THE BLOG
Lifestyle Photography: A Secret Business-Boosting Weapon

Part 1
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a stunning product picture is worth a thousand website visits, and most likely a lot of conversions too. But we all know that this takes time and effort, right? And when you're getting started, it can be quite tedious and you often don't quite know how to make a start.

So how do you take great lifestyle images? Read on to find out how!

Firstly...
What actually is lifestyle photography?

A general definition is that it lies somewhere in the gap between documentary photography, and classic portraiture photography. Simply put, this means that the image you are creating needs to be documenting something or someone doing something and is composed in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

You don't need to set up an entire studio with specific lighting and an infinity screen as you would when you're taking a portrait or a product photograph, but you also don't need to simply be a witness documenting - you can offer some guidance to people who are in your shot. But the main thing to remember is that the image needs to be authentic.

When your audience looks at it, it needs to feel genuine and real. A curl of hair out of place is fine, or an imperfectly laid piece of food on a plate doesn't need to be fixed. It's these imperfections that will often make the image that much more real and relatable to your viewers.

So, if you want photos that bring results and sustainable growth, then read on!
Photography as a key element of your branding & creative strategy:
The quality of your images will define the first interaction and the immediate perceived value of your products and your brand's image. First impressions can make or break your online presence, and your photographs are usually at the forefront of that interaction. Being able to produce photos that boost the lifetime value of your customers is an asset to any digital marketing. This can obviously be for any type of photography, but especially when we are looking at lifestyle photography, this genre does stand out in depicting your brand/business/product in a more relatable manner.

So now I know why it's important. Shall I hire someone to take the photos?
Hiring a photographer vs. taking your own photos
You definitely can hire someone to take some high-quality images with a fancy camera, and there are many different options out there. When you are working to optimise your website or online presence then definitely looking at using a photographer is a must, however, to make a person really become familiar and trusting with your brand you need to have a genuine voice, look and feel, which comes across most effectively through photographs that are not as polished.

Of course, it is something that you can do by yourself and some of the most successful websites have begun through non-professional photographers taking content by themselves. And it becomes easy to be able to put that together, especially for lifestyle photography.

Keep your eyes peeled for part two... and if you need any assistance, or want someone to shoot for you, then remember to get in contact with us at marketing@2fellasmedia.co.za!