“A picture is worth a thousand words.”
We’ve all heard this iconic idiom, but it really rings true for those of us that work in social media. When you only have 140 characters to convey a brand’s message, using photos can really help tell the story. Eye-catching and engaging imagery can make the difference between a viral tweet and a forgettable post.
Photos are the perfect storytelling tool, capturing emotions that words simply cannot convey. Ready to enhance your social media posts? Read on as we explore how you can capture epic images, no matter what camera you’re using!
Choose Your Camera
iPhoneography
Thanks to the age of smartphones, everyone has a powerful camera with them at all times. Using your iPhone or Android is ideal when capturing live content during trade shows or events. You can easily take photos/video and immediately share them across your social platforms, no computers needed!
Need to edit photos on the go? Snapseed by Google is one of the most useful photo editing apps for iOS and Android. The app allows you to apply a variety of filters, adjust settings and even use the spot repair feature to remove unwanted elements from a photo. It’s no Photoshop, but it’s the perfect solution when you’re on the road and need to get content posted as soon as possible.
Get More Control With a DSLR
While smartphones are great for event photography, your social content will often require imagery that is higher quality. That’s when it’s time to pick up a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera. DSLRs provide far more control over your imagery, including ISO, shutter speed, aperture and more.
For first time users, DSLR cameras can be overwhelming with the multitude of settings you have control over. Thankfully there is a wealth of informative tutorials online ready to help you master your camera.
Tips for Success
Take A LOT of Pictures
There’s no worse feeling than thinking you have the perfect shot, only to later discover it’s actually blurry or underexposed. Photos can look great on the small preview screen of your camera, but once you see them on a computer you’ll really see the imperfections. Taking numerous photos during a shoot will allow you to pick and choose the best images and reduces the risk of being surprised later on.
Make Use of Depth of Field
Depth of field can be a tricky concept to grasp for beginners, but to put it in simple terms, it’s when the focal point of your photo is in focus and the background is blurred. This helps isolate a person or product and eliminate distractions, drawing a user’s eye in to the subject immediately.
Know Your Audience
Before heading out on a shoot for a client, there are a few things you should consider. The most important of which is, “Who is my audience?” It’s key to know exactly who you will be targeting with your imagery. Photos aimed at millennials would be different than those for Gen X-ers and Baby Boomers. Always keep in mind who your followers are!
You don’t have to be a professional photographer to capture compelling images. We hope these tips will help you round out your social media toolkit!
Do you have a photography tip to share? Tell us in the comments below or on Twitter @lotus823!