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If you want to attract new customers and improve your overall marketing efforts, you need to use eye-catching graphics that meaningfully engage your customers. If your business does not invest in quality graphic design services, your website graphics and even the visual assets in your social channels can hurt your brand’s reputation and deter customers from engaging with your business online.
Engaging, inspiring, and eye-catching graphic work, on the other hand, can help you establish a name for yourself as a business worth visiting online (or offline).
We’re not going to mince words about graphic design – it is hard work. However, getting to the point where a new logo is ready to be born into the world can cause even the most seasoned design professional a deep sense of fatigue.
However, if you don’t take that all-important first step, you will struggle in the long term, especially if your main goal this year is to engage more customers and scale your business. Like content writing, it is essential to work with the right graphic design team to make your digital business look better and perform better.
If you are a professional or small business owner, you may not know the different graphic assets or designs used for marketing businesses. Digital marketing is that much easier if you know what to commission professionals in the first place. Let’s look at the various graphic assets used in websites and print.
Flat Lay Photography
Flat lays are a popular choice for bloggers and e-commerce stores because they allow them to showcase products’ visual appeal. In addition, product-related marketing materials frequently use these images for product reviews or announcements.
You can create a flat lay by placing various objects on a table or other flat surfaces. It’s not uncommon for flat lay photography to include several focal points to build interest, emotion, and drama in visual compositions.
Flat lay photos are images taken from the top down. For example, consider a bird’s eye view with a beautiful arrangement of objects. When done well, flat lay photography tells a story using props, colors, and compositional elements.
Flat lays have become a common sight on social media. It’s gained enormous traction in recent years. Flat lays are used by personal brands as well as corporate brands… Almost everyone has adopted the way of the flat lay.
How Can You Get Better Flat Lays?
1. Inspire Yourself with Other Flat Lay Photographs
If you’re unsure where to begin, explore Pinterest or Instagram using the hashtag #flatlay. Same goes for Instagram and sometimes there are also good finds on Facebook.
2. Assemble Your Props with Confidence
Think of how props are used in theatre to enhance the drama; props are utilized in flat lay photography to enhance shots, build the theater, and create a story for the audience. Check out these expert-balanced lay principles to build your best-laid photos.
Think of the best subject
Consider the focal point of your flat lay photograph. If it’s business-related, perhaps you run a beauty blog, and the answer is obvious (cosmetics! ). Define a theme and adhere to it when selecting props to ensure a unified aesthetic.
Prop types
Let us discuss prop kind. Props can be neutral or universal objects such as plants, books, paperweights, or common household knickknacks that photograph nicely.
Consider stones and crystals and yoga-related objects if you work in the health and wellness area. Additionally, decorating with inspiring phrases is usually an excellent idea. Consider the energy or vibe that various objects emit when you assemble them. Further, put yourself in the shoes of your desired audience – how does this flat lay make you feel when viewed from the opposing perspective?
Prop quantity/volume
Don’t be bashful — choose a large number of props (more than you think you’ll need) so that you may change them in and out as you assemble your shot. As you begin shooting, you want to avoid having to return to your in-home buying binge. Minor tweaks can be intuitive, resulting in the perfect, marketable flat lay photo.
Prop colors
While searching your home for props, it’s beneficial to keep a color palette in mind. Different colors elicit varying moods and emotions in an audience, so keep color theory in mind as you prepare. How do your varied props make you feel when they are arranged together? What kind of feelings would you wish to have? Allow these choices to shape your focus.
Focus on diversity of sizes and shapes
Finally, seek out diverse shapes and sizes of objects to pique visual interest. What looks good when combined? Trust your instincts. Perhaps too many oversized items collide. Maybe alternating objects as large, tiny, large, little appears to be overly staged. Instead, create balance in your photograph by subtly contrasting smaller and larger elements and by arranging objects of similar hues on opposite sides of the image.
This is also an excellent moment to investigate diverse textures — whether in the background or the objects themselves.
