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Author: Leandra Weber

10 tips to prepare for a business photo shoot
26 January 2023

10 tips to prepare for a business photo shoot

A business photo shoot is all about underlining your brand with the pictures and highlighting its qualities. It doesn't matter whether it's a business photo shoot for start-ups, established companies or retailers. The images convey the brand message. To make the business photo shoot a success, my clients can prepare for the big day with these 10 tips.

1. the meaning and purpose of the images

Even before you go to the photographer for a first meeting, it should be clear what purpose the pictures will serve. This gives me as a photographer an idea of the necessary equipment, style and possible locations. The earlier the purpose of the pictures is communicated, the better.

2. be careful when choosing a location!

The location has an enormous influence on the effect of the pictures. The location should be explicitly planned. Ideally, it should underline the style of the picture. The more professional the pictures are to appear, the more clearly structured the background must be. Since the people are in the foreground in a business shooting, it is helpful to choose a setting that is rather neutral and, depending on the industry, also modern. For clean business portraits, for example, this could be light sandstone walls or modern buildings with lots of glass. If it is a gardening business, however, this is inappropriate. Therefore: the location should always be chosen in harmony with the identity of the company.

3. what should I wear?

In the case of a business shoot, this will exceptionally be a question not only primarily asked by the women. In any case, it is important that the models feel comfortable in their clothes. If the choice of clothes is particularly difficult, the general recommendation is: wear what you would wear to a meeting with an important client. Of course, you should dress up, but no more than you would on an office day. Also to keep in mind: Ironed clothes also look better at the shoot.

4. make-up - what is there to consider?

Especially for a business shoot, the make-up should be as natural as possible, but also professional. Too much make-up can give the wrong impression if the picture is supposed to express a certain seriousness. Here, too, the rule applies: it is best to wear make-up that you would normally wear to the office. It is best to take a small bag with the most important make-up equipment with you to the shoot so that you can apply make-up at any time. It is also advisable to always have a powder with you to avoid shiny spots on your face. If you want to be on the safe side when it comes to make-up and styling, we are happy to recommend make-up artists who specialise in professional business make-up.

5. be careful with the glasses

People who wear glasses should decide before the shoot whether they will be photographed with or without them. If you change your mind during the shoot, unsightly marks from your glasses on your temples or nose can disrupt the harmony of a portrait photo. Also make sure that your lenses, if you want to wear glasses, are well anti-reflective.

6. what is actually wrong with the hairstyle?

For a business photo shoot, hair is best worn freshly washed and lightly styled. This applies to both men and women. Overly elaborate hairstyles quickly look contrived and contradict the authentic impression that is to be communicated. If you dye your hair regularly, it is best to do it three days before the shoot so that you have enough time to get used to the new hairstyle. The same applies to a new cut.

7. for the gentlemen...

Suit wrinkles can be seen in every picture. These are not impossible, but they are very difficult to retouch. Especially with indoor lighting, places where the suit doesn't fit so well come to the fore. By the way, the same applies to suits that are too small - tight areas are just as noticeable as areas that are too wrinkled. Just make sure that the suit fits well. The best way to do this is to try it on a week in advance so that you can remedy any problems.

8. help, the skin!

If skin blemishes appear out of nowhere on the day of the shoot, my clients don't have to worry about it. An old tip says that in the days leading up to the shoot, it's best not to come within a metre of a mirror. Redness is easy to cover up, but scratched areas are not. Any irregularities are simply blotted out.

9 Practice makes perfect

If you are unsure about how to behave at the shoot, you can easily practise different poses in front of the mirror at home. Each of us knows our own face best and knows which side is the chocolate side. Observe yourself in different body positions with different facial expressions in front of the mirror and apply this knowledge at the shoot. In addition, it is of course part of my job as a photographer to give you the best possible tips and instructions on posing during the shoot.

10. have fun at the business photo shoot!

A business photo shoot stands and falls with the mindset. Prepare yourself mentally for a great shoot, I'll take care of everything else. It's the photographer's job to create a relaxed and natural mood and then capture the best moments in between. Nervous? Then just take a deep breath. From my experience with many clients over the last 8 years, in most cases it only takes a few minutes to warm up and then the tension falls away completely.

Are you still looking for a photographer for expressive business portraits for your website, team photos or portfolio? Let us make you a personal offer.

