5 Reasons to Hire A Professional Photographer for your Blog | Atlanta Blogger Photographer
Congratulations!! You've decided to start blogging. You've got a rack of great outfit choices, a menu full of pretty meals or a long list of creative crafts to share with the world! You've got your domain name, the facebook page and an instagram account. But now what? Pretty pictures of course! You may have already tried your hand at a DIY photoshoot and you may have even recruited a friend to help you out, but I'm here to tell you 5 reasons why you should hire a professional photographer to create your blog's branding imagery.
1. The Right Equipment
The right camera for this job is pricey! You may have decided to invest in one with the thought that you'll save money because you won't need to always hire a professional photographer. But taking a picture isn't just about the gear you use; For the camera to be worth anything at all to you as a blogger, you need to know how to use the features of the camera (...this is a time consuming educational pursuit, I promise!). Not to mention, having a variety of lenses to use for all the different kinds of shots you'll need will add up to MANY thousands of dollars, very quickly! A professional photographer will have all the lenses and more importantly, he or she will know when it's appropriate to use each one.
2. The Creative's Expertise
When you pay for the services of a Professional Photographer, you are not just paying for the gear they bring. You are also paying for their creativity and their expertise in creating an image that will represent your brand. We are versed in what angles will make you look your best, locations that will fit the look you are going for, image composition and good lighting. A good photographer will also take the time to get to know your brand. We take a look at what your branding goals are to make sure we are capturing the type of imagery you need to achieve that. We ask questions about which platforms you need pictures for and if you have any special needs such as a header for your facebook page or a headshot for your Instagram account.
3. A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
I know you've heard that before... but you've heard it because it's true. Having quality imagery on your blog and it's social media accounts will attract more followers. More followers translate into being able to demand higher rates for brands that ask you to represent them. Brands also like to see that the rate they are paying you is being used to capture images that represent their brand and make them look really good. And if your a blogger who works on commision, it benefits you to have quality images to make the clothing choices even more attractive. To make more money as a blogger or in any business, you have to invest in yourself! Invest by hiring a professional photographer. We encourage you to track how your financials improve with the investment!
4. The Editing Process
Culling (the process of selecting the batch of pictures worth editing) and editing is time consuming. As a new business owner (because blogging IS a business!) your mind needs to be focused on the things that you can do best and most efficiently. If editing isn't your strong suit, it won't be an efficient use of your time.
5. Search Engine Optimization
Optimizing images embedded in your blog will maximize your Search Engine Optimization endeavors. The better your website viewer stats are, the more you can charge for your services of representing a brand. Renaming files, using image alt text, title text and captions are all pretty basic things you can do with an image to give your stats a boost. Go a step further by using srcset, reducing file size and scaling the image for SEO. Without imagery, none of these things can be done and you will have missed out on all these opportunities to grow your viewer stats.
If you are a blogger in Atlanta Metro and you are considering hiring a professional photographer for your blog, feel free to contact me to schedule a consultation. I'd love to learn more about your brand and offer my creative services to help you grow as a business!
A sample blogger session - A springtime photoshoot with Peaches to Pearls in Buckhead
