Why Landscaping Photography?

Why should you as a landscaping contractor care about photography? Simply put, the right photos are crucial for eCommerce and online marketing. Your potential customers will see pictures online and decide whether you are their landscaper. Good pictures of your beautiful landscapes, of happy technicians at work and of products they can purchase communicate more than… a thousand marketing words.

Let’s have a look at whether you should use your own photos or hire a professional. In addition, we provide marketing tips and ideas for taking great landscaping pictures.

Amateur Photography

You CAN absolutely use amateur photography, which are the pictures that you or your crew have taken. Those pictures are best used, and even preferable, on social media and Google My Business. Look at the sample pictures right below to get ideas! The pictures below are from companies listed on Google Map (Google My Business); learn how in ‘Landscaper Near Me’ .

TIP: Your customers can also submit pictures on Google My Business, so ask them to take a picture and submit it together with a review – you could even turn that into a 5% off promotion.

Stock Photographs

You can find stock photos on the internet, either for free or at a cost. Stock photography is handy when you do not have your own pictures and you do not have the budget for a professional photographer. You can find good stock photography at iStock or Shutterstock, which are paid services. You can also check this list of websites that offer free photos.

TIP: Check the copyright of the online photo to make sure that you are allowed to use it for business purposes.

Professional Photography

Professional photography is the best option for your website and marketing materials. These professionals have years of experience and know their trade, just like you do. They know color, lighting, angles, and can enhance photographs as well. Plan the photo shoot in advance: make a list of photos you want ahead of time, also known as a ‘shot list’.

We also recommend finding a professional for shooting video and drone footage for use on your website. Again, it is okay to use amateur footage on social media.

TIP: Schedule an extra alternate day with your photographer in case of a ‘rainy-day’.

Landscaping Photo Tips

To make life easier, here a list of tips and ideas for taking landscaping pictures:

Take lots of beauty shots. When the flowers are blooming, the green grass is freshly mowed, the sprinklers are running, and the leaves are turning. You can even capture beautiful winter photos.
Take pictures of many jobsites, different workers, and supervisors meeting with customers. TIP: Make sure you use a Photo Release Form.
Represent your brand. Make sure your crew wears shirts with your logo. TIP: Bring extra clean shirts.
Take both wide-angle pictures and detail shots and make sure your lighting is not too harsh.
Use props: lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, clippers, buckets, shovels, etc. Make sure they are clean and whole.
Take pictures with people’s faces showing and without. You do not want the same tech in every picture. TIP: Do not use the ‘tough guy’ or ‘tough girl’ for pictures. Your customer wants to see friendly faces.
Given we are still in the COVID pandemic, when taking pictures of more than one person, have them wear masks.
Get pictures of your crew with your trucks. Make sure your logo shows on your trucks, and make sure they are clean – you are not in the mud business after all.