snap out of using stock photography
TRANSCRIPT
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?