“We have nothing to show right now.” It is the sentence that delays the most photo and video productions. Many companies think they need a launch, a new product or an event to make images. Yet what you do every day is exactly what your customers, candidates and partners want to see. Here is what to photograph and film when nothing new is happening, and how to turn it into a regular production.
The myth of the big announcement
News is seen once. Everyday images are useful for months: for the website, social media, job ads, sales proposals. A company that does not wait for news to produce ends up with images always available, instead of urgently searching for a photo that does not exist.
Eight kinds of content to produce all year
- Teams at work. Real people in their activity, natural rather than posed. Useful for the about page and recruitment.
- Gestures and know-how. Hands, tools, stages of a job: what makes the difference and can be seen.
- Details and textures. Materials, products, finishes, in close-up. These images fit everywhere.
- Places and premises. Offices, workshop, reception, outdoors, from the ground or by drone. A visitor wants to know where they are going.
- Behind the scenes. Preparation, meetings, set-up: what happens before the result, which humanises the brand.
- Clients and partners. With their agreement, a meeting, a delivery, a short testimonial.
- Seasons and the rhythm of the year. Back to school, winter, summer, key moments in your sector: material for an editorial calendar.
- Portraits and voices. One person, one question, a short answer on video or as a quote over a photo.
A typical day, a shot list
For a half-day of production with no news, we prepare a simple list: wide shots of the places, portraits in context, gestures at work, details, a few short interviews, and every shot in horizontal then vertical. The images are then filed and captioned so they are easy to find. Our article on the six types of photos every business needs details this base.
Rhythm: small sets rather than one big shoot
Four small sets a year feed a varied, up-to-date library: the team evolves, places change, seasons pass. You keep visual consistency without waiting for a big occasion. For date ideas, see the twelve moments of the year not to miss.
How to go about it in practice
- Define the needs. For which channels (website, social, recruitment, ads)?
- Pick a calendar. Two to four dates in the year, set in advance.
- Prepare the releases. Tell the people filmed and get their written consent for the intended use.
- Stay natural. Let things happen rather than pose them, and prepare a short brief.
- Have it delivered turnkey. Named, filed files with usage rights.
To remember. Your daily life is your best raw material. A regular, light, planned production costs less per image than one big exceptional production, and saves you from running short of images when you need them. Our offer is on the business photography page.
Nothing new to show? Show what you do.
We build a regular production plan and a tailor-made image library with you.