I’ve done a fair amount of sponsored content in my day. Not a ton, I don’t really believe in overrunning your readers with nothing but sponsored content, but I’ve done enough that I’ve figured out what works for me and what doesn’t. So, hopefully, I’ll have a tidbit or two of information to pass along that you might find helpful when doing your next (or first) piece of sponsored content.
1. Stick to your style, but switch it up a bit. Oftentimes, we see people doing sponsored content that we think is so remarkable and we decide we want to try and do something equally as remarkable. Ambition is great, but what you have to keep in mind is that one person’s style may not be yours. Do what you do best, your images will always come out better if you do. My style may not be the first thing businesses and advertisers think of when considering how they’d like to promote their product, but with a few tweaks here and there, I can still produce images that will satisfy advertisers as well as reflect my style of photography.
2. Make sure to showcase the product. Showcase it well, but don’t beat your readers over the head with it. No one wants to see photo after photo of this amaaaazing product that’s changed your life. It may make the advertisers happy, but it makes your post look campy and can make your readers lose faith in you and your authenticity. Don’t try and hide the fact that you’re doing a sponsored post, but make sure that what you’re saying and the images you’re sharing fit in with your style. (My girl Sharon at Cupcakes and Cutlery is a master at finding the sponsored content/keeping your style balance. She handles it like a ninja.)
3. Go easy on the editing/filters. That’s not to say don’t use them at all. You can tell from a few of these images that there’s been a little post-production magic going on. That’s alright. Just don’t go crazy overboard. The aim of a sponsored post is to alert your readers of a particular product, not to show them your deep, artsy side through photography. Make sure that your images are sharp and well lit. That will make your readers happy and will make the company you’re working with happy as well.
4. Don’t wait until the last minute to photograph your post. There are too many variables that can come into play when it comes to photography. Your light may be bad. You may find you need a bit more time in post-production than you’d originally thought. You may find out you read the campaign instructions incorrectly and now have to go back and re-shoot the entire thing. Wait, who would do that? Certainly not me, I can promise you that. That exact thing has NEVER happened to me……… All I’m saying is, give yourself plenty of time. The photographs are going to make up a huge part of how successful or not successful your sponsored post goes over, make sure you have plenty of time to devote to getting it right.
So, there you have it, a few tips to keep in mind when approaching your next pieces of sponsored content. These posts are generally quite simple to do, but you have to make sure you devote the time to planning beforehand.
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