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How a photo shoot works
24 January 2023

Photo shoot procedure

The idea that most of us have of a photo shoot is mainly influenced by TV shows and Instagram. The process of a photo shoot seems quite clear to most people who are not photographers themselves. Meeting, shooting, sleeping twice and then the pictures are ready for further use. Social media & co often report one-sidedly from the perspective of the models. For the photographer, however, the work is far from over after the shoot. From the first meeting to the final product, there is a lot more behind it. Everything that the photographer reworks and adjusts in the background is, of course, also working time that has to be paid for by the client. This raises the question for many clients: How does a photo shoot actually work and what actually happens behind the scenes?

Preparation of a photo shoot

Before we can even prepare an offer, we have to find out what kind of service is actually required. This happens during a consultation on the phone. In addition, this first conversation serves to build trust, the most important basis for a successful photo shoot. During this first meeting, the customer can be prepared for the following points to be discussed in detail. The conversation lasts between 10 and 20 minutes, depending on the wishes and ideas of the customer. 

What industry is the client in and what purpose should the images serve? Business website, marketing, social media or sedcard? This gives us an indication of the style of the photos and how much effort the shoot will involve.

Does the client already have shooting experience and how does he or she imagine a photo shoot? Some situations make people uncomfortable in front of the camera. In order to make the shooting as pleasant as possible, the client's wishes and ideas as well as the photographer's possibilities are openly discussed. 

In the course of the conversation, it then becomes clear whether the client's ideas and the photographer's possibilities can be reconciled. So it is all the more important to communicate clearly. This is about finding out whether I am the right service provider and can help the customer with his or her request.

When everything is right between photographer and client, a plan for the shoot is drawn up. This means that we start planning the locations, dates, choice of clothes and, if necessary, make-up. This is also where we decide on the style of the shoot. Ideally, the image style and location should be well coordinated to get the best out of the shoot.

The Shooting Day

A social media branding shoot lasts between 1.5 and 3 hours.

During this time, around 500-1200 pictures are taken in raw format, which have to be sorted after the shoot. A lot of pictures are deliberately taken in order to have as large a selection as possible later on. This raw material offers the photographer the best and most versatile options in terms of colour choice and image style when editing later. 

Raw material is a term for the raw files of a photograph. A RAW file is a collection of data that contains all the uncompressed data from the camera's sensor. This is why RAW files occupy a particularly large amount of storage space, but provide the photographer with a large amount of image data. In short, these photos not only contain all the camera's settings, but also the maximum amount of image information and then have to be processed further.

The photographer makes a potential pre-selection here after the photo shoot in order to provide the client with the most versatile range possible.

Adobe Bridge is used to select the images. The programme is wonderfully suited for this because the selection made can be exported directly to Lightroom and processed there. Selecting the images takes between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours.

Colour editing of the images after the photo shoot

After the selection of images has been approved by the client, the colour processing takes place in Lightroom. All selected images that come into question are cut in Lightroom and given a basic colour. In addition, the image is sharpened and light and shadow are optimally adjusted. Depending on how many different camera settings were used during the shoot, this process can take quite some time. Since different lighting conditions often prevail in the various settings and different camera settings are used, the colour settings cannot always simply be copied, but must be individually adjusted for each image.

We determine the colour for each camera setting here at 80 % and also crop the images if necessary in order to provide the customer with as accurate a preview as possible of the final result during the pre-selection. Finer adjustments are made later in the final processing with Photoshop. Depending on the number of images, this takes between 1 and 2 hours. If we had to deal with particularly different lighting conditions during the shoot, this step can also take longer, but present more versatile results.

Final selection of images

In order for the customer to make their final selection from the colour-matched images, they are uploaded to an online gallery. Depending on the shooting package booked, the client receives a selection of between 100 and 300 images. Again, depending on the agreement, a certain amount of photos will be selected for the last, final editing step.

Editing the final selection in Adobe Photoshop

Last but not least, the final selection is given the necessary finishing touches in Photoshop. Any questionable deviations are corrected here, the light made softer or harder and the model's skin retouched accordingly, depending on the client's wishes. In this step, the appearance of the picture is perfectly adjusted to the desired purpose. The general time required for the photographer here is between 5 and 15 minutes per picture.

Is the next project already around the corner? The pictures on the website are getting old or the sedcard needs new material? Then take a look at our shooting offers and contact us for a personal consultation. We not only take photos for companies, start-ups and private individuals throughout Germany, but also in Spain and Italy on certain dates.

