Showcasing Venues: The Impact of High-Quality Visuals
Imagine you're a world-class chef ready to create your signature dish. You've got your ingredients lined up and your recipe in hand, but instead of reaching for a sharp, precision knife, you use a blunt butter knife. Technically, you could still prepare the meal, but the process would be laborious, the results less than optimal, and your potential for excellence significantly hampered.
Venue presentation through visuals works on the same principle. You can use any old camera or any random snapshot, but the impact, the immersion, and the ability to transport your audience into that space would be severely limited. High-quality visuals are your sharp, precise knife in venue showcasing.
Continue reading this blog as we explore the importance of having high-quality visuals and how can you get them for your venue. But first,
Why Invest in High-Quality Visuals
The Augmented Reality (AR) market is set to reach US$340.16 billion by 2028, further underlining the increasing adoption of AR technology.
Event planners are embracing it to boost attendee engagement, and so are venues. Venues are using AR to display spaces and dining experiences in an innovative way. Amidst all this, investing in high-quality visuals is no longer a luxury but a necessity.
Here are some more reasons:
1. Highlight Unique Decor: Photography is a powerful tool that helps you display your venue's uniqueness and charm. It can capture the intricate details of your decor, the vibrancy of your theme, and the overall ambiance. Whether it is a rustic barn, modern loft, or vintage ballroom, great photos can help you tell the story of your space and draw new potential clients.
2. Improves Engagement: Studies show quality images can drive a whopping 650% more engagement than text-only content. In simple words, investment in professional photography will place your venue far ahead online in terms of getting more eyeballs and getting those eyeballs to click through and interact on your website and social media pages.
3. Makes you look professional: High-quality visuals reflect your venue's professionalism and attention to detail. They clearly convey that you take your business seriously and are committed to delivering the best. This can leave a lasting impression on clients, making them likelier to use your service over others.
4. Quality images = more sales: According to MDG Advertising, 67% of consumers say the quality of a product image is "very important" in their selection and subsequent purchase of a product. So quality images can help you highlight your venue's best features, like beautiful views, spacious layouts, modern facilities, and unusual decorations. It just gives them an idea of how their event will turn out in your space and, therefore, help them decide quickly.
How to Get High-Quality Venue Images
Identify the Necessary Images
The first step towards enhancing your venue's photography is to create a comprehensive list of the images that will best showcase your space. Consider the common queries from clients seeking a private event space to guide your list. Generally, venues should have the following images for their website, social media posts, print materials, and other marketing platforms:
Images of your venue and private event spaces
A view of the entrance
Setups for various event types and sizes
Images of the spaces during an event
Both day and night views
Any outdoor spaces, if applicable
The view from your spaces of your city, grounds, or other visual interest
The bar
Food and drinks
Buffet setups
Decor and atmosphere
Setup for a DJ, photo booth, gift table, and other amenities
Seasonal and holiday decor options
Decor and amenities unique to your space
Your staff in action
Select and Reach Out to Professional Photographers
Next, it's time to find the right photographer. Begin your search online using keywords like "venue photography" or "event photography," and add your city and state. If you have good relations with other venues with professional images, ask them for referrals. Also, don’t forget to check your local food, lifestyle, travel magazines, and blogs for suggestions on photo credits.
Compile a list of potential photographers and review their websites and online portfolios to understand their style and whether it aligns with your brand. If it's a match, contact them and include the list of images you want to give them a better idea of the scope of the photo shoot and the cost. Contact more than one photographer to get a good range of budget estimates.
Collaborate with the Photographer
Once you've finalised the photographer and the date, give them some creative control on the photo shoot day. That’s because the photographer may have some additional ideas after seeing your venue in person. They might notice a detail you missed or have an idea you hadn't considered.
Trust their expertise and allow them to take photos not mentioned on your list. You'll surely receive some stunning images highlighting the character of your venue, menu, and staff.
Use the Right Resolution Size for Your Marketing Efforts
When the images are edited and ready, the photographer will provide you with the digital photos in various image sizes and resolutions, depending on your agreement. It's important to use the right image resolution for the right marketing tools.
Image resolution is the density of the pixels in an image. High-resolution images contain more pixels and give a sharper and clearer effect that allows them to be used in print publications. A printer requires more resolution than a computer screen to reproduce a detailed image on a page. An image resized larger than its original size will have a low resolution with pixels.
If you use images on your website, social media marketing, profile on review sites, or anything else that will be viewed online, you need at least 72 pixels per inch (ppi). This is standard.
However, not all your marketing will be done online. Ask for higher-resolution images if you plan to promote your venue in magazines or other print publications. The standard for print publications is 300 dots per inch (dpi).
Event Venue Showcase on Venuedirectory.com
Showcasing your venue on Venuedirectory.com can provide numerous benefits, especially if you opt for an enhanced listing. Over 378,000 unique meeting spaces and conference centres in 310 cities worldwide have been listed on the platform. And there is a good reason for that—it helps generate more bookings and links with trusted suppliers.
Here's how your property too can benefit:
1. Increased Visibility: Venuedirectory.com allows venues to have a basic or enhanced listing. Enhanced listing appears above basic listings at all times. This higher placement positions your venue in front of the qualified target audience and thus increases your chances for more inquiries and bookings.
2. Create better profiles: This enhanced listing lets you create a much more attractive and informative venue profile. It allows you to showcase detailed room descriptions, accommodation rates, key facilities, what events are currently being hosted, and highlight points that make your property more attractive than other venues.
3. Upload unlimited images: You can upload as many high-quality visuals as you like that capture your beautiful and dynamic venue. As mentioned before, visuals really do capture the feel of a property, which can actually influence a client's decision-making process.
4. Promote news, offers, and packages: Share all the news, interesting offers, or packages with event planners. You can also display awards or accreditations to enhance your credibility and add to your place's allure.
Parting Thoughts
In conclusion, exceptional venue photography is a crucial investment that can significantly enhance your marketing efforts and help sell your space. By partnering with suppliers or couples, you can create a stunning portfolio that showcases your venue's potential.
This investment will pay off in the long run as these high-quality images can be used across various platforms, from websites to third-party tools like Venuedirectory.com and social media, to create a lasting impression on potential clients.
