If you want to level-up your social media game, improving your pictures, graphics and videos that you post will probably do the trick. Doom scrolling happens for a reason: the visual that captures your attention isn’t quite as attention getting as it should be. And then the next image is. And then the next graphic isn’t. And then the next video needs to be watched a few times in a row. You get it, most of us have been there.
If you want your company’s content to be one of the ones that gets noticed, use some of our tips to get good photos that are quick, don’t need a lot of editing and can be posted with your written content to capture your audience’s attention.
To start, get in a “gather photo evidence” mindset. As the social media marketer, you want to approach every event, meeting, luncheon, shipment, brainstorming session, anniversary, etc., with a “this could be good for social media” thought process. It’s better to have the photos, even if they aren’t the best. Don’t go away from something thinking “ugh, I forgot to take pictures.”
Yes, your colleagues may try to hide from you. Yes, they might grumble and groan. But you’ll have a mini library of photos to select from as you create your content. And that is very necessary for a good social (and website) strategy.
Once you’ve gotten in the habit of taking photos always, you can start to refine your skills a bit. It’s okay to just use your cell phone and you don’t need a bunch of fancy equipment, but here are some things that may help…
- Clear out a space or area for headshots, anniversary photos etc. This works great in front of your logo, a blank wall, a corner, even a hallway. But make sure it is clutter-free.
- Have lights that you can move around and maybe even a light box so you can take photos without dealing with shadows and unflattering overhead lights. This works especially well if you’re doing product photography.
- Use a tripod for a steady hand and group shots. Books stacked up will work in a pinch.
Now, think about your photo composition. They don’t need to be art gallery award winners, but it does help if you make sure that the photos are interesting. Take multiple shots so no one is blinking. Take product photos at different angles. Try with the flash and without. Take both vertical (good for social) and horizontal (good for websites and cropping) images. Give yourself plenty of options to choose from.
Remember your lighting as well, especially if you’re shooting outside. Don’t take the photo with a light source like the sun or a window behind your subject. Speaking of what’s behind your subject, consider your background and avoid any unnecessary objects that could be distracting.
Focus on clear photos of exactly what you want to show off. If you have a camera-shy crew, see if they will allow just hands holding a product or creatively using a computer to block their faces. People love people on social media (imagine that) and having your employees in photos will help greatly. But you can be creative about it.
In addition to making sure your photos are not blurry or dark, you’ll want to snap both close-up and far away images. It helps with perspective and usefulness later in different formats when you might want to crop your photo for various reasons.
Lastly, help your fellow teammates help you. If you have a large staff that you work with, occasionally send out requests for different types of photos. Many department leads and those who work in the field and away from the office may be able to bring you some amazing perspectives to share socially that you hadn’t even considered.
The bottom line is that your photography can really raise the bar for your social strategy, but you don’t need to overthink it. The more you do it, the easier it will get. And if you need help with your social photography, reach out to our team for support.