Various textures: soft, rough, firm, and smooth. Just as we prefer a balance of salt, sour, bitter, and sweet in our cuisine, the same is valid here. Balance is critical. As you continue to uncover inspiration at home and on social media, you’ll develop a sense of what seems appropriate.
If you are concerned that you will not be able to capture everything in one picture (we believe in you), have no fear! Post-photoshoot, you can try using photo editing tools to sharpen, brighten, change colors, crop, and resize images. Be fluid, be inventive, and be adaptable!
3. Assemble the Flat Lay with The Assistance of An Extra Pair Of Hands
Some of our favorite flat lay photographs appear more “natural” due to the presence of people (or, more accurately, body parts). Consider enlisting the assistance of a buddy if you want to create a look that has a sense of movement and activity. It’ll be far less difficult/complicated than attempting to pose and picture oneself.
4. Select A Background That Is Suitable for A Flat Lay
It’s wise to keep things essential when selecting a background. While a plain white background is ideal because it does not detract from your props, you may choose a neutral background such as a wood floor or table. You can get clever and tape some matte wrapping paper to the floor or table if you like a colorful background.
Alternatively, if you’re performing a lot of flat lays, consider investing in some vinyl backdrops to create a rustic aesthetic quickly. Additionally, you can use our automatic backdrop remover tool to magically erase any existing background after the photoshoot and replace it with a new one.
5. Compose Your Flat Lay Photograph
Now that you’ve gathered all your props and created your backdrop, it’s time to organize. Arrange your tripod close to a window and shoot in the morning or late afternoon for the best light. Avoid using a flash, as this will result in shadows.
Allow a small amount of space between each object while framing your photo. This will assist in emphasizing each prop and preventing your shot from appearing cluttered.
If you’re going to upload your photo to Instagram, a square arrangement looks great. If you’re shooting with your phone, setting up a shot is as simple as selecting the square mode on your camera.
6. Allow Space for Text and Visuals
You may choose to leave some space for post-production text or images. For example, if you’re making an advertisement, this is the area where you’ll include your brand’s name and logo. Alternatively, incorporate a quote if you’re trying for a more inspirational design.
7. Always Shoot from A Height
Ascend a ladder or a step stool and begin shooting. Distancing yourself from the flat lay can assist you in fitting everything into the shot. Additionally, this is one of the only ways to ensure that your photograph seems dull.
Once you’re up there, take a few test pictures, and don’t be afraid to move objects around until the composition appears precisely correct. Once you’ve captured the perfect photo, it’s time to edit!
Product Images
Product photos are critical for all product retailers and providers. Whether you sell your products or resale others, having high-quality and comprehensive product photos can give you a competitive edge.
Product photos should be accurate and realistic, highlighting the product’s qualities and presenting customers with a precise representation of the product’s size, scale, and style. In some situations, hiring a professional photographer to take your product photographs can be an excellent investment. Sure, you’ll be spending more on the photoset, but your investment will likely result in higher sales and a higher ROI. The same applies to the proper investment in professional graphic design.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a gorgeous product image is worth 1,000 website visitors (or more!). Therefore, to reach individuals of your target audience that like to shop online, you must also provide clear, eye-catching images of your products.
However, the product photography is not as straightforward as simply pointing and shooting. Even the most uncomplicated products require the proper equipment, lighting, and space to create visually appealing photographs that convert buyers immediately on the purchase page.
How Can You Get Better Product Photos?
1. Use A Tripod to Ensure Uniformity in Your Photographs
Before describing tripods, I feel compelled to reiterate a cardinal rule: Never prop your phone against something substantial to direct your lens toward the subject.
It’s far too easy for this improvised arrangement to move about during the shot, resulting in irregularities in the appearance of your photographs. If you rest your camera on something, such as a stack of books, make sure that this arrangement does not change during the shoot.
