When it comes to marketing, you want to invest in the best your budget can buy. But where’s the best place to start when selecting your team of professionals? Remote work is the new normal – you can hire people from anywhere to do almost any job! With so many talented branding gurus out there, how can you find “your people?” The best place to begin your search is right in your own backyard.

This is especially true for professional product photography – that’s one job you can’t do remotely. Sure, you might be able to find someone who’s willing to fly in every now and then, but that’s not ideal. In addition to close proximity, there are several reasons to consider hiring local.

5 Benefits to Hiring a Local Photographer

1. Convenience

First, it is easier to schedule sessions and meetings with a local photographer. If you need to get extra product, props, additional photos, or more planning sessions, you’re just a short drive away. Plus, you don’t have to work around time zones for calls. Due to convenience, I’m able to partner with my local clients long-term. We stay in touch, and I can easily hop over for another shoot when they need updated photos.

After shooting their product images, many clients often ask for candid images of their products and people in action. I enjoy making a trip to their restaurant or business to take authentic photos they can use on social media or their website. It’s more than a few professional product photos now and then – we build lasting relationships with each other.

2. Familiarity with Local Culture

When you hire local, you’re more likely to get people who understand local industry and culture. A local photographer will be more familiar with regional trends and “speak the language” of the residents, which means your photos will more accurately appeal to the local audience. Think about the difference between New York City culture versus LA culture. We may all reside in the US, but every state and region feature distinct microcultures.

For instance, as an LA food and product photographer, I tend to focus on clean, vegan, and sustainable brands. LA is a hub for trailblazers who desire high-quality, healthy food products with an emphasis on earth-friendly practices. I share that passion, so it makes for the perfect fit!

3. Shared Sense of Pride

On that note, being from the same city means that there’s probably a shared sense of pride for your hometown. Sure, you may laugh about its quirks, but it comes from a sense of camaraderie. I am deeply invested with my local LA clients because we’re all on the same team. We get each other. When they do well, I do well, and vice versa. We’re helping each other out, and we want to do a good job for each other. We all take pride in supporting our city together through purposeful work.

4. Ongoing Loyalty & Partnership with Your Local Photographer

Hiring local means you can build on your work together over time. A Lasting partnership allows you to really get to know each other and improve together. Like any good relationship, there’s a sense of loyalty that only comes with time. That’s hard to achieve with someone who only comes in periodically for a quick shoot. A local photographer is your best bet.

“Lindsay has the ability to assess her clients’ style and produce amazing results. I have used her for multiple documentary style shoots, stylized food photos, and photos of our restaurant interior/exterior and have been incredibly happy with the finished product. Her love of doom metal and Korn are also a plus. 420 stars.”

  -Roy Elam, Owner/Executive Chef, Donna Jean

5. Support Fellow Local Businesses

And finally, what better to support local businesses than by hiring local? In these crazy times, let’s make a concerted effort to come together and help each other out! You may not change the world in an instant, but you can encourage and build others up within your sphere of influence. We can make a difference starting right where we’re at. Let’s do good together. Shop local. Hire local.

 

Lindsay is a Los Angeles-based food, product, and commercial photographer. She specializes in Still Product & Food Photography, Lifestyle & Portrait Photography, Stop Motion, and Food Styling. Connect with her HERE for product marketing!