By Jonathan Young
Standing out from the crowd to connect with an audience is no easy task. Businesses large and small need to employ an arsenal of tools and strategies to forge a strong connection and advantageous relationship. One such strategy is to create a lasting impression and positive brand identity through the power of visual storytelling using photography.
Below, we’ll go over what this strategy entails and how brands can use it to boost engagement and enhance their customer connections.
What does visual storytelling entail?
With so much of today’s world being visually driven, powerful images can be incredibly effective in marketing. Photography especially can weave a story together and convey the desired message in a matter of seconds. When done well, this medium for storytelling helps reach the audience on an emotional, resounding level.
Brands can use this to their advantage by strategically creating a visual narrative. Accomplishing this requires familiarity with the brand’s identity first. A company’s values and mission should be understood to be properly reflected in the images. Otherwise, the message might not be conveyed effectively or could even be misconstrued.
Another key component is to utilize a professional photography service. Expert photographers have a way of drawing out the message from the subject as well as finding the right lighting, framing, and other such elements to make the results as impactful as possible. Whether it’s through a studio or a personal branding photographer trained in storytelling, this route is often integral to achieving a successful finished product. Working with a photographer who isn’t heavy handed with their editing and who has worked within the constraints of established brand standards before is essential for a successful photoshoot.
With these two aspects covered, a company may draw up plans to best capture the message through the lens of photography. The subject matter should be clearly defined and reflect the essence of the brand. Color choices, composition, infographics, and other facets of visual design also need to be carefully considered. While all this may seem overwhelming, the goal is simple: Craft a compelling story to catch the audience’s attention and resonate within them.
Ways visual storytelling can help grow your small business
Once that story resonates, what could it mean for the business? There are many ways such a result could impact a brand.
For starters, it can be used to drive more traffic to the company’s website through social media. Engaging and shareable visuals are the bread and butter of these platforms. Millions of users scroll through them every day with their eyes drawn to such imagery. Algorithms too are more attracted to this content and help spread it even further to amplify brand reach.
Additionally, social media is all about interaction. When the right content comes across their screens, people will want to learn more or become a part of the conversation. Engagement like this could certainly translate into increased traffic and conversion for the site.
Tied in closely with this is attracting new leads. Whether the visitor was introduced through social media or some other means, the more people see the impressive images, the more potential leads are generated. This is one of the most significant benefits visual storytelling has to offer. The key to securing conversions, however, is to give these potential clients a memorable experience once they’ve been intrigued by the visuals. Doing so requires a carefully crafted narrative around the images to compel the audience to remember the brand
With today’s audience, there needs to be a focus on forging a human connection, not simply selling the product or service. Businesses need to recognize the power visual storytelling has and how to best leverage photography in the pursuit of creating memorable impressions. The first step is to employ marketers and other such professionals who can use effective narratives and impactful imagery together to build an emotional connection — only then can brands be placed one step closer to capturing genuine interest, as well as the hearts and minds of the target audience.
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Jonathan Young of Jonathan Young Photography is a Los Angeles-based commercial photographer who creates clean and inviting images of people, food, and products that help to position them at the top of their genres.
