Which thumbnail is best?

[Alan Knighting]

Jim,

I can see the arguments on both sides.

I'm sure professional photos would enhance any website, but cost is obviously a (big) issue.

Is there any one answer to this?

If one is creating a personal Web Site then the services of a professional photographer is something to seriously consider.

If one is enhancing a personal Web Site because of poor performance then the services of a professional photographer is something to seriously consider.

But, if one’s personal Web Site is already performing to expectations and producing all the bookings that one can cope with then the services of a professional photographer are quite irrelevant.

Pretty for pretties’ sake is all very well but I think one has to ask oneself “what does better mean?� Better looking or better performing?

That’s my opinion, for what it’s worth.

Fluffy

[Jimbo]

Jenny wrote:

Just out of curiosity, are you able to give us some kind of ballpark figure for, say, a half-day 'shoot' (expenses would be on top, presumably) ?

Hi Jenny

You'd need a photographer who specialised in publicity work with a good portfolio and a reliable track record. Plenty of wannabees out there but you don't want them learning on your job at your expense. Photographers usually have lots of good stories to tell, so they'll keep you entertained as a bonus.

It's a bit 'how long's a piece of string' but, if they're quoting you less than 500 GBP + expenses for a half-day, you'd probably be better doing the shots yourself. If you remember that you're actually hiring maybe 20-30 years of professional expertise and professional quality equipment, it doesn't seem so bad.

Jim

[Rocket Rab]

Thank you, Jim. It's useful to have a rough idea of what we are talking about (although one size obviously will not fit all, as Fluffy points out).

I can well believe the price you quoted. It's no secret, you get what you pay for...

[Jimbo]

e-richard wrote:

Is a pleasant surprise when guests arrive is a good thing, whereas disappointment that the reality does not live up to the promise that a carefully cropped and professionally lit picture may convey, a potential recipe for unhappy guests ?

When I shoot (say) a set of pictures of a construction machine working in a tunnel, it's likely that the area will have been cleaned, the guys will be wearing the correct protective clothing and they won't be doing anything that looks dangerous. It's what the construction industry calls 'best practice' and it's the polished view they want to show to the public and their shareholders.

If your pictures show your property looking its best but your guests are unfortunate enough to turn up on a rotten day, it's not likely that they'll hold you responsible. If you've included untruthful images, then I would imagine they'd be pretty cross.

We're all sophisticated enough to know that publicity pictures are polished but essentially true versions of reality.

Jim