"A picture speaks a thousand words...."

As someone once said (well, WikiAnswers just told me it was someone in China), "A picture speaks a thousand words."

Now, more than ever before, our world is visually stimulated. That being said, there is no denying the importance of photos (GOOD ones) in a business or organization's marketing materials and strategy.

It's essential to hire a professional photographer on a routine basis. A professional photographer will ensure that your business is portrayed in the proper manner. They are more affordable than one might think and it's a worthy investment for years to come.

Some ideas of when you should hire a pro to capture photos for your business or organization:

• If you are launching a new campaign or brand, hire a pro. Get off on the right foot from the start.
  

• If your business relies on changing seasons (Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter), make sure you capture photos of each season. It's good to rely on a pro when different lighting (i.e.: sunsets, etc.) are part of the overall picture (literally and figuratively).
  

• If you're photographing people, trends change (clothing, hairstyles, glasses, etc.)...keep up with them. (Trust me, no one wants to see that 80s hairdo on the cover of a brochure anymore...seriously.)

Professional vs. amateur photography
Because of its affordability and near-immediate results, the digital camera world is reeking havoc on what people are considering "professional" photos. (Trust me - we can generally tell when they aren't taken by a pro.)

I'm not saying that you shouldn't take photos on your own, because you should. It's important to have a camera on-hand when you need that spur-of-the moment photo (most of us don't have pros at our fingertips everyday). However, you need to have an idea of what you're getting into (especially if you have intentions of publishing the photos).

If you are taking spur-of-the-moment photos that could potentially be used in printed materials to promote your business or organization, set your camera to the largest file size and the highest resolution possible. This allows for the most flexibility when it comes to utilizing your photos in numerous formats (print ads, web, internet advertising, etc.) for promotional purposes.

With that in mind, in the past week or so, I've had different people ask me about what kind of camera I'd recommend. Easy answer - Canon or Nikon. Hands-down.

I've used cameras by other manufacturers, but have undeniably had the best luck with Canons or Nikons.

In the past ten years, I've owned everything from a 35mm Canon Rebel (yes, 35 mm) to a Canon S1 IS to a Canon S5 IS and am now the proud owner of a Nikon D60 & small (throw-in-your purse size) Canon A1000 IS.

If you're planning to purchase a camera for those spur-of-the-moment situations, do your research. Buy one that suits your needs. Don't buy one just because it has all the bells and whistles on it especially if you don't know how to work the thing (unless you are going to take a class or you are going to take the time to learn all the ins and outs of the camera).

And, remember, a professional will typically always get the results you are looking for (often better than expected results) to portray your business in the proper manner.

If you need help locating a professional photographer for your business, I can help! Contact me at: jaimien@wafishermn.com.