Visual Content Proposal

VISUAL CONTENT FOR SCOTT’S MARKETPLACE:

Scott’s Marketplace is serious about maintaining a consistent brand image. We have a beautiful new logo, branding guide, and website. The new color palette and young, fun style allows us to better reach our demographic.

Bloggers Rob and Christine enjoy breakfast at local restaurant, The Pomegranate Cafe.

We use graphic design to communicate SMP brand ideas to our users. Let’s consider how photo and video imagery is an equally vital part of our branding. I will use instagram as an example of photo based marketing. Instagram has over 200 million users. (read more) Brands with the highest following post only quality images (read more) and images that show some real-life connection to their users (read more). They also post consistently throughout the week (read more).

Madeleine models Pura Vida Bracelets while taking an instagram photo.

I’m not here to talk about instagram, but I think that this demonstrates three imagery standards that could have a measurable impact on our target audience. Quality images.

Personally photographed in favorite local places, featuring local people. Frequently and consistently.

An arrangement of some of my photos from 2013.

Current design and workflow issues related to the photos we have available now.1.

What we have right now:

Seller images: many are poorly shot, or are web-stolen low resolution images.

Thinkstock images: hard to find images that represent our particular kind of local shopping.

A floral crown designed by local Phoenix floral designer Elizabeth, of Graceful Gardens Floral

Problem 1) Inefficient Use of Time

We use both seller images and stock photos for ads and emails. Myself and many of the marketing team have spent hours searching through bad photos, hoping to find a good one. We have meetings and email threads discussing our search to find a photo that comes close to what we want. It would be nice to simply choose from one of many professional, on-brand images. Vintage bikinis sit pretty at local vintage store Retro Redux.

Problem 2) Mediocre Images Slip Through

SMP has high standards for the photos that we use, as part of our branding. However sometimes during a contest or promotion, the best we can do is add a filter to a bad image, or show a low-res one very small, since no better photo is available from the source. Bad photos placed in a good design negate many of the benefits of professional design. (read more) Four of my “Instagram friends”, exploring Payson as part of my Hearth Magazine article.

Problem 3) Stock Photos are Cold and Generic. Photos brand a company very quickly, just like graphic design. When SMP uses a stock photo, our viewers will likely see that same image all over the internet in very different contexts. We are losing an opportunity to use a photo unique to our business. (read more)

SMP is all about living locally. Wouldn’t it be great if a Facebook viewer sparked interest because they saw a friend in one of our photo posts?

Bloggers Rob and Christine enjoying tea in their home.

The many benefits of creating Brand Stories for SMP sellers.2.

A Brand Story uses photography and/or filmmaking to tell the story of a local business and the people who bring it to life.

Studio tour with skate deck artist Paige Poppe.

Brand Stories Perks: - SMP reaches out to businesses and offers a feature on our blog and social media. This includes a free promotional photo / video shoot, with model releases for Scott’s Marketplace.

- The business will receive 5 short interview questions from SMP, which the photographer will deliver and write up for the blog.

- When the blog post goes live on the seller-targeted social media, SMP and the chosen brand receive cross-promotion traffic from each other.

- The business we feature now has fresh images & video for their website.

- SMP has model release forms, and can now use these images on the website and for consumer-targeted social media ads.

Yet more benefits! Creating Look Books for SMP sellers.3.

A Look Book uses photography and/or filmmaking to showcase a new line of products created by a company.

Lookbook created for Pura Vida Bracelets.

Look Book Perks: - SMP reaches out to businesses and offers a feature on our blog and social media. This includes a free promotional photo / video shoot, with model releases for Scott’s Marketplace.

- The business now has some new imagery of their products to upload to SMP! Ones we will be proud to see.

- We have sets of fashion / product images that make for popular, image-heavy blog posts. People like looking at detail shots of clothing and accessories, and these kinds of images do very well on instagram and Pinterest.

- Cross-promotion, again!

- These are the kind of images we are often looking for when we design Facebook campaigns.

Further ideas for discussion.4.

I have interest in creating video tutorials as well as short commercial spots for SMP. Let’s chat about what this might look like!

^ Click to watch a fashion lookbook video!

Why hire Hannah?5.

- I have been working as a freelance photographer for about six years. I am able to set up, style, photograph, edit and deliver. I have been told I am able to make people comfortable behind the lens.

- I had two years of college and university photography classes when I studied design, and I am always seeking out workshops and online classes for continuing my education.

Modeling KORE Swim and listening to The Lovin’ Spoonful on the turntable.

- I understand the brand direction and design needs that Scott’s Marketplace requires for photography.

- I have connection with many small businesses, artists, and fashion bloggers who may be of help to SMP.

- I run a local business! :) Purchasing stock photos ultimately benefits corporations such as Getty Images and Corbis, but hiring a local photographer directly benefits our home town, Phoenix. Filmaker Kristine shows me her tattoos for an editorial I’m writing.

What I am proposing!6.

-I would like to continue working part time, for the same hours and pay.

- I will provide two (2) videos (1-2 minutes in length) and two photoshoots per month. A video and a set of images may often be shot for the same project. Larger projects may be agreed upon in the future.

- I will coordinate photoshoots and interview questions, sending the answers along with the images to be blogged.

- I will need to drive to shoots, and edit photos in an ideal viewing environment such as my own office. To make the most of the hours I have, I would like to work from home, coming in for meetings as needed.Kennedy admiring the merchandise at a Mesa typewriter repair store.

This idea I have put together is about more than simply “how much you currently spend on photography” vs. how much mine would cost.

It is about consistently producing quality and compelling content for your intended audience.

I’m asking for a month to try out this arrangement. At the end, we could discuss whether you see my work as having value for Scott’s Marketplace.

Thank you very much!

RESUME

Published In Hearth Magazine Volume Three: A photo story which I wrote, styled, and photographed. (read more)

Published In Hearth Magazine Online Journal: Photographed for Hearth. (read more)

Featured in VSCO Curated Grid:Three of my photographs were selected to be displayed with images from photographers around the world. (read more)

Selected to Shoot a Lookbook for Pura Vida Bracelets: Working with models in Los Angeles and Joshua Tree National Park. (read more)

Published on LiveFAST Magazine: Featuring a lookbook for KORE Swim and The Mojave Sands Resort. (read more)

Featured By Society6 On social media for a lifestyle product image. (read more)