Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder…

Photography is a key element to any website.  A good image captures attention, conveys emotion and can even tell a story.  In the last Blog “A Picture is worth a thousand words” we talked briefly about what actually makes a good image.  Cropping, using black and white versus highly contrasted color, and using natural lighting were just a few things that can help make a good image, but what makes the best image for your client’s website?  

Each photographer begins to develop their own “eye” or “style” for what makes a good image.  As a wedding photographer I have enjoyed creating images that tend towards the photo journalism style, finding ways to make images less formal and more candid with a little “fun” mixed in.  But, while I am clicking away capturing the groomsmen hoist the bride high into the air, there are those clients that would like the more formal, quiet images captured of their day.  I also love to frame an image in very closely cropped, especially with portraits.  Some clients do not like it when any part of a subject is cut out of a picture.  My job as a photographer is to find out what the client’s “eye” or “style” is first.   That may not always be what my eye would tend towards, but truly is in what the client envisions. 

Talking with the client face to face is one of the best ways to find out exactly what their vision is for your photography.   Even just seeing their personality will tell you a lot about what should be conveyed about their business through photography.  Creating a detailed shot list is also very important, not only for the client, but for the photographer.  This will further “flesh out” what the client’s vision is.  Don’t get me wrong, I feel there is still room to play around with creativity, along with creating the images the client requests.  Sometimes we can pleasantly surprise a client with an image they would have never thought of.