I’m regularly asked for tips by wineries, marketing folks, public relations firms, and wine associations how to create an effective image library. Specific needs include utilizing photos on websites to inspire consumers to visit, in press releases to gain more editorial exposure & in advertising campaigns to increase awareness for the region.
In Cole Danehower’s presentation “Optimizing your Brand’s story”, he moderated a panel of journalists & PR agencies for winery specific marketing tips. Here’s a summary of quotes on the importance of photography: “Those with the best pictures win, if you’re only going to do one thing this year for your marketing, invest in photography & partner with a photographer that understands your brand and their style reflects your story” “Images are the new headline. 90% of info transmitted into our brain are visual, visuals transmit 60,000x faster than text, and photos are so easy to share.”
I’ve spent the past fifteen years creating over 100 image libraries for wineries & tourism associations, where my background as a photojournalist has helped me craft an impactful story through imagery. Magazine editors & designers have given me the following guidelines for many of my assignments, I’ve consolidated these tips to four main points:
#1 request – Sense of place photos. What does this mean? A photo of a vineyard can look like any other vineyard around the world unless care is taken to focus on the land’s unique aspects in the best light. It’s very challenging to tell a compelling, unique story in just one photo, but with reduced editorial space and attention spans this can be the critical deciding factor if you get coverage.
Mt. Hood is an iconic backdrop to many of Oregon’s wine regions, and with people in the landscape it helps the viewer visualize creating this experience for themselves.
This aerial photo of Penner-Ash winery & estate vineyard has been on two magazine covers, the opening spread in the Wine Spectator Oregon story, and countless other stories and marketing collateral:
examples of dramatic weather or lighting:
Aerial view over Soter Vineyards, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Early winter storm at Maryhill winery in the Columbia River Gorge, Washington
Harvest moon at Doubleback vineyard, Walla Walla, Washington
#2 request – panoramics or verticals – panoramics for website, newsletter, or email blasts and vertical photos with room for type for magazine covers.
Opening spread in VIA magazine for Okanagan wine country, Canada
Opening spread in Wine Spectator Magazine for Washington wine feature.
Wine Spectator opening spread Oregon Story 2015
#3 request – “‘environmental lifestyle, portraits, details, or product shots” What does this mean? Photographs that tell a story but aren’t overly manipulated – while fine for your instagram account, publications need consistency of style and certain filters can instantly date your images or make it difficult for those photos to fit into a larger story seamlessly. An environmental portrait can still show you in your best light, and be retouched – but retouching should not be noticeable, and the background should preferably tell a story about your winery. Same specifications for product and detail shots, which make great fillers in small spaces. Another tip – animals are always popular!
Big Table farm owners Brian & Clare with their goat
Mercer Estate old Chevy truck with their farm produce and dog
Friends enjoying wine & sunset at Figgins Family Vineyard, Walla Walla, Washington
A visual way to showcase sustainability, ladybug on leaf of freshly picked cluster of pinot noir
Find creative ways to showcase your logo, as seen in a glass of pinot noir
#4 request – tell me a compelling story through visuals. When there’s space to tell your story in a series of images, make sure to maximize this opportunity – on your website, in slideshows, and have options ready to provide for special requests. Here’s examples of wineries and wine associations that I’ve worked with that have done a great job of creating strong image libraries, and utilized these on their websites – please click on the below links to view:
Penner-Ash – http://www.pennerash.com
Link to Penner-Ash photo library
http://andreajohnson.photoshelter.com/gallery/Penner-Ash-media/G0000RstSdtwuFVM/C0000EDG6hDt2DnU
Cristom
Cristom image gallery
https://andreajohnson.photoshelter.com/gallery/Cristom-media-2018/G00001P1ilgvIM2w/C0000EDG6hDt2DnU
Saffron Fields – http://saffronfields.com
Link to Saffron Fields photo library
http://andreajohnson.photoshelter.com/gallery/Saffron-Fields-Media/G0000umEqjw7UCWA/C0000EDG6hDt2DnU
Soter – http://sotervineyards.com
http://andreajohnson.photoshelter.com/gallery/Soter/G0000C7jUOURbk1k/C0000EDG6hDt2DnU
Doubleback http://www.doubleback.com
Link to view Doubleback Winery photo library
http://andreajohnson.photoshelter.com/gallery/Doubleback-Media/G0000Rm_BD5mk01Q/C0000aipu1KieISA
Leonetti Cellars & Figgins Family Wines – http://www.leonetticellar.com
link to view Leonetti Cellars & Figgins Family Vineyard photo libraries
http://www.photoshelter.com/mem/images/#/u/G00007Ac18RFFVGE/
Washington Wine Commission – A multiple year project covering all AVAs with sense of place photos, geological details, and year in the life of the vineyard & winemaking
Link to view Washington Wine Commission photo libraries
British Columbia Wine Commissions & Wineries: libraries for Wine Island Visitors association, Okanagan, Blue Mountain, Mission Hill, Quail’s Gate –
Link to view photo libraries for British Columbia & area wineries
New Zealand Sustainable Wine – a project showcasing the countries commitment to sustainability, with 95% certified sustainable, organic, or biodynamic
link to view New Zealand sustainable wineries photo library
I also have created image libraries for the USA Hops commission
http://andreajohnson.photoshelter.com/gallery/USA-Hops-Commission/G0000lstsHNXNyE0/C00006z2kREwhp2s
and Department of Agriculture for Oregon Fruit
If you’re a winery, wine association, or other business interested in maximizing your visual assets, please contact me directly for a custom quote – I’d love to work with you!
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