social media photography Archives | Legendary Social Media

Check this out: Holiday stop motion video & social media photography showcase

Posted on 10-12-2020 by Erin Reynel

The team at Legendary had a lot of fun creating holiday photography and stop motion video assets for our clients. Due to COVID-19, Christmas arrived a little early this year. As soon as Halloween was over, we saw Christmas trees and holiday decorations popping up all over Vancouver!

A lot of planning goes into the assets we create. Our in-house photographer, Kat, works alongside an account manager and sometimes with the client themselves to create a plan of action. It goes a little something like this:

The account manager creates a schedule of upcoming promotions, events and themes to discuss
Schedule a shoot date
Create the shot list
Prop shop
Photoshoot and styling
Editing
Delivering the final edited files

After all the hard work that goes into creating and executing content, it’s super satisfying to see everything come together, so we want to share some of our work with you today!

What we created for The Facial Room

Our client The Facial Room offers an exclusive experience that goes beyond delivering beautiful Eminence Organic Skincare products across Canada, and we need to emulate that in our work – especially our photography work, as that’s what initially draws customers in.

For The Facial Room, we currently create and run the following elements of their social media marketing:

Styling & photography for a visually cohesive feed
Facebook & Instagram content creation
Community management
Social media advertising campaigns
Blogs for SEO
Email marketing campaigns
Stop-motion videos

To kick off the holiday season this year, The Facial Room ran an irresistible Black Friday promotion for their customers. Check out our photography work on the homepage of their website and how it came together:

We also created a blog (which is great for your SEO btw, you can read more about that here) sharing more in-depth product knowledge with customers, giving them product suggestions and gift ideas for the upcoming holiday season.

We made sure to share the blog in early November, allowing customers enough time to plan their gifts and get their orders in (before Canada post is overwhelmed by the holiday season). Check out the blog post here!

As you can see in this blog post, we shot lifestyle images of The Facial Room owner, Patricia Asmar, and her daughter against a holiday-themed backdrop. During our lifestyle shoot, we paid close attention to the colour of props, clothes and products to ensure the final images were cohesive with all our other product photography.

Check out The Facial Room on Instagram to see what awesome promotions they’re currently running.

And here is the stop motion video we created for their Black Friday promotion in action!

What we created for Waves Coffee House

Our longtime client, Waves Coffee House, is a Vancouver-based chain with over 31 coffee shops across BC and Alberta. Not only is Waves all about serving customers delicious coffee and locally made snacks, but they also invite their customers to connect with each other at their local Waves Coffee shop. We just love this sentiment!

For their holiday campaign, we created photography for their social feeds that showcase their holiday beverages, snacks and gift sets. Check out some of our favourite shots from our holiday photoshoot:

As part of their social media marketing, we also create the following:

Instagram and Facebook content
Community management
Paid social media ads
Spotify ad campaigns
Stop-motion videos
Influencer campaigns
Giveaways and contests

Check out the stop-motion video we created as part of their holiday marketing campaign:

What we created for Love & Natural

Love & Natural is a skincare eCommerce platform that was born during the COVID-19 pandemic when Winne, the owner, wanted to help her clients and others by offering personalized skincare solutions online.

Check out some of our favourite photography from this holiday period:

Since coming on board with us, we have built a multi-faceted social media plan for Love & Natural. Our work so far has included creating and managing the following:

Styling & photography
Social media management across Facebook & Instagram
Community management
Traffic advertising campaigns (leading audiences to your website)
Conversion advertising campaigns (converting sales on the website)

We also created this stop motion video for the launch of their new product collection, Esenti Body Mists.

Are you thinking of stepping up your social media game in 2021? Then look no further! Legendary offers well-rounded knowledge and services that could help elevate your business to the next level!

Is Instagram Checkout available in Canada?

Posted on 22-10-2020 by Erin Reynel

Instagram Checkout is now available to all eligible Instagram business and creator accounts in the US, but what about Canadian users?

In short, the answer is no.

Canadian business users still don’t have access to this feature as of the date this blog was posted. But since this feature will likely be released north of the border soon, here’s what Canadians can expect from Instagram Checkout.

