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Who was it that said a picture is worth a thousand words? Was it Shakespeare? Maybe it was Van Gogh, that nutter who cut off his ear for a woman. It was probably Van Gogh. A guy without an ear probably couldn’t hear a thousand words, so a picture would have to do the trick. Anyway, no matter who said it, they were spot on. These days, flowery words just aren’t enough. Whether you are putting together a brochure, compiling photos for a delicious-looking menu, promoting a landscaping business, or selling houses, odds are you need compelling images to help you do the job.

The sections below discuss several ways that most businesses, whether a restaurant in Hampshire or a builder in Oxford, can use commercial photography to improve their bottom line.

Menu Photography

Maybe you run a restaurant or a culinary school. Perhaps you own a catering company. Maybe you work in the culinary section of a magazine other home-and-garden publication. In any case, you probably need someone to take photos of your dishes in such a fashion that they look as appetizing, mouth-watering, and eye catching as possible. Food is hard to shoot. If not lit properly, the dishes can take on an unappetizing hue. Grease that you can’t see may reflect oddly and give the image an unpleasant shine. A professional commercial photographer knows how to light and frame your menu items to best effect.

Choose a photographer with experience shooting still life photos, especially food-oriented shots. Ask to see samples, to see if he or she is able to capture the tone you want to project. The right professional can make your creations pop, and make customers’ mouths water.

Because you must prepare the food, and because it is best not to let the dishes sit too long before a shoot, menu photography normally takes place in your kitchen, dining room, or catering venue.

Product Photography

If you have products you wish to sell, a commercial photographer can make them look their best. Unlike menu photography, product photography does not usually take place at your place of business. The photographer normally has a photo studio, where he or she can control every aspect of lighting, background, camera angles, and lenses to capture a precise image that is as attractive as possible. The photos should also reflect your brand, in terms of color, graphics, backdrops, and other image factors.

Industrial Photography

Industrial photography normally takes place at your location: on the shop floor, or in the fields of your farm. Choose a photographer with experience taking photographs outside of ideal conditions. In a factory or production office, the commercial photographer cannot control all aspects of the shoot. He or she must be able to adapt to noise, dust, inconvenient locations, or unappealing ambient light. Workers may need to move in and out of the shot. Machinery may need to continue running. A prima donna is not what you need in situations like this, nor is commercial photography an Oxford trained artist’s place. You want a solid, journeyman professional photographer.

Whether you need to make your product look great, or you want to capture the before and after results of your service, look for a commercial photographer who can achieve the results you want. Ask to see a portfolio, and look for situations that mirror what you want done. If you need food, fashion, or fur photographed, make sure any photographer you consider has experience in that area.

The steps above are just a few ways to make sure you get great results when you hire someone to capture your important commercial images.

Gem Wilson is a freelance writer and business owner. She has had considerable experience hiring professionals for commercial photography. Oxford is where she lives now, though she still has her heart set on warmer climes.

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