MARKETING MATTERS
Construction phone photography crash course .
MONICA PITTS
I f you have the fancy photo gear and know how to use it , then I ’ m not suggesting you throw it away . But if all you have is a phone , you have what you need to start . Many phones take great photos – especially if the photo is destined for online or small printed materials . For online photos the usual phone settings are just fine . For photos you plan to include in both print and web turn on your HDR setting if you ’ re using an iPhone , for other phone types the settings will vary so ask Google or your kids for help ( I ’ m always doing this kind of thing for my mother-in-law ).
Here are a few tips to show off your quality work .
1 . Take at least 5 … maybe 10 .
Don ’ t just stop at one , take a couple . Even if the first one seems right , it may not be when you blow it up to full size . Take your photos from multiple angles and do a few from each angle so you can pick the best of the best to highlight your quality work .
2 . Take photos from far away .
More picture is better than less picture . Don ’ t try to perfectly crop your photo while you ’ re taking it , especially if you plan to use it in your marketing . You never know if you ’ ll need more space around the photo to fill in a rectangle . You can always crop later , even on your phone !
3 . Watch the shadows .
Overcast days are your friend because bright light creates shadows . If photos taken on overcast days seem too grey , you can always bump up the color later by editing the photo in your phone if you need to “ green up ” the landscaping .
If you can ’ t wait for an overcast day to shoot pictures , take stock of your surroundings . Note the direction the building is facing and when the shadows from trees are the longest because they may darken your work area . Early morning and dusk are often great photo times because the light isn ’ t as harsh . If you ’ re not sure of the right time to take your photos , take a couple test shots during multiple times of the day .
4 . Use burst mode for action shots .
When people are working in your photos try using burst mode , it takes multiple photos rapid fire so you can get each movement and choose the photo where your subject looks clearest and most natural .
5 . Shoot mostly horizontal images .
Most photo gallery AND slideshow images on websites are horizontal or landscape . Throwing in a vertical image every now and again can seem out of place . Consistency is the key to a professional look for marketing . And you can always crop a horizontal image vertically , or portrait , later . Slideshow images on website homepages and across the header can be super narrow . It ’ s tough to get much in a three inch tall by 20 inch wide photo . Use the panoramic settings on your phone if you want more details in each photo . Panoramic settings do distort photos a bit but in many cases it ’ s better than just getting a slice of a normal horizontal image .
11 . Learn how to focus on your phone .
On an iPhone you can tap the screen where you want to focus your photo . This helps to add depth to the photo and make sure you ’ re not focusing on that dumpster you couldn ’ t move . Taking multiple photos will also ensure you have at least one shot where the right thing is in focus !
12 . Clean your lens .
Taking photos with a dirty lens is like driving while wearing dirty glasses . Not ideal . It ’ s not always easy to tell if your phone camera lens is clean , especially when you ’ re in bright light where everything can look a bit washed out and hazy . Use a lens cleaner or a clean soft cotton cloth to wipe the smudges and yuck off your lens before you begin .
Use these tips to take great photos before , during and after your projects .
The end of a project , after everything is all finished , feels like the perfect time to snap a photo . But sometimes even the coolest project can look like no big deal once the work is done because the best work feels like it ’ s always been there . Show prospects the before , during and after views of your projects so they can get the full awe effect of what you ’ ve accomplished . www . callape . com [ 22 ] 1.800.210.5923