What is the difference between Instagram Shopping and Instagram Checkout?

Instagram Shopping gives businesses the opportunity to easily link their shoppable products within Instagram, either in Instagram Stories or Feed. Users can simply tap on the product tags and be led to the brand’s website to view more information and purchase the product. See the example of how we tag products for our client, The Facial Room. Here we have tagged several product suggestions for dry skin within one post, encouraging users to checkout via The Facial Room’s website.

Instagram Checkout is similar, but the major difference with this feature is that everything is done within Instagram. Customers never have to leave Instagram to complete a purchase. The first time a customer checks out, they simply fill out their name, email, shipping and billing information.

See the screenshots below of the Instagram Checkout process.

Image source: Instagram for business

This feature is a great way to easily and quickly convert your Instagram audience into loyal customers.

Should businesses set up Instagram Checkout?

The opportunity to turn a browser into a purchaser with just a few clicks could have a huge impact on your conversion rates. This feature creates an effortless experience for customers by ensuring the purchase process is simple, convenient and most importantly secure!

So, to summarize, the benefits of Instagram Checkout are:

Allows users to purchase products in just two to three taps without leaving Instagram
Eliminates checkout form issues and errors that often result in cart abandonment due to user frustration
Businesses no longer need to worry about maintaining and optimizing a mobile-first webshop (ideal for small businesses that are just starting out with eCommerce)

What are the disadvantages of using Instagram Checkout?

There are a couple of drawbacks to using Instagram Checkout that should be considered:

Instagram will collect a commission from the merchant on every order that is processed via the app. The current selling fee is 5% per shipment or a flat fee of $0.40 of $8 or less (including PayPal fees).
Businesses could lose out on valuable customer data. For example, when customers check out on your website, you have the opportunity to collect emails for future marketing purposes. By using Instagram checkout, your business can only access limited customer information.
Instagram Checkout eliminates website traffic by allowing people to make purchases within the app. This may affect your website’s SEO performance and could reduce product reviews on your website.

Overall, we believe the benefits of using Instagram’s checkout outweigh these negatives. Offering up a great way for small businesses to break into eCommerce and showcase their products to new audiences.

A few tips for driving sales with Instagram Shopping

So whilst Canada still doesn’t have access to Instagram Checkout, let’s make the most of the tools we can use! You can still drive sales through Instagram by following these simple steps:

1. Be consistent with your product tagging. If you’re posting three times a week, make sure at least two of these posts include tags to your products that drive customers to your external website.
2. Create some excitement with an exclusive product drop on Instagram. A great way to create a little buzz around your products is by launching a product exclusively to your Instagram audience.
3. Add product stickers to your Instagram Stories. Don’t overlook this feature – it’s another opportunity to redirect customers to shop on your website.
4. Share a sale or promotional code on your products. Running a sale or promotion is an undeniably great way to drive sales.
5. Work with an influencer. Consider working with an influencer who can drive their larger audiences to your Instagram or website!
6. Create striking photography. Instagram is ultimately a visual platform, so if you want to stop a customer in their tracks, then create visually appealing images that make them want to shop! We can help with this.

Final thoughts

As Instagram continues to enhance its eCommerce abilities, shopping via the app is growing in popularity leading us to believe it’s only a matter of time until Instagram checkout is available everywhere. So we encourage you to start building your product catalogues now and familiarize yourself with the Instagram shopping features in order to benefit your business and drive eCommerce sales.

What apps are you using to manage your social media channels? We recommend checking out these nine apps.

How our social media photographer set up an at-home studio

Posted on 15-10-2020 by Erin Reynel

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures, our social media photographer, Kat, has been shooting our client photography from home since March. With these few tools and tips, let us guide you through the process of how we create scroll-stopping content from home.

Firstly, we recommend that you purchase photography equipment that packs away in a space-efficient manner. Or alternatively, invest in some storage boxes, so you can pack your gear and props away at the end of each shoot. Working and living in the same space can present some challenges, so keeping things tidy and organized will certainly help you work productively.

