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MAY 2011

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Get More Picture-Taking Tips at ConcreteSherpa.com


For more tips on taking photos and marketing your business, visit ConcreteSherpa.com. Here are several articles (in PDF format) that you can download for free:

 

Picturing Your Work: Tips for Hiring a Professional Architectural Photographer 


11 Tips to Capturing the Perfect Digital Photo

 

What's a Picture Worth to You and your Customers? 

 

  

 

FIND LOCAL SUPPLIERS OF DECORATIVE FLOORING PRODUCTS
Do's and Don'ts for Taking
Pictures of Your Concrete Floors
Metallic-gray floor
Dear Jim,

 

For decorative concrete contractors, a picture not only speaks a thousand words, it can also bring in thousands of dollars in new business. Building an appealing photo portfolio of your past projects is one of the most effective ways to showcase your talents and convince customers of the beauty of decorative concrete flooring. If you can afford to hire a professional photographer to snap shots of your finished work, all the better. If not, here are a few simple do-it-yourself tips that can make a big difference in the quality of your photos and the impact they have on luring in new customers.


Jim Peterson,

The Concrete Network

Clutter-free floor

DON'T forget to remove the clutter

Take time to pick up the space you're about to photograph so the room is debris-free. That means removing every bit of clutter, including all your extension cords, equipment and tools. These distractions take away from what you should be showcasing -- your fabulous-looking concrete floors.

'After' shot

DO show the floor in context 

Ask your clients if you can come back later to take photos in a finished setting, after all the baseboards are back up and the furnishings are moved into place. Your photos will then show how the floor enhances the space and fits within context of the whole room.

DO sell the space

Your photos will be more effective if you think about selling the space rather than just the floor itself. The best photos are those that show some of the furniture in the room and some sort of recognizable object or architectural element, such as a coffee table or fireplace. This gives the viewer a reference point.
Flattering lighting

DON'T use unflattering lighting

When taking indoor photos, lighting can be tricky. Your best bet is to experiment with different combinations, such as taking a photo with the overhead lights and lamps on or taking a photo with no lights on at all and only using natural daylight entering nearby windows. To reduce glare and shadows,  close window shades and curtains.

Overhead view

DO take overhead shots

If possible, take an overhead shot of your floor by standing on a stairway, an upstairs balcony, or even a tall ladder. This view from above will capture another perspective of the floor and showcase a broader area.

 

Visit the ConcreteNetwork.com photo gallery to see more examples of great photography:

Concrete floors 

Commercial floors 

Polished floors  

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