Create great social media photos and videos for your small business
- Use photo apps
- Try out the free apps first
- Invest in some props
- Try out flat lays
- Get a photo box
In this post, we will show you how to create great social media photos and videos for your small business. Small businesses using social media these days know they need good photos and videos to stand out. One that looks professional and well done. But we also know it can be super expensive. The budget is already tight enough as it is, right? So what can you do to ensure that your social media videos and photos look amazing and also affordable?
Photo apps
We are lucky that we live in an age when mobile phone cameras are getting better and better. Did you know that there are professional ads and mini-movies out there being shot on phones these days? You can do the same, too! You can then enhance those photos using various free and paid phone apps. Use apps like Afterlight, Pro HDR, ProCamera and LittleMoments to edit your photos and use preset filters. Also, try using stop-motion apps like iMotion to create engaging videos that showcase your products and services in a fun way. Some of these apps are free but even if they’re paid, they aren’t that expensive. Before you buy the paid ones, use their free trial period first.
Invest in some props
Don’t underestimate the value of tasteful props for your photography and videos. Flatlays are a great way to showcase your products. What’s a flatlay exactly? It’s an arrangement of things on a flat surface and taking the photo from above. Search for the hashtag ‘flatlay’ on Instagram and you’ll see great examples online. You don’t need expensive props for a great flat lay photo. All you need is good lighting and a well-set arrangement. Don’t be afraid to experiment but also remember your brand colours when you start photographing. Natural lighting is your friend. You don’t need to buy expensive lighting, just a window.
Get yourself a photo box
Invest in a portable softbox/lightbox for those amazing well-lit photos. If you search for ‘portable lightbox’ online, you’ll find heaps of sellers. Check out the reviews before you buy one, and the final photos of those who have used it. Be careful you don’t pick the dodgy and cheaply made ones out there that will disintegrate after three uses. Get something that is easy to set up so it doesn’t take up a lot of your time when you use it. Do a couple of test shots and see which lighting is best for what you’re trying to do. Keep the lightbox clean and stash it away in a safe place that’s easy to access. We suggest you do a shoot for several hours at a time instead of a few minutes each day. That way it takes less time and doesn’t intrude with your daily operations.
Kristyn is the Creative Director of 3C Digital. She is a freelance writer/journalist with over 13 years of experience in the industry both locally and internationally. She has previous experience as TV and radio broadcast journalist as well as print and online writer. Her novels, The Girl Between Two Worlds and The Girl Between Light and Dark, are out now.