There is no reason you should not handle your camera personally when photographing a few product images for your eCommerce website. However, when your business grows and you photograph more things, it might be challenging to maintain a consistent orientation of the product in each shot when shooting a hand. A tripod is required to provide consistency across your items. And fortunately, purchasing one is not always the significant, industrial-scale investment it formerly was.
2. Decide Whether to Use Natural or Artificial Light
Never underestimate the power of specific types of light to enhance (or detract from) your product photography.
Bear in mind that consumers get the most pleasing look at an item in person, where they may inspect it thoroughly before making a purchase. When all website visitors have is a photo to go on, the appropriate lighting setup enables you to reveal those important decision-making product qualities.
A single lighting configuration may not be appropriate for all products – a lighting configuration that is effective for certain products may detract from the presentation of others.
3. Soften Shadows by Filling or Bouncing Your Light
Whether you employ natural or artificial light, you’ll want to minimize the shadows formed by any potential harsh light on the opposite end of a product.
4. Use Your Camera’s Sweep or Portrait Mode to Draw Attention to The Object
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to product placement, lighting, and bounce cards — they can vary significantly based on your background. However, do not choose a background solely based on what it offers in terms of Ease of creation. Backgrounds should reflect how you want your buyers to view your goods when they view them online.
Lifestyle Images
Lifestyle photography is an excellent approach to demonstrating your product or service. These images are intended to illustrate actual individuals performing fundamental tasks to demonstrate how fantastic, simple to use, or effective your product is. Alternatively, if you offer a service, such as a plumbing firm, you might include photographs of plumbers on the job, smiling as they work.
Lifestyle photography is portraiture that focuses on capturing real-life events artistically. This style of photography aims to tell tales about individuals through candid, unstaged images.
While a lifestyle approach can be used in photography that involves people, many believe that this style is best portrayed in family photographs. The photographer’s presence in the situation is the primary distinction between lifestyle and candid portraiture.
Online royalty-free image services have made it simple to obtain lifestyle photographs. There is no comparison between royalty-free stock images and photoshoots. Photoshoots are naturally more expensive because you’re paying for everyone’s time and effort. With royalty-free stock photos, you sign up for a service and adopt a pay-as-you-go model with minimal expenses.
You may have to take some product-specific pictures yourself if what your business offers is highly specific, and you can’t find appropriate images online. However, you will be able to find high-quality photos for common professions and businesses like auto mechanic shops and dentistry offices.
How Can You Get Better Lifestyle Images?
1. Always Pursue What’s True and Authentic
Given that the purpose of lifestyle photography is to capture life as it happens, your photos must be as natural and authentic as possible. Having someone follow you around with any camera is probably not considered normal by the majority of the individuals you work with.
Authenticity in lifestyle photography refers to capturing images that reflect people’s daily lives. There will be no posed images; additional props expertly placed artificial lighting, or studio photoshoots. Of course, you can offer some advice on the best locations for the photographs or which clothes will look best on them, but your influence on the overall aesthetic of the session should be minimal.
Encourage your clients to be as natural as possible when presenting themselves. For example, there is no need to gather all the children’s toys or overdress them before arrival. Additionally, these modest gestures will make them feel more at Ease, resulting in fewer forced moments during the shooting.
2. Always Come Prepared
Simply because you want to capture spontaneous moments does not mean you can show there without some planning. Preparation for a successful lifestyle photography assignment should be divided into two categories: personal and technical.
Familiarize yourself with your subjects before the shooting day. Discover their likes and dislikes, their daily routines, the things they prefer doing together, and the subjects they are enthusiastic about.
Make an additional effort to educate yourself on these topics to the point where you can hold a conversation about them. Familiarize yourself with the locations in which you will be operating and be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances.
For instance, if the photography takes place at your subject’s home, you can inquire about natural light and determine the best time to shoot. Additionally, familiarize yourself with your camera settings, like the back of your hand, as being in control of the subjects requires you to adjust swiftly to any changes.
3. Photograph in Comfortable Locations
Unlike in most forms of photography, light is not a primary consideration when selecting a location for your lifestyle shooting. Instead, you should consider where your respondents feel most at ease.
