How to Use Photos for Business Storytelling
For those of us without a background in marketing, promoting our business can be an overwhelming burden. But business storytelling is a really powerful marketing technique, and it’s easy. What’s even more exciting about it is it’s fun, because it only requires us to be ourselves!
I’m going to share what business storytelling is, and how you can do it using photos.
Before we we do… one thing I can’t emphasise enough is when sharing photos for your business, they need to be good. The quality of your photos will influence how people view the quality of your products, even without ever having seen your product! An entry level DSLR used in manual mode will do the job.
Related:
Which Camera Should I Buy
Getting out of Auto Mode
CLICK HERE to download our manual settings cheatsheets to help you know which settings to use in different light & scenarios!
Connect!
Business storytelling is about using photos that tell the story of your business and yourself. In doing so, you can establish an authentic and meaningful connection with your audience. If you do this well, it has a powerful ripple effect, with the potential to:
- Boost engagement
- Create brand awareness
- Build brand loyalty
- Grow your list
- Boost website traffic
In other words… all.the.things.
You can use any social media platform to do it. But regarldess of where you’re posting, you really need to be on Instagram as well.
Related: 7 Ways to Grow Your Business Using Instagram
Get Creative
Sharing headshots of ourselves and beautiful photos of our products is fantastic, and relevant. But they they’re not enough on their own to tell your story and build a meaningful relationship.
All stories have a beginning, a middle, and an ending. Keep this in mind when deciding what to photograph and it will help you when you’re stuck for ideas.
With my boudoir photography, client images only showcase the final product.
By sharing photos of related aspects including the location, they tell the story of my sessions, from beginning to end and everything in between. Small details such as:
- The champagne chilling;
- The lingerie laid out on the bed; and
- Wide shots of the location to put the detail shots into context.
They help prospective clients who are considering booking a session to visualise themselves as my client having a session of their own. It also takes some of the mystery out of the session.
Business Storytelling
Check out Katie Makes A Dress. Over on her blog and instagram, she does an amazing job of business storytelling.
By sharing photos of all aspects of her products from seed to sewn (remember – a beginning, middle and an ending), she gives her audience the complete picture of her business:
- The why – talk about your love for what you do.
- Behind the scenes – where do you work?
- The Process – how do you make your product? What are the tools of your trade?
- Materials – taking delivery of your materials or ingredients
- New materials – eg. if you make dresses and you’ve sourced a new fabric, show it off!
- Market research – got a new idea but not sure? Ask you audience! Get their input, as a bonus they’ll feel you’re really considering them.
- Sneak peeks – Share what’s coming up as a way to inject a sense of excitement.
- Packaging and delivering – people love detail shots like tags, ribbon, packages, your logo stamp, etc. It shows the care you put into what your customer receives.
Take a variety of different of shots – the sweet details, wide context shots, action shots, colours and textures, the emotion and excitement behind your business and product.
Your Stories
It’s essential to share ourselves when trying to engage our audience. Not just our business selves, but our personal selves. We can show our personality by giving a peek into our lives. Sharing photos of the people and pets that you love, your favourite belongings, your days off, your holidays, your successes and foibles. Show you’re a human being, not just a faceless business. Chat about your values, your interests, your hobbies, your loves and your loathes.
Katie also shares enough snippets of her life to give us a feel for Katie the Person not just Katie the Creator of Awesomely Fine Clothing. Through her quirky and casual sharing, she makes me want to have a wine with her, then buy one of her dresses! She makes me want to engage. Aha. See?
Have fun!
Business storytelling is one of the most fun and easy things you can do to successfully market your business. The days of presenting only a professional business face to be taken seriously are long gone! It’s all about just being yourself and letting your audience get to know you.
Easy peasy!
JOIN the Free 5 Day Mini Course
5 Days, 5 Videos Lessons = Photos You'll LOVE!
Learn How to Use Your DIGITAL Camera!
Fab post Lou. I needed to be reminded of beginning, middle & end for any business photography or lifestyle shoots I do. All to often it’s only about the end product, because that’s what you’re selling, when in fact it’s the whole process beforehand that makes it really important!
So glad it was helpful Bianca 😉 Thanks for the nudge! LOVE the stories we can tell through images… a great way we can engage our audiences! Xx