Are we all photographers? Or maybe not?
If until a few years ago I could dismiss with a shrug the thought that each of us has a camera in our pocket always at hand knowing that the quality of the images technical quality of the photographs produced by these micro cameras is practically non-existent, today this is actually no longer true.
So why do I continue to sleep soundly and I do not believe that my professional figure is destined to fail to be supplanted by photographic tools of reasonable quality within everyone's reach that go hand in hand with various artificial intelligences, increasingly user-friendly photo editing apps that allow everyone to self-produce content that, if nothing else, on a technical level can be fairly respectable?
Simply because having in your pocket a good quality camera doesn’t automatically make you a photographer just like having a super car at my disposal that I can drive whenever and however I want doesn't make me a Formula 1 driver.
Are you stll not sure? Let me explain.
Let’s start from the quality of the images issue. It is true, as I was saying earlier, that the technical quality of the smartphone cameras has really improved. It is also true that today are available on the consumer market good quality cameras and lenses at an affordable price like never before.
However, to return to the analogy with super cars, you must know your instrument and you must to know how to use it. A photographer knows the technical aspects of the photographic language and knows how to bend them to his will and his vision, just as a driver knows how to make his car turn at 300 km/h and actually turn exactly as he wants. You and I probably wouldn’t even know how to turn it on.
The other sore point of the issue concerns the aesthetic aspect: do you really want to continue to create content that is all the same by copying more or less “aesthetic” trends that make your photos and videos – and consequently your visual communication – just another copy of something already seen a thousand times so that you get lost in a sea of identical content where no one will notice you or remember you and your brand? I am sure that the answer to this question is a big no.
A real photographer, who knows how to do his or her job, can offer you a vision and a level of creativity at your and your brand disposal that no trend out there will ever be able to do. Think about it.
And last but not least, the last reason why I continue to sleep soundly is that the fundamental difference between self-produced content and my photographic service lies precisely in the level of professionalism I can offer you and what I mean by that is precisely that I have a deep knowledge of the photographic profession and years of experience to back that up.
The added value that I bring to the creation of your content lies in my ability to connect all the elements I spoke to you about – technical knowledge, creativity, vision, communication techniques – with a level of awareness at your disposal. Like being able to take a curve at 300km/h with a precise trajectory in mind to overcome my opponents.
Obviously I realize that it is not always possible to rely on a professional to create your content: you do not always have the necessary resources to that, being those economic resources or otherwise.
However, there are some tricks that you can put into practice to create quality content that actually can do wonders for you and your brand.
First of all, do not create content haphazardly. Eventhough my motto is "better done than perfect", you still need to dedicate some time to planning your content. So please please I beg you one more time: try and avoid to create photos and videos copied from trends launched by others. Just take baby steps and start from understanding what you really want to tell to your future customers and how you want to communicate with them.
This does not mean that you cannot take inspiration from the content of other brands or creators, but taking inspiration does not mean copying verbatim. The most important thing is to give space and voice to your own ideas, without any fear. Organize them in a logical way and create your visual communication accordingly. No one knows your brand and its needs better than you.
And if you are really going crazy trying to create a visual communication for your brand, but you don't necessarily want to call me to create a complete photoshoot, I am always available for a free consultation online. Write to me and let's talk about it. You can reach me here.