You should be able to answer all these questions during the planning stage and utilize them to determine the best location for your photoshoot. Choose two or more sites to capture your respondents’ varied interests whenever possible. Additionally, you’ll have a fallback if the first spot on your list does not work out.
4. Make Everyone Comfortable and At Ease
Most individuals find it challenging to be entirely candid in front of strangers, much less a stranger with a camera. Acclimate them to your presence as a photographer.
Begin by breaking the ice by discussing something about which they are passionate. If you’ve followed the correct processes, you’ll already be aware of this from the planning stage. This could range from discussing the latest NBA trade rumors over coffee to sharing interesting facts about dinosaurs while the children show you their bedroom. In any case, keep the conversation light and let them do the most of the talking.
If children participate in the shoot, which is frequently the case with lifestyle photography, explore their everyday habits. During the photography golden hour, a stunning location is utterly useless if the children are hungry or weary.
Finally, but certainly not least, do not let your clients bear the brunt of the scenes. Discussing the type of photographs you want to shoot and how you intend to capture them will help them feel much more at ease in front of the camera. The following step will show you how to direct a session without detracting from the aim of lifestyle photography.
5. Move and Direct the Action – Don’t Worry About Poses
To keep your lifestyle photographs candid while still providing instruction to your subjects, tell them what to do rather than how to accomplish it. For example, please encourage them to demonstrate their favorite game instead of directing them to follow conventional family portrait ideas.
This will result in far more natural and relaxed conversations, and they may even forget about the camera entirely. Allow situations to unfold naturally, but do not be hesitant to initiate a new activity if the existing one is ineffective or you want to try something new.
6. Learn to Anticipate Outcomes While Shooting
In some ways, lifestyle photography resembles nature photography quite a bit. A dynamic, fast-paced environment over which you wish to exert as little control as possible
The most memorable moments rarely last more than a split second in a lifestyle photoshoot. Therefore you’ll need to develop the ability to predict their movements and be prepared to shoot at any moment. Burst mode allows you to capture the instants immediately preceding and following the actual moment, resulting in more meaningful photographs.
7. Focus on Details
Not every photograph you take should be a medium-to-wide image. Some may not even be considered portrait photography. To take a series of pictures that genuinely depicts your subjects, you’ll need to zoom in on aspects that warrant a close-up and pay attention to the things that define their surroundings, such as a box of toys or a cat napping on the window.
Lifestyle photography is so much more than a portrait session, and your clients will appreciate your attention to detail beyond the apparent photographs.
8. Always Communicate
In most photography vocations, interpersonal skills are critical, and lifestyle photography is no exception. Therefore, while you want to minimize your involvement in the photography, that does not imply you should act as if you are not there at all.
By conversing with individuals throughout the shooting, they will perceive you as a guest rather than a photographer, which will benefit you by assisting them in remaining relaxed and natural. Additionally, it will enable you to guide the action without coming out of nowhere to issue commands and then vanish again.
Infographics
With our attention spans dwindling, infographics have grown in popularity. Infographics are ideal for consumers who wish to consume information quickly and easily. While they do not provide in-depth information on subjects, they can be an excellent approach to delivering information quickly and to a broad audience.
If you want that person to remember the information, use an infographic to provide a visual story. Infographics are an aesthetically beautiful technique to summarize facts and communicate information to content consumers in a more compelling, engaging manner.
Well-made infographics can fascinate readers in ways that words alone cannot. And those concerned that infographics are becoming obsolete have seen the most significant increase in usage among B2B marketers.
Marketers, too, recognize the importance of graphics. Indeed, 49% of marketers believe visual marketing is “critical” to their marketing strategy; 22% believe it is “essential,” and 19% believe their plan would be meaningless without visual material.
Visuals accelerate the processing of data. The more information you assimilate, the more quickly you can make decisions. This can be advantageous when communicating complex topics, such as breaking down scholarly research into manageable chunks.