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Rights of use of photos
20 January 2023

Rights of use of photos from the photographer

Choosing the right photographer alone is no child's play - until the shooting is planned and you finally hold the pictures in your hands, it often takes a lot of nerves, despite all the fun. The same applies to the photographer - it takes quite some time until the preliminary discussion is over, the offer is written and the pictures are finally with the client. If the whereabouts of the rights of use have not been clarified in advance, the interaction between the two parties is far from over even after the end of the shoot - and unfortunately often not in a good sense. Who actually owns the rights to use the photographer's photos and how can both parties continue to use them?

Rights of use of photos must be regulated precisely

Many photographers will be familiar with the following statement: "I thought I could do what I want with the pictures, after all I paid for them!". That is, technically speaking, not quite right. What the client has paid for is the shooting, the photographer's professional equipment and the skilful post-processing of the pictures. The rights of use of the photos, on the other hand, are a completely different matter. 

There is a typical scenario for this: after an incredibly great shoot, the photographer delivers the finished edited images to the client, who enthusiastically includes them in their portfolio. If it is the portfolio of a professional model, perhaps after a few years these very images will be used for a höThe photographer can now demand money for the further use of these images. For this, the photographer can now, if not precisely agreed beforehand, demand money for a further, non-agreed use of these images.

Now goöIt is not necessarily good manners to make demands afterwards, but when large sums of money are involved, they are certainly justified. How do you avoid conflict? Quite simple: with clear agreements through contractual precautions. 

The difference between right of use and copyright

The Copyright Act regulates the rights of use of images. In the boring legal jargon of Section 31 (1) UrhG, it sounds as follows: "The author may grant another person the right to use the work in individual or all ways. The right of use may be granted as a simple or exclusive right as well as limited in space, time or content." In plain language, this means that the author owns all rights to the work and, unless otherwise agreed, it remains so.

The essential difference between copyright and right of use is that the former cannot be transferred at all! The photographer will remain the creator of the images for life - and it is also up to him to determine their use. Without a precise agreement on the rights of use, these therefore remain for the most part with the photographer. This means that the images may only be used by the client for private use. Private use is not a term that is to be understood in an overly generous manner, as it already ends with the uploading of the photos to one's own website. It is up to the author alone to decide how, where and also when the images may be used.

Dealing with rights of use of photos as a photographer 

The photographer must, quite clearly, charge for the rights to use the photos in addition to the fee. There are two ways to do thisöThere are two options: On the one hand, the rights of use for social media or other publications such as magazines, for example, are calculated into the offer according to the client's needs, or they are then invoiced separately. As a tip from me: It works better if the terms of use are contractually agreed from the beginning. If these are already included in the offer and can be clearly separated from the fee, all the better!

In any case, it should be specified in writing what the rights of use include and the following offer should be calculated accordingly. If, for example, it is a local company that will also use the images for a website, you are welcome to make an offer with a höThe MfM list of fees for advertising photography can be consulted for the most common fees. In the case of commercial photography, the common usage fees can be looked up in the MfM list.

Dealing with rights of use of photos as a customer

In any case, the customer should find out exactly what the agreement on the rights of use for the images contains. During the first meeting, whether on the phone or directly in the photo studio, simply ask without obligation. It pays to communicate openly with the photographer and explain exactly what the pictures are supposed to be used for. And even if you want to use the same photographs again for something completely different years later - asking doesn't cost anything, but infringing rights of use does.

Total buy-out as Lösung

A finalend LöThe most common solution to the dispute over usage rights is the so-called total buy-out, in which the client buys all rights from the photographer in terms of time, content and space. The advantages are obvious - but this option is not only incredibly expensive, it is also rarely approved by the photographer. That is why the professional photography industry today tends to rely on contracts that define the exact rights of use of photos.

Most important factors for a functioning contract

So that both parties can start the shoot in a relaxed wayöIf the photos can be published without any friction, they can be used as a reference.öThe most important points can be recorded in such a contract. In such a contract, the number of photos and the type of delivery, i.e. analogue or digital, should be recorded. In our case, the delivery is usually digital. Then the right of use is defined precisely with the questions where, who and for how long. Where may the pictures be used?öbe published? Who is allowed to publishöpublic? To what period does this agreement refer? If it is specifically about a publication, this can also be explicitly mentioned.

No matter where the pictures may end up in the end - there's nothing like open communication before, during and after the shoot.

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Personal branding
20 January 2023

Investing in professional branding photography is an important step in marketing your business and brand to your target audience. When handled professionally and correctly, personal branding can be very beneficial. Here are the reasons why!

