Why food photography is more important now than ever
Consistent and engaging imagery is vital for any food & drink business and should be an integral part of your sales and marketing strategy. It connects with your audience and will communicate your message far more effectively than a stock image, customer reshare, or worse, no image at all.
But visual communication has been on the rise for a while, so why is it more important now than it’s ever been?
The food industry and online space is exponentially growing, with hundreds and thousands of brands competing for the attention of their customers and looking to stand out in their own unique way. Imagery is no longer just a form of marketing, it’s a vital form of communication with the people you’re looking to attract.
In this infographic by HubSpot, it’s said that ‘visual content helps you increase your subscribers and followers’ and shows a 37% increase in engagement when imagery is added to an article. Visual content can also evoke specific human emotions, influencing how that viewer will take action and ultimately prompt their decision to buy from you (or not!)
Add to that a 50% increase in social media usage since the pandemic and you’ll begin to understand why the content you’re sharing now has never been more important.
So how do you stand out in such a saturated market?
How do you connect with your audience in a way that will influence purchasing decisions?
You focus on your imagery.
Take a look at the latest images shared on your most used social platform.
Are they impactful enough to stop your customers in their tracks?
Are they making your customers feel something?
Are they actually representative of your core values and brand personality?
…or are they just customer reshares, stock imagery and product render packaging shots?
Because the harsh reality is, these images are more likely to drive your customers away.
Consumer preferences and shopping habits are becoming increasingly sophisticated. It is not enough to have a great tasting product anymore and bland packaging shots won’t connect on an emotional level with your audience. Your customers are looking for purposeful, passion-led marketing and they’re looking to connect with you.
The imagery that’s going to do that is professionally curated, bespoke photography that effectively communicates your brand message in an engaging way.
In fact, it’s reported that 83% of Instagram users discover new products or services on the platform. Can you rely on your current images to stand out against all other brands and move your audience to buy?
If the answer is no, you’ll lose your customer to a competitor.
So it’s time to look as good as you say you are.
We’re all looking for ways to build our businesses and inspire change in the food industry. So use your imagery to establish a relationship of trust and loyalty with your customers. Use it to convey your message in a more powerful way. Use it to bring joy, inspiration and a sense of belonging into the kitchens of those you’re here to serve.
And use it to make you sales, so you can become a wildly successful household name of tomorrow.
Because the industry needs more brands like yours, brave enough to stand for change and proud to do things differently.
Are you looking for a food photographer?
Hit the button below to see some of my work and to get in touch.