The basic equipment needed for a home studio setup

- Camera. Your camera doesn’t have to be a professional camera, you can still create beautiful content with your phone camera.
- Tripod. If you are working with a professional camera, then consider using a tripod to steady it. We also recommend getting a tripod with an arm extension for shooting flat lays.
- Lighting. You can rely solely on natural light if that’s all you have, but we recommend setting up near a window with the most available light even if you’re using studio lighting as well. Amazon has some great start-up kits available for under a hundred bucks, such as this one.
- Light reflector. One of Kat’s most used items, great for bouncing light back into shadow areas or softening harsh light.

Backdrops. We use paper backdrops from BD backgrounds or Savage. We also use fabric from Dressew and marble slabs from Home Depot. If you’re on a budget, use a plain bed sheet or your natural wall colour.

Backdrop stands. Some budget-friendly options are available on Amazon if you want to properly hang/drape your backdrops.

Props. Flowers, plants and decorative household items will certainly bring your products to life.

Find the best light

We adore natural light! Try to find a space in your home that has the best natural light for your setup. If you’re shooting in the middle of the day, avoid harsh midday sunlight by using a diffuser. If your home doesn’t get much natural light, consider purchasing some budget-friendly lights. If you’re just starting out with photography, then these continuous lights will definitely do the trick!

Our social media photographer, Kat, generally uses flash whilst working from home as her apartment is south-facing and gets very little natural light. Here, you can see her at-home setup taken on an iPhone vs her professional image using flash photography.

Create your studio setup

Once you have figured out where in your home you’re shooting, it’s time to set up your studio. Set up your backdrop stands, backdrop and table. We often shoot flat lays, so by shooting off the ground slightly, we’re saving ourselves from bending over too much. Once you have this setup, you can easily interchange your backdrop with fabrics and textures. Swap out the plain white backdrop for a marble tile to add some variety.

We recommend setting up a tripod as it allows you to:

Steady the camera
Slow your shutter speed if you need to allow more light into the camera
Take the weight off your back and shoulders
Allows you to set the camera down while you style your shot or move products in and out of the shot
Allows you to change the angle of your shot

Let your creativity flow

Get creative! The more unique, original and creative your content is on social media, the more engagement it will receive from your audience.

Here are four tips to help you get creative:

Vary the angles of your shots! Try shooting overhead flat lays, eye-level shots, close-ups and wide shots.
Depth of field. Even if you’re using your phone, most phone cameras now give you the ability to change your depth of field.
Experiment with lighting. Play around with shadows or even add a gel to your light source.
Props! We recommend laying out all your props on a tray so you can clearly see what you have to work with, making it easier to visualize your shots. You can read more tips on props here.

If you’re working with people, then props can give them something to interact with. Check out this recent shoot we did for Le Hibou Kids. Here below, you can see our studio setup (including the props) and then how the kids interacted with them. So cute!

Final thoughts

Good luck with your home-studio setup! Play around with it and have fun– why not take your audience on the journey with you and show them some #BTS of your home studio setup. And just remember that you don’t need to invest in expensive photography gear when you’re just starting out.

If you’re shooting food, then check out our tips for better food & beverage photography. We hope you found our tips from our social media photographer helpful!

5 tips for better food & beverage photography

Posted on 13-08-2020 by Erin Reynel

We hope you’ve been enjoying reading our photography and styling blogs as much as we’ve enjoyed writing them!

Today, our top tips are for food and beverage photography. We have a few restaurants and food truck clients, including Waves Coffee House and Disco Cheetah Korean Grill, that we create content for, so we’ll share some tips as well as demonstrate how we’ve applied it to our work.

Equipment

Use a tripod (preferably with an extension arm)! Tripods are great for so many reasons – a few benefits are:

They steady your camera and eliminate blurry images
They save you from back pain (holding your camera and bending over for 8+ hours will result in some unfortunate aches and pains)
Extension arms allow you to capture awesome flat lays from above
They allow you to move more freely between your camera and subject (for when you have to make those tiny styling adjustments)

Another piece of equipment our photographer Kat always has on hand is her reflector – it’s compact and lightweight so she never leaves for a shoot without it. A reflector is a great tool to redirect light, fix shadows or even block out unwanted light.

