A tile subcontractor for a custom home builder uses a wet saw to fine-tune a kitchen backsplash installation in Castle Rock, MN. Photographing your employees and subs on the job site lets others know you’re proud to stand behind your work.
Don’t let bad photos send your clients away. Let the pros help.
As construction trades professionals you know customers are experiencing a lot of emotions as they shop for a contractor to help bring their dreams into reality. They may be curious, anxious, stressed and excited all at the same time. When they’re investing their hard-earned money the last thing they want is to worry about being duped. It’s up to you to be a calming force in the decision-making process. One of the key ways to do this is by showcasing the work you have already done for others.
Photos are a great tool to highlight your talents and display the scope of work you’re comfortable completing. Project photos help to build trust with prospects and put their minds at ease as they’re seeking bids, because, unfortunately not everyone is on the up-and-up in the construction industry. There are many unreputable tradespeople or those posing as contractors stealing completed work photos and passing them off as their own to win projects, mainly because the use of lower-quality photos made with phones is so prevalent. It’s easy for prospective clients to be tricked when doing online research. You can avoid this problem with top-notch construction photography made specifically for your brand.
Using branded photography instead stock photos can help you stand apart from the competition.
The attention to detail displayed in this herringbone porcelain tile installation is purposely photographed front and center so others know you’re more than capable to complete a similar job at their request.
Professional photos of your completed work will reflect the quality craftsmanship unique to your business in a way generic photos cannot. For example, if you’re a roofing contractor and use only materials greater than area building code you’re unlikely to find stock photos (generic pictures licensed for use) of projects featuring those products online. By photographing your projects and including the higher-end materials you’ll stand out from the competition. Similarly, if you’re a stone mason that only drystacks bluestone you’ll most likely find stock photos online of manufactured stone veneer, which isn’t representative of your work.
Using stock photos to represent your trade in marketing materials can also turn customers away if they recognize the picture has been used somewhere else. This happens more than you may realize. Plus, stock photos feel staged on purpose and clients have a harder time feeling connected to you while making an important decision. A collection of specialized pictures, or a photo library, is a quick way to distinguish your work from the rest and start building trust.
Daniel Arabella of Arabella Stone Co. poses amid one of his completed backyard projects in Minneapolis. Including a picture of yourself or one of your trades professionals on the job site is an easy way to communicate to others you stand behind your work while at the same time safeguarding your designs and craftsmanship from being stolen.
Construction Photo Libary FAQ
What is a photo library?
A photo library is a collection of many images created specifically for your business that can be used on-demand in your marketing efforts. This custom approach means your competitors will not have the same photos.
Who decides what pictures I need?
Headshots and profile portraits are often included in a custom photo library.
A purposeful design to the types of images you require or the ones that will get the most clicks will make for a more efficient experience. However, getting there can be a collaborative experience between your team and the photographer with you choosing just how much help you need with strategy. You may choose to be more heavy on pictures of finished projects or you may prefer to show more pictures of your employees and subcontractors in action on a job site.
We need headshots of staff. Can those be included, too?
Yes. Most of Anthologie’s photo libraries contain a variety of portraiture, project portfolios and branded detail images.
How can I use the images in my photo library?
Since your library is created to be as evergreen as possible your pictures can be stored in a centralized location, such as a company cloud server, and be used whenever you have a need. Some common uses include: website banners, social media posts, sales sheets and door-hanger advertisements. Displaying professional project photos in online galleries will not only give others a sense of your work but actually boosts your website performance ranking as visitors will spend longer on each web page clicking through your projects.
Do all of our pictures need to be done in one day?
No. In fact, with a photo library in the construction and trades sectors it’s most common for the photo sessions to take place over a few different dates — some times more.
Who owns the pictures?
While Anthologie retains legal ownership of original photography, our photo libraries are structured so that your company is the only one allowed to use them. And typically you are allowed to use them indefinitely.
Let’s chat about getting your company more clicks today!
Trades professionals with Hoyt Exteriors wear branded apparel while working on the job site. Creating photos that include your company logo within the composition is a simple way to combat your pictures from being passed off as originals by another company without having to watermark the images.
