Showcasing the people that bring to life a Lakeville commercial property developer
I love getting to meet new people and experience different professions through photography; no two days are the same for me. So when I had the opportunity to propose my commercial photography services to Appro Development and Cerron Properties in Lakeville, MN, I was thrilled, especially when the company shared with me its vision for an image wish list.
When working to create a photo library for clients I enjoy mixing in details from their products, services or even decor to help tell the company story. These details can be used in a variety of ways, including website banner images or as backgrounds to overlay text on for a client testimonial or pull quote to share on social media platforms.
The company was in the early stages of planning its new (and robust) website design and it had narrowed in its focus to the ideal visitor. Since the company often builds large, warehouse-style properties it can be challenging to create an approachable yet professional image that still appealed to its discerning customers. They wanted to show the grit of the real world scenarios the company thrives in on a daily basis as well as the personal touch they provide in all stages of commercial development — from site acquisition and building materials all the way to the final walk through for the happy customer.
Excavation for plumbing and wall footings is underway for a warehouse in Lakeville, MN.
Precast concrete walls are positioned as a surveyor checks footing grade as construction continues in Lakeville, MN. With my background in photojournalism I am able to help my clients get the photos they need of workers in action without hindering the process in anyway, saving all involved time and money when compared with staging a separate photo shoot on a non-work day.
“Dan is great to work with as he really listens to his client’s needs and requests. He has an amazing eye to create images that tell your story well, with creativity, and a unique perspective. ... he went above and beyond our expectations.”
Project leads consult over plans for a new childcare facility in Minneapolis.
With a personal interest in construction projects and the trades industries I was excited for the opportunity to help with this image library. I worked with Appro Development and Cerron Properties to highlight current projects with as little impact as possible to the work at hand. We partnered for several months so, in a few instances, I was actually able to experience several points of the construction process on the same project, including documenting the look of the finished building.
So what is an image library, exactly? It’s a collection of images created specifically to highlight the unique products and services a business provides to its customers. Often times, certain photos are made for a website or marketing campaign, but at the same time additional photos are gathered that can be archived and utilized at any time in the future to help tell a company’s story or to relay a call to action to its audience. With traditional stock photography, a company must license each individual photo for a specific use and time period, whereas Anthologie image libraries provide a multitude of photos for the client to use for several years.
By opting for an image library the client was able to showcase more than job site photography, including smaller vignettes where there were more opportunities to display emotions and relationship building. Throughout the process I adhered to a more documentary look to the photos with a natural color palette for flexibility of use across various marketing platforms and for greater longevity. In the end we ended up with hundreds of photos that can be implemented at any time, and best of all, they are completely unique to the client.
You can see some of the final images from this project in use on the new Appro Development website. Brian Johnson and the team at PageCrafter did a fantastic job of distilling a great amount of information and service offerings into a clean, easy-to-navigate website.
If you have your own custom work you’d like to document or if you’re just having a hard time finding stock photos that fit your specific business, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’d truly enjoy learning more about what makes you and your business special. You may be surprised to discover an original image library is a great and affordable option for you.
