In the fast-paced business world we live in, we're all trying to find ways to get our brands out there and have people stop and actually pay attention to what we have to say.

Every business needs quality visual content to compete.

My name is Joseph, I’m the Business Solutions Specialist here at Precision Camera & Video. I’m a professional photographer that has been shooting for more than 15 years, and I spend my days helping professionals improve their branding and marketing with custom media solutions.

All businesses need something that will catch a new customer’s eye and get them interested enough to stop and engage — a tall task in today’s media saturated world. The way to reach those eyes is with dynamic images that tell a story. Check out these five easy tips — that I’ve learned the hard way — to get that shareable shot and get it posted right away.

Know the Technology

Mirrorless Cameras

You don’t have to be a professional photographer to take advantage of high-quality equipment. Technology is changing fast and getting good images gets easier and cheaper each year.

So what's a mirrorless camera? It's just like a traditional DSLR, but they took out the mirror. Yes, it's that simple. By doing that, the cameras are quicker, smaller and more efficient.

Mirrorless cameras offer a great way to get high-quality images in a small package that's easy to carry around and often offer better entry level options than their DSLR counterparts - all to say you get more bang for your buck.

These small cameras pack a serious punch, they have fantastic low-light performance (making it easier to get brighter images) and the colors are beautiful. But not all cameras are made equally. It’s important to talk to someone that has experience with these cameras to help you match your needs with the right equipment. Stop by the store or give me a call anytime for a free consultation.

Check out these mirrorless Sony cameras

Cameras with Wifi

When posting social content for your business, speed and efficiency are crucial. We get it, you have other things to do and can’t be uploading and editing all day. Pretty much all of the cameras we have on the shelf here at the store have built in Wifi, allowing you to transfer the images straight to your phone or tablet wherever you are. You don't even have to be connected to your home or office internet, the camera creates a WiFi signal and acts like a Bluetooth connection, just faster.

Utilize Scene Modes

Of course, the automatic mode is quick and easy, but the camera is guessing and trying to read your mind. Switch to the scene modes and tell the camera what you are trying to take a picture of and you'll end up with a better shot every time!

For instance, if you are shooting a portrait, you are probably looking for a slightly blurred background. But the camera may think you’re setting up for a landscape shot and prioritize settings to put everything in focus. Set the scene mode to portrait, and you’ll get the shot you’re looking for.

*Hint! If you are shooting on a Sony mirrorless camera, I love the “hand held twilight” mode for low light shots, it’s amazing!*

Take The Time To Edit

I know I said speed is key, but spending 30 seconds in a simple editing app can make all the difference. I like to use Snapseed. It's a simple and FREE tool by Google that will allow you to make simple adjustments on the fly.

To make a more eye catching image, try lightening your image a bit by going up on the brightness slider and bringing up the saturation just a touch.

Make It Interesting

Rule Of Thirds

The rule of thirds is a basic framing tool that gives us an idea of where to place things within our image. Imagine your image frame divided into three quadrants both vertically and horizontally, like the image above. The idea here is to avoid placing your subject matter in the direct center of the frame. The rule of thirds encourages you to put your subject or point of interest where lines intersect or along the lines. You’ll notice in the image above, the bike is sitting right on the intersection of the lower left third and the interesting part of the porch is right in the middle. Your eye is naturally drawn there because of where the bike and placed, and because of the roof line over the porch.

Leading Lines

When your shooting with the intent of grabbing someones attention, it’s important to look for things like leading lines. Leading lines drive the eye to an area of specific interest in a photo and force the viewer to look at your subject. 

When you use leading lines and the rule of thirds together, things start to get interesting. This is when you gain the power to direct your viewers attention to the message you want to deliver.

@heyyylight

Colors Are Key

Complementary colors are very important, sticking with a pallet of colors that work together gives context and feels more organized. It also helps to identify a brand. When adding images to an Instagram account keep in mind, all of those images are going to be seen as thumbnails when they click on your account. You want it to feel like they all belong. Maintain some consistency in your style of editing and the color pallet you decide to use.

Take a Class

The elements above are all very important, that’s why when I am working with my clients I stress the importance of training. A simple photo class will go a long way when trying to take compelling photos.

Sometimes, the best thing you can do to improve your images is get a little education. When I sell equipment to a business, I often include training. The store offers a slew of classes from beginner to advanced, and nearly all of them can be offered in a custom setting that is tailored to the needs of your business.

Follow these basic steps, and you’ll be taking amazing photos that draw attention to your brand in no time! If your having trouble finding the right gear or need instruction, get ahold of me, Joseph. I would be happy to help you and your business create the media you need to drive your brand forward.

Click here for my contact info.