Brand Motion: Adding Movement to your Brand Photography

Feb 28

Brand Motion: How The Newest Photography Add-on Will Take Your Brand to the Next Level

As an Austin brand photographer, I’ve always been most drawn to movement in my photographs. Motion is magic. It’s the single element that breathes life into a still brand photo, tells a story without words, and captivates viewers in a powerful way.

When your brand photos are filled with motion and mess they are – magnetic, story-driven, and mood-drenched.

It’s why the world, at large, is consistently moving toward video. Instagram Reels, Tiktoks, video ads – they’re all vying for our attention, and it works because of the magic of movement.

Still – even in the fast-paced online space we all seem to inhabit – I know brand photography remains a powerful MUST-have for any business and on any website and should be your entry point. Brand photos are still essential and a non-negotiable for any serious business owner — so don’t write them off.

But in my work with business owners over the last several years, a question has formed within me:

What if – after we hit the must-haves – we made space for the nice-to-haves?

Behind the scenes, I’ve put my scientist hat on, working to answer that question, exploring the possibilities with movement, and finding new ways to enhance your brand photo experience.

Here’s everything you need to know about our newest Austin brand photography session add-on, Brand Motion – including why movement matters and how it can take your brand to the next level.

Why Movement Matters

First, let's take a step back and look at why movement matters at all.

Movement is the unspoken language of emotion. It's the element that can make the difference between a forgettable photo and a truly engaging one. And, in the age of social media, it gets the most clicks.

On the whole, our attention spans are decreasing. Surprise, surprise. But why?

One study found that the decrease is due to the sheer amount of information available to us – all the time.

Most popularly, it’s said that the average human attention span has now dropped to 8 seconds (shorter than that of a goldfish!) But that piece of misinformation has been debunked a few times.

Our attention spans are decreasing, but the length of that attention really depends on the task at hand.

Since your ideal clients and customers will most likely find you via a screen, let’s look closer at that, shall we?

Dr. Gloria Mark, author of “Attention Span: A Groundbreaking Way to Restore Balance, Happiness and Productivity,” said that in 2004, the average attention on a screen was 2½ minutes. In 2023, she found that “people can only pay attention to one screen for an average of 47 seconds.”

I write this sentence, and then check my phone. The irony is not lost. But stay with me here.

It means motion will outperform static brand images for a number of reasons:

1. 50% of social media users prefer video.

2. Video has the capability to hold our attention for longer.

3. The algorithm prefers video. (On Instagram, reels generate 2x as much engagement as image and carousel posts, so they’re going to push those at you most. This annoys me to no end, but since I’m not beating reels might as well lean in a little, right?)

When motion has the unique ability to capture the true energy and emotion of a moment, it becomes that much more impactful. For all these reasons and more, it’s become more important to me than ever to find a way to incorporate motion into your brand photoshoot and serve you even better.

With Brand Motion, you’re better able to tell your story, inspire emotions, attract an audience, and feed the hungry, hungry algorithm (without dancing and pointing - thank god.)

So, what exactly is Brand Motion?

Brand Motion is my answer to the question: how can we add nice-to-haves to our must-haves? And it’s the newest add-on for Alicia Leigh Photography services this year - adding b-roll style brand video clips to your Austin brand photo experience.

These short brand motion clips are magnetic, value-adding, and perfect to enhance any website or feed. Think of it as moving photography to complement your brand photography and brand story-telling!

Brand Motion captures the energy and emotion of your brand photoshoot in a memorable way so that you can share it with your social media audience and prospects that visit your website.

It is not movement for movement’s sake. Each Brand Motion clip matches and complements your brand photography so all the visuals on your site work in tandem and further share your brand story.

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A post shared by Alicia Leigh | Austin Brand Photographer (@alicialeighphoto)

5 Reasons To Add Brand Motion To Your Next Austin Personal Brand Photoshoot

Now that we know what brand motion is, let's take a look at why you should consider adding it to your next branding photoshoot:

1. Brand Motion is easy to consume (and share.)

Video continues to increase in popularity because it is so effortless to consume and to share with others.

2. Brand Motion is eye-catching and creative.

The human eye is naturally drawn to movement and beauty. When you provide scroll-stopping motion, you tap into the places deep within your audience’s brain.

3. Brand Motion adds to your like/know/trust factor.

Whether sophisticated and elegant or fun and quirky, the movement draws your target audience into your story, adding trust and credibility to your brand.

4. Brand Motion helps portray your story.

With Brand Motion, you create a visual that captures the story and essence of your brand. Storytelling is a surefire way to set yourself apart from the competition and create an impact.

5. Brand Motion is just good marketing.

At the end of the day, it’s your bottom line that matters, and there’s a reason marketing has become almost exclusively video-driven. Brand Motion will help get you where you need to go.

The Bottom Line

At Alicia Leigh Photography, we understand the power of brand video & motion in conjunction with your brand photography and know that creating moving visuals can be a daunting task. That’s why we're here to help.

With our newest add-on, infusing brand video clips to your business photography, we’ll bring your brand to life on your website and on your feed. We'll provide you with the guidance and support you need to make the best use of memorable movements and truly set your brand apart from the rest.