I’ve made the case for professional photos, and even a case for why you should invest in framed prints. But did you know there are tons of other uses for your images? Sure, having photos around your home can boost your mood and keep your decor current, but did you know there’s even plenty of unconventional uses for your company headshots? That’s right! So let’s dive in, because we’ve got a lot to cover…

Wedding/Engagement Photos

1. Make an Album or Personalized Photo Book

I’ve made entire posts about this before, but I can’t stress this enough: When you pass your wedding and engagement photos down to future generations, you’re going to want them in print—not on a screen! The digital age is here to stay, but there are some things that will always stand the test of time and be worth the investment. Tangible proof of your love story is definitely one of those things! And with amazing sites like Mixbook, Shutterfly, Blurb and Snapfish, making your albums and photo books can be as much fun as sharing them. 

2. Personalize Your Thank You Cards

Weddings and engagements have no shortage of professional photos—and events that celebrate the happy couple! Whether you’re wrapping up your bridal shower, engagement party, bachelor/bachelorette nights or even your wedding reception, using your photos can take thank you notes from a formality to personal keepsakes for everyone who had a hand in your union.  

3. Create a Video Slideshow

Do you love the professional photos from your engagement session? Make a digital slideshow to play on a loop at your wedding reception! Want to get more mileage out of your gorgeous wedding photos? Save them to a video slideshow you can play or share forever—you can even set the slides to your song! Most wedding packages come with a complete digital album, but sharing the whole thing might seem like a bit much. That’s why I suggest making your own highlight reel of sorts—especially if you skipped a videographer! 

Professional Photos of your Family

1. Customize Your Holiday Cards

Whether you’re sending them to your family, friends or associates, sharing holiday cards is a great way to connect with the people in your life—and spread a little joy and cheer in what can be a stressful and distracting time of year! Using professional photos to create your cards can make a card a personal greeting, AND update your loved ones on any changes to your family. Kids grow up quickly! Keeping your annual holiday cards can track and document the years in a perfectly festive way.

2. Give Personal Gifts

Speaking of holidays, there are SO many personalized gifts you can give—especially if you have recent professional photos handy! You can check out a few of my favorites here, but trust me, you’ll be hard-pressed to find grandparents or teachers who don’t love a good calendar, photo book or framed print. Give the gift only you can give! It’s definitely worth having photos for.

3. Make A Collage

When you take professional photos of your family, odds are, you’ll end up with too many favorites to choose just one to frame. Photographers try their best to capture all kinds of connections, from just mom and dad to every combination of family members possible. Everyone has a unique and special relationship, and it’s so much fun to tell each story on film. So why not tell the whole story with a framed collage or gallery wall? It might feel messy at first, but if you use photos from the same session, it will all come together perfectly.

Headshots

1. Update Your Website

In this day and age, if you don’t have a personal webpage, your company probably does—and each one is likely equipped with an “About Me” or “Contact” page. Adding headshots to these pages can give your audience or your clients a face to put with your name, products or services, and using professional photos can really set you apart.

2. Keep Social Media Current

Do you have a LinkedIn account or a Facebook Business Page? What about using Instagram for your marketing? You’ll need a profile picture for those accounts, or at the very least a header image. Professional photos can make your accounts clean, current, and professional, which can go just as far with your audience as the page content itself. 

3. Modernize Business Prints

Business cards might seem like a thing of the past, but let’s face it, they’ll never entirely go away. Bring yours to the present with professional photos! The card itself will document your name and contact information, but your headshot can allow people to better remember their interactions with you long after the networking meeting, corporate event, or conference. Does your business have brochures, fliers, promotions or advertisements? Headshots can be used there, too, to give customers a more personal look at who they’re working with.

Don’t worry, seniors. I didn’t forget about you! In fact, you have a whole post with all my favorite ways to use your senior portraits—from grad party announcements to cute dorm decor. 

Ready to book your session? Reach out at any time! You never know when you’ll need (or want!) some professional photos.

