Law Firm Website Conversions – Would You Spend $500 For A 10% Increase? Photos Can Make That Happen
Think about the care you take in decorating your law firm’s office. You want visitors to feel welcome and comfortable, and you want to convey that you and your staff are capable, professional and experienced. Now think about your website as your “Internet office.” You want to give site visitors the same impression about your experience, abilities and professionalism — and you have only five seconds to capture the average visitor’s attention.
Photos of you and your staff are an important part of introducing your law firm to website visitors. While the process of getting professional photos may take some planning, the rewards can be significant. You are selling yourself and your staff to each potential client that visits your site. Your website photos are an area where you do not want to pinch pennies. If you do, you may inadvertently create the impression that professionalism and attention to detail are not high on your list of priorities.
You can fulfill your photo needs without breaking the bank. While hiring a professional photo studio ensures the best quality for your website, there are other options that will give you satisfactory results. Among them:
• Buy a relatively good SLR camera and learn how to use it properly.
• Hire a photography student from a nearby university.
• Seek out a photo hobbyist among friends or colleagues.
• Or hire a professional photo studio in your area.
Tips For Taking Your Own Law Firm Photos
You can get good results on your own, but it is not as easy as it looks. Take lots of shots. Be aware of lighting, background, composition, etc. Some tips:
1. In this digital age, take lots of photos. You can’t take too many, and you’re doing good if you get one great picture from 50 shots.
2. Make sure you pay special attention to the lighting. You may need lighting kits for indoor photography.
3. Try to use natural light since inside lighting can affect color tones.
4. Take shots from various angles and distances.
What Kind Of Attorney & Staff Photos Are Needed?
You generally want your photos to be taken in or around your office. This will give the user a reference point on what to expect when they visit your office. Have your photographer take a large array of photos in different situations. Make sure you receive:
• Group shots of your staff.
• Single shots of each attorney smiling at the camera.
• Photos of your attorneys collaborating with staff members and/or clients.
• Office photos.
Some things to ask the photo studio before you begin the project:
• Will the photographer be available to come back to your office at a later date if the staff changes or new members join your firm?
• Will you have rights to use the photos in other marketing ventures?
• Are there usage restrictions or a tax on the photos?
• Do you need to get our hair and makeup done before the shoot? And does you photographer offer this service?
• How much does it cost for you to touch up the photos you choose?
• Does the photographer have a social media package?
• Does it cost extra to get the watermark of photographer or studio removed from the photos?
• What is the best time of the day to take the outdoor photos of your office?
Examples that we like from our law firm client sites:
The Chicago personal injury law firm of Salvi, Schostock & Pritchard, employed photos that show attorneys in select Chicago scenes to create a modern urban feel. www.salvilaw.com.
Pinto Coates Kyre & Brown, a Greensboro, NC civil litigation firm, asked Consultwebs to take photos that would give a feel for their firm’s work settings, attorneys and office areas.
Terry, Terry & Stapleton, a Morrisville, TN personal injury law firm, used the brick of their offices for a charming textured background, with their attorneys and staff as the main focus.
Bakersfield, CA personal injury lawyers BD&J went with a black and white set, which complements the site design and adds a powerful sophistication to their imagery.
That’s a wrap
At Consultwebs.com, we are experts on law firm websites, from photos to video to full site content. If you need photo recommendations and sources, we can help. If we can provide assistance with any of your online needs, contact us today at 800-872-6590 or marketing@consultwebs.com.
Have you had professional pictures taken before? Tell us about your experience in the comments.
Kevin Smith says:
June 17, 2011 at 1:58pmThanks Julie. One example that is not shown above is a shot of an attorney collaborating with a client or staff. I have seen one recently that had a child coloring next to her mother while in a consultation. It was very powerful and moving. It truly gave the feeling of a real life situation.
julie says:
June 16, 2011 at 12:07pmReally interresting article ! I think it’s very good tips for the different websites of law firms.