Whilst photographing a property some days ago it dawned on me that I don’t take photos!

You see I was commissioned to photograph a cottage which had previously been photographed.

I won’t mention the photographer or indeed share the actual property photos, that’s not the point of this post.

I looked at the photos and struggled to get a sense of the property, I certainly couldn’t get a feel for it’s character, how it sat in it’s plot (I had been told it was in a very awkward setting) and, quite frankly it didn’t look great.

When I view properties in this way I do it through the eyes of a potential purchaser.

I spoke with my Client & the seller, who was a little frustrated, having been told by friends that the current photos simply didn’t do the property justice, I hear this a lot.

I booked an appointment to photograph the property and then went to work. You see taking the photos is just a small part of the process I follow.

I carry out research, consider location, surroundings and take on board the thoughts and advice of others, sometimes this means debating their assumptions, listening & presenting alternative views.

For every home I photograph I go back to basics, establishing context and then showcasing it’s location, it’s size, it’s charm and it’s beautiful features, room size, immaculate decor, stunning large garden etc, etc.

In this example I undertook the highest quality interior & exterior photography, aerial photography by drone and 360° augmented photography for a virtual tour.

The seller was delighted with the visual marketing I produced and the agent had top quality marketing material AND a delighted Client, win-win!

I’m not a photographer, I’m a visual marketer. I consider how images best market a product, whether that’s something small photographed in my studio or much larger products, a house for example. I think about the best way to visually market a product and the options available, including new or emerging technology, and then plan to implement the best solution(s). The technology however, the tools I use and ultimately therefore the visual content I create is only the result of the experience, expertise and knowledge I bring to every project.

Quite often the resulting marketing looks simple (I’m a big fan of ‘KISS’ - Keep It Simple Stupid!), even if the production was anything but, but my customers can always be confident that the visual content I create will market their product or service clearly, effectively and make an impact.

I don’t take photos, but I know I’ve succeeded when that’s exactly what my customer’s think.