Industrial photographer – why use one?
Companies hire a professional industrial photographer or manufacturing photographer to have top quality images. Most noteworthy because almost always they need to show very ordinary looking ‘things’ in the best possible and aesthetically appealing way. For instance things that do not look sexy whatsoever. Strong industrial photography accomplishes that and guarantees brand differentiation and unique positioning for products and services.
To some, the role of a commercial industrial photographer, manufacturing photographer or product photographer may not seem as glamorous or exciting as that of a fashion photographer. However, industrial photography is just as interesting, important and rewarding. Corporations wish to promote their brand in an appealing and “sexy” way. Striking and brand authentic industrial photography makes that possible.
While most of the commercial industrial photography serves a functional role, it still possess its own aesthetic charm. A seasoned industrial photographer can powerfully display manufacturing and distribution facilities and all they represent. And that sometimes includes photos of the company’s people, its employees and executives.
Marketing with powerful manufacturing photography
When used for advertisements, annual report, website and other marketing communications, a commercial manufacturing photographer must leave a memorable and effective impact. In other words, companies in all industries and manufacturers alike move in a very loud and increasingly complex world. In addition, the marketing space is a very crowded one. For industrial photography to stand out requires sensibilities, extra effort, enthusiasm and lots of creativity. Attributes which a professional industrial photographer contributes for the benefit of a corporation. After all, not everyone is able to recognize and enjoy a blue ocean strategy. When a company is swimming in a red ocean, outstanding, top notch commercial industrial photography is essential to differentiate a brand.
Therefore, industrial photography, or manufacturing photography must uniquely showcase client’s products and services. Furthermore, some clients may want to use the photos also as wall art and wall decor for the interior design of their office walls. After all, it is the space one spends a considerable amount of time within. And tastefully created industrial photography can decorate the walls of an office quite nicely. In addition, it can communicate a brand’s mission rather effectively in a visual sense. Another benefit of working with a good industrial photographer, they are artists!
Industrial photography for brand differentiation
Strong industrial photography drives a company’s online presence. Similarly, videos or multimedia pieces are instrumental vehicles for businesses to thrive in our social media-driven society. Above all, a picture tells a whole story, the better the picture, certainly the stronger the story.
As a commercial industrial photographer, my clients task me to give an edge and life to their company’s message. Most noteworthy, dynamic and aesthetically pleasing photos of products, equipment and processes are a brand’s strong differentiators. Above all they set a company apart from its competitors and effectively propel a business to success. It is simple, if my clients succeed, I succeed.
Product photography influenced by Nature
My innate fascination with nature greatly influences how I photograph the industrial and corporate man-made world. The spaces and elements it holds, the flow and dynamics of processes and people who work and move within the space.
In addition, my professional experience I gathered over two decades in the specialty steel industry helps. Having been employed by a large German based industrial conglomerate gave me valuable insights into the corporate structure and dynamics. It furthermore allowed me extensive access into a multitude of production and manufacturing processes.
In other words, as an industrial photographer or manufacturing photographer, thanks to these experiences, my understanding of industrial processes in vastly enhanced.
It is all about aesthetics – no matter what
Consequently, for me, the artful and aesthetic interpretation of industrial products and processes is key. Industrial settings receive my identical attention to detail as my other photographic disciplines. In other words, I apply the same high photographic standards to my commercial manufacturing photography as you can see in my architecture, interior, drone and fine art photography.
Over the years I have worked with a broad range of manufacturers, distributors and fabricators. Materials included the production and / or distribution of plastics, steel, specialty steels and aluminum as well as a range of other materials. They featured machinery, chemicals, electronics, furniture, pharmaceuticals and anti cancer drugs. Furthermore I have worked with transportation, logistics and service companies… and no matter what industry, all benefit from my perception and expression of the flow and convergence of form, aesthetic design, color as well as light. Most importantly and above all though, the energy that is expressed in a photographic composition.
My clients have described my style as bold, symmetrical and colorful and profit from my vision. I solve their brand’s visual representation challenges. Contact me to become one of them.
Uses of my Industrial photography
for trade shows, advertising, promotions and corporate wall decor
The above show examples of my industrial product photography
and show how some of my clients have utilized my commercial photography. Strong product photography as well as industrial photography effectively communicate the corporate vision. The power of a good picture cannot be underestimated. And conversely, it cannot be emphasized enough. My portfolios may give you a glimpse of that power.
We’ve all heard the cliché, “a picture tells a thousand words”, but there is real value in using images to promote mission or marketing related content. Images help us learn and educate, images grab attention, images explain tough concepts, and they inspire.
Why do we love images so much?
We are very visual creatures. A large percentage of the human brain dedicates itself to visual processing. Our love of images lies with our cognition and ability to pay attention. Images are able to grab our attention easily, we are immediately drawn to them. Reflect on this page, for example: did you look at the words first, or the image?
We process images at an alarming speed. When we see a picture, we analyze it within a very short snippet of time, knowing the meaning and scenario within it immediately. The human brain is able to recognize a familiar object within 100 milliseconds. People tend to recognize familiar faces within 380 milliseconds, which is rather speedy.
Bright colors capture our attention because our brains are wired to react to them. Regardless what products or services we are dealing with. Our vision senses are by far our most active of the senses. This may be thanks to our evolution. Quick processing of visual information would have saved our ancestors from the attack of a predator or during a hunt for food. A gatherer would need to be able to identify certain shades of red berries during their forage. These primitive behaviors come into play even now in our everyday lives. This is often a fact that advertisers use to their advantage and companies capitalize on.
Industrial photography on social media
A post on social media accompanied by an image is 10 times more likely to receive engagement. Analysts are predicting Instagram will account for a third of all social media users by 2021 and beyond. As a society, we have become increasingly captivated by the allure of moments captured on camera. Brands are now following this model when it comes marketing messaging. A visual narrative has become just as important as a written one.
It has been suggested that visuals increase user engagement – in some reports, by as much as 94%. Research into the power of images in marketing collateral revealed that the majority of consumers expect marketing messages to include photos or images. It went on to find that a staggering majority would not buy from a brand if they could not see a product in its entirety. From these collective studies, it would appear the use of images in marketing collateral is imperative to any campaign. Not only to increase the likelihood of customers making a purchase, but also to encourage their initial engagement with a brand.
Needless to say then that as an artist and commercial product photographer I get excited when I see my photos on a client website. Or depicted in a brochure, advertisement or annual report. I gratefully wish that my vision as an industrial photographer contributes to the success of a company’s mission.