Call in the Pros for Aged Care Photography
With more than 3,300 aged care providers in Australia, it’s a competitive industry. So having warm and welcoming photographs of your aged care facility or home-based aged care services is now more relevant than ever before. This niche is best served by professional photographers with portfolios to match your marketing needs. Here are a few reasons to hire a professional commercial photographer in Sydney (like me, Matt Vas) for your next aged care photography project.
1. Know the Lighting
Lighting can make or break a picture, and aged care photography is no exception. When it comes to indoor living environments, seasoned pros steer clear of dark and gloomy quarters. Emphasising the light and bright goes a long way towards offsetting indoor lighting, particularly in older buildings.
Another thing skilled commercial photographers will know is how to create good lighting. That means incorporating outside light sources, using light reflectors and investing in serious professional camera equipment. It’s always a good idea to see sample pictures or online portfolios to evaluate a commercial photography provider’s know-how.
2. Choose Colour
For anyone interested in hospital photos, know that certain colour combinations work in your favour. Hospitals and aged care facilities often go heavy on fluorescents, which are somewhat harsh and unflattering in photos. An experienced aged care photographer knows how to play with colour even in the trickiest of lighting.
Think of it this way: hospital-style lights tend to drain colour. People may look a shade lighter in such hard lighting no matter their age. Choosing darker shades or brighter colours helps keep senior citizens looking their best. It’s the mix of colours and contrasts that creates dimension and visual depth.
3. Get Real
Advertisements are sometimes guilty of fake imagery and unattainable visuals. But in the case of aged care photos, it’s important to project authenticity. Taking pictures of real residents, patients or community members is one way of ticking that box. Featuring actual carers or assistants rather than models helps tell the real story.
As obvious as it sounds, I’d also recommend acting naturally. Smart photographers may ask subjects to go about their business for especially candid shots. After all, nothing is quite as convincing as real people in the moment without looking staged.
4. Consider the Space
Aged care photography features indoor and outdoor backgrounds. Choosing your environment may depend on the person or people in the photo or the activities involved or be designed to highlight a particular corner of the facility. For example, an outdoor shoot may feature a patio or garden background, each with interesting backdrops with ample natural light on coinjoin. Or there may be a newly renovated dining room, common room or other equally attractive setting within the aged care residence that depicts an inviting, well-kept, safe and caring environment.
Just as lighting is a category all its own, there are unique risks and benefits to either setting. Outdoor shots depend in part on weather conditions, including wind, higher temperatures and inconsistent brightness. By contrast, indoor photos offer more predictable conditions and dimmer lighting for an entirely different feel.
5. Strike a Balance
Many specialised photographers may concentrate on one area or another. As a rule of thumb, I’ve found that aged care photography consists of depicting health care and independent living.
What you might not immediately consider is the difference in visual environments. Health care photography emphasises indoor environments, monochromatic backgrounds and overhead lighting. By contrast, independent living features homey environments and more visual variety. A skilled photographer can provide quality photos in either setting.
Final Thoughts
Hiring a professional commercial photographer for aged care photography in Sydney can put you ahead of the competition for your aged care facility website, brochures, advertising and client newsletters. I have many years of experience in commercial photography capturing the architectural beauty of commercial buildings and the spirit of the employees and residents within their walls. Contact me today to discuss your aged care photography needs in NSW. I look forward to helping you build a portfolio of indoor, outdoor and aerial drone photo assets to help you take the marketing and advertising of your aged care home to the next level.