Five Questions to Ask when Outdoor Location Scouting

It’s easy to gravitate to what we know. From buying the same shirt in four colors to always ordering the same thing from Starbucks, there’s comfort in the familiar. The same goes for photographers. It’s easiest to revisit the same locations —  the ones we know will work well based on the time of day and lighting. But it’s important that we stretch our creativity. One way to do that is to push yourself to find new photo locations in our area. That’s where location scouting comes in.

Location scouting can start as simple as taking a drive or dropping a pin when you stumble on a beautiful spot. Once you have a list of new spots, go on some more focused visits. Your goal is to understand how the space matches your needs. Then, document the details!

Start Organized

It can be difficult to remember every detail from every location scouting trip, so create a library of notes for future sessions. I like to keep everything in one place, so I use the “notes” app on my phone. I have a section specifically for location scouting, and each new location gets its own note that starts with the address, plus date and time of my visit. Then I write down a few quick facts:

• Is it crowded at the time I’m there?
• What is the temperature like?
• What type of shoes are needed?
• Where is the closest restroom or changing area?
• Can you bring dogs?
• Are there any off-limit spots?
• Is a permit required?
• If the client requested a specific view, does this scenery match what they asked for?

Instead of meeting new clients at the same old places, change it up! But before doing so, make sure you know your stuff about the new spot. In addition to the more obvious questions above, here are five questions to ask yourself when scouting outdoor locations. 

1. How will light affect your location?

Most photographers prefer to meet clients at sunrise or sunset, but sometimes we don’t have that type of control; sometimes we have to photograph in the middle of the day when light is the highest and harshest. When scouting areas for an outdoor photo shoot, consider how the light will change throughout the day. Visit the same location at different times of the day to see how the light will change. Take sample photos with the equipment you’ll use for the session, and afterwards, evaluate if the light will turn more harsh overhead or become blocked by trees. As John Berger said, “What makes photography a strange invention is that it’s primary raw materials are light and time.”

Pro tip: download an app like Sun Seeker to see how the sunlight will change hour by hour.

2. What obstructions are in the way?

Nothing is more frustrating than taking a beautiful photo only to later notice the bright neon sign in the background. Before deciding on a location, think through the logistical aspects of the location. Are the signs, poles, plants, and light fixtures avoidable? Are they distracting? Other challenges can be areas that seem really pretty, but maybe difficult to walk to. That said, American photographer and contributor to National Geographic, Joe McNally reminds us, “Don’t pack up your camera until you’ve left the location.” You never truly know what you’ll see or find.

3. What is accessibility like?

You have a particularly stunning spot in mind, but does it align with your clients’ accessibility needs? Accessibility needs are great information to collect before planning a session, and it’s always smart to have several accessible spots on your locations list. If clients cannot walk long distances, be near a parking lot with a short walk to a location. Or maybe you’ve been on a beautiful hiking trail, but it would require hiking shoes rather than heels. If you have an adventurous idea, check with your client first and see what they think before making a decision.

4. Is it easy to find?

Avoid choosing a location that doesn’t have a parking lot, or worse yet, is challenging to find on a map. It’s important to “pin” the location and then share it with your clients ahead of time. You can also screenshot the location on a map and send the photo to give a visual representation. This will help immensely when you’re communicating where to meet for the session.

5. Does your contract cover the time needed for the photo session?

If you’ve picked a spot that requires extra travel time to the session, you should factor that into your billing. I’ve taken couples to locations on hiking trails, and the time we spent walking to the location ended up being double the time of the photo session. But along the way, we took more shots from different viewpoints, and they got more photos than they signed up for. Going to these off-the-grid locations are so worth it, not only as the photographer, but for the couple. But it’s important to remember your time is valuable: be sure to allocate in your contract appropriate pricing if the session is going to take more time and effort on your end.

Bonus Tip: Time is Money!

Location scouting takes time and resources from you. Keep that in mind the next time you put together your portrait packages. And a biggie: always remember to write off the mileage and parking as business expenses for your annual taxes!

Related: Check out my favorite photography locations in the Colorado Springs area!