Staff – You Just Can’t Shoot Them!

Next time you visit a supplier, customer, or even competitor website take a look at exactly what they share. There is a very strong possibility that they have a Meet the Team section. The growing trend for staff profiles on websites and, of course, the Company Page on LinkedIn highlighting employees, is not just about letting people see who works for your organisation. These pages allow stakeholders to see who they are dealing with and it gives the business personality.

 No matter what sector your business is in, it’s crucial to have a strong brand image reflected across your website, marketing materials and social media. LinkedIn profiles are certainly included within that; most corporate companies ensure all employees profiles reflect their company brand. Social media is essentially free marketing, so giving your team professional headshots shows you take both your employees and your company seriously – it’s more professional. It’s also important to ensure some stylistic consistency which is representative of your company culture. Sure, you don’t want to take people’s personality away, but pictures taken before nights out or that feature half another person don’t have the same impact as a clear, well-lit, professional photo!

There is a little hurdle though – staff can be a nightmare to shoot.

I recently spoke to a business who had tried on many occasions to add photos of staff to the website and on social media but, after attempting to photograph the team themselves and then requesting staff members to bring a photo of themselves they liked, the entire project was shelved. They guessed it had taken at least two days out of their schedule. Ouch!

People will always be self-critical and taking a high-quality photo on a smart phone isn’t as easy as anticipated – an awkward photo shoot resulting in average photos that staff won’t want to use on their profiles isn’t the best use of anyone’s time! So why not demonstrate your investment in both your team and your company brand by hiring a professional photographer? Still not convinced? Here’s what our clients say are the top benefits:

1.       It’s an obvious starter, but the level of skill that goes into shooting a professional portrait shouldn’t be underestimated – getting the right lighting, shutter speed and framing makes all the difference. Your team page on your website will certainly see the benefit, as will other promotional material e.g. company brochures, adverts featuring your team, visual posts across social media.

2.       Putting your team at ease – photographers are used to working with even the most awkward of subjects. It’s a genuine skill to ensure the individual feels relaxed in front of the camera, to get the best possible image.

3.       Editing skills – there’s nothing worse than a poorly edited photo. A professional will strike just the right balance to ensure the image is of the highest quality and that your team are happy with the way they look.

4.       Finally, experience! I’ve photographed hundreds of teams over the years and always ensure that I work closely with you to ensure the type of photos I produce are in line with what you want to project about your business. Whether it’s a casual outdoor group shoot for a health food brand or corporate headshots for an accountancy firm; I’m experienced in delivering the right photos for your brand.

So, whether it’s updating your team page or ensuring your staffs’ LinkedIn profiles are looking their best, I’ll work with you to ensure your professional photos – whether headshots, group photos or candid shots of the team at work – convey exactly what you want to about your business and represent your staff at their best.

Feel free to have a look through my portfolio, and if you’re ready to take your employer branding to the next level lets get together for a coffee.