Toronto corporate photographer

You’ve got the cutest little baby face!

February 16, 2014 No Comments

There was a time when headshots were only for models, actors, politicians and CEOs. For better or worse, those days are long gone. The world is now more photo-orientated than ever before.

If you’re planning to get a new business portrait then get in front of a mirror and practice your best baby face.

According to a study by The Hebrew University of Jerusalem:

Previous studies have shown that viewers can form judgments of trustworthiness after as little as 100 ms exposure to a novel face, and certain facial features evoke feelings of warmth, trust and cooperation while minimizing feelings of threat and competition. People with relatively babyish facial characteristics such as proportionally large eyes, a round chin, and thick pudgy lips are perceived as kinder, warmer, more honest and more trustworthy…

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Public Relations and Publicity Photography

February 13, 2014 No Comments

Celebrities (and wannabe celebrities) depend on this. Politicians depend on this. All professional sports depend on this. The entertainment industry depends on this.

Publicity and public relations photography are exceptional marketing tools because photography is the number one way to get attention. The public loves looking at photography and they trust photography. News editors love free hand-out pictures not only because it’s free content but also because photos can greatly increase readership.

One of today’s catchy(?) buzzwords is “content marketing” but many folks will remember when it was called “public relations”. The Merriam-Webster dictionary says:
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Expert Impression

February 9, 2014 No Comments

I was reading an article offering marketing advice for 2014. The piece included tips and predictions for the upcoming year from 14 “marketing experts.”

Of these 14 people featured in the article, only six seem to have professionally produced business portraits. But only two of these photos are of good quality and only one looks recent.

The majority of these “marketing experts” are represented either by a poorly exposed, poorly focused snapshot of themselves or by a picture of a picture of themselves (which suggests that they don’t even have a headshot).

With such a disregard for their own business image and apparently no knowledge of the marketing value of photography, how much credibility would you extend to these “marketing experts”?

A marketing expert who doesn’t have a professional business headshot is like a plumber who doesn’t own a wrench, a chef who doesn’t have a knife or a photographer who doesn’t have a tripod.

A professional business portrait is the simplest, most common and most effective marketing tool for making a positive first impression, creating trust and building credibility.

More than meets the eye

February 7, 2014

Many photographers charge a minimum fee for their location work. This minimum might range from a couple hundred dollars to much higher, depending on the situation.

Before you scream “Unfair!”, keep in mind that most tradespeople and some other types of businesses also charge minimum fees.

Locksmiths, plumbers, electricians, furnace repair, moving companies, carpet cleaners, etc., all have minimum fees just for showing up at your front door. This minimum often goes up on evenings and weekends. My locksmith charges a minimum $90, my plumber has a $140 minimum. At a newspaper where I once worked, to get a technician to come service the film or print processor cost a minimum $600.

Businesses charge minimum fees to help cover the time and cost of travelling to the customer’s location, setting up equipment (if applicable) and providing at least a minimum amount of service.
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Using Editorial Photography for Marketing

January 31, 2014 No Comments

Here’s a fantastic example of a company using editorial content on its corporate site. Alfred Dunhill, a British company that sells menswear worldwide has a number of very compelling videos on its web site. Some of these videos are related to its products and some seem to have no connection whatsoever.

Does editorial content help sell product?
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Is It Worth The Trouble To Smile?

January 16, 2014 No Comments

Every real estate agent knows that a friendly face on a lawn sign or billboard will attract more attention than anything else, except perhaps a picture of a baby.

Every politician knows that a professional business portrait helps build trust. No matter what scandal a politician may have been involved in, a good portrait will be a positive influence on voters.

The marketing power of a well-done business portrait can benefit anyone.

A business headshot with a smile builds trust, indicates friendliness, confidence and politeness, and suggests that you are smart and competent. It has also been shown that smiling can increase your customers’ satisfaction and can even help you live longer and be happier.

Is it worth the trouble to smile?

Yes it is, especially in front of the photographer who’s making your new business headshot.

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