Curating your own assets with a smartphone
Being a solopreneur or communications department of one poses many challenges. But many of those challenges can be turned into successes simply by pre-planning and learning some basic skills to help you accomplish key tasks without having to outsource.
One of the areas “companies of one” can focus their talents is on asset creation. We all know content is king and curating engaging imagery is an important component for brand development. There is no need for spending excessive amounts of money on high-end SLR cameras, lenses and lighting unless you intend to make photography your career. Today’s smartphones have amazing cameras that can capture high-end images for use on all digital platforms.
Taking photos with your smartphone can be a great way to unleash your creativity. With a few simple tips, you can be producing professional-quality assets without breaking the bank. Here are a few basic tips to follow. Keep in mind, these are for iPhone, as that is what I use and am familiar with. Android settings should be similar. The key is to get comfortable with your smartphone and be able to use it to produce the best visuals for your brand.
1. Check your camera settings.
Under the Settings > Camera tab on your phone, ensure you are using the grid to assist framing your images. Be sure you’re using 4x3 rectangular setting for best visual space. Explore Portrait mode on iPhone for capturing great headshots, as it blurs the background.
2. Check your lighting.
Be sure to turn off automatic flash as it causes unnatural bright spots on images. Using natural lighting is perfectly fine, just ensure you understand where the light is coming from and the shadows it creates then adjusting your set up accordingly.
3. Understand your aesthetic.
Every brand has a specific style they project. Is it light and airy? More professional? Look through your social feeds, assess the look and feel of the images. Do they fit the brand? If not, start to set up shots that best reflect the brand…then edit…
4. Editing
Photo editing is always the last step in the process. This is where you can remove the background, fix the colour of a shirt and set the brand aesthetic. There are many editing apps available but the most popular, and my favourite is Lightroom. You have full control of all functions such as white balance, cropping, colour correction and sharpness.
You can make a great impact with a few simple adjustments. Be sure to experiment and you will soon become more confident curating your own assets.