It is easy to slip into the habit of trying to put everything, and then some, in each photo. Avoid making the photos cluttered. Your subject must be clear to the viewer whether it is your business product or service. Your target audience will check out if the photograph is too busy and proceed to ignore the content that goes along with it. Remember that negative space is okay and should be used intentionally.

Think outside the box. Take photos of a product or service from a new angle where someone doesn’t typically view it. It is okay to stray away from typical angles. For example, instead of shooting a bookshelf straight on, try to shoot from a different angle, like from above, looking down with someone reading on the ground. The goal is to make memorable visuals with an unexpected perspective. Don’t be afraid to play with reflections. There’s something about seeing your product or shop in the reflection of a puddle of water or someone’s mirror lenses.

Use leading lines to your product or service. Whenever you take the photo, think of where you want the audience’s eye to stop. You don’t want them to leave the photo. Make sure the leading lines end them at the subject. Look for symmetry and balance within shots. Symmetry relaxes people if it is a smooth image with fewer items in the frame. If you want to catch the audience’s attention, make something in the shot not symmetrical; Odd numbers or something that is typically symmetrical but isn’t will stand out. Repetitive patterns are pleasing to the eye, whether it is color, shapes, objects, etc. Capture candid photos of people with or wearing your products. If your business offers services, take candid photos of someone receiving the service or at the location.

Use natural light to your advantage. Don’t be afraid to take photos after dark since it allows you to play with shadows. Avoid zooming in when you’re at a distance; the quality of the photo will be significantly lower since it is taken with your mobile device. The new phones, like the iPhone 12, allow you to take photos in raw. The benefit to this is that raw has more data and pixels to work with, which is more forgiving when editing. Photos taken in the JPG setting have less pixels because it captures less data, making large amounts of editing to it lower the quality. When it comes to editing the photos you take, you want to use the best apps to create your project’s mood or theme. We recommend Adobe’s Lightroom mobile app. Though it’s not free and requires an Adobe account, it’s one of the best tools since you can custom edit or use preset filters. A free photography app we also like to use is Darkroom. If you’re not photo-savvy, we recommend using the free app Preview: Planner for Instagram to edit your photos. This app allows you to edit your photos with 100+ filters and also allows you to preview what your business feed will look like and shift “posts” around to make sure it looks aesthetically pleasing. These technical elements are great in helping you use the right tools to build your social media strategy and website strategy. Using a Gimbel or phone tripod is always recommended to keep shots smooth and elevated as it adds a professional touch to your photos.

It is always beneficial to leave your business marketing photography to the professionals, but it’s understandable when that isn’t always an option for the budget. If this is the case for your business or as the marketing director, it is critical that you follow these guidelines to produce the best quality photos from your mobile device. Focusing on one subject at a time and getting creative with different perspectives as you take photos will give an elevated edge to your visuals. Captivate the audience as they scroll through your social media or website. Be selective on editing platforms to develop intentional moods or themes in the photography. Remember, photography is essential for your business’s marketing strategy because it effectively tells your message when accompanied with clear content.