Yes, you read that right... these images are worthless.
IF you don't utilize them. Your branding, headshot, product and event images are powerful and transformative and can pour more gasoline on the fire your building than just about anything you invest in but that's only true if you use them well. Sometimes the 'to do' item of 'get new images' gets mentally checked off our list once we've booked and completed our session but that is only step one. What comes next is where the real power is.
But it can be overwhelming to know exactly where, how and WHEN to use your images. So I'm here to help! Below I'll walk you through a general framework of where/how/when to post & use your new images in a way that makes the most of your investment, keeps things fresh and yet really consistent for your brand and makes sure the seed of these new images grows tall and strong.
1. DON'T IMAGE DUMP
I know, you're excited! Depending on what type of session we just completed I just sent over a gallery of a few or a few hundred images. The common reaction is to do one big post with all your poses on your social media excitedly sharing about your new session. While I LOVE the shoutouts and the flood of images featuring my work, this kind of post serves me better than it does you. Instead, excitedly send the gallery link to your friends/family and then employ some strategy with you post (I'll help with specifics below).
2. FIRST, LET'S UPDATE
Update your CONSISTENT PRESENCE images first. These are the places where your image is static most of the time:
- Website about me pages
- Social media profile images
- Email signature
- Google business listing
- Business Cards (check out Blinq.me for your digital cards)
We update these first because they'll stick around with 1 image for awhile and we want a very consistent image look here. We also don't want to miss updating any of these and end up with a random old/stale image mucking up your brand image.
3. Second, inundate-ish
Okay, I did tell you not to image dump ... but I do want you to inundate your audience with your brand images but over time; not all at once. Instead of doing one bit image post celebrating your new session (thanks again) take the excitement you have about your new images now and build reels/posts that you'll dribble out in the coming months. Let the images speak to what YOU do (not just what I do). And here's where the advice gets more personal and unique to you so these suggestions may not fit every one of you:
- Reel/Post focusing on the visual - what you wear to speak, bake, show a home. PRO TIP: use images that foucs on just that and crop into wider images to focus just on the element you're talking about.
- Reel/Post focusing on a tool - what's a must have item to do your job? See PRO TIP above.
- Reel/Post focusing on the actual session or the event as a whole
- Reel/Post about someone else - this could be a vendor who helps you do your work, a guest of your event, or me (not a shameless plug) but a time to shout out someone else while using your new images
- Reels/Posts about your services/next event/etc - continue to post & use 3-9 of your images mixing in favorites and new lesser-used images to keep things fresh yet consistent.
4. Spread it out
For every one of the suggestions above re-post/re-purpose the same images/text across all social media pages you run. Schedule these to not post the same day but to spread out over time. A post that starts on LinkedIN one week might schedule to post to your IG the following and vice versa.
5. Deep dive
Finally, become the expert. Take a deep dive with your images paired with a longer blog post or email blast. Write about what you know, what you offer, tips/advice you can give and let your images enhance these stories. Plus, if you're an SJP client we invite you to be a guest on OUR blog. We'll post your images alongside your expertise. Be sure to fill out our blog form here to get featured.
6. BONUS tip: keep an archive
Alright, I know I said finally on tip 5 but here we are ... my last tip is to not abandon 'old' images just because you have new. I highly suggest maintaining an ORGANIZED archive of all your images at your fingertips so that when the opportunity to be featured, honored, promoted, etc arrives you're ready to provided on-brand images in seconds. My long-time branding partners know they maintain an open/active gallery with all of their selected images ready for share/download even decades into the future!
If you're looking for a photographer who's invested in your brand through your first headshot through your wildest business goals/dreams, I'd love to chat. Book a planning call HERE.
