Visually Distinctive Business Photography for London Brands

Business photography in London involves far more than taking captivating and innovative pictures. It also aims to convey a company’s values and secure its brand identity, so that the products or services resonate with the right customers. A memorable brand – one that stands out above the rest – will ultimately bring in more revenue, and business photography can play a big part in this.

Here, Stillview takes a look at some of the techniques we use to achieve a visually distinct photographic style:

Business Photography London  Click here to see examples of Stillview’s corporate photography portfolio.

Cohesive Pictures

Whether it's executive portraits or pack shots, it is important that corporate photographs work well together and are versatile, so they can be used for a variety of situations. In some circumstances, shooting products or portraits from a particular angle can help set a consistent tone, and strengthen brand identity. Cohesive angled shots create a strong visual effect when the images are presented together – either in a brochure, on a wall, or in a product catalogue – and it gives a sense of balance and professionalism.

Use of Colour

Colours from corporate logos can be subtly woven into photographs, either through clothing, props or even solid backgrounds and this helps images fit seamlessly into corporate literature. Using a limited colour palette also makes a strong visual statement and helps to subconsciously bind together a set of images, even if location and subject matter is very different. Colour matching doesn’t always have to be achieved at source as it can be aided by post-manipulation software.

Use of Focus

Altering the focus of various objects, such as a product in the foreground or in the picture’s background, can produce vastly different effects. Even if the camera is pointing at exactly the same thing – using the same lighting and the same angle – changing the focus can stimulate different thoughts and feelings. Soft focus, for example, gives pictures an emotionally softer feel while sharp focus is often more visually impacting. And, depending on the context of the shot, photos can have a mixture of the two, helping to guide the viewer's attention where it is wanted.

Using Iconic Styles

Some photographic styles are now part of people's "visual grammar"; for example, the Nike movement shots or David Bailey’s masterpieces, where he captures the personality of a famous name in a visually striking way. Distinctive shots that reflect a brand’s identity will evoke emotionally strong feelings that customers will relate to – now and in the future. Alternatively, changing the style when people least expect it or giving a product a new slant creates a feeling of difference, quirkiness and interest. Business photography is a combination of a photographer’s professional judgement and expertise, together with the meeting the brief from the London client.

Attention to Detail

The human eye and brain can subconsciously pick up on tiny details within an image, and make connections that generate strong feelings towards a particular product or service. Tiny aspects of a model's clothing, their appearance or expression, the objects in the background or foreground, or even reflections (in water, mirrors, wet pavements or shop windows) all impact on the total viewer experience. In turn, these feelings are subconsciously projected onto your brand or product (Nike pictures, for example, provoke a feeling of strength and endurance). Experienced commercial photographers will see these aspects as part of the composition and ensure that the images they produce are consistently conveying the desired brand values.

Less is Sometimes More

Creative and artistic shots all add to the viewer experience, but for some products, less is more. In some cases, unusual angles, distracting backgrounds and coloured lighting can detract from the product itself, weakening the brand. Where such features are required by a client, this needs to be planned and executed consistently so people can identify with the brand.


How Stillview Can Contribute to Your Brand Identity

Stillview can contribute to brand identity in two key ways: we can work with a client to develop a style that is used across the board, from business portraits to product photography; we can also work with a branding agency as part of a wider branding development, combining photographic style with other elements, such as colour schemes, brand values and graphical layout.

With our lengthy experience of working in the commercial field, we can quickly tune in to what a client wants and the style of images that can be used to enhance a particular brand. And, where a client wants guidance, we can also provide that too by taking test shots and setting a direction for client approval.

Stillview – Contact us today to find out how our approach to business photography can help your London or UK brand more visually distinctive. 