Backdrops

The backdrops you choose for your food photography are so important! They set the tone of the overall image. We recommend using textured backgrounds to add depth and interest.

For one of our favourite clients, Disco Cheetah, their branding is very fun and colourful, so our backdrops always reflect this.

Composition

Don’t be afraid of negative space! It makes for a more interesting composition and draws the viewer into the main focus of the image. In the context of marketing, negative space allows room for graphics. Very important for commercial purposes!

Experiment with different height levels within your image. For example, if you’re shooting sweet treats, then consider using cake stands. Creating layers with height will add depth and interest to your images.

Incorporate actions into your food and beverage photography. For example, cutting a cake or pouring milk into a coffee will bring the image to life. To make a shot look less staged, feature people or hands.

Consider how the final image will be used. If it’s for Instagram, then it’s likely going to be cropped into a square. So make sure you leave room for cropping and avoid zooming in on the subject too tight.

Props

The food is the hero! So keep it simple with props when it comes to food photography – there’s no need to go overboard with added elements and pull focus away from the food. The props should also compliment the food or drink within the image and make sense to the context of the image.

For example, below is an image we shot for Disco Cheetah. Note that the props used in this image are the small dishes for extra garnishes, dips and sauces, as well as the cloth napkins and the menu.

Of course, cloth napkins are not available to use at Disco Cheetah’s restaurant or food truck, but cloth napkins are an easy way to elevate this style of food photography!

Depth of Field

By using a lower aperture setting, you can focus on one specific item. This is a great way of drawing the viewer’s attention to the main subject while making the background appear softer. If you’re photographing a table setting, then you’ll need a higher aperture to ensure more of the frame is sharp and in focus.

Conclusion

Photography is an art form, so there are no hard and fast rules. We encourage you to experiment and see what works. These are just some of the tips and tricks we have collected along the way.

Want to know more about what we create at Legendary Social Media? Check out our creative services!

Why is a professional photographer so expensive?

Posted on 02-07-2020 by Erin Reynel

Have you looked into hiring a professional photographer? Received a quote, and thought to yourself “WTF! Why is it so expensive?”

Here’s the deal as to why photography is expensive and what goes on BTS (behind the scenes).

A social media photographer IS a professional photographer

Yes, we know- professional photography seems like a large expenditure in the short term, whether it’s for your social media, eCommerce website, print marketing or any other purpose! However, nothing has a stronger impact on a potential buyer than a visual representation of your brand or product.

Photography is a major investment that your business should definitely consider.

In marketing, visuals are the first element that evokes an emotional response (before text) and that emotional response is what will make or break a sale. The photos on your website and social media are representing you and your brand, and are a huge part of user experience. So obviously, you want to present your business in the best way possible.

Professional photographer costs: The breakdown

Some clients may only associate pricing with the final delivered images, and it’s important for us to educate our clients in our photography process and what exactly goes on behind the scenes, so they have a better understanding of exactly what they’re paying for.

There are a few key factors to consider in photography pricing, but these are the 5 most significant:

One. Time

For every hour of shooting, there are a few hidden hours of prep work and communication that you perhaps never considered:

Pre-production (Time spent planning the Photoshoot. Including emails sent, castings, building a team, creating mood boards, product acquisition and gathering of props)
Travelling to and from the photoshoot
Setting up equipment/ breaking down
Time spent uploading, culling and editing images
Time spent communicating with the client, sending proofs and making adjustments
Discussions and final delivery to the client

Two. Photography Equipment

Photography equipment is HELLA EXPENSIVE. Just the camera body alone is upwards of $2.5K for a professional set up like ours. Here is a list of equipment a professional photographer requires to produce professional work and run a business:

Camera (including a backup camera)
Lenses
Lighting equipment (studio or Speedlite)
Memory cards
Extra batteries
Tripod
Backdrop stands
Backdrops
Reflectors
Computer/ Laptop
External hard drives & online storage
Camera bags
Insurance (If you’ve spent thousands of dollars on equipment and you’re running a photography business, then you need insurance. This is upwards of $350 per year depending on what your needs are)
Rental equipment (we sometimes have to rent gear and this is a cost that should be factored into a quote for our clients)

Another consideration for photography equipment is that over time there is wear and tear on your gear and equipment needs to be repaired, serviced, cleaned and then eventually upgraded.

