When it comes to improving your online presence, there are a lot of things to fit into the budget. In the moment, professional photography may seem like one of the first things to cut in order to save money. After all, you could take photos yourself or use stock photos instead. 

Not so fast. 

The truth is professional photography can be a great asset for effectively marketing your business. No matter what industry you are in or what products or services you are selling, professional photography is an expense that is worth it! 

Here's why you should consider it:

1. Stock imagery gets old. If you've seen one iStock image, you've seen them all. While stock images can help fill in some gaps, they shouldn't make up your main source of content. 

2. Real images are more relatable. Showing your actual employees in their real workspace helps customers recognize the people in the pictures, which in turn makes them feel more comfortable. 

3. Smartphones are good, but not as good. Having a professional take headshots versus all your employee photos being taken by an iPhone makes a real difference. A professional photographer knows good lighting and angles to help you look your best. 

4. A professional photographer is just that — a professional. It's worth it to invest in a professional because they can get you great images that you can use across multiple marketing channels. Think — social media, website, digital and print ads. 

Bonus: When you have the professional photographer on site, make sure to think of images you may need down the road. Do you want to get that Christmas photo knocked out? Generally, there is no extra charge for things like this! Plan ahead in order to make the most of your time when the photographer is on site.