Here are other related articles on our blog:

Photography London – How We Make Your Business Stand Out
Give Your London Business an Instant Revamp with Some Fresh Photography
The Secrets of Creative Commercial Photography

Stimulating the Senses with Product Photography Our Approach to Photographing Food

Product photography plays a major role in marketing, and a number of our commissions have involved photographing food. In London alone, there are well over 5,500 restaurants, not to mention bars, pubs, hotels, cafes and takeaways offering delights from all over the globe. With so many eateries competing against one another and with new businesses emerging all the time, tempting and innovative product photography goes a long way to helping to entice diners into a London establishment.

Consumers are exposed to pictures of food on a daily basis – on menus, posters, leaflets, brochures, and online. Commercial food photography is not just restricted to beautifully prepared restaurant meals, it springs up in all sorts of places from cookery books and blogs to packaging and shop advertising. Appealing snaps of fresh vegetables, meat, baked bread, delicious cakes and scrumptious cooked dishes go a long way to attracting hungry customers and we have 30 years experience in this field.

Food photography is a fairly complex art that involves many different aspects including composition, presentation, lighting, texture, and getting the correct angle. The key to product photography in London and elsewhere in the UK, is in the detail – the way the light shines, a spritz of water on a fresh vegetable, or a loaf of granary bread set against a textured, rustic background  – can all make the difference to whether a consumer decides to part with their money or not. Here, Stillview takes a brief look at just some of the key things we take into consideration when photographing food. 

Product Photography London – Click here to take a look at colourful examples from Stillview's food and drink portfolio.

Presentation and composition – A major influence on whether or not we buy a product is the way it is presented. As food photographers, we look to display the food in context and to think about what sort of market it will attract. An upmarket sushi restaurant, for example, is aimed at the sophisticated dinner, and sushi and minimalism goes hand in hand. So, with this in mind, one way to present a dish is to line up a few pieces of sushi on a contrasting, Eastern inspired plate, place matching chopsticks by the side and add a creative, decorative garnish to bring out the colour of the ingredients. This approach not only shows the food itself, but suggests a complete dining experience.

Food photography should fuel the imagination. With cakes or biscuits, again, it is important to think about the market they need to attract. Cakes or biscuits that are brightly coloured or decorated are generally aimed at children and could be piled high and haphazardly on a plate with a few sweets placed alongside. Cakes aimed at the older, adult market, could be presented on an attractive cake stand, or served on a polished silver tea tray.

In our approach to photography, we also think about how to bring out the flavours in the food to make a picture even more alluring. With a strawberry cake, for instance, a few strawberries by the side is an appealing addition; for a lemon cake, a few slices of lemon can make all the difference.  All sorts of props can be used to show the food in its best light including cutlery and crockery, furniture, garnishes, herbs, spices, condiments, fruit and vegetables. In photography, only the imagination is the limit!

With food, the composition doesn’t have to be absolutely perfect. For instance, it may be that during the course of a shoot, one or two cake crumbs fall on to the plate. Instead of brushing them off, crumbs that appear in the picture may make a positive difference to the finished result.

When we are approaching a food shot for a menu or brochure, we also take into account the description of the product: in other words, the food should be presented in a similar way to how the customer would receive it. If a customer gets three pieces of salmon on a plate for a starter, for example, it is important not to mislead them by adding more as they will expect to receive what they see on the menu. 

Texture and background – Just as above when we have talked about putting food in context, texture can play a big part in this. A country stew may be placed on a rustic wooden table, and a home cooked cake could be served on a doily or plate that stands on a pretty lace tablecloth. This all adds to the composition and fuels the taste buds as it serves to stimulate four of the five senses – sight, taste, touch and smell.

The background is just as important in a food or drink picture and again, it should be very much part of the overall context. An example of this is our picture of the Lemon Refresher drink. It shows drink on a table with cricketers in the background, which demonstrates that the product makes a refreshing break on a summer’s day. On the other hand, the company’s Spiced Ginger drink is set against the background of a cosy fire and evokes thoughts of drinking it indoors on a relaxing, but chilly evening. Food is a play on the senses and both these pictures stimulate all five senses as you can also imagine the loud ‘pop’ of the ball hitting the bat or the comforting noise of the fire crackling in the hearth.

