David Edwards, internationally published commercial photographer and successful brand designer, continues his series about the importance of image.

A little over a year ago I wrote an article for the Showlite blog… Image is everything in which I explored the value of having great team photos. I’m now going to challenge you by asking you a question. What does a photograph mean to you? 

A photograph is a “snapshot” in time and most people will identify it as a memory. That memory may be childhood, a wedding, holiday or loved one. It is a hard copy of a tiny portion of our brain whether it is in physical print or on a mobile device… something that may last longer than our actual memory which gets fuddled with all the clutter of everyday life and the many new experiences the grey matter has to deal with.

Leave behind the family snaps we all have, where mum or dad have us as minute beings squinting in the sun with a wonky horizon. Turn now to what we see that creates desire. We are bombarded by visual experiences and it is therefore imperative as a business we have great images… the best possible images. 

Why would you want to commission a photographer? Is it worth commissioning a photographer? 

Consistency of delivery… it doesn’t matter whether you are choosing a photographer to shoot weddings, interiors, products or fashion. You as a business owner need to know that if you put a photographer in front of a subject then you will get the results you were looking for. You will have seen their work, liked their work and that’s why you commissioned them. 

Why is it appropriate to have great images… memory… yes, that personal factor. Images are not only your here and now but also show what you’ve achieved and where you have come from. 

The value of a great archive can’t be underestimated. Imagine you have a new client sat with you and they ask you what you have done… you get your smartphone out and say well this was us last week at the NEC… week before at Olympia… and they are all back to the “dad’s wonky family holiday shots”. 

How much better would it be if you had a folder of quality commissioned images on your mobile, a gallery on your website and social media channels to showcase your business. Consistent great images that paint a vivid picture of how good you are at what you do. Perhaps a stage further a folio of A3 sized prints showing off the very best of what you do… people like to touch and handle photographs and good photographs always look even better in print! 

Photography might be a hobby or interest that you or a member of your team have but your key driver is building your business. Concentrate on that. A commissioned photographer will deliver you more content to work from, should win you more business and will outweigh the cost of the commission many times over.

When you have read this blog… pick up your favourite magazine or newspaper supplement look at the images and then pick up your phone and commission some great photographs of your own. 

David was commissioned by Showlite to photograph a series of Autumn shows including PPMA Show, Independent Hotel Show, Restaurant Show and Big Data and create a stunning portfolio to showcase their work. View the show galleries here. 

David is always happy to discuss projects with new clients. http://www.image61.com/interiors/.