Why Your Business Needs (your own) Brand Stock Images
On-brand imagery that is evergreen and will serve your business for the test of time.
I might’ve made up the term (I tend to make up my own phrases and words quite a bit), but somewhere along the way, I started informing clients before photoshoots that we must obtain “brand stock photos” during their sessions. Now the concept is a staple of mine, and one that I find myself explaining often.
The bad news about photoshoots (literally the only negative thing I have to say about them) is that photos have a shelf life. No gallery will last your business forever. I know, such a bummer. It would be great if you could invest once on a banger brand shoot and call it a day forever, but it’s just not the case. Your business is constantly evolving…new offerings and products, updated policies, new team members, rebrands, the list goes on. This is one of the many reasons that I am such an advocate for signing up for seasonal content creation. Capturing your brand and its offerings on a consistent basis has so many advantages, one of them being that you are obtaining fresh imagery allowing you to keep your social platforms, website, and email marketing fresh and varied.
However, if you find yourself investing in a preliminary brand shoot (and even if you are doing seasonal content), getting those brand stock photos each and every time is a MUST.
OK, so what is a brand stock photo?
It’s an evergreen image that represents your business regardless of season, who you have working for you, the exact product(s) you sell, and even you. It is an image that captures the essence of your brand without being literal in context. An image like this, that is intentional and on-brand for your business will stand the test of time. It can be used now, and five years from now (so long as your brand does not change).
To give you an idea, here are some brand stock photos I have styled or coordinated during some of my client photoshoots
Things to consider for your brand stock photos
There are some key elements to capturing brand stock photos. Here are a few to keep in mind heading into your brand photoshoot:
Colors: Focus on including your brand colors in these shots. Chances are, they will be showing up on your website and hopefully some email marketing, so having imagery that matches your font colors will create a cohesive, on-brand viewing experience for your customers.
Backdrop: I air on a minimalist approach when it comes to setting the scene for brand stock photos. Again, we want this photo to last a long time, so avoiding a lot of background textures and colors is the way to go. If you do choose to style the set, be sure to use on-brand pieces that match your business aesthetic.
People: If a person appears in your brand stock photos, even if it is just a potion of a body, it is best to be you! This is the best chance the photo has at remaining evergreen in your own business.
Keep it General: The best part about brand stock photos is that you don’t have to overthink them too much. These images can be kept minimal with including a simple object that speaks to your business.
When and where to use your brand stock photos
I love having these on-brand images on hand, especially for banner photos for website use, standout images for email marketing, and for Instagram stories, printed materials and more. It is important to keep in mind that it is equally beneficial to have your brand stock images captured both vertically and horizontally to allow for proper use. Another great tip: ask your photographer to capture some of these images with “white space”, which is an area on the image that offers enough room for a text overlay.
A horizontal brand stock photo, great for a website banner. White space in the top right corner also allows for text overlay, a useful marketing asset.
Planning and styling on-brand content continues to be incredibly important as you market your business. Visual content is crucial in the fast paced, quick-to-absorb-content world we are living in. Including these brand stock images to your shot list will serve your business marketing needs so well, and will always be imagery that you can lean on despite changes to your products, team, and more. They will carry you through until the next time you produce a brand photoshoot or seasonal content.
Quality brand photography is an investment worth making….I just cannot say it enough. The result of a well-planned and creatively styled photoshoot is a collection of images that tell the story of your brand and allow you to best connect with your target audience. It just so happens that developing and designing brand photoshoots sets my little heart on fire. Reach out so we can help you plan your next photoshoot…Golden Creative is located in Massachusetts, but let’s not let geography get in the way. If you are outside of New England and looking for planning and/or styling guidance for your business marketing needs, don’t be shy…let’s connect!