WHY IS PHOTOGRAPHY IMPORTANT FOR YOUR UNIVERSITY? 10 REASONS WHY
If your university has outstanding professors and a solid academic record, you don’t need to worry about marketing, do you? There are now over 4,000 degree-award institutions in the US alone and while a good track record is vital, marketing should still be a top priority.
When you’re looking at how you can best market your university, you might wonder just why is photography important? You might be busy thinking of campaigns, brochures, and ads, but humans are visual creatures. We process information better and faster through images than through words.
Ensuring you show your university in the best light is vital if you want to attract students, sponsors, and airtime. When you use professional photographs that capture the imagination, you’ll be on the right path to meeting your goals.
Keep reading to discover the top ten reasons why photography is so important for universities.
1. CAPTURE THE SPIRIT
No two universities are the same and there’s a reason why people have a lifelong soft spot for their alma mater. The spirit, community, and ethos of a university develop over time to become a unique personality that draws in staff and students.
When you want to share why your university is such a great option, it’s this spirit that you need to show. Using stock images leaves the viewer with an empty feeling because those images don’t let your audience get to know the institution.
Instead, by using professional photography, your spirit and ethos will shine through.
2. ATTRACT STUDENTS
Choosing a university is a huge deal for students and it’s not just about the courses on offer or the reputation. Going to university is a deeply personal experience. Students need to be able to imagine themselves on campus to get a feel for what life could be like.
One of the best ways to attract students is to use exceptional photography across your website, brochures, and ads. A professional photographer will take photographs that help show prospective students what life would be like if they chose you.
3. REVEAL UNIVERSITY PROJECTS
With research projects and student exhibitions, showing the achievements that come out of your university will help you in many ways. Prospective students and their parents will love to read about what your university is up to. The wider community will also be able to connect with and feel proud of your university’s projects.
Your university’s research may well feature in academic journals around the world. Yet insights into the work you do can also be of great interest to non-academic people.
Photographing projects to high, professional standards, means you’ll always have a record of your institution’s achievements. You can share it with your community, in publications, and in viewbooks.
4. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PR
PR done well can be a huge bonus for your university’s marketing team. Without brilliant, professional photography though, publications may be reluctant to share your stories.
Having great photographs means that you’ll never be short of press-use images when asked. By hiring a photograph to handle your events, achievements, and student portraits, you’ll soon generate a reputation among journalists for being a reliable source of great photography.
5. ENCOURAGE DONATIONS
Alumni and community donations can change the lives of students who face hardship or wish to work on ambitious projects. Getting donations can be tough though, especially if prospective donors get little news about your university.
Eye-catching photography helps raise your profile across every arena. It also shows potential donors that they would be donating to a thriving university. By providing great photos, you can also record the achievements of students in receipt of scholarships or new facilities built with the income.
6. COMMEMORATE EVENTS
From community fundraising to graduation ceremonies, university life is often packed with events. While everybody has a ‘good’ camera these days, even on their phones, amateur photography is a far cry from beautifully shot photographs.
Hiring a professional photographer to capture university events will give you a range of photographs you can be proud of. With great quality, you’ll be able to use them for years to come in viewbooks, on your website, or in other marketing efforts.
7. MAKE YOUR WEBSITE ENJOYABLE TO USE
Professional photography is a huge bonus to a university website, far greater than stock images or poor quality photographs. When your website has a visitor, you’ll want them to stay on for as long as possible to learn more about your university. High-quality images capture the visitor’s imagination and give them the inspiration to keep reading.
Good photographs can also help your search engine ranking as they encourage visitors to spend more time on each page. When a search engine sees visitors are taking their time on your site, they know your site is worth ranking more highly.
8. CREATE OUTSTANDING VIEWBOOKS
Prospective students and their parents spend hours pouring over viewbooks when making their choices. These viewbooks hold a wealth of important information and inspiration for readers and can be pivotal in their decisions.
Professional photography captures the life of your university and makes viewbook readers think, ‘that’s where I want to study’.
9. ATTRACT RESEARCH INVESTMENTS
The US is one of the world’s most impressive research nations and universities produce much of this first-class research. Research costs a huge amount of money though and attracting investors is crucial to keep building your research reputation.
Investors take many variables into account but they also want to know that the university they invest in takes care to promote itself. When they see your website and literature is filled with high quality, inspirational photographs, they’ll take notice.
10. IMPRESS CORPORATE SPONSORS
Corporate sponsors can play a big role in providing universities with extra income but they’re not doing it for the good of the university. They want to know their sponsorship will be seen by thousands.
By ensuring you always use a professional photographer for athletic events and everything else, corporate sponsors will know that their branding will be featured in fantastic photography.
WHY IS PHOTOGRAPHY IMPORTANT FOR UNIVERSITIES?
Photography shows how wonderful your university is in a way that has a greater impact than writing or news stories. It’s a companion to everything you produce, from alumni magazines to viewbooks and your website.
So why is photography important for universities? It captures the heart and spirit of your university and reveals it to the people you want to reach. It helps you connect with your audience and students on a deeper level and enhances your reputation.
If you’re looking for a professional photographer specializing in photography for universities, get in touch today and let’s work out what you need.