Storytelling Photography

Why storytelling?

Your story is greater than your bio.

Bios and headshots serve their purpose, but your story holds more power, especially when it’s told through a compelling series of high-quality photographs.

Visually sharing your story can elevate your marketing, moving it from transactional to transcendent. When shared, it can reach new audiences and help you stand out from the competition.

Commercial photography is not enough

We tend to think of commercial photography as practical images that help us sell a product or service.

It’s no wonder high-resolution product photography and professional headshots are so important. They influence consumer decisions at key purchasing moments.

Sales are essential for any business, and every sale counts for small business owners. However, keeping your products and services within reach of your target audience requires significant energy and resources that might not be in your professional wheelhouse.

If you offer consulting services, for example, finding the right photos online can be frustrating. Just when you think using stock images might save you money, the time and effort to find the right ones adds up.

Why storytelling photography makes sense

Storytelling photography is a series of photos with you as the central character.

Custom photos in your natural environment can showcase your work and convey confidence. They can tell us something about your personality, and they can show us what is important to you. Storytelling photography like this saves you time and energy so you can focus on what matters most.

Storytelling photography taps into a sea of psychology and emotion, and it appeals to our higher ideals.

“I found the answer by digging into the neuroscience of story and the way it intersects with the fields of cognitive psychology and evolutionary biology. What I discovered was why story is built into the architecture of the brain. It is why, when a story mesmerizes us, it can change how we see things (whether we’re aware of it or not), and why story is the most powerful and transformative communication tool we have.”

—Lisa Cron, Story or Die: How to Use Brain Science to Engage, Persuade, and Change Minds in Business and in Life

The power of a visual story goes beyond providing a solution and filling a need. It helps customers feel aligned with their values when they do business with you. That leads to long-term satisfaction and a desire to share their experience.

Your storytelling photos can be used on your website and blog, in print and digital marketing, and even in advertising. Evergreen images like these never go out of style. They help foster brand loyalty, they increase social media shares, and they encourage word of mouth promotion.

A final thought on storytelling photography:

The only thing more compelling than well-crafted words are the emotionally resonant photos that so often inspire them. And what if your next customer is someone who doesn’t trust words at all?

“I don’t trust words. I trust pictures.”

—Gilles Peress