The importance of personal branding and the use of professional images

In the highly competitive business world of the 21st century, the way you present yourself matters more than ever before. One of the most important and effective ways to present your business is through professional personal branding, because first impressions count. And that is exactly what a carefully built personal brand means for your business. It is an important first impression when visitors come across your website or social media pages. Visitors can immediately get an idea of who you are as a brand and what they can expect from your company.

Personal branding: the power of idle potential

Most people want to improve their business prospects and therefore aim at telling their story better. It's easy for us to see our business as a brand, but personal branding seems kind of strange. That's why it's easier to worry about how good our company's logo looks or the way the colour scheme and fonts on our website appear, but not our personal brand photography. Why is that? As far as I know, people are still the most important part of any business, right?

We live in a time when, thanks to the internet, everything - good and bad - stays with us forever. Type your name into Google and see how you are represented around the world. Do you like what you see? Does the image tell your story the way you want it to be told? Personal branding has become increasingly important in recent years and yet there is still a lot of untapped potential here.

What exactly is personal branding?

Personal branding is about how you present yourself to those around you, highlighting the aspects that make you distinctive. It involves learning important things about you, such as your skills, experience and personality, and telling these stories in a way that promotes your personal and business authority. Since personal branding is more about the image you want others to see of you, using professional and authentic images on online platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram sets you apart. In addition, personal branding can also be linked to your business. If done properly and by a professional, it can even be more effective than traditional corporate branding.

Ignoring personal branding completely can cause little or no online presence, unless you are a celebrity. But for a self-employed person or influencer, not being present in the media or online is bad for business. However, as soon as they can be recognised due to special characteristics, you can definitely benefit from the development of your personal brand and establish a closer contact with your target group.

What is personal brand photography?

Personal branding photography is about putting small businesses, entrepreneurs and influencers in the best light with professionally taken photos. Professional images are not like any other photo you take with your camera. The images serve to enhance your brand image and value in the eyes of your audience, ultimately improving your earning power. Personal branding photos help businesses and individuals connect with their customers on an identity level. Colours, tones, backdrops, props and lighting are all tools that a professional branding photographer uses when creating your visual identity.

Main benefits of professional branding photography for entrepreneurs and influencers

Personal branding is an important factor in marketing today - both online and offline. Here are the key benefits of personal branding.

Personal branding creates and establishes a connection with your audience

It's one thing to tell someone who you are and another to show them. Professional branding photography shows customers who you really are. Knowing your skills, experience or personality, they can find something that arouses their interest beyond a lifeless website or a faceless name on the internet.

People are most likely to get involved with a brand or person they feel connected to. They are more likely to buy a book, attend a seminar or listen to a podcast if they feel they have a real connection with the people involved. A good professional photographer can help you build trust with your audience through professional images.

It gives your online presence a certain personality

Technology may be connecting more people today than ever before, but isn't the all-important human contact being lost in the process? People today are more anonymous than before, more robotic, more machine-like and less human in their conversations.

Nobody likes it boring. Or bland. Professional branding photography helps bring life into your online presence. These personal branding photos show your audience exactly what you do, what you stand for and what you believe in. This personal touch to your online presence makes you more attractive because your audience feels like they know you on a deeper level. This goes especially for solopreneurs or influencers, since they are their own brand. Your business may be in the same industry as others, but you are what makes your business unique. A professional branding photographer can capture your likes, hobbies and interests and help you showcase your brand.

Personal branding helps you understand your audience better

As a brand, you want to appeal to your customers. Actually, you even need to appeal to your customers. When you take professional photos of your customers, you can understand what makes them tick. Personal branding photos are like asking your audience, "What do you think of my brand, this product or this item?" If your audience responds with positive reactions and comments, it means you've struck a nerve that appeals to them. This way you can understand exactly how to engage your customers, interact with them and satisfy their needs.

Gives your company or brand a competitive edge

Many people and companies invest in a logo, a website, marketing campaigns and a variety of other strategies to gain a competitive edge over other brands. But what about photography?

The importance of brand photography is often overlooked or underestimated, which is highly unfortunate. So many companies that engage in personal branding photography do so half-heartedly with e.g. a smartphone. Considering the enormous potential that personal branding photos can have for your business, you should not risk losing touch with your customers and audience by using low-quality photos on your online platforms.

Personal branding: short and sweet

Branding is always a journey. And no matter where you are in your branding efforts, good photography for your personal brand will give you extra power to get where you want to go. A professional can give you artistic direction to tell your story more effectively and authentically.

Let us tell your story together in pictures and find the perfect visual language for you!