One of our studio lights recently required a new flash tube and that set us back a cool $374!

Three. Editing Software

So once your photographs have been taken, they then need to be processed. This usually requires software like:

These require a subscription and have fees (either monthly or yearly).

Four. Other Digital Tools

Nothing in life is free, even the software used to deliver edited photographs to our clients. We use Pixieset (a local Vancouver app) but there are other similar (paid) subscription-based apps out there that do the same thing.

Even a simple tool like Google Drive requires a subscription so we can host the thousands of photos we capture every month.

Five. Experience and Skillset

Whether a photographer has had professional training or is self-taught, they have likely spent years learning, honing their craft and developing their own personal style of work.

“If I do a job in 30 minutes it’s because I spent 10 years learning how to do that in 30 minutes. You owe me for the years, not the minutes”. ~Davy Greenberg

Our very own photographer, Kat, studied photography at Newcastle College. Learning and gaining a practical skillset that she has been able to apply to her work for the past 10 years. As part of her previous work as an eCommerce photographer for a fashion brand, she has also gained a unique eye for styling, paying particular attention to detail and working in a fast-paced environment.

Final thoughts

Like most things, you get what you pay for when it comes to professional photography.

Photography, including social media photography, is much more than:

Show up
Shoot
Edit
Send

There’s planning, equipment, experience and hard costs to factor in as well. The great thing is, photography is a powerfully impactful marketing asset that lends huge credibility, shareability and presence to your brand.

5 essential tips from a professional social media photographer

Posted on 25-06-2020 by Erin Reynel

You have the ability to stop social media users in their scrolling tracks with striking photography! Our professional photographer & content creator, Kat, put together her 5 top tips to help you create better social media photography to gain the attention of your followers.

One. Lighting

Light is probably the single most important part of photography. The type of light you choose shapes the look and feel of your photos. Often brands pick a style of light and stick with it. Ever heard the terms ‘light and airy’ or ‘dark and moody’ thrown around about social media photography? These words pertain to LIGHT.

Some other terms you might have heard:

Natural light
Studio light
Harsh light
Soft light
Golden hour light
Flat light
Backlit

If you don’t have professional lighting equipment then you need to learn about natural lighting and what time of day will work best for you. If you’re solely relying on natural light, then invest in a reflector. Reflectors are usually inexpensive but have the ability to bounce light, filling in shadows as well as blocking harsh light.

Pro tip: Avoid shooting at midday as this is the brightest light of the day and is very challenging to work with. Midday sun brings harsh shadows, heavy contrast and if you’re working with models = squinting!

Two. Backgrounds

Use simple backgrounds/backdrops when shooting products to ensure the focus remains on the product or subject matter. Here at Legendary, we use seamless backdrop rolls from BD Backgrounds as well as slabs of marble, tile and wood flooring, available from DIY stores such as Home Depot.

Three. Framing & Composition

Don’t be afraid of negative space or cropping out some of your subject matter. Play around with your framing to create a more interesting image. I personally love shooting through sheer fabrics, flowers or other foliage making the edges of the images slightly blurred to create an interesting composition.

4. Props

Add interest to your product/flat lay photography with props!

So, for this one, it’s key to remember that your props should compliment your product or subject matter – add appropriate details or highlight key ingredients. For example, the images above highlight the flavours of the Refresh beers we shot for Steamworks Brewery. Photography is a form of storytelling, so what are you trying to communicate with your image?

Prop suggestions:

Textures (fabrics, ribbon, cheesecloth etc)
Flowers
Ingredients (fruits, nuts, lavender, eucalyptus)
Bottles, straws, balloons, sunglasses, bags, towels
Dishes, trays, cake stands, cheese boards
Paper, envelopes, cards, scissors, stamps, stationary

5. Editing

We use Lightroom for image selecting/culling and basic adjustments (such as colour correction) as we can batch this and apply to all our selected images.

