The Longevity of a High Quality Professional Photographic Image

While a simple snap-shot does indeed represent a single moment in time, a professional photographic image should be more long lasting.  The “shelf-life” of an image is also one component (along with it creativity and technical production) of the quality of the image.  

Using the services of a professional photographer is an investment.  To maximize that investment, the image photograph should not soon appear to be out of date. Instead, the messages the image is designed to convey should be long-lasting, while at the very same time being contemporary and fresh.  A quality image should last as long as five years.

Such effective and long lasting images are related to the “style” of the professional photographer as well as the technical presentation of the image.

Funny Duck Farms Is an Organic Farming operation in Eastern Ontario, not far from Ottawa.

I recently had the pleasure of spending a day with them during hay season photographing the hard work that it takes to produce great quality food.  Haying is a critical part of farming. It ensures you have food for your animals.   Spending a day shooting environmental portraits and editorial really made for a great day.

Portrait of Amanda

A friend of mine recently changed directions in her life, and turned from teaching high school students  to working on a local organic farm. Not far from Ottawa, Amanda has learned what it takes to become more self sufficient in a world where we are increasingly becoming more reliant on others. I admire her a lot, and I had to take a portrait of her.  Her ethical food choices and practices are something we should all think about adopting more of in our day to day lives. 

 

The Value of a Professional Photographic Image:

While “one picture may be worth one thousands words”, a professional photographic image should be much more.  It can be effectively used to document, inform and to convey feelings, emotions, impressions and atmosphere. A high quality photographic image should be able to convey multiple messages or emotions at the same time.

It supports story telling by providing a visual context to underpin a narrative about people and activities, challenges and/or accomplishments.  The right image should also convey messages of competence, confidence, professionalism, trust and success. 

A successful professional photographic image should go beyond simply indicating what took place at some activity or location. It should tell a story of what the “atmosphere” was like during the event or at some particular location. Effort should be made to find unique places, and ways, from which to create a photographic image, thereby adding to the story telling by providing a bold and fresh perspective of the atmosphere and emotions surrounding a place and/or an event.

Professional photographic images should be a key component of promotional campaigns to inform about a business’s activities and 

services. An investment in a professional high quality business photograph has been proven to enhance business activity.  

It is about telling the story about the details of particular business activity, the staff, and/or its location.  Depending upon the business type and subject of the image, the photograph, should convey a variety of messages which could include:  professionalism and competence; the breadth and quality of the products and/or services offered; the friendliness of the staff; as well as the atmosphere and comfort of the location.

A quality professional photograph should not only help inform and convey messages, but it must also be long lasting…