5 Ways to Maximise Your Summer Photography (and Boost Your Brand!)

Get ready to slap on the factor 50! Summer is HERE! 

When the sun is shining everything just feels better!! But summer isn’t just good for the soul it’s also good for your brand photography too! Summer is the perfect time to showcase beautiful authentic imagery that can help you connect on a deeper level with your audience. Whether you’re looking to show off a seasonal style, announce a new product range or tap into your consumers mood and mindset for this time of year, seasonal photography can not only refresh your look but can also remind your consumers of your core brands values. If you’re looking to heat up your summer inspo or add some sunshine seasonality to your photos, then check out these 5 tips to inject some sunny vibes in your brand. 

1. Optimise the Season 

Al fresco dining, ice cold cocktails, flowers in bloom and of course all that gorgeous light! Summer is the perfect time to step out of hibernation mode and inject some fun into your photography. Carefree, sunny days are the perfect backdrop to give your brand a seasonal refresh as well as brilliant way to let your creativity loose! 

You can go as sun-sational as you choose. For a few months of the year we get to show off a different side to your business. It can be as simple as adding summer related props (sunny bright blooms in a vase or altering your wardrobe to give your images a summer feel) or it could be a full outdoor shoot, switching up your office shots for images in nature or showcasing your product outside. Exciting summer photography is well worth the investment. Getting gorgeous evergreen content that can be used for future summers means you’re maximising your budget as well as refreshing your visuals! 

2. Use Colour 

Summer is characterised by colour. From the vibrant azure sky to the blue skies all around you, injecting some brilliant bright colours into your photography is an easy way to give your brand a super summery feel. From wearing brighter hues to playing with different colour combos in your food photography, summer is the season to step out of your colour comfort zone and explore those secondary brand colours that might have been lurking in the shadows. 

Colour helps create a mood in your photographs, it can add visual interest and importantly evoke all kinds of happy feelings. Colour strategy is all about using a combination of colours that are opposites on the colour wheel to create a contrast. Working with patterns, textures and clever composition you’re guaranteed to capture the essence of those warmer days - think bright greens and yellows, hot pinks or peachy tones! I like to call them: Happy Hues. 

3. Maximise the Longer Days 

Summer is a photographers dream! The days are longer and there’s just so much wonderful light. From sunrise to sunset there’s oodles of chances to capture the most amazing shots in a variety of ways. One of the best times to take photos is during the ‘golden’ hours of summer - those perfect hours just before sunrise or sunset when the sun is low, and the light is soft. Golden hour light is not only super-flattering but bathes everything with a warm golden glow. This is perfect for capturing images of long hazy summer days or for product photography where you want the softer light to draw out all those gorgeous details!

4. Embrace Hard, Direct Light 

Rip up the rule books – optimising direct sunlight is something you must try! Clear cloudless skies allow you to create the most striking high contrast imagery. In strong sunlight shadows are extremely dense, so choosing your composition to take advantage of these natural results, means you can use the sun to your creative advantage! 

Thinking about your perspective is key when using direct sunlight. Shooting from above (around a 45 degree angle to be precise!) can gift you the most amazing shadows to accentuate your images as do other quirks like sunbursts (lens flare). Not only do you get awesome imagery as a result, but it means you can extend your summer shoot time beyond the golden hours. Crisp, piercing photography is one of my fave features of strong sunlight shoots! 

5. Mental Health Benefit Bonus 

Summer is THE perfect time to think about refreshing those team photos or quirky headshots! Outdoor photography is naturally more fun, relaxed and candid. Getting staff outside in the sunshine guarantees smiles and laughter and is the perfect way to showcase the people that help your business thrive. Whether you’re heading to a wide-open space or into the buzz of the city, the sunshine helps bring out everyone’s happy side. Not only does it offer your team the chance to socialise together and reinvigorate the vibe of the business, but it also helps to paint a beautiful authentic story about your brand. 

Whether you bring that sunshine feeling indoors or shake it up outside, get set for summer photography to knock your flip flops off! If you’re looking for seasonal inspo or want to inject some sunshine into your brand, why not get in touch?
Click here to reach out to me, via my Contact page.

Georgie x