Here at Legendary, we like our work to look clear and crisp. Of course, most of the work is done in-camera to ensure this but we do add sharpness in Photoshop as well other basic adjustments (levels and curves if more is required) and retouching on any unwanted marks and splodges.

We also recommend ensuring that your editing styles remain consistent so your social feed reflects this consistency and your brand becomes more recognizable.

There are also a plethora of mobile apps available if you’re using your phone:

Pro tip: Consider compressing your images for web usage by using photo optimization software that will compress file size with compromising image quality, such as Jpeg mini.

Are you aware that Legendary is now offering product and social media photography as a standalone service?

We’re creating imagery that tells a story, inspires a feeling and stops a scroll!

Social media photographer services now available

Posted on 18-06-2020 by Erin Reynel

We have some exciting news! We’re now offering product photography as a standalone service to brands located anywhere.

That means beautifully styled photographs you can use on:

Social Media
eCommerce websites
Email marketing
Print marketing materials & signage

Our social media photographer has shot for…

We recently shared a post showcasing some of our social media photography for Steamworks Brewing Co. Our in-house photographer and content creator Kat has been shooting & styling from home during COVID-19 to create fun and eye catching product photography for the Refresh and the Steamworks Instagram accounts.

We have also been working with The Facial Room for over a year to create their social media, website and email marketing photography. With our social media photography, The Facial Room is able to showcase their products and promotions in a beautiful and unique way.

Professional photography is incredibly valuable to any business or brand as it allows you to showcase your products & services to potential customers instead of telling them. Humans are visual creatures after all.

Step up your Instagram game with social media photography

Your potential customers could discover you on Instagram. This is your opportunity to give them insight into what you have to offer. The photography you chose to use forms the backbone of your marketing. It sets the tone and initial perception of your brand. High quality photos will elevate your brand perception.

Professional photography is versatile! By investing in photography, you can use your images cross-sectionally across different media platforms and improve user experience:

Website landing pages
Website banners
Website eCommerce
Email content marketing
Social media
Printed marketing materials

Why a professional social media photographer is worth the $$

Look, Instagram is a noisy space. You know what stops people from scrolling?

Pictures. Really stunning ones.

And when people stop scrolling, they notice your brand. Getting noticed can lead to followers and sales.

We see this every day with the accounts we shoot social media photography for, and we would love to do the same for you.

SEO tip for eCommerce photography

The images on your website will contribute to your SEO, by having alt tags and descriptions, you’re allowing search engines to understand the content of your website.

Some of the products that could benefit from professional photography:

Skincare
Clothing & apparel
Food
Beverages
Home decor

By using Legendary Social Media’s professional social media photographer services, we’ll help capture the essence of your brand and further develop your brand identity – bringing what’s unique about your business to the forefront of your marketing.

Get in touch with us for a custom quote on any of the following:

One-off product or brand photoshoot
Regular monthly photoshoots
Bi-monthly photoshoots

PS we also offer stop-motion video! If you’re interested in any of these services, please contact us!

request your custom quote.

vancouver's boutique
marketing agency.

What we created for The Facial Room

What we created for Waves Coffee House

What we created for Love & Natural

What is the difference between Instagram Shopping and Instagram Checkout?

Should businesses set up Instagram Checkout?

What are the disadvantages of using Instagram Checkout?

A few tips for driving sales with Instagram Shopping

Final thoughts

The basic equipment needed for a home studio setup

Find the best light

Create your studio setup

Let your creativity flow

Final thoughts

Equipment

Backdrops

Composition

Props

Depth of Field

Conclusion

A social media photographer IS a professional photographer

Professional photographer costs: The breakdown

One. Time

Two. Photography Equipment

Three. Editing Software

Four. Other Digital Tools

Five. Experience and Skillset

Final thoughts

One. Lighting

Two. Backgrounds

Three. Framing & Composition

4. Props

5. Editing

Our social media photographer has shot for…

Step up your Instagram game with social media photography

Why a professional social media photographer is worth the $$

SEO tip for eCommerce photography

request your custom quote.

vancouver's boutique marketing agency.

vancouver's boutique
marketing agency.