sleeves rather than short sleeves. Bare arms, shoulders and low cuts will not look flattering in head and shoulder shots.

Last but not least, for us to look relaxed and confident, always wear comfortable and well fitted clothes.

Make up and grooming

Think it as the makeup / grooming for a nice evening out. Well done but not over done.

Many of us prefer a natural look and some don't normally wear makeup. However a well applied layer of foundation will help even out your skin tone under photographic lighting, and help achieve a natural and flattering result.

Posing

A great portrait is never about staring into the camera with a stiff smile. Go into the session with the confidence that you will have a great result. Your photographer should be an expert to coach you to feel relaxed, and guide you as to how to pose. Once you're relaxed and feel confident, your facial expression will follow. Whether it's a heart-felt smile, or a mysterious look, your photographer will capture the natural expression, with the most flattering or interesting lighting and angle, to create a compelling portrait of you who has a great story to tell.

Style

A class studio head and shoulder shot is the convention, but who said this is your only option? Include your work place in the image, go to an interesting location, use a prop, have actions. You will be surprised how a simple change of approach could add context, depth and individuality to your portrait, and engaging your audience on a more personal and emotional level.

Talk about different options with your photographer, and they will help you to realize the image in your mind!

Your photographer should have checked out the location before the session, so he or she is prepared with the knowledge and the equipment to capture that unique and timeless portrait.

Thursday, November 01, 2012

Why you should have team photos on your website.

In a busy world with so much going on it can be hard to keep even the most critical parts of your website up to date. Sections that seem less important often barely warrant a thought. Images of your team may seem to be a trivial addition and often the "About Us" section of your site can be sadly neglected.

However even some basic photos can make a real difference. The image below is of a long page cut into three that has tracked where the user's eyes have been looking. As you can see their interest is less and less as they go down the page but critically you can see that their eyes stop on almost every image on the page. The larger the dot the longer their eyes were fixed on that point. This user actually spent 10% more time looking at the photos than reading the bios.

People images are where the eye is spending much of its time.

Studies have shown that this kind of engagement only comes with photos of real people. Stock photos often will be completely ignored. The more time a user spends on your page, the more time they have to take in information and be convinced to buy your product / use your service. The longer a user is on your site the more likely they are to take the next step and contact you.

Team photos are a great chance for you to get some images on your site of real people. It will give users something to engage with when they visit your site and it will help to keep them on the site for longer.And by putting these photos in an "About Us" section, possibly with a few short bios you're also giving clients and potential clients a chance to get a feel for your staff. Don't neglect that poor section of your site any longer. "About Us" may be working harder for you than you think.