Angle, focus and lighting – Photographing food is not just about taking a picture from eye height before moving onto the next shot: food can be taken from various angles. While some shots look best from a low angle and close up, others look better photographed directly above, or from the side. We are able to experiment with a range of angles and presentations to achieve exactly the result our clients are looking for.

In the same way, it is important to be creative and imaginative with the lens and to not always show the whole shot in sharp focus. It may be that a picture is improved further if one object stands out more than another – such as a plate of biscuits with the one in the foreground in sharp focus and the remainder in soft focus. Or, it could be that a dish and accompanying drink is best presented against a blurred background.

Lighting is another major consideration, although we will only briefly touch on it here. A top trick is to make the most of natural light, as and where we can, and to avoid using a flash at all costs as this will only make the food look flat.

For high quality product photography and food photography, contact the experts at Stillview. Just click on the link to find out more about Stillview and to see our commercial portfolio.

Commercial Photography for London Creative Agencies

Commercial photography for agencies in London brings special demands, because the capital is the UK's recognised centre of creative media. In this fast-moving environment, it is essential to be up to the minute and provide exciting images to stop customers in their tracks and seize their attention.

Stillview has a track record of producing creative business photography for many London PR and advertising companies, who need constant access to innovative and creative visuals to represent their clients and their brands. We understand what London's creative industry is looking for.

Stillview Photography  – click here to take a look at our portfolio.

Wide Portfolio of Commercial Photography
When looking for someone to provide commercial or advertising photography, an agency will be seeking a professional with a wide portfolio. It's important that all types of image are provided, so that when a creative agency comes up with a concept, they know their chosen photographer will be able to provide exactly what is wanted.

The ideal is to find someone who can take on any type of photography or combination of shots, from vehicle photography to product photography including pack shots, as well as pictures of people at work, landscapes, portraits, room sets and compositing.

Digital Manipulation
Sometimes taking a great photograph is only part of the job of creating a striking image. Especially for high-concept images, agencies need a commercial photographer who can also carry out post-processing and manipulation. Finding someone who is expert in both these areas makes for a faster turnaround, helping the agency to meet tight deadlines, as well as giving a tighter hold on the creative process.

Photographers will often have cIear ideas about exactly how the picture they have taken can be adapted to fit the agency's brief. For instance, blurring the background in a photograph of a machine or vehicle in action could help to give an impression of speed and power. By contrast, where a photograph has to be farmed out to a third party for processing, there could potentially be a risk of communication issues affecting the final result.

Responsive and Fast
Once an agency has come up with a great idea, it wants to see it turned into reality as soon as possible, getting it off the drawing board and into production. Digital photography and software have made this possible, meaning that shots can be viewed instantly and transmitted to clients without any unnecessary delay.

Tight timescales are the norm when commercial photography is needed for London creative work, so it is essential to find a business photographer who understands that and is used to working to deadline. However, getting the picture on time is only part of the story, since it is even more important to get it right. Someone with long experience of a wide variety of assignments will have the ability to tune into what a client wants – and showcase it in an image which says everything that is required.

Own Studio
The bottom line is an important consideration for all creative agencies, which aim to stick to budgets when organising a project. It helps to keep down their costs if a freelance commercial photographer does not have to hire a studio separately, but can provide their own premises to carry out studio photography.

Having the photographer's own studio available helps with turnaround time, because all necessary equipment will be easily to hand. It will be easy to create the right lighting for anything from business portraits to room shots. Using the same studio regularly also boosts creativity, as photographers will be working in a setting where they have experience of creating a wide range of effects in previous jobs and know exactly what can be achieved.

Flexible
Forward-thinking creative agencies may have a variety of different shots in mind which they want to try out, and show to their clients, before deciding which one is best for their needs. This makes it important to find a flexible photographer, who is available to carry out work ranging from studio photography to assignments on location, as required.

In Easy Reach of London
To provide commercial photography to London agencies, these days it isn't necessary to be physically based in the capital. Modern technology such as broadband means that briefs and final images can all be transmitted instantly.

