Why the 'Still' Image Still Works

Why The 'Still' Image Still Works

We celebrated Ten Years as Professional Construction Photographers in 2021. You might find that a rather odd description but in that time we have covered a vast range of projects, within the Two primary categories we have traditionally worked in : Facades and Urban Landscaping, this is in addition to a whole raft of In-Situ Building Product Photography in and around the Capital.

This is a Very Clean Bank of England after we obtained photography clearance to photograph its cleaning.

The 'Still' image is perhaps seen as old fashioned now that everybody seems to want video. It is however incredibly flexible, and cost effective. With authorisations and access being so much more complicated now, it is far easier to get authorisation to take still images than it is to take video or drone. Not least the fact that many institutions will charge you for filming. (Network Rail charged ￡500 to use a drone but allowed us access FOC for stills)

You cant do this with a video!! One of our clients was so happy with our images that they choose one for their van!!

Nobody looks at Still Images online - Far from it actually!!. A very large percentage of viewers never complete looking at a video online but we have continued to break 'View' records on social media.

This held our viewing record in 2020 of 25,000 views of a single image

The 'Views' record was then beaten by this image of the US Embassy in Nine Elms taken from a shoot for one of our American clients in 2021

This image of the Newfoundland Building in Wood Wharf, Canary Wharf taken in 2021 now holds our record of 26,000+ views

Our clients are a mix of US, European and UK clients who use us because we have a reputation for being Professional in adhering to the requirements for access & authorisation, such as photography permits, and our courtesy in working with the supply chain protocol.

We always said "There is only one thing that says more about your company than a great image, and that is a not so great image" This is even more true on Social Media. We have found the level of viewers (No how many but WHO) has changed since lockdown and covid. More senior management have been rather forced online by events like WFH, and now engage much more with Social Media. So its not just numbers but WHO is actually looking in.

Scroll Stoppers - Sometimes an image makes people stop scrolling and actually look at the image. This is One Park Drive in Wood Wharf

Quality photography is an investment not an expenditure

Getting one of your site team or sales guys to take some shots with their phone is fine, as far as it goes but we see some truly awful shots being used by Marketing teams, who really should know better (But sometimes its all they have). An image library of well taken photographs can work for you 24/7/365. You dont have to go as far as putting them on your vans but with Exhibition Stands, CPD, Training, Award Submissions, Trade Advertisements AND Social Media, the list of opportunities may not be endless but it is pretty long.

Product Photography - London has to be the World's best Construction Product showroom

This is 70 St Mary Axe, taken from a shoot for one of our Glazing clients

Photographing products In-Situ is a very big part of what we do, especially as so many now are completely bespoke, so truly one of a kind.

This image works as a stand-alone image but also demonstrates how robust the seating products are

Product Photography is used primarily to attract the attention of Architects, Designers and Specifiers. However with so many 'Ultimate' clients now looking at Social Media, the developers are now saying "I want something like this" to architects based on seeing SM images.

Working Images - Vitally important to look at what lies beneath

Cradle to Grave - The COMPLETE picture

When contractors are looking for better margins its important to convey to the client, exactly how complex some of these projects are. Whilst Monty Don or any others on TV might just dig a hole and pop a tree in, Urban Landscaping is nearer to Civil Engineering than Horticulture so some images as projects progress to show the challenges, and more importantly, your solutions, go a long way to helping clients understand what they are paying for and why they need YOUR expertise.

Front Elevation was formed in 2011 by Paul scott, a long standing member of The Royal Photographic Society who has 20+ years experience in Specification Sales & Construction Marketing. So more than 'just' a photographer. We work WITH clients to form a partnership which gets you the images but can also make sure these ARE an investment and not an expenditure.

Paul Scott - Contact Front Elevation Website

If we were the cheapest we wouldnt be celebrating a decade showcasing the best Construction projects and products in the Capital, however we have ALWAYS offered value for money because if we hadn't done that we wouldn't be celebrating a decade in business either.

Construction does not do a great job selling itself as a career choice but if everyone ups their game to attract the 'Social Media' generation then we will bring much needed new blood into the industry.

"Giving Construction A Better Image" is what we have done since 2011