The New Year is just around the corner and with that comes resolutions, a fresh start, and of course an analysis of what’s to come in photography. If you’re looking to give your business and brand a refresh, then photography is inevitably a part of that strategy and it’s important to take a closer look at what trends will give you the most engagement for your efforts.

Just like fashion, photography goes through trends. If burgundy is the new black, then patterns are the new minimalism. Tune into the following trends for your photography to make certain your brand stays on-point and relevant in 2017.

It’s not just what is depicted in the images you use for your brand, its HOW they are captured. As Ansel Adams famously said, ” You don’t take a photograph, you MAKE it.”

Photography trends for 2017

1. Authenticity

your audience can’t be fooled

The use of authentic subject matter that reflects real life is going to be on the rise. Often these types of photos defy common professional photography convention in the sense that posed images where every element of composition is staged. People going about their everyday life, in real interactions, real transactions, and authentic customers are proving more convincing to a media savvy audience.

If you’re marketing to millennials, then authenticity should be the cornerstone of your image strategy. Over 63% of them have university degrees and all of them are digital natives, meaning they simply can’t be fooled by stock photography and staged photos. As a business you need to be as authentic and honest as possible.

2. People and Technology

mobile technology continues to boom

This photography trend should come as no surprise to any brand. As the way that consumers interact with businesses and brands moves increasingly online and becomes mobile, so too do the photos that reflect them. If you’re an app start-up, good news! You can seriously cash in on this trend in your marketing images in 2017. If you’re not, then get on board. The majority of businesses have online platforms and applications so depicting the use of technology and direct interaction with your brand shouldn’t be difficult. Be certain your photography reflects this.

3. Integrating Organics

use some leafy greens to bring your business to life

The photos taken behind people in front of a stunning landscape are slowly going by the wayside. They’ve peaked. Images of products or people with plants create a similar natural aesthetic. Dark, leafy greens are a perfect backdrop for individuals, products, or to include in working spaces. Moreover, in an increasingly wireless world, the element of organics brings technology back down to life.

4. Bold and Saturated Patterns

look for lines shapes and colours

Colourful patterns in photography are a great way to leverage a brand’s hues in your commercial photography…not to mention give your business a pimped Instagram for the New Year. Instead of using a plain or solid colour background in your business images, look for colourful compositions with more organic shapes. This is a great tip to try with product or food photography as well. Get experimental and see where it takes you.

5. Black and White

add some mood and emotion

Although commercial photography for your business tends to be mostly in colour, including a mix of monochromatic or black and white photography adds an emotional element that colour often fails to do. If you’re trying to include some backstage photos in your marketing content, then using black and white images is a great way to capture these moments and add some mood to your images.

With these #trends in mind take the time to think about how your business can integrate them into your content marketing for 2017 in order to maximize engagement and interaction with your brand.

If you’re interested in giving your brand a boost in 2017, check out our Visual Content Creation packages for clients located…anywhere and position your business to succeed.

By Jocelyn Mandryk

For more creative tips visit https://shiftermagazine.com/shifter-u