The mind processes information considerably more quickly in pictures than in words, and humans are fundamentally visual beings. So if you’re having difficulty comprehending something complex, infographics can assist your brain in processing things more quickly. This enables your organization to express its end aim more efficiently and effectively.
Compiling research is a time-consuming process that can use many resources.
Additionally, you must invest time assessing the data and establishing critical statistics once the research is complete. Then, another step in generating a captivating visual is to create an infographic based on this data. While not every infographic demands unique ideas, your effort into developing them is frequently reproduced rather than shared.
Creating engaging and informative visuals can educate people about you or your brand and establish yourself as an authority figure.
How Can You Get Better Infographics?
1. Avoid All These Major No-Nos
Creating a great infographic begins with avoiding lousy practices in designing these crucial visual assets. The mistakes below are so damaging you should probably start over if you feel that you fell into the trap of committing any of them:
- Using misleading information or data distortions to deceive customers
- Adding visual distractions or clutter to your infographic
- Neglecting to value and involve many consumers (inclusivity matters!)
- Refusing to rectify these errors (we all make them!)
If you can avoid committing these errors, you will be well on your way to creating an excellent infographic.
2. Make Sure the Infographic is Genuinely Valuable to Your Target Audience
Perhaps your infographic is intended to educate clients or to train personnel. What’s critical is to understand who it’s for and keep them in mind as you construct it. Consider what people can gain from reading it and the value of the content. Make it simple for them to read by avoiding jargon and using plain language.
What makes this an excellent infographic is how actionable it is. Anyone reading this can use it to learn why, when, and how to receive a flu shot and other measures to avoid and prepare for a flu illness. This is a concept that a middle schooler may grasp.
3. Use Narrative Power to Deliver Important Messages
Be sure to assist the viewer in acquiring new knowledge. Data storytelling is an excellent tool for directing your audience through a body of knowledge. Infographics are excellent storytelling tools; well-designed infographics convey information in ways that people remember and recall over time.
4. Align the Layout with the Aim and Purpose of the Infographic
Certain types of information are more difficult to organize than an ordered list, sequenced process, or chronology. Occasionally, you can build a side-by-side comparison, but other times, you have a slew of facts and are unsure how to connect them. The process of choosing a template might assist you in considering other methods to organize the data into a logical whole.
5. Conduct Thorough Research
Because infographics are primarily information-based, effective iterations use data from (and cite) reliable sources and contextualize it for the intended audience. To do this effectively, you will almost certainly need to expand your knowledge of information sources and question yourself:
- Is this source reliable? Is the data independently verifiable?
- Am I permitted to share this information? Are there any worries about privacy or other potential dangers to be aware of?
- Is this information or data pertinent to the tale and message?
- Is it revealing something that makes me uneasy? How will I ensure that unconscious biases do not influence my understanding?
You may also need to conduct audience research to ascertain their interests, present level of expertise, and the type of material that would be most beneficial to them. If you collect data of any kind, pay attention to the approach, and explain your process to others if you share it. The citations at the bottom of the previous example demonstrate this.
6. Use Visual Elements That Will Help People Understand the Data
Understanding the facts and data allows you to make informed decisions about which images to utilize and how to label those pictures in a way that is helpful to others.
Here are some fundamental guidelines for selecting a visual style–but bear in mind your audience’s utility.
- Bar charts are the most effective in assisting people in making comparisons with data (note, people have a more challenging time comparing area or volume, so pie charts, donut charts, and bubble charts are potentially problematic).
- Maps are ideal if you have location-specific data.
- Timelines, horizontal line graphs, and flow charts can all visualize time.
- Venn diagrams and mind maps are excellent for illustrating concepts.
- Human face photographs are excellent for generating emotions, and they can also be used to demonstrate change through time or relate to specific persons.
Good infographics do not only use the “correct” sort of visual; they use it in the appropriate location and manner.
Visual elements should emphasize the primary statements and be as brief and uncomplicated as feasible. You want your audience to have an “aha” moment. We don’t want them scratching their heads and doubting if they got it right after reading your infographic.