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Drone photography using Namibia as an example
10 December 2022
Drone photography

Drone photography using Namibia as an example

Travelling to learn about other cultures and discover new landscapes has always been a passion-driven hobby for us. 

For us, travelling is of course not just about taking pictures, but we always have our camera with us. Not only in the context of persöIn terms not only of our personal interest but also in terms of our professional careers, one destination stood out as particularly impressive: Namibia. Besides the fantastic photo motifs in the animal and plant world, Namibia's diverse landscape lends itself to a very special kind of photography: Drone photography. 

Drone Photography in Namibia

Especially in Africa, getting up early is rewarded with spectacular landscapes in the first light of the day. Nowhere in the world is the rising and setting of the sun as worth seeing as in the golden light of the African continent.

What makes the light so special is the incredibly clean atmosphere, which leads to optimal lighting conditions. On the one hand, this saves us a lot of post-processing, and on the other hand itöIt opens up a completely new, unclouded perspective on reality. Between the red dunes of the Kalahari Desert, the arid Skeleton Coast with its transition into the seemingly endless Namib and the green Etosha Pan, alive with thousands of animals, we were able to take some of the most spectacular pictures of our lives with our drone.önnen. 

What looked like sand dunes, river courses and savannahs from the ground turned out to be a complex work of art full of structures that are even more breathtaking to look at than the landscape itself. Even the life of the animals, which roam in huge herds over the land almost untouched by humans, is only revealed in its true extent from above. 

The view from the air shifts the image with which we perceive the world. Structures that we cannot recognise at all from our perspective can beöThe colours of the trees are transformed into shapes that often resemble the brushstrokes of an artist.

Photographs and shots taken with drones show a whole new angle that remains completely closed to photographers on the ground. This is exactly what makes this type of photography so fascinating. From a bird's eye view, landscapes with rivers or mountain ranges reveal themselves in an overwhelming way. The same applies, of course, to urban spaces, where man-made structures present themselves in a completely new way.

Drone photography in the advertising industry

Drone photography is not only a valuable tool for capturing special moments in landscape photography, but also for the presentation of companies, brands and events. In times of digitalisation, it is becoming increasingly important to present oneself online both authentically and diversely. Drone photography is a great approach to stand out from the crowd and give new customers an interesting insight into your own company - even from above. Company buildings or event locations are transformed into spatially comprehensible places that are tangible for customers through aerial shots. And let's be honest: a drone shot like this is not only incredibly chic, but also makes a powerful impression in advertising clips. 

If you take a close look at moving advertisements, you will notice that the world from above has become an integral part of the advertising industry. Advertisements for travel, retreats, events and services are increasingly taking hold. öfter to the new perspective from above. Before drone technology entered the mainstream in 2013, aerial photography was only possible by helicopter.ögible. Because of drones, aerial photography, which previously cost many thousands of euros, has suddenly become affordable for a broad population.

For whom is drone photography worthwhile?

Company 

For companies that have established themselves in their own location, a drone flight can be an exception.öThe video can also provide similar footage of the company building, which will later look good on the homepage. The opening of an introduction video of start-ups or individuals also makes for a real eye-catcher with drone photography and filming from above. 

Real estate agent

In addition to the actual property, the surrounding area is also of particular interest to the buyer. Where Google Maps does not provide much detail, drone photography can provide sharp images.öimages to provide an accurate overview. 

Events, Festivals & Co

When one event is over, the next one is soon around the corner. Drone photography gives event organisers the opportunity toöThe festival is a great way to capture the mood of the crowd in a whole new way. Lightshows and camping areas also give visitors a great preview of the next festival season. 

Tour operator

As already illustrated by the example of Namibia: nothing beats the presentation of a destination from above. Crystal clear water with reefs, vast dune landscapes and cold seas with icebergs present new destinations in the best of all lights.

Our qualifications

Especially in the EU, the flying of drones is associated with a lot of rules and regulations that now severely limit the use of drones. For this purposeöCertain qualifications are required to be allowed to launch the drones in the first place, because even drones are not allowed to fly.öhe and flight area are strictly regulated in Germany. Erik is our drone pilot and qualified for both A1/A3 and A2 with his drone licence. This means that we can officially use drones weighing up to 25 kg with the best technologies. Add to that a trained eye, a skilled eye for great perspectives and many hours of flying experience.

We are therefore fully qualified to take extensive drone footage forr your nThe aim is to create a website for the next campaign or the renewal of your internet presence.

Do you already have a project in mind? Let us know what you would like to create.öWe will implement your vision together.

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