Client questions answered: Can you be present while your photographer shoots your content?

There are many etiquette questions clients may have that can sometimes feel daunting to ask - one that comes up often is whether or not the client can be present for the shoot itself. While working both directly with clients, or indirectly with ad agencies, we absolutely encourage that the client is present during the shoot. One of the main pillars to our success is clear communication, and there is no better way to communicate than in person, while things are in motion. The client being present for the shoot means we can all rest assured that we have captured exactly what is needed by the end of the shoot. 

We’ve even shaped our tool kit with client presence in mind by investing in technical gear that simplifies the viewing process during the actual shoot. For most of our photo shoots we use a device called a CamRanger, which is essentially an app based wireless transmitter which outputs the images we are capturing from the camera to an iPad and/or iPhone etc. This real time technology allows us, and the client to view the images as we are capturing them. This device has a host of bells and whistles, which we love, but its most valuable asset is providing instant visuals for the client to then give feedback on. Due to this approach, you can leave the shoot with the knowledge that we have captured exactly what you need.

Being present for a shoot has of course been affected by the global pandemic the world is currently facing. Through 2020 and now 2021 we have continued to adapt as restrictions call for, but still encourage team members to be present in a safe and controlled way. Currently, you can still be present while adhering to the mandated protocol of wearing a mask, practising social distancing & allotted gathering amounts etc. 

In this climate rules often change, but we have become proficient at adapting and pivoting to be able to work within the rules at any given time. 

All in all, asking to be present for the shoot is always an appropriate question to ask - and I would go even further by saying it is something that is universally accepted and encouraged. You are just as much a part of this aspect of the project as your photographer, and your eye is helpful!

Have more questions you would like answered? Let us know below:

Why is photography & video content so important in the day of social media?

Make it stand out

Visual components can drive traffic, interest and sales.

Visual advertising content has always been important, but it has taken on an entirely new life since the emergence of social media. So much of marketing and advertising are now taking place on social media and aside from twitter, almost all social media platforms rely heavily on visual components to grab the attention of the user. Instagram, Pinterest, Tiktok, Newsletters, Facebook & Facebook ads absolutely call for enticing, attention catching, curated, visual or video content. If you don’t have it, you get lost in the algorithm and your message never makes it out of the gate. This truth has continued to evolve, and now even more than still imagery, video content is being rewarded with views and engagement. In fact, video content is climbing heavily in the online circulation, almost 90% of top tier content is now in video form… up from 80% in the past few years.

All of this to say the obvious - the game is constantly changing, and if you want to stick out, you have to keep up. How do you do both of those things? You make sure you are equipped with tons of quality visual content, both still shots and video, to ensure you can post consistently, while always pushing the truths about your product, brand and services. This can be a lot of responsibility for the individual, and that is where we come into play. Trusting professionals who have made it their career to create polished, thought out and well executed visual content will mean you are ready to face the tough asks social media platforms call for. 

The reward? If done correctly and consistently, embracing visual content will lead to more traffic coming to your platforms, and from there your website. It will up your engagement, lead to more followers, likes, shares and revenue while also solidifying your place in the algorithm that is social media.

We don’t say this without having lived it. We know first hand how quality visual content can lead to business when executed consistently. Recently we have experienced our own growth since our 2021 social media makeover campaign began. Let us take you down the same road and help you succeed with quality visual content - the new must have for marketing yourself appropriately.

Why hire a Professional Commercial / Advertising photographer ?

Picture this - you’re a marketing manager at a company when you realize your project is going to require a professional photographer. In the past you’ve used an employee who is an amateur photographer, and although you’ve had some success going this route - you just aren’t accomplishing the level of quality needed. So now what? Well, now you need to try and find a qualified photographer who will deliver results that exceed your expectations. 

There are many ways to find a photographer that you can trust. The first step could be as simple as asking business associates in a similar business to yours for a referral. Knowing in advance that the professional this associate has worked with has delivered good results is a great way to make a decision with ease and confidence.

