Between TV, movies, and the internet, we live in an incredibly visual world. Think about how many times you’ve scrolled past a lot of text on a website only to pause on a video/photo. The impact that imagery can have is why brand photography is so essential to any business.

While smartphones can take pretty amazing photos, they’re still no match for the imagery created by a professional branding photographer. Branding images can have a hugely positive effect on your business and even lead to growth.

People tend to judge by appearances

We all know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover. However, that’s actually how many people judge books—and brands. When someone visits your website or social media profiles, what do they do? If they encounter cheesy stock images or photos snapped on a smartphone, they may be quick to think of your brand as unprofessional.

Professional brand photography is a powerful way to quickly capture your audience’s attention. It is a way to effectively show them who you are and what your brand represents. Like it or not, the quality of your images speaks to potential clients about the quality of your brand. So, if your images are grainy or low-resolution, visitors are more likely to feel that your brand is of low quality as well. You definitely don’t want to give that impression!

Have images ready for media coverage

If your brand is featured in a magazine or on an industry website, you want to have professional images ready to go to show off what you have to offer. High-quality images on your social media profiles and website can even bring your brand media attention that you may not have enjoyed otherwise.

Whether you want images for your own blog posts and press releases or you’re hoping to be featured in a major publication in your niche, having a library of branding images available can make you feel prepared and help you avoid the stress of trying to take images quickly.

Increase social media engagement

Social media is incredibly visual, and photos and videos receive much higher engagement than posts of just text. And while it’s not absolutely essential to use professional branding images on your social posts, you should always post an image, and high-quality images can have a positive effect on how visitors engage with your brand. Images are more likely to be shared, and the better the image, the better the chances that viewers will be interested in sharing it with others. (Check out how one of my clients used her images for her social media.)

Encourage potential customers to buy

If you go to the effort of getting people to visit your website, don’t turn them off with low-quality images. In general, people are more likely to trust a business or brand that has professional photos. Your brand photography is an opportunity to tell your brand’s story. It is an opportunity to highlight what makes you unique and why a potential customer should work with you.

Whether you want visitors to purchase a product or book your services, branding photography can encourage them to trust you. It encourages them to believe in your professionalism and ability to deliver on the promises you make on your website. (Check out this blog post where I discuss how to use personal brand photos to potentially increase your sales.)

Boost your rankings

Did you know higher-quality images can actually have an effect on your rankings? Professional branding images can help increase traffic to your website, as well as increase clicks and conversions. All these factors can help improve your ranking in search engine results. This can in turn drive still more traffic to your site!

The right images can have a significant impact on your brand. They can help you increase social media engagement and even encourage more potential customers to become paying customers! Isn’t it time you elevated your brand with some professional branding photos?