Snap out of using stock photography

PA U L M C G U C K I N P H O T O G R A P H Y

SNAP OUT OF USING STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY

• P E R S O N A L I T E M

• T H I S I S Y O U R P R O D U C T

• M A K E A P R O D U C T P H O T O

• W H AT T O S AY, H O W T O

C R E AT E E M O T I O N I N T H E

B U Y E R ?

• P R A C T I C A L

• U N I Q U E

• D E S I G N

• C O O L

• L U X U RY

• O N LY 2 S H O T S ! !

L E T ’ S S H O O T ! !

TELL YOUR OWN STORY

BUT STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY IS CHEAP!

• I dont know if you’re real • If your competition puts their hand in the fire… • Everything starts to look the same • Inauthentic - NY Skyline? Sunkissed California? • Illegal use is super costly

TELL YOUR OWN STORY

• Your unique vision • You, your people (people buy from people) • Authentic/trustworthy • Show your passion

PHOTO STRATEGY

How best to tell your story

• DIY photos

• Pro photos

• Customer photos

P O R T S A L O N L U X U R Y C A M P I N G

P O R T S A L O N L U X U R Y C A M P I N G

Professional shots Own Camera shots • Photography nightclass • DSLR camera • Weather, scenery, environmental,

garden, facilities, details

Customer shots • showing the experience, kids on the

beach, couples with anniversary, adventure

Desintation workshop Customer Photo Competition

P O R T S A L O N L U X U R Y C A M P I N G

Result: lots of bookings, referrals, people putting it onto their future destination list

TAKING YOUR OWN PHOTOS

Light is everything Focus, focus

TRY IT!

• Composition - rule of thirds

• Get closer - use the frame

• Angles - try something

different

• Colour - vibrancy, filters,

• Emotion - how does it

make you feel

• Target - is this for you, or

your customers?

• Editing - learn to crop,

filters, app vs software

Relaxed, confident, connected to the students. He cares.

Too moody for me!

Context

L E T ’ S S H O O T ! !

• In pairs • Art Director & Photographer • Style choices:

• Moody, smiley, warm, active, context

• Format choices: • Landscape, portrait, full lenght,

half length, sitting, standing, jumping

• O N LY 2 S H O T S E A C H ! !

• C O M M I T T O P U T T I N G 1 O N L I N E T O N I G H T

But i take a terrible photo I hate photos

Embrace it, face up to it, makes for a better image

WORKING WITH A PHOTOGRAPHER

• Objective - what & who are the shots for? • Subject/people • Channels

• website, social, print, ads

• Format • landscape, portrait, panoramic, text overlay

• Mood Board • Location • Lighting • Props, styling • Preparation, space, people • Quality first, 1 great image better than 20 poor shots

Pixalili Web Shoot

Objective: showcase 3 strands to the business (artist designs here)

Subject: the product

Channel: website

Format: panoramic to fit web design and space to allow text overlay

Location: work premises, lots of product, props,

space to shootStyling: uncluttered, emphasis on product

design and colour

TIME FOR A GROUP SHOT

Group Shot

• Several small groups, you decide on the style • Then we’ll photograph each of them

separately and together • Workshop context, props?

Questions? Website Critiques?