Commercial vs Personal Branding photography
Continue to read to learn about the difference between commercial photographers and personal branding photographers. Although both have several core similarities but diverge significantly in focus and end goals of the work.
Here is my detailed breakdown of their differences and similarities, along with insights on the services I offer as a commercial photographer:
The differences between these two genres of photography:
Purpose:
Commercial Photography: Primarily aims to promote products, services, or businesses. The objective is often to drive sales, enhance brand visibility, or communicate specific corporate messages.
Personal Branding Photography: Focuses on promoting an individual and their personal brand. The goal is to build and enhance the professional image of the person, showcasing their personality, values, and expertise.
Subject Matter:
Commercial Photography: Involves a wide range of subjects such as products, corporate environments, fashion, food, real estate, and industrial settings. The emphasis is on showcasing the best aspects of these subjects to attract and engage potential customers.
Personal Branding Photography: Is around the individual and their lifestyle. The subject is often the person themselves in various contexts that reflect their personal brand. This might include work environments, hobbies, and other personal elements that help convey their story.
End Use:
Commercial Photography: Used in advertisements, brochures, catalogues, corporate websites, and other marketing materials. The images are designed to fit into larger marketing campaigns and corporate communications.
Personal Branding Photography: Used for personal websites, social media profiles, professional portfolios, and other platforms where individuals are building their personal brand. These images are often used to make a strong first impression and connect on a personal level with the audience.
Or the similarities between the two:
Professional Quality: Both types of photography require high-quality, professional images. The images need to be visually appealing, technically sound, and capable of effectively conveying the desired message.
Creativity: Both commercial and personal branding photographers need a keen eye for composition, lighting, and detail. Creative approaches are essential to produce compelling images that stand out and achieve their intended impact.
Marketing: Both types of photography support marketing efforts. While commercial photographers help market products and services, personal branding photographers help market individuals. The end goal in both cases is to attract and engage the target audience, albeit through different means.
And in summary
Both commercial and personal branding photographers produce high-quality images for marketing purposes but serve a different clientele and have different end goals. Commercial photographers work with businesses to promote their products and services, while personal branding photographers focus on individuals to enhance their personal and professional image.
As a commercial photographer myself, I offer these services, website/food/property packages and branding shoots, which make me well-positioned to cater to a variety of business’s needs.
Here’s how my services align with the points discussed:
- Website Packages: These include a range of images such as food photos, corporate headshots, and environmental shots that help businesses build a professional and cohesive online presence. This includes set packages for business with the property and food industry, along with freelance days rates. By offering a comprehensive range of services that include food photos, corporate headshots, and environmental shots, I feel that I am helping businesses build a professional and cohesive online presence. With my set packages for the property and food industry, along with flexible freelance day rates, cater to the specific needs of different sectors and provide high-quality, tailored photography solutions
- Branding Shoots: These encompass both commercial and personal branding elements, depending on the client's needs. For businesses, this might involve capturing the essence of their brand through product and corporate photography. For individuals, especially entrepreneurs and freelancers, this could include personal branding photography that highlights their professional persona.
I feel that by offering these tailored packages, I am addressed the specific visual marketing needs per client, whether they are looking to promote their business or build a strong personal brand.
