Tips for Hiring a Commercial Photographer

When you’re a business searching for a commercial photographer, choosing the right person to complete your project is crucial to your success. Commercial photography is about telling the story of your company, product, or service in a way that resonates with your target audience. If your photographer doesn’t understand your story, or know how to tell it effectively, then they won’t be able to produce the photos you’re looking for.

So, how can you make sure you choose the right commercial photographer to capture your business or product in a way that entices your audience? Here are a few tips to help you make the best decision!

Look for someone with experience in your industry.

Different commercial photographers have different specialties. Some may focus on product photography for example, while others focus on corporate headshots or real estate. Many photographers specialize in several types of commercial photography. The key is to choose one with a background and knowledge in what you’re looking to have photographed.

Always view their portfolio.

The best way to judge if a photographer is a good fit for your business is to spend some time looking at their past work. Most photographers have a portfolio on their website or somewhere online you can view, but if they don’t you can always ask for one. Focus your attention on past projects that are similar to yours. Look for variety in style, consistency in quality, and photos that tell a story.

Talk to a potential photographer about your project before you hire them.

Before you settle on a commercial photographer, you should talk through some of the aspects of your project. Discussing the details of your vision with a potential photographer will help you ensure they understand your needs and are on the same page about your goals.

As a commercial photographer with a diverse range of specialties, decades of experience, and a passion for every project, Neil Boyd is sure to provide your company with professional, eye-catching images. He will tailor every photoshoot to your needs and vision, while bringing his own talent and experience to create perfectly refined photos for your business, advertising materials, website, and more.

Contact Neil Boyd Photography at 919-737-5609 to discuss your commercial photography needs in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and surrounding NC areas today!  

Commercial Photography in Raleigh NC

Its getting to that time of year again when everyone is putting up Holiday lights. I love walking around in the crisp air and looking at all the different lights and the extremes that some people go to. We did a photo shoot a couple of years ago for a company called The Service Group. They specialize in professional lighting for single homes and complete subdivisions. Being well known for our architecture and real estate photography in Raleigh they hired us for the job. I remember it was really cold the night that we drove around Wake Forest and Hasentree. But I think we got some great real estate photography. So if you are looking for a professional approach to your lighting this year give them a call and if you want professional photos of the outcome, i’d love to discuss it with you.

Lifestyle Photography: What It Is & How It Can Benefit Your Business

Commercial photography has evolved to encompass a wide range of different styles and techniques. The type of photos used in marketing materials today include more than just standard product photography, but also creative images that capture a business and its essence. Architectural photography, corporate environmental photography, and construction photography are just a few innovative examples that come to mind.

Perhaps one of the most effective approaches to commercial photography that has emerged is lifestyle photography. Let’s take a closer look at this genre of photography and what it can do for your business.

What is lifestyle photography?

Lifestyle photography as a genre is a kind of portrait photography that captures people in real-life situations. Many people think lifestyle images are simply candid shots taken by a professional, but that is not necessarily true. Modern lifestyle photography often relies on direction from the photographer, but in natural, real-life environments. It is more of a blend of staged settings and candid subjects.

How can your business benefit from lifestyle photography?

Create an emotional connection with consumers.

Advertising your products or services in a lifestyle environment tells a story that your audience can relate to. Building this type of connection helps get them emotionally invested in your product and feel confident about buying it.

Draw attention and gain trust.

Lifestyle photography naturally peaks a viewer’s interest, making it a unique way to draw attention to your business or product. When you offer content that looks and feels authentic, you build a trust with customers that translates not only to sales, but also continued loyalty over time.

Add a human element to your marketing materials.

Using images of the same products at different angles or with varying backgrounds over and over again can get boring. Lifestyle photography shows that you’re selling more than just a product, but also, well, a lifestyle. Make your marketing materials more interesting and send a message that you care about the customer experience as a whole, not just business and sales.

Neil Boyd is one of the leading lifestyle photographers throughout Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Durham, and Charlotte, North Carolina. He has been innovative in incorporating lifestyle images into all types of commercial photography, from restaurants to real estate to fitness and beyond.

To learn more about how we can use lifestyle photography to promote your business, contact Neil Boyd Photography today!

The Evolution of Commercial Photography

In the age of social media and ecommerce, it’s hard to believe that taking a basic photograph was ever more complicated than pushing a button on a touchscreen phone. In fact, photography—especially commercial photography—has become so commonplace that many people don’t realize how far it has truly come.

Commercial photography began as a fine art, and although anyone with a smart phone can call themselves a photographer today, it ultimately remains a refined craft that takes skill, experience, and a talented eye to master. Let’s take a look back at the interesting origins of this cultivated industry.

The first form of photography: the daguerreotype.

The first successful photographic process was developed in 1837 by its namesake, Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre. Daguerreotype photography produces a unique image on a silver copper plate, a process that was confined to the studio.

Photography studios did begin popping up in big cities after the invention of the daguerreotype, but the technology was only accessible to professional photographers and the wealthy, as the process was expensive and burdensome.

In 1851, the more affordable ambrotype replaced daguerreotype photography.

Ambrotype photographs were produced on a glass plate, coated with a special substance, and developed to create a negative image. The negative was then covered in dark varnish or set against a dark background to make it look like a positive.

The ambrotype process was cheaper and more efficient than its daguerreotype predecessor. As a result, photography became more accessible to the middle and working classes and thus poised for wider use in commercial industries.

As demand rose and the commercial value of photography became more apparent, cameras began to be made portable.

When photography became functional outside of the studio, cameras were made increasingly available to the average individual. Then, when the Eastman Kodak Company created film, the technology became even easier to use, leading to the rise of fashion photography.

Edward Steichen took the first serious fashion photographs in 1911, just around the same time Conde Nast purchased a small magazine called Vogue. When Vogue reemerged as a high fashion magazine showcasing professional photographs of models, the commercial photography industry was born.

Digital technology completely transformed the photography industry in 1985.

Digital photography became even more widely available than film, and could be created more quickly and for less money. Plus, digital photos were more easily edited, reproduced, and shared, making commercial photography the most effective way to advertise a business or product.

Because photographic technology was no longer limited to the studio, post-war photographs often depicted real life and ongoing social movements. This shift was reflected in commercial photography by an increasing focus on photo advertising that could connect with the middle class.

Modern technology and marketing techniques have led to the development of many different types of commercial photography.

Contemporary businesses heavily rely on digital advertising, which makes commercial photography invaluable to their success. Carefully staged and manipulated photos are designed to promote a specific brand, product, service, or lifestyle to targeted consumers.

Some of the most prominent subcategories of commercial photography you’ll find today include product photography, food and drink photography, architectural photography, professional headshots, fashion photography, and corporate lifestyle photography.

With over two decades of experience in the field, Neil Boyd Photography is the most qualified studio to meet your commercial photography needs throughout Raleigh, North Carolina and beyond.

Our top-quality equipment, unparalleled attention to detail, and strong passion for photography that speaks to a specific audience, will take your advertising to the next level.

To book our commercial photography services for your business or project, give us a call at 919-374-0141 to schedule your session and discuss your needs!