However, it helps to be within reach for photo shoots. In practice, an out-of-town location, such as Stillview's base in Ipswich, is often easier to get to than travelling into London from outside or making journeys right across the city.

About Stillview
Based in Ipswich, professional photographers Stillview have wide experience of serving creative agencies in London, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, East Anglia and further afield. We are experts at both studio and location photography and can work with you on innovative projects of all kinds.

Business Photography London – Click here to contact us and find out more about our services.

Photography London – How We Make Your Business Photographs Stand Out

Commercial photography doesn’t have to be boring; in fact, this couldn’t be further from the truth. On the contrary, business photography is designed to be an exciting, visual portrayal of your London or UK company.

Gone are the days when a static picture of a shop front in broad daylight or staff lined up in rows are acceptable photographs for your business brochure. Instead, it is vital you choose a business photographer who thinks outside the box and produces photos that are forward-thinking, dynamic and innovative. With the right photography, your London business brochure and promotional material will stand out from the rest and help create a positive image for your company well into the future.

Business photos should capture the eye and provide customers with information about your services. For instance, if you have a busy transport company that distributes worldwide you need to portray this in your brochure pictures. One staff photo in front of a single truck may demonstrate a company people can trust in, but it won’t do much for your brand. If your company is reliable, delivers on the time and globally – even at short notice – this is the message you want to get across.

Getting the right business photographs involves a multitude of different aspects, such as lighting, colour, angles, focus, positioning, and perspective – as well as a good helping of creativity. Whether you have a transport company, a shop, factory or an office based establishment, here are five simple tips to make your business photograph stand out:

Photography London – Click here to see a sample of our portfolio for commercial photography carried out at our studio and on location.

Gain Perspective – Images are often taken at eye level and sometimes there is a need for business photographs of this type. However, you can get some amazing brochure shots by getting low to the ground, capturing a picture from way up high, or even close up. Take a busy town centre – it is all too easy to take an ordinary snapshot of the high street, but what about focusing on the footfall down low, or shooting an image from a top floor of a department store? This will also show a bustling, vibrant town but in a far more innovative way.

Flatter with Lighting – Whether you require land, sea, cityscape or portrait photography for your London business, lighting is key. While the right lighting can flatter and compliment , the wrong choice can show up flaws and won’t look good in a business brochure. Lighting can also be used to produce more dramatic business photographs. In portrait images, for instance, a slow synch flash creates interest as it keeps the subject matter in focus but blurs the background. Alternatively, creating a silhouette of your subject is distinctive image for the right type of business.

Add Colour for Drama – Colour can also be used to make your business photograph stand out. An ordinary shop front can be brought to life when it is photographed when the light fades, rather than during the day. One example of this is the photograph we took of Glasswells furniture store in Ipswich. Our brief was to create a memorable picture for the company’s promotional material. By photographing the shop in the evening, with all its interior lights on, this created a striking image that the company has used countless times in print and on their website.

Keep on the Move – Capturing movement in a photograph can portray a dynamic company that is constantly striving to be ahead of the competition. One example in our portfolio is a photograph we took for grain merchants Nidera. We used a picture of a parked truck and adapted this digitally, creating the illusion of speed, and the resulting photograph showed an image of strength and power against a countryside background. Using creative shutter speed also produces a variety of stunning results, such as capturing movement or creating ghostly effects.  

Show Interaction – People are automatically drawn to images of other people and with the right vision, portrait shots can be incredibly inspiring. Pictures that show interaction between people can portray far more in a single image than reams of text can do. Just one photograph featuring your service in action shows the reader who you are, what your company does, and what you stand for. In essence, it is a company mission statement without words. 

About Stillview

Ipswich based commercial photographers Stillview have 30 years’ experience of business photography in London, East Anglia and South East England. We provide a wide range of creative photography in our studio or on location for advertising campaigns, websites and other promotional material.

Commercial Photographers London – Click here to see examples of our commercial photography in London, East Anglia and South East England.