Time-lapse photography is gaining popularity. This blog post discusses the importance of using this photography technique in digital content.
If you are writing a blog post or creating content that will be published on social media or also making strategic business decisions, attractive visuals are a must. Why? Visuals will be the first thing viewers will notice.
Personally, I am a big fan of time-lapse photography. I am not a good photographer though! But I believe it became a very important component of digital content. Let’s start with the basics.
What is Time-Lapse Photography?
Time-lapse photography is a technique whereby the frequency at which film frames are captured is much more spread out than the frequency used to view the sequence. When played at normal speed, time appears to be moving faster and thus lapsing (Wikipedia).
A photographer will thus be able to capture the beauty of the object being photographed at different times. Such visuals are very attractive, the activities of a month can be condensed down to minutes.
Imagine you are looking at the same tree, every day, for 365 days, exactly the same time. Time-lapse photography captures all these 365 moments and displays them in a short video or a single shot visual. Time is thus manipulated, along with different speed cinematography, this technology will show a natural process happening faster than usual. Interesting no? Now imagine how all these photos can be used to support your marketing content.
Why is Time-Lapse Photography Important for Marketing Content?
– It represents a great story, especially if it was showing a process being completed. Take the below video for example by Alexy Frangieh, you can see how the construction process is evolving and finally completed.
– It shows progress throughout time.
– It shows the same object at different times. You can use it to show the effects of a season.
– It increases the variety of visuals you use in your marketing content.
– It is a great technology that can save a lot of unnecessary cost in construction projects because it allows you to take efficient strategic business decisions.
– Time-Lapse photography just looks great 🙂
How to Use Time-Lapse Photography in Marketing Content?
Photos and videos are both types of time-lapse photography that can be used in digital marketing content. The choice depends on when and where the content will be published and how the visual fits into the overall publishing strategy.
If you are publishing it on YouTube, you can prepare a thumbnail using a couple of photos from the video to give the viewer an idea of what to expect when viewing the video. So in this case, you will be using a photo as a thumbnail and the full video.
For example, time-lapse photos are used by fitness instructors to show body evolution after working out, the before and after.
Generally speaking, a video is currently the best option. Videos are the most attractive piece of content nowadays. But it is recommended to add a photo thumbnail to give it a professional look. Time-lapse videos are used by many industries; construction, food, cosmetics among others.
In the case where the video is too short, it is recommended to use a single photo where the change is clearly illustrated.
In fact, there is no black and white here. The decision should be taken based on the objective that you want to serve.
How to Make a Time-Lapse?
This technology is very complex. You will be needing to take photos, edit them and put them into a video.
My recommendation if you are looking for great visuals, let a professional handle it.
In my opinion, there are two different qualities of time-lapse visuals.
– Amateur technique. An easy technique that anyone can do using mobile apps or software. However, the quality will be very limited and the graphics will be less attractive. The price will be low but perfect for those who have a limited budget.
– Professional technique. This technique will definitely give better and more attractive visuals. The material and software used will be professional. The price will be more expensive that is for sure, but it is totally worth it.
How to choose between the two?
If you want to produce a promotional video, it is recommended to recruit a professional.
If your aim is to use time-lapse visuals more frequently in your social media editorial plan, you can opt for the cheaper option and the graphic designer should be able to come up with decent visuals to share online.
Photo and Video Credits: Alexy Frangieh
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