Another valuable approach is to do a Google search for Commercial/Advertising photographers in your area. The internet is your friend and can help you shop multiple options for the job. Have a look at the portfolios of the photographers you find and keep an eye out for work that is cohesive with your vision for your project. On top of being able to browse existing work you should be able to find testimonials, their years of experience etc. Once you have identified 2-3 photographers you feel good about you can move forward by requesting quotes from each of them. You want to do this not only for pricing comparisons, but also to see how each of the companies responds. In order for a photographer to be able to properly price out a project they should respond with a list of questions for you about the particulars of the shoot. This is how you can tell they know their stuff. The answers to these questions will help inform the overall cost and provide assurances as to the number of and the type of images you will be receiving. You want to have as much information as possible, and both ends should be very clear of expectations and what is being produced for the given estimate. With this information you will be prepared to choose the photographer that best suits your vision and needs.

Once you have made the choice of photographer, the next step should be a meeting or call in which the photographer gathers vital information from the client and/or marketing agency. For example, at Jive Photographic we ask all new prospective clients the following question at the beginning of every discovery call - are you presently working with an Ad Agency or Marketing Company? Depending on the agency's involvement, they should be able to answer all further questions and provide us with creative direction - if no agency is involved, we would be looking to communicate directly with your marketing department. Once the line of communication is made clear additional questions would include but are not limited to; 

How many selected final images are required? 

Are descriptions of the images required? (For example, photos with or without people, interiors, exteriors, portraits, architecture, still life/product shots?) 

Is talent required? (And if so who is responsible for the casting/scheduling?) 

Can we do a site visit prior to the shoot shoot date? 

Who will be our point of contact during the shoot? 

What is the turnaround time on delivering final images? 

What is the highest resolution required for output? 

Is there a need/preference for vertical vs. horizontal framing? 

Does the client want to own the images or only license them for a fixed amount of time? Etc.

These questions are intricate to ensuring you receive exactly what you have set out to achieve. The difference is in the experience. By choosing to go with a professional photographer, you are choosing to go with someone who has dedicated their lives to understanding how to deliver their clients needs. Executing based on the answers to these questions will lead to a happy client and this is how we at Jive ensure we exceed your expectations.

Moral of the story? Planning, preparation and knowledge are the keys to achieving a successful commercial photoshoot. One where the client ends up with images 

that serve their needs and helps them grow their business. Don’t forget - we succeed, when our client succeeds. 

The importance of hiring a Professional Photographer

So you need to source a photographer to take some commercial photos for your company. Where to start ?

Obviously you can do a google search for commercial / advertising photographers in your general area. But before you do any of that, you first need to ask yourself a number of questions.

• Why do I need these photos taken ?

• What message do I want these photos to convey ?

• Where do I intend these photos to live ?

• How long do I want these photos to be relevant ?

• Am I concerned about using existing employees (is the high turn over in your company) ?

• What do I have allocated in the marketing budget for this ?

• Do I need to have more money allocated to the marketing budget to do this properly ?

• Most importantly, how much time do I have to commit to this project ?

This last question is maybe the most important of all, because if you are like most people working full time in a marketing position, you are flat out as it is, so hiring an experienced commercial photographer is really the wise move, because you are getting their guidance. Experienced commercial / advertising photographers add instant value by being able to provide what is required to execute the project and not waste any of your valuable time. 

Okay, I know this sounds like a lot of work, but it really isn’t that bad, and it’s short lived. By planning properly you won’t need to revisit this photoshoot thing for quite awhile. We have been called upon on more than one occasion to do a shoot that was previously completed by a photographer that simply lacked the skill set to realize the clients vision. It’s not a blame thing, it’s most often a lack of experience in knowing what the right questions to ask are and being able to realize that vision and more importantly add value to that vision. That is really what you should be paying for. My goal is always to try and over deliver on whatever the ask is. We want our clients to say that we exceeded their expectations, however big or small the shoot is. 

To sum up, do some research on who the best commercial / advertising photographers are in your area, look at reviews, look at websites, look for years of experience. Basically, don’t rush into any decisions before doing a bit of homework. It’s a big investment and you want to get good value like any other large investment.