Telling Stories With Photo and Video

Remember picture books? They’re usually our kids’ favourite, just as they were ours at that same age.

Most of us start our earliest reading with picture books. They may be those Little Golden Books or See Spot Run, or Dr. Seuss, or Sesame Street. In the days before we’re able to read the words on the page ourselves, it’s those pictures that help us tell the story, and it’s those pictures that help bring a story to life. 

Even once we get older, and begin reading for ourselves, that same principle does not change. We connect with stories, but we connect with them even faster when there’s a visual element involved. Great writing can do that - it catapults you into a world that brings that visual element to life, but great photography and videography can do it in a matter of seconds.

So why is photography and videography so important for telling your business’ story?

Setting the scene

Have you ever heard the phrase “show, don’t tell?” Whether you’re looking to market a product or sell your services, it’s one thing to tell prospective buyers about everything that you or your product can do for them, or about all of the successes that you’ve had in the past. 

It’s another to show them exactly how it’s done, or the results that you’ve achieved.

When you’re shopping for a household product next time, think about the ones that stick in your brain. Even if it’s an amazing product, just reading facts or stats on a page doesn’t make for a memorable buying experience. 

Instead, we gravitate towards the products that have comprehensive before and after photos, at least the ones that aren’t badly photoshopped. We want to see how something works specifically because our brains respond so well to the power of an image. If we see how well a cleaner can remove dirt and grime for example, we’re far more inclined to buy it vs. just hearing about how amazing it is. 

Sharing wins on video

We’re used to reading testimonials. Sometimes they’re long and set up like a case study, and other times it’s just a short one-line quote on a website or on the back of a book. These endorsements are great, and they help bring your business credibility, but imagine how much more you could do if you were able to bring them to life. 

Picture a testimonial you’ve seen on video. Sure there are the ones on television commercials, usually played by actors, but think of the real ones as well. The ones where you can see someone who’s clearly speaking from the heart talk about how they were helped by someone’s services - someone who took the time to work with them, answer their questions, and hear their concerns through the process.

Isn’t that always more compelling than a one-line on a website or a blurb on a package?

There’s clearly room for both. There’s nothing to say that that video testimonial cannot live in written form as well and be used for everything from print ads to website copy to social media. 

That behind-the-scenes magic

Part of the reason that video, and even photography, make for such impactful storytelling is how much goes on behind the scenes. In simple copy, it’s the storyteller’s role to use their words, and often only their words, to paint that picture. They choose their words carefully (and not always), because they know those words are up to a reader’s interpretation. 

With photography and videography, however, the storyteller or storytellers play a much greater role behind the scenes that the audience never sees. Every last element is set up with intention - from the lighting to the angle of the camera to the wardrobe choices. It’s not just you in front of the camera telling the story - it’s the folks behind the camera as well.

The way they help you tell that story can be far more powerful than what you may be able to do with your words alone. That’s part of what filmmaking is - any Hollywood movie is successful because of so much storytelling that happens behind the camera - and storytelling for your business helps accomplish the same thing just on a smaller scale. 

How we can help

That’s why we love being storytellers, and we love that you’re a storyteller as well. The story that’s being told is entirely your own, but we can use our expertise to help you bring that story to life.

When we work on a new project, we sit down with the client and contribute to the storytelling process. We use our experience to provide guidance on new ways of breaking things down, new ways of presenting information, and new ways of getting the message across effectively. 

We’ll also work with you on the logistics of how that story gets told, from finding the right background to putting the right people in front of the camera. We know that you might not always know what you want, but don’t worry, we’re here to help.

Looking for a different way to tell your story? Send us a message and let’s set up a time to chat.