7. Aim to Create a Lasting Impression
It’s critical to make a valuable point and make it stick, so don’t be afraid to be creative. However, avoid exercising so much creative license that you endanger or distract your audience. This damages your credibility, and you don’t want them to recall how untrustworthy you are.
Social Media-Ready Graphics
Social media-ready graphics have the potential to transform your visibility and authority on social media platforms significantly. These visuals do not have to be unique from the rest of your business identity, but they must be sized appropriately for the required media. For example, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook all have unique image requirements; understanding these can help you make the most of your space and demonstrate your professionalism to your target audience.
The significance of visual content creation for social media cannot be overstated. Do you require proof? Consider the Google Doodle. By changing its appearance daily, Google gives users an incentive to visit its landing page and utilize its search engine over that of competitors. On social media, strong visual content has the same effect. It incentivizes individuals to follow, like, comment, and finally purchase from you.
How To Get Better Social Media-Ready Graphics?
1. Pick the Right Elements for Your Social Media Content
Want to make visually appealing social media content? Begin here.
Outstanding graphics are only as effective as the social strategy behind them. While you may have been naturally creative since birth, your social media content will likely miss the mark if it doesn’t have a sense of purpose, strong narrative elements, appropriate timing, and other strategic components. Without a clear strategy, you will be doing a disservice to social media art.
Your social media content strategy should always incorporate:
- Conducting audience research. Conduct research on your audience’s interests and consider the type of visual content they prefer to view.
- Constructing a mood board. Include materials, color palettes, and other images that will aid in the direction’s shaping.
- Utilizing themes. Utilize recurrent themes or pillars to add variety.
- Adjustments based on the social channel. Consider how your visual strategy should be adjusted for each social channel.
- Proper timing. Make sure to share visuals on social media during peak hours. However, consider the big picture as well. Will you require more graphic content during specific holidays? Planning will assist you in managing your budget and production schedule more effectively.
2. Familiarize Yourself with the Fundamentals of Creative Work
What characteristics define a compelling visual? If you cannot answer this question, some additional study may be necessary. True, there is no single effective method for creating a picture. However, there are some fundamental recommended practices to consider. And you must first understand the rules to break them.
The following are some fundamental recommended practices for generating images for social media:
- Have a well-defined subject. Generally, it is preferable to have a single focal point in your photograph.
- Bears in mind the law of thirds. It is preferable not to center your topic correctly with a few instances.
- Make use of natural light. If your image is excessively dark, it becomes more difficult to see. However, avoid overexposing your photographs.
- Use sufficient contrast. Contrast creates balance, makes reading easier, works better in black-and-white surroundings, and is more accessible.
- Use complementary hues. Acquaint yourself with a color wheel.
- Maintain simplicity. Ascertain that your picture is simple to comprehend.
- Avoid excessive editing. Resist the urge to press every button. When it comes to filters and features, subtlety is the best policy.
3. Reach for Free Tools and Resources
Almost often, hiring a photographer or graphic designer to generate original content for your brand is the best course of action. However, if your money is limited or you require a few additional tools, many resources are available.
4. Resize Photos According to Specifications of Your Social Channels
Using the incorrect size while sharing visuals on social media is one of the most serious offenses you can do. Images with the wrong aspect ratio or inadequate resolution can be stretched, cropped, or crushed out of proportion, reflecting poorly on your business. Each platform has its unique set of requirements, and your material should be tailored accordingly. To assist you, we’ve compiled a social media image size guide.
5. Always Strive for The Best Possible Image Quality
Image quality encompasses both pixels and resolution. Do not overlook the aspect ratio. Why? Specific systems trim image previews automatically based on their aspect ratio. Therefore, if yours is unique, you risk having an unlucky crop or omitting critical information.
The Content Experts PH offers 15 years of expertise in graphic design services, including logo production, digital newsletters, legacy print, brochures, and more.
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